From a 15-year career at Procter & Gamble to taking a 4 year career pause to be a stay-home-mom to building ConnectOne, a company that helps high-growth startups find and develop their teams — Elena Chow has spent decades helping others build meaningful careers, all while raising four children and navigating her own seasons of work and motherhood.

In this episode, I sit down with Elena, who shares her rare honesty about the paradox of being around but not present, what “balance” really looks like in different seasons of life, and why sometimes, the bravest thing a woman can do is pause.

Elena opens up about stepping away from corporate life, starting over as an entrepreneur in her 40s, and how faith, community, and purpose guided her through each transition. As a recruiter and pioneer member of the Portfolio Careers Asia group, she also shares her candid advice for mothers today — whether you’re taking a break, returning to work, or exploring a more flexible, fractional path.

As a mother, founder, and mentor to many, Elena reminds us that having it all doesn’t mean doing it all — it means understanding the season you’re in, and choosing what matters most in it.

In this heartfelt conversation, we explored:

💼 How Elena pivoted from corporate to entrepreneurship — and built Connect One from scratch

🧭 What it means to “fake it till you make it” with courage and humility

👩‍👧‍👧 The hardest lesson about being present as a working mom

💬 Why there’s no such thing as perfect work-life balance — only shifting seasons

✨ How women can thrive in today’s world of fractional work, portfolio careers, and flexible opportunities

—-----------------------------------------------

Chapters:

00:00 Debunking Work-Life Balance Myths

01:01 Introduction

03:14 How She Knew It Was Time to Leave Corporate

07:56 The Hardest Part of Being a Mom-Entrepreneur

16:08 What She Wishes She Knew Earlier

24:52 The Unexpected Way Her Kids Learned

26:25 Why Volunteering Changed Everything

27:16 The Trips That Shifted Her Family’s Worldview

31:06 The Truth About Career Pivots for Moms

42:21 The One Thing Moms Returning to Work Must Hear

—-----------------------------------------------

Connect with Elena here:

👋 ConnectOne: https://www.connectone.com.sg/

👋 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenachow/

👋 Join Portfolio Careers Asia group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14287306

Watch more:

When You Show Up Anyway: A Mother’s Story of Loss and Leadership - Maria Li: https://youtu.be/Pwv8XfGJp9A

Navigating Life's Transitions With Belief - Sarah Wong | On The Soft Power Project: https://youtu.be/H2Lb05Awnm8

Parenthood Across 10 Countries: The Village Every Parent  Needs - Marina Lopes: https://youtu.be/hDMbVn725uA

29 Weeks Too Soon: Motherhood, Identity, and Building Something Radically New: https://youtu.be/Yau2wLUNS5U?si=srWjlnBhnBKuqZ9o

Follow and connect with Sarah & Make It Work! ⁠https://linktr.ee/makeitwork.podcast⁠

📷 ⁠Instagram:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/makeitwork.asia/

💼⁠LinkedIn⁠: https://www.linkedin.com/company/make-it-work-asia-podcast/

🎵 ⁠Facebook⁠: https://www.facebook.com/people/Make-It-Work/61566472637714/

🍏Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/make-it-work/id1701442085

🎵Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/78ulY0B27nYxGB6jPCABPI?si=abfc48d037d943be

📥⁠Email⁠: [email protected]

Join our free ⁠Mommas Making It Work whatsapp community⁠ to find a group of like-minded mommas: 

https://bit.ly/MIWcommunity

—-------------------------------

🧡 Please share your feedback on our video conversation in the comments box👏👏

💙 Help us make quality interviews by leaving a comment

#WorkingMoms #CareerTransitions #FractionalCareers #WomenInLeadership #MakeItWorkPodcast #WorkingMom #FutureOfWork

What happens when a tech leader, mother of two, and expat in Singapore decides to redefine what “having it all” really means? From leading one of Asia’s most prominent startup platforms through an acquisition — to navigating miscarriage, maternity, and mom guilt — Maria Li, COO of Tech in Asia, has lived through the highs and heartbreaks of making both career and motherhood work.

