How do women find their voice and claim their space in male-dominated workplaces?

We tackle questions like:

Here is What We Talk About:

➡️ Finding Your Voice: The journey from self-doubt to speaking up with confidence, especially for Asian women conditioned to stay quiet. How to prepare, practice and build the confidence to share your ideas.

➡️ Handling Idea Theft: Practical strategies for claiming credit when your ideas are stolen or repeated without acknowledgment. Ways to respectfully redirect credit while maintaining professionalism.

➡️ Creating Safe Spaces: The importance of sending the elevator down to help other women thrive. Small actions that create more inclusive environments where everyone's voice can be heard.

➡️ Responding to Bias: Understanding the choice to be a bystander, colluder, or challenger when witnessing discrimination. How to speak up against bias with kindness and respect.

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How do you thrive at work and not just survive? How do you build meaningful relationships while staying true to yourself? 

In this episode of Raw with Uma, my guest Shan Wen is an award-winning leader from Australia who initiated a mentorship program across Asia Pacific at VMware. At work, she noticed many women feeling deflated and overwhelmed, simply surviving rather than thriving. We discuss what it takes to move beyond survival mode and create environments where women can truly flourish.

Later, we hear from my friend Fatim, Managing Partner at Herbert Smith Freehills. Having moved from the UK to Singapore following her husband, she shares her journey of rebuilding her career from scratch in a new environment. She opens up about handling rejection, managing self-doubt, and finding her authentic leadership style while navigating the delicate balance of gender expectations in the workplace.

We tackle questions like:

Here is What We Talk About:

➡️ The Power of Circles: The importance of peer-to-peer mentorship and creating spaces where women can be unapologetically messy, ambitious and fabulous. Unlike friends who may hesitate to give tough feedback, these circles provide real "mirror in the face" advice.

➡️ Skills for Success: Delivering your best work requires both hard and soft skills. While technical excellence is non-negotiable, skills like owning a room, communicating with confidence, and navigating power dynamics are equally crucial for women to thrive.

➡️ Creating Inclusive Environments: Individual actions can drive systemic change. Small steps advocating for those who find it hard to speak up can create more inclusive workplaces that support caregivers and promote work-life balance.

➡️ Building Authentic Relationships: Success isn't just about technical brilliance—it's about creating trust and genuine connections. Focus on authentic networking that plays to your strengths rather than forcing yourself into uncomfortable situations.

👉 Follow me on IG: https://www.instagram.com/rawwithuma

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🤗 Be a GUEST on the SHOW https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdWgt9YzJLalqEcBSnV-QqFYokLbdmRfLGVB8Wwr92CiyvBeg/viewform

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How do you build an authentic brand identity while staying professional? How can you be vulnerable while discussing important but uncomfortable topics?

In this episode of Raw with Uma, my guest, Nicole, is an HR leader and DEI advocate from the Philippines. Nicole faced a decade-long battle with depression and took nine years before she felt ready to open up and share her story. She realized that her vulnerability didn’t just help her heal—it also helped others find hope, connect, and begin their own healing journeys.

We discuss what it takes to build a personal brand in a male-dominated industry, and how to balance vulnerability with maintaining a professional image.

We tackle questions like:

Here is What We Talk About: 

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🤗 Be a GUEST on the SHOW https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdWgt9YzJLalqEcBSnV-QqFYokLbdmRfLGVB8Wwr92CiyvBeg/viewform

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Many of us don't realize the invisible disabilities that hold our colleagues or friends back. We see them every day at work, in meetings, or grabbing coffee, but beneath the surface, some are fighting battles we can't even imagine.

My guest, Suvinder has been silently battling lupus for 25 years while climbing the corporate ladder. Her story of blood clots, brain surgery, and boardroom pressures will make you rethink what strength really looks like. I’m later joined by Benjamin Tan, the CEO of World Vision SG, whose journey as a father to twins with special needs has reshaped his entire approach to work and life.

This conversation is a wake-up call for workplaces everywhere. We uncover numerous crucial lessons that could transform how we think about disability, caregiving, and what it means to create truly inclusive environments.

We tackle important questions:

Here is What We Talk About: 

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What would you tell your 20-year-old self? 

In episode 5, I chat with Kit for the first time about what we would tell our younger selves. From worrying about validation from others to self-confidence, Kit and I talk about the layers of self-perception, workplace dynamics, and the liberating power of authenticity. 

Later Reeta joins us to talk about evolving in confidence as a young, timid girl who did whatever her parents asked, to a woman who isn’t afraid to ask questions, even when it's difficult. Vulnerability is a source of respect and growth.

How does our relationship with ourselves evolve as we age? Whether navigating your 20s, reflecting in your 40s, or thriving in your 50s and beyond, this conversation is invaluable for every stage of life.

Here’s What We Discuss: 

▶️ Advice to Your Younger Self: We touch on the importance of self-confidence, asking questions, and not seeking external validation.

▶️ The Journey to Self-Love: Learning to love yourself and becoming comfortable in your own skin,is a journey that gets better with age.

▶️ Finding Purpose Beyond Titles: Instead of defining yourself by your title, align your identity with your values and purpose. This transformation impacts your self-perception and career choices.

▶️ The Power of Authenticity: We talk about the importance of being true to oneself, celebrating individual differences, and surrounding yourself with people who value you for who you are.

👉 Follow me on IG: https://www.instagram.com/rawwithuma

👉 Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/umathana/

🤗 Be a GUEST on the SHOW https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdWgt9YzJLalqEcBSnV-QqFYokLbdmRfLGVB8Wwr92CiyvBeg/viewform

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You’re in your 50’s, your health is failing, and you can’t sustain your career… How do you pivot?

In episode 3, I meet Mona for the first time to talk about navigating career transitions when you don’t know where to start and have no time to put yourself first.

Duncan Hewett, Former CEO of VMware in Asia Pacific, Author of “Accelerating Women,” and a trailblazer for diversity in leadership, later joins us to discuss his advice on women succeeding in the workforce.  

In our discussion, we tackle: 

▶️ The Confidence Gap: Women often underestimate their talents and experience, tending to wait until feeling "fully prepared" before pursuing new opportunities. Duncan emphasizes this as "the number one challenge" he's observed over 20 years of supporting women in tech. 

▶️ The Struggle of Work-Life Integration: Women face considerable difficulty managing work-life balance, especially while managing a household. We have a tendency to self-impose high standards and pressure to perform, leading to burnout and limiting career vision. 

▶️ Lack of Diverse Leadership: The scarcity of women in senior roles makes it challenging to visualize career progression without relatable role models.

▶️ Stepping Out of The Sticky Floor: Women's inner voice can be both a "superpower" for growth and a source of self-doubt. We discuss strategies to harness this internal dialogue positively, encouraging women to recognize their value and take calculated risks in their careers.

👉 Follow me on IG: https://www.instagram.com/rawwithuma

👉 Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/umathana/

🤗 Be a GUEST on the SHOW https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdWgt9YzJLalqEcBSnV-QqFYokLbdmRfLGVB8Wwr92CiyvBeg/viewform

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You’re in your 50’s, your health is failing, and you can’t sustain your career… How do you pivot?