From Ugandan refugee to London lawyer to Singapore's legal recruitment elite — Ashish's journey is anything but ordinary.In this episode of The Quinntessential Questions Podcast with Paul Quinn, we sit down with Ashish, a 27-year veteran of Singapore's legal recruitment scene who built his career entirely by accident.From arriving in Singapore in the pouring rain in 1999 with no job, to becoming the only man in an office full of "female killers," to surviving 9/11 layoffs and building his own business — Ashish shares the unfiltered truth about resilience, relationships, and what it really takes to succeed in recruitment.What You'll Learn:▶️ How he fell into recruitment at age 17 (his mum came upstairs crying)▶️ Why he qualified as a lawyer but never practiced a single day▶️ The "gusto" moment that changed his Singapore career forever▶️ Building personal brand over company loyalty in recruitment▶️ How the cricket club became central to his life and network▶️ What Dead Poets Society taught him about "Carpe Diem"▶️ The truth about ethical recruitment and long-term placements▶️ Why 46% of his placements come from referrals▶️ How to survive and thrive through major setbacks (9/11, recessions)▶️ Balancing family life with three daughters and being an empty nesterThis conversation is a masterclass in resilience, relationship-building, and the long game of career success from someone who has lived through Uganda's expulsion, London's legal trenches, and Singapore's transformation.ASHISHLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashish-raivadera-0546a21/Company: https://www.mlaglobal.com/enLISTEN ON SPOTIFY & APPLESpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5x98T8QSRo01reQOGVGavqApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-quinntesssential-questions-podcast-with-paul-quinn/id1764230785FOLLOW PAUL QUINNInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/quinntaipan/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulquinnofficial/FOLLOW OUR SOCIALS:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quinntessential_questions/Website: https://www.quinntessentialquestions.com/CAREER COACHINGWebsite: https://quinntessentialca.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/westport-partners-career-coaching/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westportpartnerscareercoaching/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Westport-Partners-Career-Coaching/61558129585059/TIMESTAMPS:0:00 Introduction1:48 27 Years in Singapore: The Accidental Journey3:16 Arriving in Singapore: "What Have We Done?"5:26 The Cricket Club That Changed Everything8:44 Growing Up Ugandan Asian in Leicester10:44 From Medicine to Economics: The Pivot14:44 York University and Finding His Path16:39 The Robert Walters Summer That Planted Seeds23:13 Nottingham Forest, Brian Clough & Sports Obsession26:15 The Decision to Come to Singapore31:04 Building Community Through Cricket41:35 9/11: Losing Everything and Bouncing Back51:50 Starting His Own Business at 361:03:25 The Art of Executive Search1:05:11 If He Could Start Again: Advice to His Younger Self1:07:35 Dinner with Steve Jobs, Bill Gates & Nelson Mandela1:08:54 Sales Training: What Really Works1:22:24 The Service That Sets Him Apart1:24:22 Dead Poets Society: Carpe Diem Changed Everything1:25:58 How He Recharges: Cricket, Family & Community1:26:58 Top Footballers & Cricket Players1:28:31 Gary Lineker: The Complete Package1:29:22 Productivity Hacks (Or Lack Thereof)Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any company or organisation, its affiliates, subsidiaries, partners, or employees.#LegalRecruitment #ExecutiveSearch #Singapore #UgandanAsian #CareerAdvice #Resilience #9/11Story #Recruitment #LegalIndustry #CareerPodcast #PaulQuinn #QuinntessentialQuestions #RefugeeStory #EntrepreneurJourney #BusinessSuccess

From watching his grandfather battle dementia for 17 years to becoming one of the world's youngest professional adventurers, Louis Alexander's journey is nothing short of extraordinary.At just 26 years old, Louis is a three-time Guinness World Record holder—recognised as the first and only person in history to complete both marathons on all Seven Continents AND marathon swims in all Seven Seas in 633 consecutive days. But his story begins with heartbreak, a living room conversation with his mum, and a mountain he failed to climb.In this episode of The Quinntessential Questions Podcast with Paul Quinn, we sit down with Louis Alexander to uncover the truth behind the headlines. From running 17 marathons in 17 consecutive days through the worst UK storm in 30 years, to swimming in 31°C water with severe dehydration, to stopping mid-marathon to watch a brown bear emerge from hibernation in Alaska—Louis shares the brutal reality of chasing impossible dreams.You'll discover:▶️ How his grandfather Captain Rick's unfulfilled dream of climbing Kilimanjaro sparked a 633-day world record journey▶️ Why he ran 17 marathons in 17 consecutive days (and the devastating reason behind that number)▶️ What it's like to face the worst storm in 30 years on day 2 of your career-defining challenge▶️ The truth about cold-water swimming without a wetsuit in the San Francisco Bay (Alcatraz)▶️ How he went from sending thousands of rejected cold emails to speaking at Eton College and 10 Downing Street▶️ His mission to raise £1 million for dementia research and achieve 10 world records by age 30▶️ Why stopping to appreciate a bear matters more than beating your personal record