In this episode, I sit down with Maria Li, who moved from Silicon Valley to Singapore eight years ago, expecting to stay for a year or two. But somewhere between building a company, building a family, and building a village, Singapore became home. 🇸🇬

Maria opens up about the reality behind the title — what it means to lead through loss, to parent with purpose, and to show up authentically at work when life feels anything but perfect. She shares how community support, flexible work, and honest leadership helped her find balance in the chaos.

As a mother and leader, Maria is rewriting the playbook for working women everywhere — reminding us that “having it all” isn’t about doing it all, but about choosing what matters most.

In this heartfelt conversation, we explored:

💼 How motherhood reshapes your leadership and priorities at work

💬 Why being authentic at work makes you a stronger, not weaker, leader

👩‍👧‍👦The tradeoffs she has had to make to prioritize family in this season

💔 How Maria navigated a miscarriage while leading her company through an acquisition

✨ Why redefining “having it all” starts with owning your trade-offs and your truth

—----------------------------------------------------------------

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

01:23 Meet Maria Li: COO and Mom of Two

03:05 How Singapore became home in ways she never expected.

06:46 What Maria learned about asking for help.

10:41 How becoming a mom reshaped her work — and herself.

23:27 Why stepping away might be the smartest move you make.

24:16 What employers really think about moms returning to work

27:59 How Maria learned to trade perfection for peace.

32:21 The surprising lesson her kids taught her about leadership.

37:20 The advice every ambitious woman needs to hear.

—--------------------------------------------------------------

Connect with Maria here:

👋 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariasli/

👋 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marialiiiii/

Get to know Maria Li and her work:

👉 https://share.google/AQD31CHB0ZBiPJpzZ

👉 https://share.google/tdvJ2FIGP206UK7mG

👉 https://share.google/37LILv0l0Vdj39KXd

👉 https://www.techinasia.com/video/unfiltered-maria-li-coo-tech-asia

Watch more:

29 Weeks Too Soon: Motherhood, Identity, and Building Something Radically New: https://youtu.be/Yau2wLUNS5U?si=srWjlnBhnBKuqZ9o

From Stay-At-Home to Single Working Mom: What Divorce Taught Me with Sherry Fang: https://youtu.be/pw6r_MizOuI?si=Ykt0wLV_YBToMWdhHow This Mom Built a Million-Dollar Brand with Zero Marketing - Cheryl Yeo: https://youtu.be/Gz0dPLB74BM?si=9OpJFlCE-AAy0rFy

SME vs Big Tech: Why Small Might Be The BEST Career Move! - Louisa Lee: https://youtu.be/7pSNn8KZMZ0?si=Y2vWnNJrSvobwpdE

Follow and connect with Sarah & Make It Work! ⁠https://linktr.ee/makeitwork.podcast⁠

📷 ⁠Instagram:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/makeitwork.asia/

💼⁠LinkedIn⁠: https://www.linkedin.com/company/make-it-work-asia-podcast/

🎵 ⁠Facebook⁠: https://www.facebook.com/people/Make-It-Work/61566472637714/

🍏Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/make-it-work/id1701442085

🎵Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/78ulY0B27nYxGB6jPCABPI?si=abfc48d037d943be

📥⁠Email⁠: [email protected]

Join our free ⁠Mommas Making It Work whatsapp community⁠ to find a group of like-minded mommas: 

https://bit.ly/MIWcommunity

—-------------------------------

#MakeItWorkPodcast #WomenInLeadership #WorkingMoms #WomenInTech #FemaleLeaders #WomenEmpowerment #SingaporeMoms #CareerMoms #CareerGrowth #LeadershipJourney

Working mothers, career transitions, and the power of becoming — Sarah Wong joins Sherry Fang on the Soft Power Project for an honest conversation about navigating uncertainty, motherhood, and identity. 🌱

In this special episode, the mic flips — and this time, I’m the one being interviewed. 🎙️ Sherry invited me to open up about the messy but transformative seasons of my life: moving countries while pregnant, juggling family responsibilities with career shifts, and rediscovering who I was when nothing seemed stable. These were the moments that looked like chaos on the outside — but in hindsight, they were shaping me from the inside out. And also laid the foundation for the Make It Work podcast!

