Recorded live at CLOSER in Singapore, this was one of those rare sessions that reminded me of the heart behind CLOSER: to hold space for real, honest, soul-level conversations.

In this conversation, Steven Bartlett opens up about his journey. He shares how he grew up as an outsider, built one of Europe’s fastest-growing companies, chose to walk away at the peak, and learned to find a fuller life beyond achievement. We also speak about what he is building today, and the lessons he has learned about making good decisions, building trust, and steering clear of the traps that hold people back.

This episode is not the full conversation, but it offers a glimpse into some of the moments that moved us most. I hope something you hear in it stays with you, and maybe even shifts something in you, the way it did for me & so many others.

To everyone who joined us that afternoon at CLOSER, thank you for leaning in with so much openness and heart. And to those tuning in now, I hope this conversation touches you the way it did all of us in the room.

Take a breath, lean in, and come a little closer.

• 00:00:00 Introduction
• 00:01:31 The Childhood That Shaped Steven Bartlett
• 00:05:58 Delusion and Self Belief as Prerequisites for Success
• 00:09:28 Choosing Uncertainty Over Certain Misery
• 00:13:48 Becoming a Plan A Thinker
• 00:15:36 Stacking Skills to Increase Your Value
• 00:20:27 What Steven Looks For When Investing
• 00:25:48 Hiring and Why People Are Your Greatest Asset
• 00:31:36 Breaking Paper Walls and Asking Why
• 00:36:41 Nir Eyal on Overcoming Distraction
• 00:40:54 The 16 Chip Rule for Prioritizing Time
• 00:43:21 Working With Failure and Experimentation
• 00:50:23 Steven’s Most Valuable Mistake
• 00:53:05 Finding Your Version of a Well Lived Life

Follow Rachel here: https://www.instagram.com/ms_rach/

Follow Steven Bartlett here: https://www.instagram.com/steven/

In this soulful and wide-ranging conversation, Rodrigo Kede Lima, President of Microsoft Asia, reflects on the people, places, and pivotal lessons that have shaped who he is today. From the quiet strength of his trailblazing mother to the humbling experience of starting over in Asia, and the responsibility of leading 30,000 people across cultures, Rodrigo shares what it truly means to lead with purpose, humility, and heart.

We discuss:

• The values his mother and grandfather instilled in him
• What starting over in Asia taught him about leadership
• How he stays grounded while leading at scale
• His views on hierarchy, culture, and human-first systems
• What AI will demand of future leaders
• Unlearning, wellness, and the second mountain
• Why legacy is about leaving people better than you found them

00:00 Introduction

01:08 Meet Rodrigo: Childhood, Curiosity & Dreams of Medicine

05:14 The Legacy of His Mother and Grandfather

07:13 Core Beliefs That Shaped Rodrigo’s Leadership

10:00 Bold Career Moves & Embracing Discomfort

12:35 Starting Over in Asia: Humility, Curiosity & Reinvention

14:59 Wellness Routines That Keep Rodrigo Grounded

20:07 Leading 30,000 People: Culture, Connection & Systems

24:07 Asia’s Rise: From Manufacturing Hub to Innovation Powerhouse

26:44 The Values We Must Hold Onto in the AI Era

29:07 What Fatherhood Taught Rodrigo About Learning & Letting Go

32:49 Where to Begin: Practical Steps for Embracing AI

36:40 Beyond Boardrooms: Lessons from Parenting

39:40 Redefining Purpose: Rodrigo on Legacy, Joy & Giving Back

41:15 The Message Rodrigo Hopes to Leave Behind

42:27 Closing Reflections

Follow Rachel here: https://www.instagram.com/ms_rach/

Follow Rodrigo here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodrigo-kede-lima-51941129/

Tan Su Shan’s story is more than a career trajectory; it’s a masterclass in resilience, reinvention, and redefining what it means to lead. In this special and intimate conversation during Love, Bonito's IWD event, Su Shan, now the CEO of DBS, reflects on her journey from intern to the top of one of Asia’s most influential banks.

She opens up about the moments of self-doubt, the lessons learned from “demotions,” and how she learned to command a room without changing who she is. From cultivating clarity and conviction, to breaking through the “sticky floor” that holds many women back, Su Shan shares powerful truths about ambition, presence, and the price of leadership.

Whether you're a rising leader, a seasoned professional, or simply navigating what it means to take up space in your own life, this conversation is filled with wisdom, warmth, and actionable insight.

00:00 Introduction

00:38 From Intern to CEO: Su Shan’s Early Days at DBS

02:04 When a “Demotion” Becomes a Turning Point

07:16 Facing Self-Doubt and Leading Through Discomfort

08:57 Learning to Command the Room with Confidence

12:02 Grounding Leadership in Customer-Centricity

14:08 How “WRECKOON” Shaped Her Perspective as a Leader

15:41 The One Leadership Skill That Will Define the Next Decade

17:57 The Best Investments Su Shan Has Made in Life

19:28 Q&A: Building Clarity and Communicating with Impact

21:07 Q&A: Finding the Right Mentors and Sponsors

23:59 Q&A: What It Really Takes to Build Great Teams

26:15 Final Reflections: What Leadership Means Today

Follow Rachel here: https://www.instagram.com/ms_rach/

Follow Su Shan here: linkedin.com/in/tan-su-shan-50296732

What’s really going on inside the minds and hearts of today’s teenagers?

In this powerful and eye-opening episode, I sit down with Dr Cheryl Loh, one of Singapore’s leading adolescent psychiatrists and a mother to two teens, to explore the inner emotional world of adolescence: a time of searching, shaping, and often silent struggle.

