In this heartfelt conversation, Esther and Shirley sit down with Kelly-Ann Fonderson, a proud Cameroonian raised in The Hague, now working at the UN Migration Agency. Kelly-Ann shares how her grandmother’s strength, her parents’ sacrifices, and the mentors who guided her path led her from Bath University to Oxford, and ultimately to a career in global migration and development.

We talk about what it means to grow up between cultures, find belonging across borders, and hold on to your roots while navigating international spaces. Kelly-Ann opens up about searching for identity, caring for her mental health in impact-driven environments, and her ongoing work addressing gender-based violence and protection for vulnerable migrants.

From family legacy to finding purpose, this episode is a reminder that every journey is shaped by the people who believe in us — and the courage to believe in ourselves.

#IdentityAndBelonging #MoveWithPowerPodcast #WomenInDevelopment #UNStories #ThirdCultureKids #MigrationJourneys #MentorshipMatters #GlobalVoices #GenderEquality #ImpactWork #MentalHealthInImpactWork

In this episode, we sit down with Kaan Basaran, Tufts University and McKinsey alum and now co-founder of Maker’s Edge, which brings advanced AI to enterprise manufacturers to deliver data-driven workflows on the factory floor.

We explore how Kaan’s entrepreneurial upbringing shaped his drive—and how he balanced his ambition to build a company with his desire to learn management from top corporations through consulting. After studying econometrics, quantitative economics, and math at Tufts, Kaan earned his MBA from NYU Stern and spent five years at McKinsey & Company, where he specialized in strategy and operations. Today, Kaan is channeling that same analytical mindset into building his startup that reshapes traditional manufacturing.

We also dive into the origin story of Maker’s Edge, how he formed his founding team with close friends and the unique skill sets that each member brings, which have been critical to the startup's success thus far. Finally, we look ahead at what’s next—Kaan’s vision for the future of manufacturing, the mindset shifts that come with being a founder, and how he’s redefining balance and purpose along the way.

#Startups #Entrepreneur #Consulting #Tech #Manufacturing

In this week's episode, we learn all about how our special guest, Crystalina Guo, grew from a quiet middle child in high school to Class President of Wellesley College 2020, and later into the Chief of Staff at both Equi and Capital One. 

Crystalina shares how her early years impacted her passion for building supportive communities, how she found her voice and confidence, and how these personal values translate to the workplace in a central role such as the Chief of Staff. 

We break down what the Chief of Staff role really is, how it differs from the “bottom up” nature of business operations, and how those who hold it can effectively define the role for themselves. We also discuss the importance of “soft skills” — how empathic relationship building became central to her success.

Today, Crystalina enters her next chapter by pursuing an MBA at Wharton to progress her career from operator to investor, with long-term sights on entrepreneurship. We close with reflections on leadership, mental health, and the importance and pathways to creating space for others to rise.

#PersonalGrowth #MentalHealth #Women #Workplace #Careers 

In this candid conversation, Carol Wang joins Esther and Shirley to reflect on the winding road of her 20s—from a global upbringing across Asia to a career in real estate investing. Raised between Shenzhen, Singapore, and Vancouver, Carol shares how her multicultural background shaped her independence and resilience. She opens up about working in real estate investing, finding her voice in a high-pressure industry, and learning to balance ambition with joy through grounding hobbies like ballet and book club.

What makes this episode especially powerful is Carol’s honesty about walking away from a toxic relationship and navigating the emotional aftermath. Through therapy, journaling, and wisdom from voices like Mel Robbins and Jay Shetty, Carol began rebuilding her confidence, identifying dealbreakers, and learning how to choose peace over chaos.

Whether you’re recovering from burnout, ending a relationship, or simply learning how to show up for yourself again, Carol’s story reminds us that healing is not linear—and you're not alone. She also shares favorite resources like the “Let Them” theory, offering practical tools and emotional truth for anyone ready to start over, stronger.

#LifeInYour20s #HealingJourney #ToxicRelationshipRecovery #MelRobbins #JayShettyWisdom #MentalHealthMatters #PersonalGrowth #RealTalk #PowerfulWomen #Boundaries #SelfLove #MoveWithPower

In this candid catch‑up episode, Shirley and Esther dive into the twists, turns, and milestones of life in our late 20s. Esther shares stories from her travels through South America, and talks about her next big chapter—moving to London for graduate school. Shirley opens up about the joy of her engagement and her gradual shift toward living more in the moment: embracing spontaneity, slowing down, making space for her hobbies, and finding a better balance between time with friends and time for herself.

We wrap things up with a lively rapid‑fire Q&A, swapping spontaneous questions that took us from lighthearted laughs to deeper reflections. Whether you’re navigating big life changes yourself or just love listening to friends talk about love, travel, and the pursuit of dreams, this episode will feel like joining us at the table.