In this heartfelt conversation, we talk about:

👩‍👧‍👦 How becoming a mum shook up everything I thought I knew about who I was and what mattered most.

🌊 The shaping role of my faith in a season of uncertainty 

💡 Why feeling “lost” can actually be the most powerful season of growth.

❤️ How I’m reshaping the way I speak to my children about who they are, not just what they’ll do.

🕊️ The surprising truth about boundaries, Sabbath, and modeling rest for the next generation.

This episode is for anyone balancing career transitions, family life, and the constant juggle of being a working mom — or anyone who’s ever looked around at the chaos and wondered if it could lead to something more. If you’ve ever felt caught between roles, pulled by change, or unsure of your next step, this conversation is a reminder that you’re not alone.

—------------------------------------------

Chapters:00:00 Introduction

01:58 Welcome to Soft Power Project

02:58 When Life Changes Direction

14:08 The Therapeutic Power of Podcasting

21:29 How Do You Create When Life Doesn’t Slow Down?

22:08 Why Your Wins Matter More Than You Think

23:34 Why Soft Power Matters More Than Ever

26:24 Are Your Boundaries Helping or Holding You Back?

35:12 The Next Chapter: Letting Go to Move Forward

—------------------------------------------

Follow Sherry here:

👋 Executive Plus Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1xDeKFTTBH45GUbZL77V5G?si=1T26Ifd9QfaWPPnT_EFgGA

👋 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/tw/podcast/soft-power-project/id1795635125👋 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SoftPowerProject

👋 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soft_power_project

👋 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sherryfang83/ 

Follow and connect with Sarah & Make It Work! ⁠https://linktr.ee/makeitwork.podcast⁠

📷 ⁠Instagram:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/makeitwork.asia/

💼⁠LinkedIn⁠: https://www.linkedin.com/company/make-it-work-asia-podcast/

🎵 ⁠Facebook⁠: https://www.facebook.com/people/Make-It-Work/61566472637714/

🍏Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/make-it-work/id1701442085

🎵Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/78ulY0B27nYxGB6jPCABPI?si=abfc48d037d943be

📥⁠Email⁠: [email protected]

Join our free ⁠Mommas Making It Work whatsapp community⁠: 

https://bit.ly/MIWcommunity

—-------------------------------

#MakeItWorkPodcast #TheSoftPowerProject #WorkingMoms #MotherhoodJourney #CareerTransitions #Identity #WomenInLeadership #WorkLifeBalance #Resilience #PersonalGrowth #MotherhoodUnfiltered #PodcastGuest #FutureOfWork #Inspiration

From Stay-At-Home to Single Working Mom: What Divorce Taught Me (That I Never Saw Coming): https://youtu.be/pw6r_MizOuI?si=tjv3ApPNuKX5B3E5Parenthood Across 10 Countries: The Village Every Parent Needs - Marina Lopes: https://youtu.be/hDMbVn725uA?si=rOV7qljsePBkfWKZ29 Weeks Too Soon: Motherhood, Identity, and Building Something Radically New - Luanne Poh: https://youtu.be/Yau2wLUNS5U?si=KVPYE4CBI9IQPBjd

What happens when a journalist travels to 10 different countries, across cultures and continents, to gather the best lessons about parenting? From the way Swedish parents share the mental load, to the way Brazilian grandmothers descend on a new mother’s hospital room, to the way Mozambican villages raise children as a community — each culture holds a piece of wisdom that challenges how we think about raising the next generation.

In this episode, I sit down with Marina Lopes — longtime journalist, foreign correspondent for The Washington Post, and most recently the author of Please Yell At My Kids. In her book, Marina does just that: capturing stories and insights from around the world to reframe how we think about parenting and community.