💡 Louis doesn't just chase records. He chases meaning. And that changes everything.🎧 WATCH THE OUR OTHER EPISODEs:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjbRIxrGYDGUA9niiF7U0IOMXBMeDf81bSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5x98T8QSRo01reQOGVGavqApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-quinntesssential-questions-podcast-with-paul-quinn/id1764230785LOUIS ALEXANDERInstagram https://www.instagram.com/louisalexanderexplorer/?hl=enEmail: [email protected]: https://www.louisalexander.org/FOLLOW PAUL QUINNInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/quinntaipan/LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/paulquinnofficialFOLLOW THE QUINNTESSENTIAL QUESTIONS Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quinntessential_questions/Website: https://www.quinntessentialquestions.com/CAREER COACHINGWebsite: https://quinntessentialca.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/westport-partners-career-coaching/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westportpartnerscareercoaching/TIMESTAMPS:00:00:00 - Introduction00:02:20 - Growing Up in London: 5 Schools, 15 Houses00:03:55 - Captain Rick: 17-Year Dementia Battle00:06:17 - Kilimanjaro at 19: The Mountain That Humbled Him00:11:19 - From Temporary Mortuary Worker to Professional Adventurer00:13:32 - 17 Marathons in 17 Days: Honoring His Grandfather00:15:11 - Day 2: Worst Storm in 30 Years Hits00:17:33 - Patrons: Lennox Lewis and Adventure Legends00:29:43 - Swimming the Seven Seas: 10km Across All Seven00:33:09 - Alcatraz with No Wetsuit: Everyone Thought I Was Crazy00:35:47 - Alaska: Stopping to Watch a Brown Bear00:49:41 - Australia: 8 Marathons in 8 Cities in Under 7 Days01:00:13 - 10 Downing Street: Changing Government Policy01:02:30 - "My Goal: Become One of the Greatest Modern Day Adventurers"01:04:07 - The Mission: £1M for Dementia ResearchDisclaimer: The views and opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any company or organisation, its affiliates, subsidiaries, partners, or employees.

