Growing up with Asian parents, you might have a frugal money mind-set that makes you risk averse.

That’s what happened to Shang Saavedra, personal finance expert and author of "Wealth is a Mindset.”

Which is why her story is so powerful. In this episode, she talks about how her frugal upbringing, cultural conditioning and her parents’ aversion to risk-taking influenced how she looked at money.

But when she was in her 20s, she and her husband decided to go to extreme frugality in New York City to retire early by 31 — and then delves into all the lessons she’s learned since about the importance of grounding herself in the present, shifting your mindset toward abundance and looking at financial decisions from a place of calm rather than fear.

Shang shares some simple, practical tips for how to deal with some of the biggest financial stressors — unexpected expenses and how to make big purchases manageable.

I loved talking to her about how to shift the relationship between emotions and money patterns.

You don’t want to miss this healing conversation about money!

THE TOP LEARNINGS IN THIS EPISODE:

• How your cultural upbringing shapes financial habits and mindsets
• The importance and challenges of risk-taking for financial growth
• The reason generational trauma influences money worries and behaviors
• The decision and sacrifices behind early retirement
• Emotional health directly impacts financial decisions
• Building self-awareness and positive money talk is essential for wealth mindset

GUEST BIO:

Shang Saavedra is a published book author and the founder and CEO of Save My Cents, a nationally recognized personal finance expert. Shang finished saving for her retirement by the age of 31, and is America's leading expert on saving for retirement with joy.

Her insights have been published by Business Insider, CNBC, Forbes, Fox Business, USA Today, Time / NextAdvisor, Nasdaq, and more. Shang was educated at Harvard and University of Chicago, and has worked in strategy for various Fortune 500 companies. Her book, Wealth Is a Mindset, was published in January 2025 with Third State Books.

If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device, post it to your Instagram stories, and tag @nicoletsong and Shang Saavedra @savemycents so we can give you a shout-out and thank you for your support!

ASIAN VISIBILITY SYSTEM: Want to permanently reverse cultural conditioning and step into a life where you feel purposeful and thrive? Grab the Asian Visibility System: go.nicoletsong.com/visible.

Do you struggle with boundaries? Discover the blind spots holding you back and take the Boundary Tendencies Quiz: nicoletsong.com/quiz

Want to build morning habits that last so you jump out of bed with energy and clarity every morning? Join Nicole’s 5-Day Morning Challenge: go.nicoletsong.com/morning-habits

Haven’t left a review yet? We’d love for you to at: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/school-of-self-worth/id1678655504

For full show notes, transcript, and links, visit nicoletsong.com/podcast.

Have a question or topic you’d like Nicole to touch on in a future episode? Email podcast@nicoletsong.com to share any thoughts or feedback.

Learn More About Shang Saavedra at :

• savemycents.com
• https://savemy

Have you ever gotten the feedback that you lack gravitas? Or that you don’t have the presence of a leader?

In this episode, I dive into just what gravitas is — and the essential thing you’re getting WRONG about gravitas (and what you really need to understand about it to get your next promotion.)

Gravitas is often misunderstood, especially among Asian American women, who think it's about emulating the people who have it.

But here’s the thing you’re missing — real gravitas can only come from inside you. It’s part of your unique presence and power.

In this episode, I dive in deeper on how to access your inner gravitas, including simple techniques to step into your power and presence.

Gravitas CAN be simple! You don’t want to miss how easy to make it, so tune in!

The top learnings from this episode:

• Understanding gravitas and its real meaning for leaders. [00:01:51]
• How cultural conditioning impacts your leadership. [00:05:06]
• Why gravitas comes from authentic self-power, not imitation. [00:05:48]
• How to build presence (and stop thinking out loud.). [00:08:03]
• Simple vocal techniques to project authority and confidence. [00:08:46]
• Steps for moving from feedback to self-empowered leadership. [00:09:31]

If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device, post it to your Instagram stories, and tag @nicoletsong so we can give you a shout-out and thank you for your support!

ASIAN VISIBILITY SYSTEM: Want to permanently reverse cultural conditioning and step into a life where you feel purposeful and thrive? Grab the Asian Visibility System: go.nicoletsong.com/visible.

Do you struggle with boundaries? Discover the blind spots holding you back and take the Boundary Tendencies Quiz: nicoletsong.com/quiz

Want to build morning habits that last so you jump out of bed with energy and clarity every morning? Join Nicole’s 5-Day Morning Challenge: go.nicoletsong.com/morning-habits

Haven’t left a review yet? We’d love for you to at: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/school-of-self-worth/id1678655504

For full show notes, transcript, and links, visit nicoletsong.com/podcast.

