エピソード

  • From Medical School to Tech Innovation: Building Jonda Health's Data Transformation Engine
    2025/07/27

    Ever wondered why your medical information doesn't seamlessly follow you from doctor to doctor? Suhina Singh's remarkable journey from practicing physician to healthcare tech innovator answers this question while revealing the critical missing link in modern healthcare.

    Born into a medical family in South Africa, Suhina's path to founding Jonda Health was anything but straightforward. After studying medicine in Afrikaans (a language she barely knew), practicing in multiple countries, and even taking a detour into modelling, her most profound insights came from two painful experiences. When her brother-in-law was diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer, transferring his medical records between countries proved nearly impossible. Years later, she herself endured seven years of misdiagnosis despite having all the necessary data scattered across different providers.

    These frustrations led to a revelation: healthcare's data problem isn't just inconvenient—it's dangerous. Suhina explains how medical information exists in countless incompatible formats, using a brilliant analogy of differently shaped and coloured objects that represent the same health information but can't communicate with each other. Her solution? Jonda Health's data transformation engine that acts like a universal adapter, making fragmented health data usable across systems.

    The conversation offers rare insights into the messy reality of building a healthcare startup, from initial UI/UX challenges and development nightmares to the pivotal moment when Suhina realized her backend data engine was the true innovation, not the patient-facing app she initially focused on. Her candid reflections on bootstrapping, technical partnerships, and investor relations provide a masterclass in healthcare entrepreneurship.

    For anyone passionate about healthcare innovation, patient empowerment, or entrepreneurship, this episode offers both inspiration and practical wisdom. Listen now to understand how solving healthcare's data plumbing problem could revolutionize patient care worldwide!

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    1 時間 5 分
  • This founder survived 61 rejections before his $20M fundraise
    2025/07/27

    From a small town in Penang to surviving one of the most devastating business collapses during COVID-19, Chen Chow Yeoh, or better known as CC, entrepreneurial journey is nothing short of remarkable. As the former COO of Fave (previously known as KFIT), CC shares the raw, unfiltered story of building and scaling a tech platform across Southeast Asia.

    The conversation reveals extraordinary moments of serendipity - like securing $2.25 million from Sequoia Capital without even having a pitch deck - alongside heartbreaking challenges when their business revenue dropped 90% overnight during lockdowns. CC's candid account includes the acquisition of Groupon's Southeast Asian operations and the brilliant, resourceful strategies they deployed to migrate millions of customers to a brand-new platform with minimal losses.

    What truly sets CC's leadership approach apart is his people-first philosophy. From creating emotional connections with employees by interviewing their family members in secret, to establishing transparent salary reduction systems during crisis periods, his humane approach to building Fave demonstrates that successful businesses are fundamentally built on relationships and trust.

    As CC reflects on Fave's $45 million acquisition by Pine Labs and his current transition to mentoring the next generation of entrepreneurs, he offers profound insights on resilience: "News said we raised $20 million. News didn't say 61 rejections, 1 investment. That's a 98% rejection rate." This conversation is a masterclass for anyone navigating the unpredictable terrain of entrepreneurship, revealing that behind every success story lies countless moments of doubt, persistence, and heart.

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    2 時間 7 分
  • Six Years a Hostage, A Lifetime of Wisdom with Stephen McGown
    2025/06/10

    “What does it mean to lose yourself? And more importantly...what does it take to find your way back?”

    These were the questions echoing in my mind long after sitting down with Stephen McGown, a South African whose story isn’t just remarkable, it’s transformational.

    Stephen’s journey from banker to hostage to international speaker isn’t just a tale of survival. It’s a mirror. One that forces us to look at the lives we’re living and ask: Am I truly free?

    Before his abduction by Al-Qaeda in Timbuktu, Stephen was already wrestling with that quiet dissatisfaction many of us carry. He had grown up on a farm, grounded in simplicity and grit, but had ended up in a high-rise banking career that never quite fit. So he did what many dream of but few dare...he took off on a motorcycle adventure across Africa, searching for meaning beyond spreadsheets and city traffic.