In this episode of The Quinntessential Questions Podcast, Paul Quinn sits down with Matthew Pellino, Boxing/MMA Coach, Entrepreneur, and Owner of Foxgloves Fight Gym in Singapore. From moving to Malaysia at 19 and taking over coaching within a month, to coaching Sean Strickland at Syndicate MMA in Las Vegas, to cornering Eric Kelly's knockout of UFC Hall of Famer Jens Pulver in Manila, Matt shares his transformation journey and philosophy on building champions.He discusses measuring coaching success by performance bonuses not records, working with extremely high-level athletes, and why Singapore has zero prize fighters. Matt also opens up about his biggest regret—stopping fighting too early—and shares powerful lessons about youth mentorship, refusing to hire amateur coaches, and building the "Home of Heavy Hands" with his wife River. Whether you're an aspiring coach, combat sports athlete, or entrepreneur building something from scratch, this conversation offers hard-won wisdom on results-driven coaching, authentic community building, and why you don't want to work for no one at 29. WATCH OUR OTHER PODCASTS: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjbRIxrGYDGUA9niiF7U0IOMXBMeDf81bMATTHEW PELLINOInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/newjabcity/?hl=enFoxgloves Fight Gym: https://foxglovesfightgym.com/LISTEN ON SPOTIFY & APPLESpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5x98T8QSRo01reQOGVGavqApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-quinntesssential-questions-podcast-with-paul-quinn/id1764230785FOLLOW PAUL QUINNInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/quinntaipan/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulquinnofficial/FOLLOW OUR SOCIALS:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quinntessential_questions/Website: https://www.quinntessentialquestions.com/CAREER COACHINGWebsite: https://quinntessentialca.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/westport-partners-career-coaching/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westportpartnerscareercoaching/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Westport-Partners-Career-Coaching/61558129585059/TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Introduction & Hook: $750K in bonuses(01:40) Matt's Christmas training & loud coaching voice(02:21) Dad was an American football coach - origins of loud coaching(03:03) Who is Matt Pellino: Entrepreneur, MMA coach, 15 years coaching(03:25) Growing up in Florida: Most competitive football state(08:43) Moving to Malaysia at 19 years old alone(09:07) Taking over gym coaching within one month with Luke Russo(09:47) Knocking out UFC Hall of Famer Jens Pulver in Manila(51:48) Vegas success: $750K in UFC performance bonuses explained(53:34) How Foxgloves came about: Wife's idea & "sag" philosophy(55:22) The poisonous plant story behind Foxgloves name(56:42) "Home of Heavy Hands" - building gym culture(1:13:42) Why Singapore has zero prize fighters(1:15:09) Refusing to hire amateur coaches - protecting quality(1:17:02) Boxing ring in pool 24 floors up: March 28th at Dashi Sky PoolDisclaimer: The views and opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any company or organisation, its affiliates, subsidiaries, partners, or employees.#SeanStrickland #UFC #Boxing #MMA #ONEChampionship #JensPulver #EricKelly #JoanneCalderwood #FoxglovesBoxingGym #Singapore #CombatSports #MartialArts #Coaching #Entrepreneurship #PaulQuinn #QuinntessentialQuestions

In this episode of The Quinntessential Questions Podcast, Paul Quinn sits down with Kevin Iole, legendary combat sports journalist and 2025 International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee. From being the first person in his family to go to college in Pittsburgh to covering the greatest fights in boxing and MMA history for 46 years, Kevin shares his extraordinary journey through the world of combat sports.

He discusses meeting Muhammad Ali ("like I saw God"), sitting ringside when Mike Tyson bit Evander Holyfield's ear, why Mayweather-Pacquiao was "our Ali-Frazier" moment for modern journalists, and the heartbreak of covering seven fighters who died in the ring. Kevin also opens up about hanging up on Mike Tyson (thinking it was a prank call), surviving a plane crash with Bob Arum en route to covering De La Hoya vs Vargas, being confronted by Steve Jobs at an Apple Store, and finding Diego Corrales dead two years to the day after his greatest triumph.

Whether you're a combat sports fan, aspiring journalist, or anyone pursuing a non-traditional career path, this conversation offers hard-won wisdom on storytelling, resilience, and witnessing history firsthand. Let's explore what's "Inside the mind of a Boxing Hall of Fame Journalist".

WATCH OUR OTHER PODCASTS: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjbRIxrGYDGUA9niiF7U0IOMXBMeDf81b

KEVIN IOLE

 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-iole-526b75200/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keviniole/?hl=en Website: keviniole.com

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CAREER COACHING

Website: https://quinntessentialca.com

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westportpartnerscareercoaching/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Westport-Partners-Career-Coaching/61558129585059/

TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Introduction

(08:46) Meeting Muhammad Ali: "Like I Saw God"

(18:14) Boxing Hall of Fame Induction Call

(24:20) Diego Corrales vs Castillo & Finding Him Dead

(50:58) Tyson-Holyfield Ear Bite & Greatest Fights

(53:19) Mayweather-Pacquiao: "Our Ali-Frazier Moment"

(58:01) Hanging Up on Mike Tyson (Thought It Was Fake)

(01:06:21) Surviving Plane Crash with Bob Arum

(01:17:41) Steve Jobs Confrontation at Apple Store

(01:23:41) Jim Murray & Kevin's Boxing Memorabilia

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any company or organisation, its affiliates, subsidiaries, partners, or employees.

In this episode of The Quinntessential Questions Podcast, Paul Quinn sits down with Danial Lee Rocka, Naval Diver veteran turned rapper, actor, and life coach. From training combat divers in Singapore's elite forces for 10 years to serving 7 months in detention barracks for marijuana possession, Danial shares his transformation journey and the turning point that changed everything.

