Ever freeze up in front of senior stakeholders? Don't worry, I've been there too!

In this solo episode, I'm sharing the 7 principles I've learned from interviewing ministers and senior leaders about how to show up with confidence, break the ice, and make senior stakeholders genuinely enjoy talking to you.

We'll cover:

• The three modes of persuasion (logos, ethos, pathos) and why emotion matters most
• The Airport Test: why likability beats logic every time
• How to do your homework so you can put it away and be present
• The difference between confrontational and curious when pushing back
• How to follow up in a way that actually leads to relationships

If you've ever felt like you dim your light in front of senior people or struggle to be yourself in high-stakes conversations, this episode is for you.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

• Deep Human Training events - ⁠https://www.deep-human.com/events⁠
• Lee Kuan Yew's speeches (available online)
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QUOTABLE MOMENTS:

• "The airport test is really a test of likability, of pathos, of connection. Out of the three modes of influence—logic, credibility, and emotion—emotions are the strongest."
• "Your job in the first few minutes is to signal: hey, this is gonna be a real conversation with a real person."
• "People confuse gravitas with being very serious. Some of the most senior people who have the most influence are genuinely fun and energetic."
• "Specificity creates intimacy. I cannot emphasize this enough."
• "From confrontational to curiosity. Don't be confrontational, be curious."
• "The follow-up opens the door to a real ongoing relationship and makes the other person feel that this wasn't just one transactional slice."

What does it mean to build a meaningful career in a world filled with endless choices? And how do we make decisions with clarity when the pressure to choose perfectly can leave us feeling stuck?

In this episode, I’m delighted to speak with Mr Ong Ye Kung, Minister for Health and Coordinating Minister for Social Policies, about leadership, decision-making, and the mindset shifts required to navigate an increasingly complex world.

Minister Ong reflects on his unconventional career journey from receiving a Public Service Commission (PSC) scholarship and serving in the Administrative Service, to roles in the labour movement, the private sector, and eventually politics. Rather than following a meticulously planned path, he shares how many of life’s opportunities have unfolded through circumstance, responsibility, and a willingness to learn along the way. His story challenges the modern idea that careers must be perfectly engineered to be successful.

We also explore how modern-day abundance of choice can make decision-making harder rather than easier. We discuss how today’s generation faces far more options than before - in career, relationships, and personal paths, yet often experience greater anxiety and dissatisfaction as a result.

Minister Ong also shares his own philosophy for navigating difficult decisions: “Focus on what truly matters, avoid unnecessary regret, and accept that not every choice needs to be optimised. By resisting the temptation to endlessly analyse every option, we create space for greater clarity and forward momentum.”

In this episode, I’m delighted to speak with Minister of State Rahayu Mahzam, Ministry of Digital Development and Information, on youth wellbeing, balancing authority and humanity in leadership, and what civic responsibility looks like in Singapore’s digital age.

MOS Rahayu shares her journey from legal practice and long-standing volunteer work to being invited into politics, a path she never actively sought but gradually stepped into as her advocacy for people and the community deepened. Her reflections reveal a leadership philosophy grounded in service, empathy and authenticity.

We also unpack the psychological and social implications of growing up online and discuss rising mental health concerns among the youth, the role of government in setting guardrails, and the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration, from legislation to grassroots networks in shaping a healthier digital culture.

This conversation is also deeply personal. MOS Rahayu reflects on the realities of being a woman in leadership, navigating high-stakes decision-making while also being a mother and partner. Rather than framing it as “having it all,” she acknowledges the trade-offs, the inevitable imperfections, and the ongoing negotiation between competence and vulnerability.

Resources Mentioned:

Predictors of screen viewing time in young Singaporean children: the GUSTO cohort - A longitudinal Singapore study tracking child development and health outcomes from birth, providing insights into early influences on wellbeing. ⁠https://rdcu.be/e5WwU⁠

Mind-set Matters: Exercise and the Placebo Effect by Alia J.Crum and Professor Ellen J. Langer - Research demonstrating how identity beliefs influence behavioural change ⁠https://dash.harvard.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/7312037c-7142-6bd4-e053-0100007fdf3b/content⁠

Guidance on Screen Use in Children by Ministry of Health Singapore - National guidelines offering recommendations for healthy digital use among children and adolescents. ⁠https://isomer-user-content.by.gov.sg/3/dc21db37-3dde-4cdb-9b9f-773d93c93f93/Guidance%20on%20Screen%20Use%20in%20Children%20(18%20Jan)-clean.pdf⁠

Online Safety (Relief and Accountability) Act (Singapore) – Legislation aimed at providing victim-centric recourse against online harms. ⁠https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/OSRAA2025/Uncommenced/20260221020925?DocDate=20251208⁠

Touch Community Services – A community agency supporting families and individuals, including digital parenting and youth wellbeing initiatives. ⁠http://touch.org.sg/⁠

Where to Find MOS Rahayu Mahzam

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/rahayumahzam/?hl=en⁠

Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/RahayuMahzamSG/?ref=NONE_xav_ig_profile_page_web#⁠

Threads: ⁠https://www.threads.com/@rahayumahzam?xmt=AQF0_0FwsovncTXuYjn31kJnoQwKkFftUNgQisdHxuJjZW0⁠