    That journey ended abruptly in the Sahara Desert, where he was held hostage for nearly six years.

    Six years.

    No phone. No calendar. No distractions. Just silence, sand, and survival.

    And yet, this is where Stephen found himself.

    He spoke about learning to track time through the rhythm of nature, by moonlight, by the migrations of birds, by the soft bloom of desert flowers. He spoke of peeling away the noise of life, the endless comparisons, the busyness that so often numbs us. “When all that noise settles down,” he told me, “you start to get in contact with things.”

    That line has stayed with me. Because isn’t that what many of us crave...contact? With something real. With ourselves.

    What struck me most was how Stephen chose to frame his captivity. He didn’t just survive it, he transformed it. He called it a sabbatical. A chance to go back to his 18-year-old self and ask, “Who was I before the world told me who I should be?”

    And that right there is where the heart of his story lies. Not in the extremity of what he endured, but in the quiet bravery of what he reclaimed.

    His message is deceptively simple, and yet deeply profound: Be authentic.
    Not the fastest. Not the smartest. Just you. Anything else, and you’ll lose yourself. You’ll live a life that looks fine on the outside but feels empty on the inside.

    Stephen’s story isn’t just about him. It’s about all of us.

    It’s about the invisible prisons we build careers that drain us, relationships that shrink us, expectations that slowly erase us. And it’s about the courage it takes to break free, to look inward, to start again.

    When he returned home, a friend told him: “Don’t compare yourself to us we’re more screwed up than you are.”

    I laughed when he said that. But there’s truth in it.

    Stephen walked through hell and came out whole. Not because he had a map but because he learned to listen to the compass inside him. The one we all have, even if it’s been buried under years of noise.

    If his story teaches us anything, it’s this

    Sometimes, you have to lose everything to find what truly matters.
    And sometimes, the desert...real or metaphorical, is where your freedom begins

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    1 時間 18 分
  • The Renaissance Leader: Asking the Right Questions Will Change Everything
    2025/04/30

    What does Renaissance-era innovation have to do with modern leadership? Everything, according to global keynote speaker and executive coach Jean-Marie DiGiovanna. Drawing from her remarkable journey scaling a tech start-up from 90 to 4,000 employees and navigating cultural nuances across continents, Jean-Marie reveals how traditional command-and-control leadership is failing today's organizations.

    At the heart of this conversation is a profound insight: we're experiencing a rebirth of leadership. Just as the historical Renaissance followed the Black Plague with an explosion of art, science, and human potential, our post-COVID world demands a leadership approach that honours humanity, fosters psychological safety, and unleashes innovation. Jean-Marie expertly unpacks the five principles of Renaissance Leadership that can transform any organization: asking new questions, honouring diversity, connecting to innovate, magnifying value, and acting with accountability.

    The discussion delves into practical challenges facing today's leaders—from scaling culture during rapid growth to adapting leadership styles across different cultural contexts. Jean-Marie shares powerful strategies for building accountability without micromanagement, recognizing team members in ways that resonate with their individual preferences, and creating environments where people bring their full selves to work. Her three simple questions that transform accountability represent a game-changing approach any leader can implement immediately.

    Whether you're leading a start-up, managing teams across cultural divides, or simply seeking to evolve your leadership approach for our changing world, this conversation offers rare insight from someone who has mastered both the technical and human dimensions of organizational excellence. Discover why curiosity might be your most powerful leadership tool and how asking different questions can lead to breakthrough innovations your teams are waiting to deliver.

    Ready to transform your leadership? Visit JeanMarieSpeaks.com to learn more about bringing these Renaissance principles to your organization.

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    2 時間 15 分
  • The Alchemy of Focus: Turning Procrastination into Productive Power with Peter Ludwig
    2025/04/04

    Ever been caught in the grip of procrastination, watching the hours slip away as your keyboard lies untouched? Meet Peter, a tech entrepreneur turned anti-procrastination crusader, whose journey from distraction-prone programmer to best-selling author is nothing short of inspiring. As we sit down with him, Peter spills the secrets of a stable business, the importance of a resilient team, and how shifting focus from technology to mindset catalyzed his success. He even tackles the double-edged sword of writing a book on procrastination while wrestling with ADHD, a challenge that led him to practical strategies for productivity and a happier life.