For Marina, this journey began with her own contrasting experiences: an emergency C-section in Brazil, surrounded by forty relatives and neighbors in the hospital room… and later, the complete isolation of raising her second baby during COVID in the United States. 🌍💔

As a Brazilian-American married to an Asian-American diplomat, Marina has witnessed how families around the world nurture children, share responsibility, and create belonging. Her book reminds us that parenting was never meant to be done alone — and that building our “village” may be the most important parenting skill of all.

In this intimate conversation, we explored:

👶 Why the “rosy” picture of motherhood can leave first-time moms feeling broken

🌍 What cultures from Brazil to Mozambique can teach us about raising children together

💡 How to split the “mental load” in marriage without resentment

🤱 Why your second child can sometimes heal the traumas of the first

💛 Why building your “village” might be the most important parenting skill of all

—-------------------------

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

01:24 Welcome to Make It Work

03:12 Covering Headlines While Navigating Home Life

06:03 Motherhood Struggles No One Talks About

13:25 What Parenting Across 10 Countries Taught Me

26:13 Why Moms Get Stuck in the Cycle of Frustration

27:23 Marriage Isn’t 50/50 — So What Works Instead?

29:13 Is Modern Life Killing Our Sense of Community?

37:51 Working Mom or Just Mom? The Identity Tug-of-War

48:25 Why Parents Can’t Survive Without a Village

—-----------------------------------

Connect with Marina here:

👋 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marinalopes1/

👋 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marinalopesauthor/

👋Purchase Book ‘Please Yell At My Kids’: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/marina-lopes/please-yell-at-my-kids/9780306834417/?fbclid=PAT01DUANAssdleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABp63kJM3AhmsWu96m7Y6kf4eAaOxsqIUe6gauPOSkRvyry4jrZLv_OVfU_rlV_aem_7Zz03NqkzG-UImCA6Y03pw

Follow and connect with Sarah & Make It Work! ⁠https://linktr.ee/makeitwork.podcast⁠

📷 ⁠Instagram:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/makeitwork.asia/

💼⁠LinkedIn⁠: https://www.linkedin.com/company/make-it-work-asia-podcast/

🎵 ⁠Facebook⁠: https://www.facebook.com/people/Make-It-Work/61566472637714/

🍏Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/make-it-work/id1701442085

🎵Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/78ulY0B27nYxGB6jPCABPI?si=abfc48d037d943be

📥⁠Email⁠: [email protected]

Join our free ⁠Mommas Making It Work whatsapp community⁠ to find a group of like-minded mommas: 

https://bit.ly/MIWcommunity

—-------------------------------

Stay tuned to our channel for more 🌟

➤ Thank you for your support!🧡💙

#MillennialParents #MotherhoodUnfiltered #ParentingCommunity #MotherhoodJourney #WorkingMoms #ParentingRealTalk #WorkLifeBalance #MotherhoodTruths #MotherhoodStories #MakeItWorkPodcast #ModernMotherhood

A pregnancy loss after a long journey of fertility struggles. And then her twins were born at just 29 weeks. And all this whilst building Singapore’s first of its kind artspace for children. 

Luanne Poh, co-founder of The Artground in Singapore and mom to twin girls, has lived through the quiet struggles that many working mothers never speak aloud.

For years, she juggled a high-pressure career in the arts at the Esplanade 🎭 while enduring the heartbreak of fertility challenges. A single pink line on a test changed everything—forcing her to confront the question: Was the way she was working destroying her dreams of building her own family?

Leaving behind a decade-long career, Luanne stepped into the unknown - eventually co-founding Singapore’s first multidisciplinary children’s arts center and embracing a different kind of leadership: one shaped by motherhood, creativity, and resilience. All while parenting premature babies born at 29 weeks. If you’re juggling the balance between ambition, identity, and parenting, this episode is for you. 

In this intimate conversation, we explored:

👩‍👧‍👧 What if you’ve only been a mom for as long as your child has been alive?

💔 How do you navigate the guilt, anger, and heartbreak of fertility struggles?

⚖️ Can you really walk away from a dream career for the chance at motherhood?

😰 Why does parenting feel more precious—and yet more pressurizing—than ever before?

🎨 How can creativity and art become bridges between parents and children?