He discusses reading 70 self-help books in prison that nobody else touched, why he chose to record music instead of becoming a security guard the day he was released, and his mission to provide free creative education to troubled youth. Danial also opens up about working with the son of a chief of police struggling with drugs, discovering that troubled youth come from wealth AND poverty, and why attention matters more than money.

Whether you're navigating a career transition, seeking redemption after mistakes, or working with at-risk youth, this conversation offers hard-won wisdom on resilience, personal branding, and refusing to let your past define your future.

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https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjbRIxrGYDGUA9niiF7U0IOMXBMeDf81b

DANIAL LEE ROCKA

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leerocka/?hl=en

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leerocka/?originalSubdomain=sg

Website: https://leerocka.com/

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Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/sg/podcast/the-quinntesssential-questions-podcast-with-paul-quinn/id1764230785

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5x98T8QSRo01reQOGVGavq

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CAREER COACHING

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westportpartnerscareercoaching/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Westport-Partners-Career-Coaching/61558129585059/

KEY MOMENTS:

(00:00) Cold Open - Naval Diver to Purpose(01:52) Introduction - Final Podcast of the Year(03:16) Three Names: Wayne Lee, Danial, Lee Rocca(07:36) 10 Years as Naval Diver(08:15) 7 Months in Detention - The Turning Point(13:00) DMX Influence(20:57) Live Rap Performance(33:10) Reading 70 Books in Prison(42:44) First Day Out - Recording First Song(44:01) F.I.S.H. Framework for Life Coaching(53:13) Muhammad - Dedication to Deceased Friend(58:02) Biggest Acting Role - Prison Documentary(01:22:25) Troubled Youth from Different Backgrounds(01:23:38) Chief of Police's Son Story(01:27:36) Nonprofit - Free Creative Education(01:29:00) A Rising Tide Raises All Ships

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any company or organisation, its affiliates, subsidiaries, partners, or employees.

In this episode of The Quinntessential Questions Podcast, Paul Quinn sits down with Vincent Ming, CEO of a global multifamily office in Singapore. From working in Taiwan's Defense Department at 23 to leading a firm serving billionaire families, Vincent shares his unconventional journey through IT, academia, and private banking.

Vincent discusses his unique path of working for over 10 years before pursuing his PhD, spending 20 years in private banking, and why he believes AI will fundamentally change the wealth management industry. He opens up about taking three years to feel comfortable in front office roles, the conflict of interest in traditional banking, and why the future belongs to "family bankers" rather than product pushers.

Whether you're navigating a career transition, considering further education mid-career, or working in financial services, this conversation offers hard-won wisdom on preparation, leadership, and building genuine client value in an AI-driven world. Let's explore what's "Inside the mind of a CEO."

WATCH OUR OTHER PODCASTS: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjbRIxrGYDGUA9niiF7U0IOMXBMeDf81b

VINCENT MING 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-vincent-ming-68008252/

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FOLLOW PAUL QUINN

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CAREER COACHING

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westportpartnerscareercoaching/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Westport-Partners-Career-Coaching/61558129585059/

TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Introduction(02:18) Who is Vincent Ming - Entrepreneur, Banker, Professor(03:04) Growing Up in Taiwan(03:32) Family of PhDs - Vincent Was First(04:21) First Job: Taiwan Defense Department(05:26) Sent to Dallas, Texas at Age 23(06:20) Taiwan's First Aircraft Design Project(08:42) Self-Funding 5-Year PhD While Working(10:36) Theory Meets Practice Philosophy(11:44) KPMG Consulting & Entrepreneurship(12:21) Software Startup - Early Chinese NLP(13:03) Intel Investment & NASDAQ Prep(13:50) Year 2000 Dot-Com Crash(15:08) Business Risk Manager - Second Person Globally(15:33) Covering 170+ People Across Asia(18:09) "I'm Too Entrepreneur"(18:49) Introvert vs Extrovert in Banking(20:56) Taiwan Desk - Big Challenge(23:50) CEO Aspirations - Preparation Over Goals(25:10) Building Teams & Platform Skills(27:27) What Makes a Good Private Banker(29:03) Hiring for Determination Over Credentials(31:38) Private Banking Reality - 20-30 Clients for Life(35:43) Why I Left Banking(37:17) Global Multifamily Office - Serving Billionaires(38:35) No Products to Push(39:43) Opening Up Asian Market(41:39) Asia vs West Wealth Management(42:44) Generational Wealth Transfer Challenges(46:11) AI Will Take 50% of Banking Jobs(51:34) Asian Wealth Management Differences(59:56) Determination & Values in Hiring(01:01:23) Most Underrated Leadership Skill - Trust(01:06:12) Blockchain & Tokenized Assets(01:07:15) CEO KPI - Bouncing Back from Challenges(01:08:14) Leadership: Trust and Inspire(01:09:14) Sustainable Change Comes from Inside(01:13:26) AI is Already Here(01:14:46) Guest Lecturing - AI, Blockchain, Fintech(01:15:52) Philosophy & Logic Thinking(01:16:48) Daily Practice - Reprioritizing Scenarios

