Who We Are with Rachel Lim

Infertility is more common than we think; and it doesn’t just mean struggling to get pregnant. It can also mean waiting for years. Losing a pregnancy. Trying, again and again, with no answers. It’s a kind of grief that lives quietly in the background of so many lives…and often, no one talks about it. In this heartfelt conversation, I sit with Shumin Lin; litigator at Drew & Napier and President of Fertility Support SG. She began IVF at 29 and experienced miscarriage before becoming a mother of two. She shares what it was like to navigate this path before anyone around her was talking about it, and how that pain led her to build a safe space for others. This episode is for anyone who’s walked this road, or loves someone who has. Because this, too, is motherhood. And no one should have to walk it alone. ——— 00:00 Introduction 01:31 Shumin’s Journey with Infertility at 29 04:59 Redefining Infertility: What It Actually Means 05:48 Understanding IVF and How It Works 07:58 Rachel’s Story: Facing Secondary Infertility 09:03 The Unspoken Grief: Shumin’s Miscarriage Journey 17:00 The Partner’s Role in Navigating Loss 19:08 Unlearning Stigmas and Letting Go of Control 23:27 How to Support a Friend Facing Infertility 28:37 The Weight of Expectations and Societal Pressure on Women 32:16 The Heart Behind Fertility Support Singapore 38:15 Launching Singapore’s First Fertility Guidebook & Supporting Women in Workplaces 43:43 To My Younger Self: Hold On 46:00 Final Reflections Follow Rachel here: https://www.instagram.com/ms_rach/ Follow Fertility Support Singapore here: https://www.instagram.com/fertilitysupport.sg/ Find out more about Fertility Support Singapore here: https://fertilitysupport.sg/

In one of her most open conversations yet, award-winning actress Rebecca Lim reflects on the lessons she’s learned from heartbreak, motherhood, and life in the public eye. From childhood dreams and early imposter syndrome to the role that changed everything, Rebecca shares the sacrifices, self-doubt, and resilience it’s taken to sustain a career under constant scrutiny. She opens up about friendship changes, public criticism, and the private grief of losing her father, and how each chapter shaped the woman she is today. We also explore motherhood’s transformative impact, the realities of ‘mom guilt,’ and her evolving definitions of beauty, success, and boundaries. This is Rebecca Lim as you’ve never heard her before; honest, deeply human, and full of wisdom for anyone learning to let go, start again, and find peace. ——— 00:00 Introduction 01:17 Rapid Fire with Rebecca Lim 05:24 Meet Rebecca: Childhood, School Days & First Acting Dreams 09:39 Battling Imposter Syndrome in the Early Years 14:43 Facing Negativity, Criticism & Self-Doubt 15:53 The Quiet Sacrifices Behind the Success 16:52 The Career-Changing Role That Defined Her 19:31 If She Could Go Back: Advice to Her Younger Self 20:40 Running on Empty: Motherhood’s First Impact 23:44 Rediscovering Herself After Becoming a Mother 26:50 Weathering Public Scrutiny & Staying True 29:16 Choosing Silence & Protecting Her Peace 33:04 Navigating Friendship Changes & Building Healthy Boundaries 35:57 Losing Her Father: A Silent Grief 42:24 Her Hardest Role Yet: Motherhood 49:14 Post-Maternity Comeback to Acting 52:04 Managing ‘Mom Guilt’ After Returning to Work 55:58 Redefining Success on Her Own Terms 57:56 Rethinking Beauty Standards in Entertainment 01:01:21 To My Younger Self: You Don’t Have to Be a Shooting Star 01:02:39 The Non-Negotiable Boundaries She Lives By 01:03:43 Learning from Past Mistakes 01:05:14 Final Reflections & Takeaways Follow Rachel here: https://www.instagram.com/ms_rach/ Follow Rebecca here: https://www.instagram.com/limrebecca/