—----------------------------------------------------------------

Chapters:

00:00 “Mommy, you’ve only been a mom for 6 years”

01:30 Welcome to Make It Work

04:39 What happened after that pink line?

08:26 Why we started The Artground (and what it means to families)

14:58 How do you parent with love and limits?

24:01 Screen time rules: what works (and what doesn’t)

26:02 The unexpected rule that replaced screen time

30:15 What balance really looks like behind closed doors

33:47 Parenting preemies: the hardest and most precious lessons

39:26 The secret every flexible mom knows

—----------------------------------------------------------------

Connect with Luanne here:

👋 Website: https://www.theartground.com.sg

👋 The Artground Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theartground/

------------------------------------------------------------------

Follow and connect with Sarah & Make It Work! ⁠https://linktr.ee/makeitwork.podcast⁠

📷 ⁠Instagram:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/makeitwork.asia/

💼⁠LinkedIn⁠: https://www.linkedin.com/company/make-it-work-asia-podcast/

🎵 ⁠Facebook⁠: https://www.facebook.com/people/Make-It-Work/61566472637714/

🍏Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/make-it-work/id1701442085

🎵Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/78ulY0B27nYxGB6jPCABPI?si=abfc48d037d943be

📥⁠Email⁠: [email protected]

Join our free ⁠Mommas Making It Work whatsapp community⁠ to find a group of like-minded mommas: 

https://bit.ly/MIWcommunity

—-------------------------------

Stay tuned to our channel for more 🌟

➤ Thank you for your support!🧡💙
#MillennialParents #FertilityStruggles #MotherhoodJourney #WorkingMoms #ParentingRealTalk #WorkLifeBalance #MotherhoodTruths #ParentingCommunity #MakeItWorkPodcast #FertilityJourney

Sherry Fang, mom to an 11-year-old and based in Taiwan, has worn many hats—from stay-at-home mom to single mom, executive coach, podcaster, and brand specialist. At 35, her life was turned upside down by a painful divorce and the bold decision to start her own consultancy. Despite experiencing what she called a “violent year”, Sherry pushed forward with no formal business plans or prior experience to launch her consultancy and two impactful podcasts: The Executive Plus (Apple & Spotify Top 50 podcast with >1.3 million downloads), and The Soft Power Project, which explores the powerful transformations women undergo when they combine strength with softness.

In this intimate conversation, we talked about:

👥 Can you build a career from nothing 

💔 What if divorce and launching a company in the same year was the breakthrough you didn’t see coming?

👩‍👦 Is time the only measure of motherhood—or is independence the gift we don’t talk about?

😢 What changes when you stop hiding and let yourself feel everything?

🎨 What if the “right path” never felt right—because you were meant to create something entirely your own?

—-------------------------------------------------------------

Chapters:

00:00 What divorce taught me (that I never expected)

01:21 Welcome to Make It Work

01:59 Is life truly "starting over again and again"?

03:58 The "violent" year: Divorce, business, and transformation 

07:39 What coaching revealed to me (it’s not what you think)

24:40 Why believe less, celebrate less?

25:16 How I juggle motherhood/career

30:08 Being a top podcaster:: lessons learnt

36:54 What is Soft Power all about?

—------------------------------------------------------------

Follow Sherry here:

👋 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1xDeKFTTBH45GUbZL77V5G?si=1T26Ifd9QfaWPPnT_EFgGA

👋 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/tw/podcast/soft-power-project/id1795635125👋 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SoftPowerProject

👋 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soft_power_project

👋 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sherryfang83/ 

Watch more:

Unexpectedly Flourishing: The Unforeseen Benefits of a Career Downshift with Sharon Fan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtoRL21T2vc

How This Mom Built a Million-Dollar Brand with Zero Marketing - Cheryl Yeo: https://youtu.be/Gz0dPLB74BM?si=9OpJFlCE-AAy0rFy

SME vs Big Tech: Why Small Might Be The BEST Career Move! - Louisa Lee: https://youtu.be/7pSNn8KZMZ0?si=Y2vWnNJrSvobwpdE

