Drop your noise

Eugene Rhuggenaath's story is a must-listen for anyone grappling with societal pressures, especially around masculinity, leadership, and cultural heritage. His journey from the Prime Minister of Curaçao to finding his path at the World Bank is filled with relatable struggles, profound insights, and practical wisdom.
He discusses his personal growth, navigating comparison, and overcoming rejection, and the importance of staying true to oneself in a multi-cultural world.
Bio: Eugene Rhuggenaath is an experienced executive and leader, building on a rich career history covering both the private and public sectors. Following successful roles in international financial services, he decided to put his acquired skills to use in public service, ultimately serving as the Prime Minister of the island country of Curaçao (Dutch Caribbean). Currently, he serves as Executive Director at the World Bank representing the Constituency of Armenia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Georgia, Israel, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, The Netherlands, Romania, and Ukraine; and is a member of Rotterdam School of Management (RSM) Advisory Board.

Susan took me on a raw , real and unexpected journey through her experiences with anger, uncertainty and find her purpose by perservering and finding a loving relationship with God. Susan is now a regional manager in Europe for the Curaçao Tourist Board and is also on a mission to help others go through their struggles with the wisdom gained from her struggles. She also surprised me on the history of Curaçao, making it a solid location for wellness retreats.  Whether you're interested in spirituality, cultural identity, or personal growth, this conversation has something for everyone. Want to explore more and freshen your mind with different perspectives.  Head over to ⁠https://link.kirtana168.com/connect

Liam shares his unconventional yet powerful journey of forgetting rather than forgiving. Listen to his transformative experience of embracing himself, overcoming family challenges, and understanding the dynamics that shaped him. Insights into LGBTQ+ struggles, family expectations, and the power of personal growth make this a must-watch. For more : https://kirtana168.substack.com Bio Liam: Voice and dialect coach with an MA in Voice Studies from The Royal Central School, backed up with a BSc (Hons) in Psychology from Birkbeck College, University of London. I mostly work in Film and TV. Though I also work with private clients. Who knew that my BSc degree could inform my pedagogy in Voice? Connect with Liam https://Liamfrenchrobinson.net

Discover the tragic story of Anna Perayil, A youth-Asian young professional, and understand the complex layers of burnout in high-pressure jobs. In this episode, we explore the personal, cultural, and corporate factors that contribute to burnout and offer practical advice on how to protect your mental health. Learn about the importance of balance and the steps you can take to avoid falling into the burnout trap. For more about how to befriend your mind and communication , check out : https://www.kirtana168.com/connect
Here some links related to this weeks episode including the late Ms Perayil's mom letter . https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0kjgp4jr5yohttps://www.india.com/news/india/nirmala-sitharamans-insensitive-remark-on-ey-staffs-death-sparks-huge-uproar-this-is-what-she-said-7269144/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/26-year-old-employees-mother-writes-letter-to-ey-chairman-annas-death-should-serve-as-a-wake-up-call-for-ey/articleshow/113445667.cms
I offer my sincere apologies for saying any of the names mentioned in the episode incorrectly. May her soul rest in peace.

Yatsen recounts his journey growing up in a multicultural family with roots in Curacao, Suriname, and New York. Despite coming from a broken family, Yatsen shares his gratitude for the enriched upbringing he received. He talks about his profound friendships in China, the challenges of being openly gay, and his recent registered partnership. Listen as Yatsen reflects on the complexities of identity, belonging, and the impact of cultural diversity on his life. 
A polyglot of many histories and traditions. Self dubbed “Blasian” from Curaçao.
BIO Grew up Black & Chinese & queer in the sunny Dutch Caribbean and in part in New York. After 6 years in freight forwarding I decided to burn all my bridges (so to speak) and move to China to pursue a career in Chinese Medicine. I ended up staying and working in China for 7 years at an outpatient clinic in Guangzhou. 8 years ago I moved to Amsterdam for love. Recently on hiatus to become a research coordinator in Lung Cancer Research at a local academic hospital. I hope to pursue a career in both fields (research and therapy).