#LifeInYour20s #EngagementStories #PodcastCatchUp #FriendshipGoals #TravelAndLife #MentalHealth #PersonalDevelopment #RapidFireQuestions

In our very first Q&A episode, we're diving into some of the big, messy, and meaningful questions about life and career. We’re opening up about our own journeys—navigating job transitions, dealing with doubts around success, and figuring out how to define it on our own terms. On the personal side, we explore what it means to juggle multiple identities and how to handle that creeping feeling of falling behind when everyone around us seems to be hitting milestones. It’s honest, real, and a little bit vulnerable—don’t miss this special conversation!

#PersonalDevelopment #MentalHealth #Careers #PersonalGrowth

In this episode of Move with Power, we sit down with Daffy Hristova, a seasoned digital artist whose work has brought some of the most visually stunning films to life—including Disney’s The Jungle Book, Gladiator II, and Avatar: The Way of Water.

Born in Bulgaria, Daffy moved to London to chase her dream in visual and digital arts. Over the years, she’s contributed to world-class production teams, mastering the craft of digital sculpting, SubD modeling, texturing, lighting, and more.

But we’re not catching her in a studio—we’re speaking with her while she’s on a creative sabbatical in Thailand, part of a global journey that’s taken her from South America to Southeast Asia. In this episode, Daffy shares why she pressed pause on her career to explore the world, how travel is reshaping her creativity, and what this break means for her long-term artistic vision.

We also dive into her thoughts on burnout, finding renewal, the future of visual effects, and what it really means to build a career—and a life—with power and intention.

🎧 Tune in for a grounded, inspiring conversation about art, ambition, and rediscovery.

#VFXArtist #WomenInFilm #DigitalArt #CreativeSabbatical #CareerPivot #BehindTheScenes #AvatarTheWayOfWater #MoveWithPower #VisualStorytelling #CreativeJourney #CGIndustry #DigitalNomadLife

In this episode, we sit down with Danielle Lee — former climate tech product manager and now founder of the Climate Action Club — to explore her journey from the high-speed world of consulting and startups to the purpose-driven nonprofit space. 

Danielle opens up about the cultural stigmas she had to confront around activism and nonprofit work, and how she redefined “impact” beyond the traditional lens of tech and investing. We dive into why climate tech innovation, while important, isn’t enough on its own — and why building spaces for community, conversation, and collective care is a critical yet often overlooked piece of the climate puzzle. 

Danielle shares how fostering community not only empowers people to act but also helps combat climate anxiety and existential dread. She also gives us a behind-the-scenes look at how she runs her nonprofit, the intention behind her biweekly meetups, and how she creates content that connects.

Whether you're navigating climate anxiety yourself or rethinking what climate action looks like, this conversation offers a deeply human and hopeful perspective.

#ClimateAction #Sustainability #NonProfit #CommunityAction #MentalHealth #ClimateTech

In this episode, Esther and Shirley sit down with Rosa Shi, a multilingual storyteller and cultural connector whose unconventional journey has taken her from corporate Beijing to the decks of a Japanese NGO's global voyage.

Born in Quanzhou, Fujian, Rosa studied Spanish at Sun Yat-sen University, where a transformative exchange year in Mexico City expanded her worldview. After completing her Master’s in Arts & Cultural Management from King’s College London during the pandemic, she began her career as a Brand Specialist in tech. But craving deeper purpose, Rosa stepped away from the corporate world to join Peace Boat, a Japan-based NGO that promotes peace, sustainability, and human rights through educational global voyages.

As a volunteer interpreter, Rosa sailed across five continents—Africa, Asia, Europe, North and South America—visiting 15 countries and crossing the equator four times. Her role as a language bridge helped Mandarin-speaking passengers connect with global communities and cultures, from city ports to remote villages.

In our conversation, Rosa shares the inspiration behind her leap of faith, the cultural lessons learned onboard, and the emotional highs and lows of traveling with a diverse international crew. She reflects on identity, growth, and mental resilience—and how leaving behind convention helped her discover a new sense of self.

We also talk about her upcoming move to Shenzhen, and how her global journey has reshaped her career aspirations and approach to life.

If you're curious about cross-cultural exchange, redefining success, and the power of human connection on the open sea—tune in to hear Rosa’s story.

#PeaceBoat #GlobalCitizenship #CulturalExchange #MentalHealth #SustainableTravel #CareerPivot #MoveWithPower

In this episode, we sit down with Quinn Underwood — serial entrepreneur, University of Toronto grad, and founder of Autumn, a groundbreaking mental health startup acquired by Qualtrics. Quinn shares his journey from growing up around small business owners to becoming a tech founder. Today, he's helping organizations rethink how they measure mental health, detect early signs of burnout, and proactively strengthen team dynamics.

We explore how he pivoted from early interests in medicine and law to launching Autumn, and how he and his team built proprietary AI models that redefined employee wellness — shifting the focus from outdated surveys to behavioral and communication-based insights. Quinn also shares what it was like transitioning from running a tight-knit startup to joining a 6,000+ person company at Qualtrics, and the key differences in strategy, execution, and leadership.

As both an entrepreneur and angel investor, Quinn dives into what makes a great founder, the anatomy of high-performing teams, and the critical role of autonomy, trust, and psychological safety in preventing burnout and unlocking peak performance.

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