Children' s Book Author: Why The Stories We Tell Our Kids And Ourselves-Matter: https://youtu.be/PhWeM3XZQC0?si=WS3Emu0XroWHfQ4g

How to Design a Calm Home (And Life) That Actually Works for Your Family! - Winnie Tam : https://youtu.be/iPBCdz6oq74?si=U5DAaa27SjMFumNE

Follow and connect with Sarah & Make It Work! ⁠https://linktr.ee/makeitwork.podcast⁠

📷 ⁠Instagram:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/makeitwork.asia/

💼⁠LinkedIn⁠: https://www.linkedin.com/company/make-it-work-asia-podcast/

🎵 ⁠Facebook⁠: https://www.facebook.com/people/Make-It-Work/61566472637714/

🍏Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/make-it-work/id1701442085

🎵Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/78ulY0B27nYxGB6jPCABPI?si=abfc48d037d943be

📥⁠Email⁠: [email protected]

Join our free ⁠Mommas Making It Work whatsapp community⁠: 

https://bit.ly/MIWcommunity

—-------------------------------

Stay tuned to our channel for more 🌟

➤ Thank you for your support!🧡💙

🧡 Please share your feedback on our video conversation in the comments box👏👏

💙 Help us make quality interviews by leaving a comment 

(stay-at-home mom, working mom, single mom, divorce, executive coach, communications coach, podcaster, personal branding, motherhood and career, work-life balance, female leadership, parenting tips, women entrepreneurs, career transition, branding strategy, mompreneur)

#MakeItWorkPodcast #Divorce #WorkingMomLife #WomenInBusiness #CareerChange #SingleMomJourney #PersonalGrowth #ExecutiveCoach #PodcastInterview #MentalHealth #PersonalGrowth #MomReinvented #BossMomLife

In this special episode, the tables were turned and the mic was on me this time, as I joined career coach and HR guru Adrian Tan on The Adrian Tan Show to unpack the messy, beautiful journey that led to my own personal and professional transformation as well as the birth of the Make It Work Podcast. 👩‍👧‍👦✨

In this raw, honest conversation, I dive into:

🎙️ Redefining Purpose: How becoming a mum reshaped everything I thought I knew about success

🔄 The Pivot Point: Why the biggest career shifts often begin with deep personal transformation

🎨 Portfolio Life: My journey into crafting a career that’s part-time CEO, part-podcaster, part-community-builder
🤝 Power of Community: Real strategies for leaning on your tribe when everything feels up in the air
💌 Letter to Younger Me: The advice I wish I’d had before those first steps into motherhood and entrepreneurship

Tune in for unfiltered reflections, actionable insights, and the reassurance that none of us have it all figured out—and that’s exactly where the magic happens. I hope it inspires you in your journey! 

Connect with Adrian here:

👋 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-adrian-tan-show/

👋 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tanadrian18/

👋 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AdrianTan18

—-------------------------------

Chapters

01:55 What’s This Interview All About?

02:36 Introduction To The Adrian Tan Show

03:02 Who is Sarah Wong, Really?

03:56 Sarah's Portfolio Career

04:38 Can You Truly Be Present at Work and Home?

05:24 What Snapped Sarah Onto a Different Path?

13:16 Starting the Podcast Journey

16:37 What's the Real Grind of Podcasting?

21:22 Why is Mentorship Crucial for Women in Tech?

23:03 How Do You Launch a Successful Mentorship Initiative?

24:12 What Support Do Mothers Truly Need?

25:28 What Are the Hidden Rules of Effective Networking?

30:36 How Do You Master Personal and Professional Demands?

31:02 Is 'Sabbath' the Ultimate Productivity Hack?

34:01 What Fuels Daily Energy and Focus?

39:20 What Would You Tell Your Younger, Ambitious Self?

—-------------------------------

Join our free ⁠Mommas Making It Work whatsapp community⁠: 

https://tinyurl.com/miwgroup

Follow and connect with us! ⁠https://linktr.ee/makeitwork.podcast⁠

 We’d love to hear any feedback, comments, or suggestions from you.