In this soulful and wide-ranging conversation, Rodrigo Kede Lima, President of Microsoft Asia, reflects on the people, places, and pivotal lessons that have shaped who he is today. From the quiet strength of his trailblazing mother to the humbling experience of starting over in Asia, and the responsibility of leading 30,000 people across cultures, Rodrigo shares what it truly means to lead with purpose, humility, and heart.We discuss:The values his mother and grandfather instilled in himWhat starting over in Asia taught him about leadershipHow he stays grounded while leading at scaleHis views on hierarchy, culture, and human-first systemsWhat AI will demand of future leadersUnlearning, wellness, and the second mountainWhy legacy is about leaving people better than you found them00:00 Introduction01:08 Meet Rodrigo: Childhood, Curiosity & Dreams of Medicine05:14 The Legacy of His Mother and Grandfather07:13 Core Beliefs That Shaped Rodrigo’s Leadership10:00 Bold Career Moves & Embracing Discomfort12:35 Starting Over in Asia: Humility, Curiosity & Reinvention14:59 Wellness Routines That Keep Rodrigo Grounded20:07 Leading 30,000 People: Culture, Connection & Systems24:07 Asia’s Rise: From Manufacturing Hub to Innovation Powerhouse26:44 The Values We Must Hold Onto in the AI Era29:07 What Fatherhood Taught Rodrigo About Learning & Letting Go32:49 Where to Begin: Practical Steps for Embracing AI36:40 Beyond Boardrooms: Lessons from Parenting39:40 Redefining Purpose: Rodrigo on Legacy, Joy & Giving Back41:15 The Message Rodrigo Hopes to Leave Behind42:27 Closing ReflectionsFollow Rachel here: https://www.instagram.com/ms_rach/Follow Rodrigo here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodrigo-kede-lima-51941129/

You may know him as “Xiao Ming”, the funny guy behind the shades, the face of SGAG. But in this conversation, I sat with Adrian Ang, the man behind the persona. Adrian and I go way back to our school days. And over the past few years, we’ve reconnected, not over memes or milestones, but over the messy, honest work of untangling who we are from what we’ve built. In this episode, Adrian opens up about the cost of becoming someone the world applauds, and the quiet courage it took to start unbecoming what no longer served him. We talked about: – The moment his son asked him to take off the sunglasses – How he nearly lost himself trying to keep it all together – Drinking to escape, leading while empty, and hurting the people he loved most – And what it really means to heal — slowly, gently, from the inside out ——— 00:00 Introduction: The Man Behind the Persona 01:37 Adrian Today: Diving Beneath the Surface 04:54 Kampung Childhood & Free-Spirited Beginnings 06:50 Becoming “Xiao Ming”: The Internet Persona Is Born 09:20 When the Character Overshadows the Creator 11:22 The Cost of Compartmentalising Who We Are 16:17 Chasing Impact, Validation & Approval 22:37 What Success Really Cost Him 25:56 Breaking Point: The Spiral He Couldn’t Ignore 30:31 Shutting Down, Pushing Love Away 34:53 Reclaiming Himself, One Layer at a Time 38:58 The Practice of Healing & Rewiring 44:12 The Hardest Work: Sitting With Discomfort 48:54 Learning to Find Peace Within 51:29 Redefining Success, Impact & Enoughness 56:58 To My Younger Self: It’s Okay to Feel 01:02:58 If His Eyes Could Speak… 01:04:08 Closing Reflections: The Journey Back to Self Follow Rachel here: https://www.instagram.com/ms_rach/ Follow Adrian here: https://www.instagram.com/adrian.xiaoming/

Best known for The Art of Thinking Clearly, Rolf Dobelli has helped millions of readers sharpen their thinking and sidestep the traps that cloud our judgment. In his latest book The Not-To-Do List, he flips traditional self-help on its head; arguing that the key to a good life isn’t doing more, but doing less of what doesn’t serve us. In this candid conversation, Rolf shares practical ways to reclaim your attention and energy: how to stop overcommitting, why reliability matters more than talent, when to quit (and why it’s not a failure), and what he’s learned from consciously stepping away from the news cycle. This episode is a must-listen for anyone feeling stretched thin, trapped in a productivity loop, or simply ready to cut through the noise. ——— 00:00 Introduction 01:04 Rolf Dobelli’s Not-To-Do Habit: Overconfidence 02:44 Rolf’s Study on Cognitive Biases 05:14 The Sunk-Cost Fallacy’s Impact on Our Decisions 07:22 How to Avoid the Manipulation of Reciprocity 10:12 Rolf’s Inspiration Behind ‘The Not-To-Do List’ 12:44 Why Reliability Outweighs Brilliance 14:46 Knowing When to Quit or Persevere 18:33 Why To-Do-Lists Don’t Work 20:12 The Magic of Setting Low Expectations 23:54 Why Rolf Stopped Reading the News 27:25 Rolf Dobelli’s Mission to Sharpen the Quality of Our Thoughts 29:15 The Billboard Question: Rolf Dobelli’s Message 30:22 Episode Closing Follow Rachel here: https://www.instagram.com/ms_rach/ Stay up to date with Rolf Dobelli here: https://www.dobelli.com/en/ Purchase 'The Art of Thinking Clearly: Better Thinking, Better Decisions' online here: https://singapore.kinokuniya.com/bw/9781444759549 Purchase 'The Not to Do List: The Surprisingly Simple Art of Success' online here: https://singapore.kinokuniya.com/bw/9781805464228