We unpack what teens are truly longing for, not just connection, but a deep sense of belonging, identity, and emotional safety. Dr Cheryl shares why so many adolescents turn to the digital world to cope, why shame is such a potent and often misunderstood force during these years, and how adults can begin to show up in ways that don’t just manage behaviour, but meet real emotional needs.

What makes this conversation truly special is that it doesn’t stop at insight. Dr Cheryl offers practical, actionable ways for parents, caregivers, and educators to reconnect, rebuild trust, and offer teens the safe, anchored presence they may not know how to ask for.

00:00 Introduction

01:28 Dr Cheryl Loh on Championing Adolescent Mental Health in Singapore

04:24 Why Teen Mental Health Deserves More Attention

10:13 Are Our Teens Simply Misunderstood?

14:37 Parent Guilt, Anxious Parenting & the Pressure to Get It Right

17:33 Teens vs the Internet: Navigating Influence, Shame & Identity

22:37 How to Stay Present in Your Teen’s Life — Without Pushing Them Away

27:16 Seeing the Good: Shifting from Fixing to Connecting

30:03 What Increases the Risk of Mental Health Struggles in Adolescents?

34:36 The Role Educators & Schools Play in Teen Emotional Safety

37:55 The Social Media Trap: Why Teens Seek Validation Online

39:42 Showing Up for Your Teen & Playing the Long Game

44:17 Netflix’s Adolescence: When Emotional Needs Go Unmet

46:45 Why Healthy Parent-Teen Relationships Matter More Than Ever

48:53 Helping Teens Build an Inner Compass in a Noisy World

50:52 The Power of Good-Enough Parenting

52:57 What Gives Dr Cheryl Hope About This Generation

54:40 The Billboard Question: “Say Hello to Your Kid Today”

56:07 Episode Closing

Follow Rachel here: https://www.instagram.com/ms_rach/

You can book an appointment with Dr. Cheryl Loh at Garden Grove Clinic. Find out more here: https://gardengroveclinic.sg/about-us/

In this powerful episode, Wes Kao; co-founder of Maven and pioneer of cohort-based learning, joins us to explore what separates good leaders from great ones, and why intentional communication is at the heart of it all.

We dive into everything from how to sharpen your judgment and make faster, better decisions, to why concise communication isn't just efficient, it's essential. Wes unpacks her signature concept of “avoiding negative inception” and shows how certain well-meaning phrases can actually sabotage your message and plant doubt.

We also talk about how to turn worries into action, why owning your strengths is a quiet superpower, and what it looks like to challenge your own thoughts with intention. Wes shares her biggest leadership challenge to date, and how she learned to balance transparency with confidence, especially when leading through uncertainty.

If you're a leader, creator, or communicator of any kind, this conversation is packed with tactical wisdom that will shift how you speak, lead, and show up.

Topics we cover:

• The communication traps even smart leaders fall into
• What it means to “incept negative ideas” and how to avoid it
• Why saying less can help you lead more effectively
• The underrated power of self-awareness and reframing
• How to personalise your communication to truly connect

Tune in and learn how to lead not just with vision, but with voice.

00:00 Introduction

00:55 Wes Kao’s Passion for Education 

02:08 Good vs Great Leadership: What Sets Them Apart?

04:12 How to Sharpen Your Judgement and Make Better Decisions 

08:28 The Importance of Concise Communication 

10:24 Stop Incepting Negative Ideas: How to Protect Your Message

14:41 Turning Your Worries Into Action 

18:54 The Beauty of Owning Your Strengths 

22:53 Saying ‘No’ to Unproductive Struggles 

26:33 The Art of Challenging Your Own Thoughts 

29:51 Wes Kao’s Biggest Leadership Challenge and Lessons Learned 

31:59 Transparency vs. Confidence: Communication as Leaders 

35:05 The Importance of Personalising Your Communication 

36:25 Episode Closing 

Follow Rachel here: https://www.instagram.com/ms_rach/

Follow Wes Kao here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/weskao

Subscribe to her newsletter here: https://newsletter.weskao.com/

After Leo’s episode, I was deeply moved by the messages that poured in, not just about his story, but about the unspoken weight many of you are carrying in your own lives. So many asked: How do you support someone you love when they’re struggling? How do you stay steady for them without losing yourself in the process?

In this intimate solo episode, I share my personal experience; what it looked like to walk beside Leo during one of his hardest seasons. Not from a place of having it all figured out, but through the lens of the lessons it taught me.

I open up about what helped, what didn’t, and the truths I had to learn the hard way; like not taking his withdrawal personally, listening to understand (not to fix), and continuing to show up with love, even when I felt emptied out.

If you’re in that space right now, quietly holding it all together, I hope this conversation reminds you:

You are not alone. And you are allowed to be strong and tired at the same time 💛

00:00 Introduction: Why This Episode Matters

01:38 Q&A: Navigating Turbulent Seasons in Relationships

02:15 The Subtle Signs: Spotting Early Symptoms of Depression

05:16 Creating a Safe Space for Vulnerability

09:25 How to Stay Resilient When There’s No Timeline

12:49 What Support Really Looks Like: Small Acts, Big Impact

16:29 My Own Breaking Point: Personal Struggles and Lessons

19:15 The Hardest Truths I Had to Learn

21:45 If I Could Speak to Her: A Heart-to-Heart With My Younger Self

26:45 Final Reflections & Closing

Follow Rachel here: https://www.instagram.com/ms_rach/

Listen to Leo's story here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7cfdJMK348KROmJzLJzKgo?si=iT5YgN0xRG6ATPEHFTvHjQ