You Can Do This!

Before you veg out on the couch, numb yourself with leftovers, and forget about the unpleasant parts of the year that’s ending—carve out 15 to 30 minutes today, open your old paper or digital planner and reflect on all the highs and lows that transpired this year. What for? Only by looking back can we more effectively use our realizations to plan for the coming year (which you will do in the next episode).

Sharing her year-ender review method is Darlyn Ty Nilo, the creator of the famous Belle de Jour Power Planner and other cult favorite journals, notebooks, tools, and products that have empowered thousands of Filipinos in the last 18 years to “try, dare, experience, and live.” She is the CEO of Viviamo, Inc. and the president of the Iconic chapter of Business Network, Inc.

This is Part 2 of a powerful conversation that unpacks a serious and often heartbreaking topic that touches so many lives: overcoming alcoholism and addiction. Whether you want to help a loved one or yourself, this episode is packed with insights and information to help you navigate the challenging journey of recovery.

Shedding light in this episode is Barni Alejandro, an International Certified Addiction Specialist with personal experience in overcoming decades of trauma and addiction.  She now helps others do the same by harnessing her first-hand knowledge together with her expertise which is backed by a certificate of Professional Achievement in Counseling Theories, Skills, and Practice, and solidified by studies in Emeritus Addiction Studies in partnership with Asia Metropolitan University.

Today, Barni embraces her new role and persona as The Sober Chef (@thesober_chef on IG), in addition to being known as the chef and co-owner of The Sexy Chef health food delivery service along with her sister, Rachel Alejandro, with whom she has also co-authored two best-selling cookbooks.

This is Part 1 of a powerful conversation that unpacks a serious and often heartbreaking topic that touches so many lives: overcoming alcoholism and addiction. Whether you want to help a loved one or yourself, this episode is packed with insights and information to help you navigate the challenging journey of recovery.

Shedding light in this episode is Barni Alejandro, an International Certified Addiction Specialist with personal experience in overcoming decades of trauma and addiction.  She now helps others do the same by harnessing her first-hand knowledge together with her expertise which is backed by a certificate of Professional Achievement in Counseling Theories, Skills, and Practice, and solidified by studies in Emeritus Addiction Studies in partnership with Asia Metropolitan University.

Today, Barni embraces her new role and persona as The Sober Chef (@thesober_chef on IG), in addition to being known as the chef and co-owner of The Sexy Chef health food delivery service along with her sister, Rachel Alejandro, with whom she has also co-authored two best-selling cookbooks.

Ever wish you could argue skillfully and confidently the way a lawyer does? Want to learn how to articulate your thoughts persuasively, maintain composure under pressure, or turn any disagreement into a constructive dialogue? Whether you find yourself in a boardroom debate, a disagreement with a colleague, or a heart-to-heart discussion with a loved one, mastering the skills of a successful argument is an essential life skill.

Teaching us the basics here is accomplished lawyer, executive coach and life coach Atty. Anthea Magpantay, who taught Argumentation and Debate for Speech Communication at UP Manila before she worked to fight graft and corruption as a prosecutor at the Office of the Ombudsman for 14 1/2 years. Today, she coaches high-performing professionals and leaders to achieve clarity, momentum, purposeful growth and balance in their careers and lives.

Struggles are a part of life, but no matter what life throws our way, it is how we respond to the trials that determines our destiny.

Marge Aviso is a living example of how strategic mindset shifts can propel us to heights we might never have dreamed of. The daughter of a seaman and a sari-sari store owner in San Rafael, Bulacan, this nursing graduate came from humble beginnings. On her journey to success, she faced blow after blow, including teenage pregnancy, an abusive relationship, and financial turmoil. Yet, through her resilience and ability to overcome adversities, she built a global BPO that created thousands of jobs and opportunities in her hometown. After a few years of success, however, financial mismanagement drove it to the brink of bankruptcy. But she slowly rebuilt it—and emerged as a powerhouse entrepreneur and advocate for women empowerment in the tech industry.

The award-winning CEO of Telework PH Outsourcing Solutions Inc. is also a sought-after consultant, mentor, and speaker, and is the subject of a movie about her inspiring life called Miss Probinsiyana.