Tan Su Shan’s story is more than a career trajectory; it’s a masterclass in resilience, reinvention, and redefining what it means to lead. In this special and intimate conversation during Love, Bonito's IWD event, Su Shan, now the CEO of DBS, reflects on her journey from intern to the top of one of Asia’s most influential banks.She opens up about the moments of self-doubt, the lessons learned from “demotions,” and how she learned to command a room without changing who she is. From cultivating clarity and conviction, to breaking through the “sticky floor” that holds many women back, Su Shan shares powerful truths about ambition, presence, and the price of leadership.Whether you're a rising leader, a seasoned professional, or simply navigating what it means to take up space in your own life, this conversation is filled with wisdom, warmth, and actionable insight.00:00 Introduction00:38 From Intern to CEO: Su Shan’s Early Days at DBS02:04 When a “Demotion” Becomes a Turning Point07:16 Facing Self-Doubt and Leading Through Discomfort08:57 Learning to Command the Room with Confidence12:02 Grounding Leadership in Customer-Centricity14:08 How “WRECKOON” Shaped Her Perspective as a Leader15:41 The One Leadership Skill That Will Define the Next Decade17:57 The Best Investments Su Shan Has Made in Life19:28 Q&A: Building Clarity and Communicating with Impact21:07 Q&A: Finding the Right Mentors and Sponsors23:59 Q&A: What It Really Takes to Build Great Teams26:15 Final Reflections: What Leadership Means TodayFollow Rachel here: https://www.instagram.com/ms_rach/Follow Su Shan here: linkedin.com/in/tan-su-shan-50296732

What’s really going on inside the minds and hearts of today’s teenagers?In this powerful and eye-opening episode, I sit down with Dr Cheryl Loh, one of Singapore’s leading adolescent psychiatrists and a mother to two teens, to explore the inner emotional world of adolescence: a time of searching, shaping, and often silent struggle.We unpack what teens are truly longing for, not just connection, but a deep sense of belonging, identity, and emotional safety. Dr Cheryl shares why so many adolescents turn to the digital world to cope, why shame is such a potent and often misunderstood force during these years, and how adults can begin to show up in ways that don’t just manage behaviour, but meet real emotional needs.What makes this conversation truly special is that it doesn’t stop at insight. Dr Cheryl offers practical, actionable ways for parents, caregivers, and educators to reconnect, rebuild trust, and offer teens the safe, anchored presence they may not know how to ask for.00:00 Introduction01:28 Dr Cheryl Loh on Championing Adolescent Mental Health in Singapore04:24 Why Teen Mental Health Deserves More Attention10:13 Are Our Teens Simply Misunderstood?14:37 Parent Guilt, Anxious Parenting & the Pressure to Get It Right17:33 Teens vs the Internet: Navigating Influence, Shame & Identity22:37 How to Stay Present in Your Teen’s Life — Without Pushing Them Away27:16 Seeing the Good: Shifting from Fixing to Connecting30:03 What Increases the Risk of Mental Health Struggles in Adolescents?34:36 The Role Educators & Schools Play in Teen Emotional Safety37:55 The Social Media Trap: Why Teens Seek Validation Online39:42 Showing Up for Your Teen & Playing the Long Game44:17 Netflix’s Adolescence: When Emotional Needs Go Unmet46:45 Why Healthy Parent-Teen Relationships Matter More Than Ever48:53 Helping Teens Build an Inner Compass in a Noisy World50:52 The Power of Good-Enough Parenting52:57 What Gives Dr Cheryl Hope About This Generation54:40 The Billboard Question: “Say Hello to Your Kid Today”56:07 Episode ClosingFollow Rachel here: https://www.instagram.com/ms_rach/You can book an appointment with Dr. Cheryl Loh at Garden Grove Clinic. Find out more here: https://gardengroveclinic.sg/about-us/