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any company or organisation, its affiliates, subsidiaries, partners, or employees.

ADHD, Dyslexia & the Power of Difference.

From teaching at the same school she attended for 17 years, to leaving a classroom she "couldn't walk past for five years," to discovering that "you don't rise to the level of your goals—you fall to the level of your systems."

In this episode of The Quinntessential Questions Podcast, Paul Quinn sits down with Dr. Vicki Rogers, Educational Psychologist and Founder of Champion Coaching & Consulting. From struggling as a third culture kid to earning degrees from Colorado State, Durham University, and Stanford, Dr. Rogers shares her transformation journey and the profound realization that led her to pioneer executive functioning coaching.

She discusses why executive functioning skills aren't sexy but deliver immediate results, how she "cheated her contract" by teaching skills schools don't cover, the truth about what makes smart kids scattered, why systems matter more than goals or motivation, and her direct coaching philosophy: "You gotta want it more than me."

Whether you're a parent with a "smart and scattered" kid, an educator frustrated by curriculum constraints, or a professional struggling with task initiation and organization, this episode offers science-based strategies that work across the entire learning spectrum.

DR. VICKI ROGERS

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-vicki-rameker-rogers-195ba2106/?originalSubdomain=sg

Website: https://www.ChampionMyLife.com

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FOLLOW PAUL QUINN

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CAREER COACHING

Website: https://quinntessentialca.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/westport-partners-career-coaching/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westportpartnerscareercoaching/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Westport-Partners-Career-Coaching/61558129585059/

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 - Introduction montage

01:36 - Meet Dr. Vicki Rogers

03:05 - Starting private practice before "coaching was a thing"

03:32 - "I could switch lanes but couldn't intersect lanes"

04:54 - What is executive functioning?

08:42 - Third culture kid background

11:03 - Building econometrics model on resilience

15:35 - "Not the sharpest tack in the box, but I learned habits"

16:10 - Systems over goals - James Clear quote

16:50 - Students demanding the training

17:31 - Leaving school - crisis of conscience

17:50 - "Couldn't walk past my classroom for five years"

18:32 - Knowledge economy evolution: Libraries to AI

19:50 - How kids learn now has changed

24:35 - "Not sexy but super effective"

30:21 - "You gotta show up" - minimal expectation

30:40 - "You gotta want it more than me"

32:00 - Self-efficacy definition

32:35 - "When that's hit, we are at ground zero"

33:00 - "My smart and scattered kid is not scattered anymore"

34:00 - Adding executive functioning coach to org chart

01:18:00 - Favorite quote - systems over goals

01:26:00 - Resilience is a practice, not a notion

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any company or organisation, its affiliates, subsidiaries, partners, or employees.

In this episode of The Quinntessential Questions Podcast, Paul Quinn sits down with Judit Pach, Former Ambassador of Hungary to Singapore and Indonesia, now Energy Advisor. From never wanting to be a diplomat as a child to becoming Ambassador at age 30, Judit shares her remarkable journey of unexpected opportunities and strategic reinvention.She discusses authentic leadership built on vulnerability, the reality of diplomatic life, and why reaching the top of her diplomatic career meant facing 20-25 years with no new challenge.Judit opens up about the breaking point moment sitting on her office floor crying ("I will never be able to do this"), sixfolding trade numbers between Indonesia and Hungary, securing a $300 million electronic tolling system export and announcing a $700 million euro investment, and why "I either do the change right now or later it will be even harder" led her to transition from public service to the private sector.Whether you're navigating career transitions, building authentic leadership, or questioning when success means choosing the harder path, this conversation offers hard-won wisdom on resilience, knowing when to reinvent, and why embracing what makes you different can become your greatest strength. LISTEN TO OUR OTHER PODCASTS:

Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/5x98T8QSRo01reQOGVGavqJUDIT PACH

Apple Podcasts:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-quinntesssential-questions-podcast-with-paul-quinn/id1764230785LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/judit-pach/WATCH ON YOUTUBE

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjbRIxrGYDGUA9niiF7U0IOMXBMeDf81b&si=0UZgaCu0Ewdmmzj- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5x98T8QSRo01reQOGVGavq

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-quinntesssential-questions-podcast-with-paul-quinn/id1764230785FOLLOW PAUL QUINN Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quinntaipan/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-quinn-wp1/ FOLLOW OUR SOCIALS: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quinntessential_questions/ Website: https://www.quinntessentialquestions.com/ CAREER COACHING Website: https://quinntessentialca.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/westport-partners-career-coaching/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westportpartnerscareercoaching/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Westport-Partners-Career-Coaching/61558129585059/ TIMESTAMPS:(02:38) Introduction(03:38) Career Journey(07:58) Being Selected as The Ambassador(09:53) Ambassadors: The Epitome of Generalists(12:46) Studying Economics & International Relations(15:28) Difference Between The President & Prime Minister in Hungary(17:28) Rethinking Your Wardrobe(20:03) Tackling Ageism(25:39) Improving Memory(27:28) Optics & Perception(31:53) Becoming The Chief of Staff(37:28) Seeking Counsel(39:38) Things To Do Differently(44:41) Role in Singapore(47:43) Women in Diplomacy(49:38) Becoming a Master in Big Settings(52:28) Going To The Private Sector(56:53) Mental & Physical Fitness Journey(01:03:31) Joining The Sustainability Sector(01:06:59) Advisory Work & Projects(01:08:07) Rapid Fire QuestionsDisclaimer: The views and opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any company or organisation, its affiliates, subsidiaries, partners, or employees.#Diplomacy #Ambassador #CareerTransition #Leadership #Authenticity #Hungary #Singapore #Indonesia #PublicService #EnergySector #WomenInLeadership #InternationalRelations #TradeNegotiation #CareerReinvention

In this episode of The Quinntessential Questions Podcast, Paul Quinn sits down with John Currie, COO with 37 years in banking and Chair of the Board at Pangdemonium Theatre.

From washing cash covered in butcher's meat at age 17 in small-town Galashiels, Scotland to leading 500-person teams processing 150 million calls annually, John shares his remarkable journey of ground-up leadership.

He discusses authentic leadership built on experience, process optimization where one second equals 22 jobs saved, and why "the worst case is you end up back where you were" became his risk philosophy. John opens up about the homophobic warning that sparked his LGBT advocacy ("Just to warn you, Barrie's gay"), creating safe spaces that multiply from one person to 600 people filling a theatre, sponsoring Pink Dot Singapore, and becoming Chair of Pangdemonium Theatre while maintaining his COO role.

Whether you're building your career from the ground up, leading diverse teams, or balancing multiple passions, this conversation offers hard-won wisdom on authentic leadership, corporate courage, and the power of creating safe spaces.

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LISTEN TO OUR OTHER PODCASTS:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5x98T8QSRo01reQOGVGavq

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JOHN CURRIE

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-currie-aaa9159/

Pangdemonium Theatre: https://www.pangdemonium.com/

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LISTEN ON YOUTUBE & APPLE

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjbRIxrGYDGUA9niiF7U0IOMXBMeDf81b

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-quinntesssential-questions-podcast-with-paul-quinn/id1764230785

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FOLLOW PAUL QUINN

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quinntaipan/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-quinn-wp1/

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FOLLOW OUR SOCIALS:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quinntessential_questions/

Website: https://www.quinntessentialquestions.com/

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CAREER COACHING

Website: https://quinntessentialca.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/westport-partners-career-coaching/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westportpartnerscareercoaching/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Westport-Partners-Career-Coaching/61558129585059/

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TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Introduction

(10:55) Sales philosophy: People buy people first

(16:24) Creating safe spaces - the Heathrow Express breakthrough

(21:11) Sponsoring Pink Dot Singapore

(21:49) Tango production: 600 people from the LGBT community

(22:38) Becoming Chair of Pangdemonium Theatre

(27:48) "Make the main thing the main thing"

(29:39) Moving to Singapore: "Worst case is you end up back where you were"

(36:25) Imposter syndrome and personal growth

(44:33) His children: Photographer and pediatric nurse

(01:04:54) "I should have been a roadie"

(01:10:41) How he and his wife recharge

(01:12:39) Commitment to time - cigars and presence

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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any company or organisation, its affiliates, subsidiaries, partners, or employees.