Have a question or topic you’d like Nicole to touch on in a future episode? Email podcast@nicoletsong.com to share any thoughts or feedback.

Catch up with Nicole:

• Website: nicoletsong.com
• Subscribe to her newsletter
• Instagram: nicoletsong
• Tiktok: @nicoletsong_
• Facebook community: Balance + Boundaries
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-tsong/

Do you ever feel like you’re not fully living up to your potential? Like you know there’s more inside you, and you’re just not sure how to get that version of you out there?

Then today’s episode is for you!

I’ve seen so many talented, accomplished women who, despite all their achievements—juggling work, family, and everything else—still feel like they’re not quite living up to their potential.

In this episode, we talk about the biggest blocks holding back any high-achieving, successful Asian-American woman — especially when it looks on the outside like you’re doing everything “right.”

You’ll learn a key identity shift to make, plus some simple tools to help you step into your fullest potential (including how to set those pesky boundaries) starting TODAY.

You don’t want to miss this powerful episode!

The top learnings from this episode:

• How to uncover your full potential as an Asian American woman [00:00:00]
• The ongoing cycle when the goalpost keeps moving [00:04:55]
• The trap of tying your identity and self-worth to your job [00:08:57]
• Why you struggle to say no [00:10:38]
• The myth of delaying your potential [00:13:22]
• The power of emotional mastery and presence in creating change [00:16:26]

If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device, post it to your Instagram stories, and tag @nicoletsong so we can give you a shout-out and thank you for your support!

ASIAN VISIBILITY SYSTEM: Want to permanently reverse cultural conditioning and step into a life where you feel purposeful and thrive? Grab the Asian Visibility System: go.nicoletsong.com/visible.

Do you struggle with boundaries? Discover the blind spots holding you back and take the Boundary Tendencies Quiz: nicoletsong.com/quiz

Want to build morning habits that last so you jump out of bed with energy and clarity every morning? Join Nicole’s 5-Day Morning Challenge: go.nicoletsong.com/morning-habits

Haven’t left a review yet? We’d love for you to at: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/school-of-self-worth/id1678655504

For full show notes, transcript, and links, visit nicoletsong.com/podcast.

Have a question or topic you’d like Nicole to touch on in a future episode? Email podcast@nicoletsong.com to share any thoughts or feedback.

Catch up with Nicole:

• Website: nicoletsong.com
• Subscribe to her newsletter
• Instagram: nicoletsong
• Tiktok: @nicoletsong_
• Facebook community: Balance + Boundaries
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-tsong/

When Armoire CEO Ambika Singh founded her clothing rental company, she had no idea how much grit she was gonna need to source.

It turns out it was a lot.

I had the opportunity to sit down with Ambika and talk about how much Armoire has grown in the nine years since she had the idea to reduce fashion waste with a rental company.

In this episode, Ambika shares openly about the challenges she had getting funding for Armoire, and the key thing that helped her source confidence and grit along the way, especially as a woman of color in a male-dominated industry.

She also shares about how parenthood changed her perspective on work and creating more balance in her life. And that while she has had to be super tenacious to get here, she still is working on not being so hard on herself.

The top learnings from this episode:

• Embracing intentionality and early influences on entrepreneurship [00:06:05]
• Building a business with mission at the core [00:09:50]
• Learning to balance ambition, parenthood, and leadership [00:17:05]
• Grit, self-worth, and the challenges of entrepreneurship [00:14:10]
• Fundraising as a woman of color in a male-dominated space [00:27:16]
• Experiencing fulfillment through impact and community [00:35:52]

Ambika Singh is the founder and CEO of Armoire, and is on the journey of a lifetime, helping to revolutionize the way women dress. A graduate of Dartmouth College and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Sloan School, she works to make women’s lives a bit easier with Seattle-based startup- high-tech, high-touch company, Armoire, which offers a true “wardrobe as service” experience. Ambika has worked across diverse contexts in organizations both small and large, with roles in marketing, business development, product management, SEO and social media. She has been featured on the Puget Sound Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 list, in The Seattle Times, and was invited to speak at Amazon, Microsoft, American Express, Harvard Business School, MIT, and the UW Foster School of Business.

If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device, post it to your Instagram stories, and tag @nicoletsong @armoire.style and @ambikasi so we can give you a shout-out and thank you for your support!

ASIAN VISIBILITY SYSTEM: Want to permanently reverse cultural conditioning and step into a life where you feel purposeful and thrive? Grab the Asian Visibility System: go.nicoletsong.com/visible.

Do you struggle with boundaries? Discover the blind spots holding you back and take the Boundary Tendencies Quiz: nicoletsong.com/quiz

Have a question or topic you’d like Nicole to touch on in a future episode? Email podcast@nicoletsong.com to share any thoughts or feedback.