    This episode isn't just a success story; it's a toolbox for anyone looking to harness their potential and prioritize what truly matters. Peter's reflections on his early days—ditching computer games for code—illustrate how recognizing and redirecting talent can spark a fulfilling career. Those strategies that helped him write a book that's topping charts in 24 languages and is number one in the Czech Republic? He lays them out for us, promising not just a boost in productivity but also a path to a more balanced, enjoyable life. Join us for an engaging conversation with Peter, where every minute spent is a step toward conquering your own to-do list—and maybe even that pesky habit of putting things off.

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    2 時間 2 分
  • The Art of True Leadership Amidst the Echoes of Imposter Syndrome
    2025/04/04

    Feeling like you're teetering on a house of cards while the world sees a castle of confidence? You're not alone. I've been there alongside countless high achievers and my guest, a seasoned coach - Paul Larsen, who's navigated these choppy waters.

    In this episode, we pull back the curtain on imposter syndrome, sharing candid tales from our own lives and the tools we've used to rediscover our personal 'mojo'. From my panic attack during a pivotal professional moment to the coach's transition from corporate heavyweight to purpose-driven guide, we delve into the raw and real emotional landscape of leadership and the quest for authentic connection.

    Envisioning a new leadership paradigm, we tackle the ego's complex dance within the realms of authority and influence, contrasting genuine leadership with fear-based management. We explore the necessity of awareness, advocacy, and action in conquering self-doubt and how this led to Paul's book "Find Your Voice as a Leader". As we celebrate the change-makers raising the bar of consciousness in leadership across all walks of life, join us on this journey.

    It's a conversation that transcends personal battles and triumphs, reminding us of the shared human experience that binds us all.

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    1 時間 40 分
  • Cultivating Conscious Leadership through Authenticity and High Performance
    2024/04/06

    Have you ever witnessed the transformation of a 'bulldozer' leader into a beacon of empathy and understanding? Join us as we journey through the layers of impactful leadership with our guest, Grant 'Upbeat' Bosnick, sharing personal stories from the trenches of team management to the heights of conscious leadership. We'll unpack the balance between driving results and nurturing the human element, highlighting how self-awareness can not only change the way we lead but also the way we live.

    Embark on an odyssey where authenticity meets high performance, and drumming meets leadership strategy. We trace the rhythm of Grant's evolution from a professional drummer to a leadership coach, discussing the Upbeat method that marries neuroscience and rhythm to prime leaders for innovation. We also tackle the challenge of sharing sensitive information as 'soft bulldozers,' navigating the fine line between truth-telling and empathy in an era where authenticity and sensitivity often collide.

    Creating safe, inclusive workplace cultures, championing belonging over fitting in, and aligning with those who share our vision is at the heart of our discourse. We explore how understanding organizational culture is key to fostering innovation, particularly during times of change. By the end of our talk, you'll be inspired to intentionally craft your leadership narrative and make a positive impact on your world.

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    1 時間 45 分
  • From Wall Street to Wallet Chains: Kenneth Bok's Journey through Finance, Bitcoin, and the Blockchain Revolution
    2024/04/03

    Embark on a captivating journey with finance expert Kenneth Bok, tracing his transition from Goldman Sachs to fervent Bitcoin advocate.

    Dive into the intricacies of algorithmic trading, ethics in finance, and the allure of Bitcoin amid DeFi's volatility. Explore Ethereum's proof systems, the debate between proof of stake and proof of work, and Bitcoin's potential to reshape governance and finance.

    Delve into the transformative power of Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies, offering financial inclusion where traditional banking falters. Critically examine the rise of CBDCs and their impact on privacy, international trade, and the future of finance.

    Whether a seasoned trader or new to crypto, this discussion challenges conventional finance and unveils the possibilities of blockchain and AI convergence.

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    2 時間 2 分