Samantha Ng is an internationally certified Behavorial and Career Consultant, certified Career Services Provider, certified Job & Career Development Coach, and a provisional clinical member of the Singapore Association of Counselling. Ms. Ng is a dynamic career futurist and wellness advocate based in Singapore, recognized for her commitment to empowering professionals in their career journeys. With over 12 years of experience in communications, she has worked with leading tech and consumer brands, focusing on storytelling and strategic communication. Currently, she serves as the Spirit of Progress Manager (ESG) for Diageo in the APAC region. Passionate about career development, she actively engages in initiatives that promote career wellness and personal growth, making a significant impact in the Asia Pacific region.
Felicity Brown is an Intercultural Career and Leadership Coach and Facilitator based in Australia and is the co-host of the APCDA podcast for seasons 4 and 5, Career Journeys. She holds a Master of Career Development and is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) with the International Coaching Federation (ICF). A Lifetime member of APCDA, Felicity is APCDA’s Australia representative and is also active in the Career Development Association of Australia (CDAA) as the Vice-President of the ACT-NT Division. Felicity has had a diverse career in banking, government, and education prior to becoming a career development practitioner.
APCDA Podcast is a monthly series on career-related discussions. The podcast is in its fifth season in 2025, continuing the theme of ‘Career Journeys’ where the co-hosts interview a range of people with fascinating career journeys to learn about their key career decisions and career advice.
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- Asia Pacific Career Development Journal: https://AsiaPacificCDA.org/Journal
- Join APCDA: https://AsiaPacificCDA.org/Join-Renew
- Attend a monthly webinar on global career issues: https://AsiaPacificCDA.org/Webinars
Show Notes:
In this episode, we sit down with Marjorie Woo, an inspiring leader whose career journey spans psychology, social services, corporate leadership, and executive coaching. From her early days growing up and studying in the United States to founding her own business in Asia-Pacific, Marjorie shares the pivotal moments, mindset shifts, and lessons that shaped her path.
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Links for more information:
Asia Pacific Career Development Journal: https://AsiaPacificCDA.org/Journal
Join APCDA: https://AsiaPacificCDA.org/Join-Renew
Attend a monthly webinar on global career issues: https://AsiaPacificCDA.org/Webinars
0:00 Host’s introduction of guest speaker, Jonathan
1:01: An overview of Jonathan’s career journey
3.50 What drives his career reinvention
6:40 What problems is he solving now
8:20 What is purpose-driven
10:02 Biggest lesson when he was teaching first graders
11:50 Younger days
15:00 How did Jonathan get started in his career
17:20 Most important career decision to date
20:25 Defining leadership
21:13 What’s next
23:23 What’s the desired outcome
24:48 Coming from ‘me’ to ‘we’
25:38 Best career advice
28:16 Being ‘broken open’ vs as ‘broken’
Listen Now on Apple Podcast / Spotify
Watch Now
Click here for feedback on this podcast.
Links for more information:
- Asia Pacific Career Development Journal: https://AsiaPacificCDA.org/Journal
- Join APCDA: https://AsiaPacificCDA.org/Join-Renew
- Attend a monthly webinar on global career issues: https://AsiaPacificCDA.org/Webinars
Show Notes:
In this episode of the APCDA Podcast, we sit down with Rahul Nath, founder and creative director of Vertical Slice Games Media. From an unconventional start in the gaming industry to directing films and building an immersive media studio, Rahul shares how resilience, curiosity, and a love for craft have guided his career. He reflects on pivotal life moments, lessons from failure, and why staying uncomfortable fuels growth. This conversation is rich with insights on creativity, entrepreneurship, and designing a career on your own terms.
- 0:00 Learnings by the hosts
- 4:12 Introduction of the guest
- 5:20 About the guest – Who is Rahul
- 7:15 What motivates and drives him
- 11:05 Getting started in the gaming industry
- 12:20 Create your own luck
- 13:15 Do it for the love of craft and other things will follow
- 15:00 Formative years
- 19:53 3 pivotal moments
- 22:28 Starting film directing
- 25:55 Most important career decision to date
- 29:30 Lessons learnt in life
- 33:18 What’s next
- 39:15 Best career advice
Listen Now on Apple Podcast / Spotify
Watch Now on Youtube
Click here for feedback on this podcast.