Learn More About Ambika Singh:

• Website: www.armoire.style
• Instagram: @armoire.style, @ambikasi
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ambika-singh1/

Catch up with Nicole:

• Website: nicoletsong.com
• Subscribe to her newsletter
• Instagram: nicoletsong
• Tiktok: @nicoletsong_
• Facebook community: Balance + Boundaries
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-tsong/

Want to know the real reason Asian-American women are unseen and unheard in the workplace?

The answer may surprise you.

And I break it ALL down in this episode.

Hint: it has a LOT to do with how you were raised.

Inside this episode, I share 3 simple, powerful steps to reverse cultural conditioning. If you’re ready to reverse cultural conditioning, follow these steps to break through old patterns and thrive in your dream career.

Top learnings from this episode:

• Why Cultural conditioning blocks leadership – 00:03:20
• Asian cultural values are part of what is holding you back – 00:03:59
• Why you aren’t outspoken and what to do with that feedback – 00:05:20
• Stop capping yourself by thinking hard work will fix things – 00:06:43
• Emotional mastery is essential for effective leadership – 00:10:33
• Separating self-worth from job performance supports growth – 00:14:24

If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device, post it to your Instagram stories, and tag @nicoletsong so we can give you a shout-out and thank you for your support!

ASIAN VISIBILITY SYSTEM: Want to permanently reverse cultural conditioning and step into a life where you feel purposeful and thrive? Grab the Asian Visibility System: go.nicoletTsong.com/visible.

Do you struggle with boundaries? Discover the blind spots holding you back and take the Boundary Tendencies Quiz: nicoletTsong.com/quiz

Want to build morning habits that last so you jump out of bed with energy and clarity every morning? Join Nicole’s 5-Day Morning Challenge: go.nicoletTsong.com/morning-habits

Haven’t left a review yet? We’d love for you to at: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/school-of-self-worth/id1678655504

For full show notes, transcript, and links, visit nicoletsong.com/podcast.

Have a question or topic you’d like Nicole to touch on in a future episode? Email podcast@nicoletTsong.com to share any thoughts or feedback.

Catch up with Nicole:

• Website: nicoletsong.com
• Subscribe to her newsletter
• Instagram: nicoletsong
• Tiktok: @nicoletsong_
• Facebook community: Balance + Boundaries
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-tsong/

Have you ever wondered why you are the go-to to make the slides, but you’re never the one making the presentation?

Today, I am breaking down the MAIN block that hinders your visibility at work. It’s a massive blind spot for Asian-american corporate leaders —especially those who are ambitious and aiming for greater visibility at work.

If you’ve felt plateaued where you are right now, identifying and moving through this block is essential so you are valued by leadership and you can step into the next level of management and leadership at work.

I get into the two key shifts you need to make — both simple and doable every day ‚ so you can truly make strategic, clear decisions.

Make sure you tune in for this powerful episode!

The top learnings from this episode:

• The main block to visibility for asian american women [00:00:21]
• The impact of cultural conditioning and family values [00:02:33]
• Why valuing information over strategy limits advancement [00:06:06]
• The shift from details to strategic, intuitive leadership [00:07:25]
• Breaking the cycle of emotional reactivity [00:11:29]
• Setting boundaries around noise and tuning into intuition [00:12:52]

If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device, post it to your Instagram stories, and tag @nicoletsong so we can give you a shout-out and thank you for your support!

ASIAN VISIBILITY SYSTEM: Want to permanently reverse cultural conditioning and step into a life where you feel purposeful and thrive? Grab the Asian Visibility System: go.nicoletsong.com/visible.

Do you struggle with boundaries? Discover the blind spots holding you back and take the Boundary Tendencies Quiz: nicoletsong.com/quiz

Want to build morning habits that last so you jump out of bed with energy and clarity every morning? Join Nicole’s 5-Day Morning Challenge: go.nicoletsong.com/morning-habits

Haven’t left a review yet? We’d love for you to at: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/school-of-self-worth/id1678655504

For full show notes, transcript, and links, visit nicoletsong.com/podcast.

Have a question or topic you’d like Nicole to touch on in a future episode? Email podcast@nicoletsong.com to share any thoughts or feedback.

Catch up with Nicole:

• Website: nicoletsong.com
• Subscribe to her newsletter
• Instagram: nicoletsong
• Tiktok: @nicoletsong_
• Facebook community: Balance + Boundaries
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-tsong/

Have you ever wondered if being Asian is a reason you’re being overlooked for leadership?