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#Leadership #COO #LGBTQ #Banking #Theatre #Singapore #Scotland #CareerAdvice #ProcessOptimization #Diversity #Inclusion #PrideAdvocacy #GroundUpLeadership #PaulQuinn #QuinntessentialQuestions #careerarchitect #careeradvice

In this episode of The Quinntessential Questions Podcast, Paul Quinn sits down with Jacob "Stitch" Duran, the world's most famous cutman, featured in Creed I, II, III, Rocky Balboa, and the upcoming Sundance documentary "Fields to the Garden."From growing up in migrant camps with an address of "CPC Number 12, California Banking Company" to working Mike Tyson's corner for the Jake Paul fight in front of 60 million viewers, Stitch shares his incredible journey from farm worker to Hollywood to the biggest stages in combat sports.He discusses learning Muay Thai in Thailand at 19 (without even knowing what Thailand was), becoming a cutman, working 30+ years with Mike Tyson, earning Vladimir Klitschko's trust ("you can call me son"), learning from Emanuel Steward and the meaning of "one more round," appearing in the Creed trilogy when Sylvester Stallone called him by name, the Kevin James slap that wasn't in the script, working the biggest cut in combat sports history, and returning to the migrant camps with mariachis where everyone cried because "my story was their story."Whether you're an athlete, entrepreneur, or anyone who's overcome impossible odds, this conversation offers hard-won wisdom on perseverance, mastery, authenticity, and never forgetting where you came from. Let's explore what's "Inside the mind of the world's most famous cutman."━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━WATCH OUR OTHER PODCASTS:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjbRIxrGYDGUA9niiF7U0IOMXBMeDf81b━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━JACOB "STITCH" DURANInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/stitchduran/Documentary "Fields to the Garden": Sundance Film Festival, January 22-28, 2025Website: https://cutmanforhire.com/━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━LISTEN ON SPOTIFY & APPLESpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5x98T8QSRo01reQOGVGavqApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-quinntesssential-questions-podcast-with-paul-quinn/id1764230785━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━FOLLOW PAUL QUINNInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/quinntaipan/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-quinn-wp1/━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━FOLLOW OUR SOCIALS:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quinntessential_questions/Website: https://www.quinntessentialquestions.com/━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━CAREER COACHINGWebsite: https://quinntessentialca.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/westport-partners-career-coaching/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westportpartnerscareercoaching/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Westport-Partners-Career-Coaching/61558129585059/━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Intro Teaser(01:35) Introduction(02:40) Growing up in migrant camps - "CPC Number 12"(04:14) Documentary "Fields to the Garden" - Sundance 2025(05:34) Fields to Madison Square Garden(08:13) Thailand at 19 - discovering Muay Thai(11:01) Becoming a cutman(14:22) Working with Randy Couture(19:04) "One more round" - people associate me with this worldwide(21:21) Vladimir Klitschko: "You can call me son"(34:15) Cutman products and techniques(43:38) The biggest cut ever - Marvin Eastman vs Vitor Belfort(48:08) Mike Tyson and the Jake Paul fight(59:22) Forrest Griffin vs Stephan Bonnar - the fight that changed UFC(1:04:35) Movies: Play It to the Bone, Ocean's 11, Rocky Balboa(1:09:35) Creed trilogy - Sylvester Stallone calls him by name(1:11:00) Kevin James slap - Here Comes the Boom(1:15:48) Caesars Palace and outdoor fights(1:17:50) Emanuel Steward - the greatest trainer of all time(1:21:50) Returning to migrant camps - "My story was their story"━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any company or organisation, its affiliates, subsidiaries, partners, or employees.━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━#StitchDuran #Boxing #UFC #MMA #MikeTyson #JakePaul #Klitschko #RockyBalboa #Creed #EmanuelSteward #Cutman #MuayThai #CombatSports #PaulQuinn