Links for more information:
Asia Pacific Career Development Journal: https://AsiaPacificCDA.org/Journal
Join APCDA: https://AsiaPacificCDA.org/Join-Renew
Attend a monthly webinar on global career issues: https://AsiaPacificCDA.org/Webinars
In this episode of the APCDA Career Journey podcast, co-hosts Felicity Brown and Samantha Ng speak with Akshay Sharma, an Indian-born entrepreneur and technologist who has spent the last 12 years building a life and career in Vietnam. From giving up a secure engineering job in India to co-founding a proptech startup and a social impact venture producing affordable prosthetics, Akshay shares the mindset behind his bold decisions, lessons from failure, and what drives him to keep learning and contributing. This is a candid conversation about risk, resilience, and redefining success across borders.
00:05 Introduction of the guest
01:10 Learnings by the hosts
03:05 About the guest – Who is Akshay
04:35 What problems is Akshay solving right now?
05:40 How did Akshay end up in Vietnam
14:15 What shapes you to who you are today
18:18 How to choose between being an employee and becoming an entrepreneur
21:45 Biggest career decision till date
24:45 Dealing with uncertainty
27:45 Life is short
30:00 What’s next
31:55 Best piece of career advice
35:20 What inspires Akshay
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Click here for feedback on this podcast.Links for more information:
- Asia Pacific Career Development Journal: https://AsiaPacificCDA.org/Journal
- Join APCDA: https://AsiaPacificCDA.org/Join-Renew
- Attend a monthly webinar on global career issues: https://AsiaPacificCDA.org/Webinars
Show Notes:
In this episode of the APCDA Podcast, Felicity Brown and Samantha Ng sit down with Jimmy Pham AM, founder of KOTO and co-founder of VietHarvest, for a heartfelt and inspiring conversation. Jimmy reflects on his early life journey from Saigon to Sydney, the founding of KOTO, and the core values that have guided his decades-long commitment to empowering marginalized youth. From personal philosophy to future plans, Jimmy shares stories of resilience, purpose, and service—offering not only insight into his work, but a powerful reminder of how one person’s vision can shape thousands of lives.
- 0:00 Introduction
- 0:32 Key takeaways from both hosts
- 3:35 Introduction to guest, Jimmy Pham AM
- 4:45 Who is Jimmy – Early years
- 6:55 Getting started in Vietnam
- 10:15 Jimmy’s set of guiding values
- 12:35 What is KOTO
- 16:45 Lessons learnt
- 21:30 Philosophy behind KOTO
- 26:29 What keeps Jimmy going
- 28:10 What’s next
- 31:05 Best career advice
Listen Now on Apple Podcast / Spotify
Watch Now on Youtube
Click here for feedback on this podcast.
Links for more information:
Asia Pacific Career Development Journal: https://AsiaPacificCDA.org/Journal
Join APCDA: https://AsiaPacificCDA.org/Join-Renew
Attend a monthly webinar on global career issues: https://AsiaPacificCDA.org/Webinars
Watch Now on Youtube
Click here for feedback on this podcast.Links for more information:
- Asia Pacific Career Development Journal: https://AsiaPacificCDA.org/Journal
- Join APCDA: https://AsiaPacificCDA.org/Join-Renew
- Attend a monthly webinar on global career issues: https://AsiaPacificCDA.org/Webinars
Show Notes:
Benjamin Loh recounts his career journey from a bullied child and introvert through to becoming a public speaker to audiences of thousands. His insights on developing confidence and defining success are memorable. Join us to hear about this Singaporean who is bucking career stereotype trends everyday.
- 0:00 Benjamin Loh’s career journey and insights
- 2:22 Introduction to Benjamin Loh
- 3:23 From accounting to sales to professional speaking
- 6:03 The leap (of faith)
- 8:04 Building confidence and overcoming challenges
- 10:05 Balancing career and personal life
- 14:25 Defining success
- 15:27 Biggest lesson learnt
- 18:50 Drawing boundaries – How do we know that we have given enough as a helper
- 21:22 One most important career decision till date
- 25:01 Future plans and legacy
Listen Now on Apple Podcast / Spotify
Watch Now on Youtube
Click here for feedback on this podcast.
Links for more information:
Asia Pacific Career Development Journal: https://AsiaPacificCDA.org/Journal
Join APCDA: https://AsiaPacificCDA.org/Join-Renew
Attend a monthly webinar on global career issues: https://AsiaPacificCDA.org/Webinars
Listen Now on Apple Podcast / Spotify
Watch Now on Youtube
Click here for feedback on this podcast.
Links for more information:
- Asia Pacific Career Development Journal: https://AsiaPacificCDA.org/Journal
- Join APCDA: https://AsiaPacificCDA.org/Join-Renew
- Attend a monthly webinar on global career issues: https://AsiaPacificCDA.org/Webinars