📷 ⁠Instagram:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/makeitwork.asia/

🎵Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/78ulY0B27nYxGB6jPCABPI?si=abfc48d037d943be

🍏Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/make-it-work/id1701442085

💼⁠LinkedIn⁠: https://www.linkedin.com/company/make-it-work-asia-podcast/

📥⁠Email⁠: [email protected]

—-------------------------------

💙 You can help us make another new video by leaving a comment

Keywords:

(Working mothers, Women in leadership, Flexible work, 4-day work week, Mompreneur, Female co-founder, Rediscovering identity, Motherhood and career, Personal growth, Empowering women, Small business journey, Balancing family and business, Purpose-driven leadership, Self-worth and confidence, Podcast for Moms, Portfolio Careers Asia, Career Journey, Motherhood)

#MakeItWorkPodcast #WorkingMom #WomenInBusiness #MomBoss #PurposeDriven #WorkLifeBalance #MotherhoodUnfiltered #LeadershipJourney #FemaleFounder #FlexWork #BuildYourVoice #EmpoweredWomen #OwnYourStory #FromSupportToLeader #RedefiningSuccess #FamilyMotto #PodcastForMoms #inspiration #Healthcare #Podcasts #Portfolio #Career #CareerJourney #job

🎉 SPECIAL PROMO 🎉 Enjoy 10% OFF all products from iAM health! Just use the code “MAKEITWORK10” at checkout.

Listen to  the remarkable journey of Dr. Cheryl Yeo, who transitioned from a stable career in a lab to building a thriving health supplement company while navigating the complexities of motherhood, (mostly) solo parenting, and personal growth.

We talked about:

👩‍👧 The health scare with her child that sparked a bold career shift

🚗 Hustling through side gigs (including Grab Hitch!) to fund a dream from the ground up

📉 Facing rejection, failure, and zero business background—and pushing through anyway

🧠 Why probiotics are misunderstood—and how iAM Health is changing the game with science-backed strains (especially for Asians!)

💬 Her honest advice for working moms

Dr. Cheryl Yeo, a mom of two with a PhD in Cellular Biology, worked in a lab before starting her company, iAM Health. Her decision was driven by the need for flexibility for her children and her passion for helping others through nutritional supplements. Without family in Singapore and a husband who traveled frequently, she lacked a traditional "village" support system. A scary incident involving her young son's seizure made her confront the conflict between her demanding job and her family's needs, solidifying her decision to make a change.

Today, Dr. Cheryl leads iAM Health, an award-winning health supplement company known for its high-quality, research-driven probiotic products tailored to specific health needs. Despite starting with minimal marketing expenditure, the company experienced significant organic growth, now boasting revenue over a million. Her journey highlights the power of resilience, conviction, and finding balance in the challenging intersection of entrepreneurship and motherhood.

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Chapters:

01:08 Welcome to Make It Work Podcast

01:34 Dr. Cheryl Yeo: From PhD Lab to Probiotic Powerhouse

02:03 Why a Mother Left Her Stable Lab Job for Zero Income

02:45 The Pivotal Moment That Sparked Change

03:50 Unpacking the Invisible Mental Load of Solo Parenting

07:08 How a Birthday Party Taught Cheryl to 'Let Go'

10:33 Strategic Side Hustles Paved the Way to Entrepreneurship

11:03 The Humble Beginnings of iAM Health

13:06 When Rejection Hit Hard (and 4-Star Grab Ratings Hurt More!)