In this powerful episode, Wes Kao; co-founder of Maven and pioneer of cohort-based learning, joins us to explore what separates good leaders from great ones, and why intentional communication is at the heart of it all.We dive into everything from how to sharpen your judgment and make faster, better decisions, to why concise communication isn't just efficient, it's essential. Wes unpacks her signature concept of “avoiding negative inception” and shows how certain well-meaning phrases can actually sabotage your message and plant doubt.We also talk about how to turn worries into action, why owning your strengths is a quiet superpower, and what it looks like to challenge your own thoughts with intention. Wes shares her biggest leadership challenge to date, and how she learned to balance transparency with confidence, especially when leading through uncertainty.If you're a leader, creator, or communicator of any kind, this conversation is packed with tactical wisdom that will shift how you speak, lead, and show up.Topics we cover:The communication traps even smart leaders fall intoWhat it means to “incept negative ideas” and how to avoid itWhy saying less can help you lead more effectivelyThe underrated power of self-awareness and reframingHow to personalise your communication to truly connectTune in and learn how to lead not just with vision, but with voice.00:00 Introduction00:55 Wes Kao’s Passion for Education 02:08 Good vs Great Leadership: What Sets Them Apart?04:12 How to Sharpen Your Judgement and Make Better Decisions 08:28 The Importance of Concise Communication 10:24 Stop Incepting Negative Ideas: How to Protect Your Message14:41 Turning Your Worries Into Action 18:54 The Beauty of Owning Your Strengths 22:53 Saying ‘No’ to Unproductive Struggles 26:33 The Art of Challenging Your Own Thoughts 29:51 Wes Kao’s Biggest Leadership Challenge and Lessons Learned 31:59 Transparency vs. Confidence: Communication as Leaders 35:05 The Importance of Personalising Your Communication 36:25 Episode Closing Follow Rachel here: https://www.instagram.com/ms_rach/Follow Wes Kao here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/weskaoSubscribe to her newsletter here: https://newsletter.weskao.com/

After Leo’s episode, I was deeply moved by the messages that poured in, not just about his story, but about the unspoken weight many of you are carrying in your own lives. So many asked: How do you support someone you love when they’re struggling? How do you stay steady for them without losing yourself in the process?In this intimate solo episode, I share my personal experience; what it looked like to walk beside Leo during one of his hardest seasons. Not from a place of having it all figured out, but through the lens of the lessons it taught me.I open up about what helped, what didn’t, and the truths I had to learn the hard way; like not taking his withdrawal personally, listening to understand (not to fix), and continuing to show up with love, even when I felt emptied out.If you’re in that space right now, quietly holding it all together, I hope this conversation reminds you:You are not alone. And you are allowed to be strong and tired at the same time 💛00:00 Introduction: Why This Episode Matters01:38 Q&A: Navigating Turbulent Seasons in Relationships02:15 The Subtle Signs: Spotting Early Symptoms of Depression05:16 Creating a Safe Space for Vulnerability09:25 How to Stay Resilient When There’s No Timeline12:49 What Support Really Looks Like: Small Acts, Big Impact16:29 My Own Breaking Point: Personal Struggles and Lessons19:15 The Hardest Truths I Had to Learn21:45 If I Could Speak to Her: A Heart-to-Heart With My Younger Self26:45 Final Reflections & ClosingFollow Rachel here: https://www.instagram.com/ms_rach/Listen to Leo's story here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7cfdJMK348KROmJzLJzKgo?si=iT5YgN0xRG6ATPEHFTvHjQ

Leadership is more than just strategy; it’s about self-awareness, emotional mastery, and the ability to lead from a place of integrity and presence. In this special live session, renowned leadership coach Joyce Chen joins a room full of entrepreneurs for a deep, unfiltered conversation on what it truly means to lead with consciousness.This episode features four live coaching sessions, where Joyce guides participants through some of the most pressing leadership dilemmas:🔹 How to hold yourself and your team accountable using the Teach the Class method.🔹 Navigating burnout and knowing when to take a break; is it a whole-body yes or time to realign?🔹 Leading by example; how to teach the Above-Below the Line framework through role modeling.🔹 Overcoming overwhelm and uncertainty; learning to trust your instincts while staying open to growth.Through raw, honest coaching and actionable insights, Joyce helps uncover the deeper patterns that shape how we lead and shows us how to shift into a more empowered, intentional way of showing up - both in business and in life.00:00 Introduction00:54 Understanding the ‘Above-Below the Line Framework’03:42 Shifting from Contraction to Expansion 05:24 ‘Teaching The Class’ Method for Improved Accountability 12:00 ‘Whole Body Yes’ Framework: Navigating Burnout and Indecision 18:04 Role-modelling and Implementing Change as Leaders20:41 The Importance of Joy and Celebrating Wins 24:55 Evaluating Progress from Above the Line / How to Know I’m Doing Things Right26:46 Final Reflections and Key TakeawaysFollow Rachel here: https://www.instagram.com/ms_rach/Get connected with Joyce: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joyce-chen-coach/