Discover the intricacies of cultural adaptation, identity, and the impact of familial influence in this insightful episode featuring Eileen. Eileen shares her experiences navigating Canadian and UK cultures, the role of humor, and the significance of community building for East Asians in the UK. Kirti reflects on the challenges of adapting to new environments and the value of human connections in an increasingly digital world. Tune in for a rich dialogue that delves into 1. Exploration being with different heritage 2. historical perspectives 3. personal anecdotes 4. collective need for belonging and understanding Find out more about East Asian Girl Gang https://www.eastasiangirlgang.com Follow for more about topics around multi-ethnic heritage with Kirti: https://link.kirtana168.com/connect and join her free community on substack

Eileen shares her journey from co-founding a multi-award-winning company, Cucumber Clothing, to starting her own community initiative, the East Asian Girl Gang. From overcoming the fear of public speaking to successfully shutting down a business, her story is packed with valuable lessons for anyone looking to start, grow, or pivot their own ventures. Before you read on: be sure to hit follow and get notified when we drop our latest episode.
Eileen's Upcoming event will be hosted at the prestigious Allbright UK on the 3rd of October 2024 For tickets ⁠https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/modern-beauty-culture-empowering-or-toxic-tickets-935933120157⁠
More about Eileen Co-founder of Cucumber Clothing and Founder of the East Asian Girl Gang, Eileen was born in Vancouver to Japanese parents, trained in fashion in Paris and San Francisco before settling in London working at Nicole Farhi where she helped grow the menswear brand. She launched the multi-award-winning Cucumber Clothing brand with her Co-founder in 2017 making ‘luxurious clothing for everyday’, using ultra-soft technical fabrics. She created the East Asian Girl Gang during the pandemic, an informal sisterhood and supportive space to share thoughts and experiences based on a common cultural and ethnic heritage. Eileen was 2020 Shortlisted for the 2020 Asian Woman of Achievement Awards, and is a regular speaker and runs events on female entrepreneurship/slow fashion/East Asian community and co-hosted i:entrepreneur’s Wednesday Lives series of interviews with entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds. For more information ⁠https://www.eastasiangirlgang.com⁠

Eileen shares her journey from co-founding a multi-award-winning company, Cucumber Clothing, to starting her own community initiative, the East Asian Girl Gang. From overcoming the fear of public speaking to successfully shutting down a business, her story is packed with valuable lessons for anyone looking to start, grow, or pivot their own ventures. Before you read on: be sure to hit follow and get notified when we drop our latest episode.
Eileen's Upcoming event will be hosted at the prestigious Allbright UK on the 3rd of October 2024 For tickets ⁠https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/modern-beauty-culture-empowering-or-toxic-tickets-935933120157⁠
More about Eileen Co-founder of Cucumber Clothing and Founder of the East Asian Girl Gang, Eileen was born in Vancouver to Japanese parents, trained in fashion in Paris and San Francisco before settling in London working at Nicole Farhi where she helped grow the menswear brand. She launched the multi-award-winning Cucumber Clothing brand with her Co-founder in 2017 making ‘luxurious clothing for everyday’, using ultra-soft technical fabrics. She created the East Asian Girl Gang during the pandemic, an informal sisterhood and supportive space to share thoughts and experiences based on a common cultural and ethnic heritage. Eileen was 2020 Shortlisted for the 2020 Asian Woman of Achievement Awards, and is a regular speaker and runs events on female entrepreneurship/slow fashion/East Asian community and co-hosted i:entrepreneur’s Wednesday Lives series of interviews with entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds. For more information ⁠https://www.eastasiangirlgang.com⁠

This week discusses the vital difference between living in fear and pursuing your true purpose. Learn how her experiences with family and nature have helped her find balance and joy. Ideal for anyone curious about enhancing their emotional and mental well-being. Find out more on how to find your courage to be ok with the discomforts of communication to make smarter decisions.

Join Duygu and me as we dive into the world of entrepreneurship, exploring the importance of aligning work with personal values, the significance of passion in driving success, and the challenges women face in the business world. Discover how to leverage your unique story, maintain balance, and navigate the dynamics of making a meaningful impact while pursuing financial gain. Her book is available on amazon: The Playbook for Entrepreneurship Llink : https://a.co/d/hyghDJ3
About Duygu In the past 10 years, she has been advising, mentoring and angel Investing in start-up companies across various sectors. She is now working on creating a more structured programme to support women entrepreneurs and youth, and is looking for collaboration opportunities as she launches her new initiative.
I Tech Start ups I Social Impact I Senior Leadership I Innovation and Growth I Executive Coaching I Entrepreneurship I Leadership and Team-Building