15:33 Why Your Gut is the Key to 90% of Your Health

17:06 The Science Behind iAM Health's Probiotics

19:32 How iAM Health Tailors Formulas for Asia's Hidden Deficiencies

22:16  How a Celebrity Testimonial Exploded iAM Health's Growth

27:44 Life-Changing Lessons (and Tough Love Advice) for Every Working Mom

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Connect with Cheryl here:

👋 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamhealth.live/

👋 Website: iamhealth.live

Follow and connect with Sarah & Make It Work! ⁠https://linktr.ee/makeitwork.podcast⁠

💼⁠LinkedIn⁠: https://www.linkedin.com/company/make-it-work-asia-podcast/

📷 ⁠Instagram:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/makeitwork.asia/

🎵 ⁠TikTok⁠: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@makeitwork.podcast⁠

🍏Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/make-it-work/id1701442085

🎵Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/78ulY0B27nYxGB6jPCABPI?si=abfc48d037d943be

📥⁠Email⁠: [email protected]

Join our free ⁠Mommas Making It Work whatsapp community⁠: https://bit.ly/MIWcommunity

In this episode, we explore what it really looks like to grow a business, raise a family, and reclaim your identity along the way.

We talk about:

🌱 Raising children and a business at the same time

💡 Why workplace flexibility isn’t a luxury—it’s essential for working moms

💼 How a 4-day work week can support mothers returning to work

🧭 The years she felt like a “vice captain” in her own business—and how she reclaimed her voice

😮‍💨 The power of learning how to breathe right (yes, really!)

👶🏼 How motherhood shaped her leadership in unexpected ways

🌟 Why Louisa believes you can do it all—and do it well

For over a decade, Louisa Lee worked quietly behind the scenes of her husband’s dental practice DP Dental —never calling herself a co-founder, even as she helped build the business from scratch.

A trained teacher by background, she didn’t plan to become an entrepreneur. But life had other ideas. While raising two boys and helping run the clinic alongside her husband, Louisa also carried the emotional load many working mothers know all too well: invisible labor, guilt, and the tension between being there for others and showing up for yourself.

That all changed the day she stopped seeing herself as the “vice captain” and stepped fully into her role as co-leader.

Today, Louisa is an award-winning entrepreneur (Entrepreneur of the Year 2017), advocate for working mothers, and champion of the 4-day work week—a structure she believes is game-changing for women navigating motherhood and career.

00:52 Welcome to Make It Work

01:03 Meet Louisa Lee: Teacher to Titan

04:27 The 4-Day Work Week: Built on Trust

09:33 Return to Work Advice for Moms: Hire for Will, Train for Skills

12:35 Find Your Fit: Why SMEs Might Be Your Best Bet

14:52 Is This Company Real? Aligning Values with Work

18:23 Myofunctional Therapy: Breathe Right, Sleep Right?

20:28 Practical Tips for Better Health

23:15 The Importance of Proper Breathing

25:50 The Dreamer, Doer, and Village: Juggling It All

28:06 When I Stopped Dimming My Light

37:27 Raising Healthy and Independent Children

39:32 Can We Have It All?

40:55 Special Offers and Promotions

Connect with Louisa here:

👋 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louisalee/

👋 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/louisalee/

👋 Website: www.dpdental.com

Follow and connect with Sarah & Make It Work! ⁠https://linktr.ee/makeitwork.podcast⁠

💼⁠LinkedIn⁠: https://www.linkedin.com/company/make-it-work-asia-podcast/

📷 ⁠Instagram:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/makeitwork.asia/

🎵 ⁠TikTok⁠: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@makeitwork.podcast⁠

🍏Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/make-it-work/id1701442085

🎵Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/78ulY0B27nYxGB6jPCABPI?si=abfc48d037d943be

📥⁠Email⁠: [email protected]

Join our free ⁠Mommas Making It Work whatsapp community⁠: https://airtable.com/app1HHdrC7pUPHIoc/pagRBdb8PU9PRXGJ9/form

If you’ve been following Make It Work, you’ll know I usually bring you stories from other mothers and other women — their pivots, their resilience, their brilliance.

But for this Mother’s Day, I did something a little different.

This episode is a poem I wrote — a slice of my heart, and an honest tribute to what motherhood has been for me. It’s about the mess, the detours, the ups and downs… and the quiet, sacred work of becoming someone new.

To every mother on that journey: this is for you. 🧡

Chapters

00:35 My Poem

#MakeItWorkPodcast #MothersDay2025 #SpokenWord #ModernMotherhood #MakeItWork #SarahWong #MotherhoodUnfiltered #ParentingPoetry