In this week’s episode, I sit down with John Wang, author of “Big Asian Energy,” TEDx speaker, and podcast host. As a kid, John also struggled with pressure from his Asian parents, and how those early experiences impacted his ability to see his own potential. It took him years to unpack his cultural conditioning and how it impacted his leadership and confidence.

John now helps Asian professionals break through the bamboo ceiling, and own their identity and desires. He stresses the importance of reclaiming your own sense of belonging and worth rather than outsourcing it to others.

He also talks about how essential it is to create supportive spaces for Asian-Americans, and how speaking about our experiences helps the whole community.

This powerful episode is a must-listen!

THE TOP LEARNINGS FROM THIS EPISODE:

• The impact of traditional Asian parenting on self-worth. [00:03:45]
• How children of immigrants navigate three different identities. [00:12:08]
• Breaking through the bamboo ceiling and overcoming workplace stereotypes. [00:15:58]
• The achiever treadmill and patterns rooted in childhood. [00:18:47]
• Outsourcing self-worth and the need for belonging. [00:25:53]
• Embracing Big Asian Energy: Unapologetic self-ownership. [00:39:12]

John Wang is the author of Big Asian Energy (Tiny Rep / Penguin Random House, May 2025), a TEDx speaker, and host of the Big Asian Energy podcast (Apple Podcasts). As a coach with over 15 years of experience, he has helped clients from Google, Apple, Amazon, and Goldman Sachs, empowering them to step into leadership with confidence. He has built a growing audience of over 240,000 followers on social media with over 25 million views and is passionate about helping Asian professionals break the bamboo ceiling and be recognized for their leadership potential.

If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device, post it to your Instagram stories, and tag @nicoletsong and @johnwangofficial/ so we can give you a shout-out and thank you for your support!

Asian Visibility System: Want to permanently reverse cultural conditioning and step into a life where you feel purposeful and thrive? Grab the Asian Visibility System: go.nicoletsong.com/visible.

For full show notes, transcript, and links, visit nicoletsong.com/podcast.

Have a question or topic you’d like Nicole to touch on in a future episode? Email podcast@nicoletsong.com to share any thoughts or feedback.

Learn More About JOHN WANG:

• www.bigasianenergy.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnwangofficial/
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@johnwangbae
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-wang-b79ba396/?originalSubdomain=ca

Catch up with Nicole:

• Website: nicoletsong.com
• Subscribe to her newsletter
• Instagram: nicoletsong
• Tiktok: @nicoletsong_
• Facebook community: Balance + Boundaries
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-tsong/

Do you feel unappreciated, undervalued and — worst of all — invisible at work?

In this week’s episode of the School of Self-Worth, I dig into the reasons this might be happening.

And understanding (and reversing) cultural conditioning is essential.

For so many Asian-American women, you learned early on to base your self-worth on what others thought of you — you relied on praise and achievements to feel worthy.

But it’s just an old pattern that’s on repeat, and you CAN change it.

I share a simple tip in this episode to start to retrain your brain to feel valued, and even better, to stop outsourcing your self-worth to your job and what people think of you. Listen to learn how you can finally boost your confidence at work and visibility so you can reach your fullest potential.

Top learnings from this episode:

• The fastest way to feel valued at work [00:00:00]
• Outsourcing self-worth to others is learned behavior [00:04:29]
• Cultural conditioning impacts how you value yourself [00:03:33]
• The brain’s negative thought loops and their impact [00:07:07]
• Valuing yourself is the key to being valued by others [00:08:18]
• A simple daily practice to build self-worth [00:09:52]

If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device, post it to your Instagram stories, and tag @nicoletsong so we can give you a shout-out and thank you for your support!

Asian Visibility System: Want to permanently reverse cultural conditioning and step into a life where you feel purposeful and thrive? Grab the Asian Visibility System: go.nicoletsong.com/visible.

Do you struggle with boundaries? Discover the blind spots holding you back and take the Boundary Tendencies Quiz: nicoletsong.com/quiz

Want to build morning habits that last so you jump out of bed with energy and clarity every morning? Join Nicole’s 5-Day Morning Challenge: go.nicoletsong.com/morning-habits

Haven’t left a review yet? We’d love for you to at: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/school-of-self-worth/id1678655504

For full show notes, transcript, and links, visit nicoletsong.com/podcast.

Have a question or topic you’d like Nicole to touch on in a future episode? Email podcast@nicoletsong.com to share any thoughts or feedback.

Catch up with Nicole:

• Website: nicoletsong.com
• Subscribe to her newsletter
• Instagram: nicoletsong
• Tiktok: @nicoletsong_
• Facebook community: Balance + Boundaries
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-tsong/