Ever find yourself holding back, hesitant to fully express who you really are or market your capabilities and true potential? How many great opportunities have you declined, dreams put on hold, or opinions left unsaid due to the silent weight of fearing what others might think of you?

Helping unravel the layers of this universal struggle and explore ways to overcome this fear is Julian Cañita, an internationally certified executive coach renowned for guiding CEOs and leaders towards exponential growth. Being bullied severely in grade school and struggling to fit in in high school and college could have traumatized him to forever cower in the shadows with the belief that he was not enough. But today, he courageously embraces his authentic self, leveraging his humorous and down-to-earth personality as he fearlessly motivates huge audiences, markets his services all over social media, and empowers others to do the same so they can make meaningful impact, experience joy and limitless possibilities in their lives.

Even if I’m no longer the EIC of Cosmopolitan, I still get a lot of DMs asking, “Paano ba lumandi?”  mostly from women in their 30s and 40s who are re-entering the dating scene, never really learned how to flirt and make the first move, or have lost their confidence in leveling up their landi game. Unfortunately, I’m out of practice when it comes to this (except with internal landi with my husband of 14 years), so I decided to outsource this topic to the viral Queen of Landi, Joelle.

While she always stresses that she is not a psychologist or relationship expert, the frank, fearless, feminist, and sound dating and relationship tips she dispenses has catapulted her TikTok account Joelle Oh Well to half-a-million follower fame! Also gaining ground is her podcast called Paano Kung? where she explores all the possibilities in life, love, and landi. A professional voice artist, events host, DJ, experience collector, and storyteller, Joelle has come to be known for the mantra she admonishes all her dating disciples with: “Remember, Wag Tanga!”

Step 1: Stop running away from conflict! Whether it's a disagreement with a colleague, a spat with a friend, or a clash with a loved one, conflicts are an inevitable part of life. And knowing how to resolve conflict is a skill that's vital not just in the workplace but also in our personal relationships.

Giving us practical strategies and tips to help you navigate and transform conflicts into opportunities for growth and stronger connections is Mia Corpus, the executive director of The Conflict Resolution or Core Group Foundation. With two decades of experience in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), she is a certified mediator and executive coach with a deep passion for bridging differences and fostering harmonious human interactions—whether she is addressing personal challenges or managing large-scale regional disputes.

Who knew that the things her parents once worried about and her peers bullied her for—“weird” things like talking to herself, having imaginary friends, forever daydreaming, being an introvert, having a restless ADHD brain, and even having curly hair—would one day make her world-famous and generate millions in followers and (most likely!) revenue?

Her hilarious and thought-provoking skits skewer the absurdities of modern Pinoy life with her sharp wit and keen observations. A master of the satirical skit, she uses her platform to challenge social norms and stereotypes in the funniest way that has resonated with countless people! Whoever said Pinoys don’t get satire has never watched her videos!

This hit content creator, commercial and music video director, NFT (non-fungible token) artist, singer, perfumer, author, and entrepreneur proves that being weird is actually the greatest asset a person and a professional creative can have and should be embraced, not downplayed. Get inspired and motivated to unlock your own power of self-expression by owning and embracing your authenticity.

It’s clear: When women lead, things just work better. For decades, science has shown that  organizations and countries with female leaders actually outperform their peers on many levels. Why, women have been the backbone of families and communities for millennia! So why are so many women still hitting glass ceilings and facing hurdles when it comes to leadership, decision-making, and economic opportunities?

The first step, however, lies within us—in changing the story we tell ourselves about our own capabilities, and in claiming, owning, and optimizing our own power as leaders. Sharing their knowledge and insights about this are Niña Terol and Candice Quimpo, founders of Imaginable Impact, an inclusion studio on a mission to co-create a more diverse and equitable world where women thrive and get equal access to leadership, economic empowerment, and wealth-building opportunities at various stages of their lives.

Whether you are or aspire to be a female leader or founder, or are an advocate for women's entrepreneurship, get ready for some serious inspiration, knowledge, and a ton of motivation.