The Median Podcast

[Introduction]In this week’s episode Jeff is joined by Vinod Chandramouli who is the co-founder of Mycelium Ecology - an organisation on a mission to develop community projects with the purpose of conserving biodiversity within the Western Ghats of India. Having been in the IT and cloud software spaces for close to 20 years, Mycelium is at the heart of who Vinod is having grown up around nature during his formative years. In saying that, his step away from this long career into the area of conservation is very much a leap of faith as a once experienced operational expert turns into a first-time builder where milestones, rather KPIs, provide the best measure for something as beautiful, and yet complex, as the natural world.********[Timestamps]00:01:00 Birth of Mycelium Ecology 00:10:00 Conservation as the new startup frontier00:21:38 Mission of conserving, coexisting and evolving00:30:05 Taking a new leap of faith as a builder00:35:28 Living a minimalist lifestyle00:47:00 Beauty of the Western Ghats of India00:53:42 What Mycelium Ecology will look like in 50 years’ time********[Support The Median Podcast] https://www.buymeacoffee.com/medianpodcast********[Follow me]https://www.twitter.com/anotherjeffchan********[Follow The Median Podcast]> https://www.twitter.com/themedianpod> https://www.instagram.com/the_median_podcast/> https://www.facebook.com/The-Median-Podcast-110447448247432> https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-median-podcast/********[Watch The Median Podcast]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmXAjpJOKgY********[Listen to The Median Podcast]> https://linktr.ee/themedianpodcast> https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5hY2FzdC5jb20vcHVibGljL3Nob3dzL3RoZS1tZWRpYW4tcG9kY2FzdA> https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-median-podcast/id1609340408> https://open.spotify.com/show/7zA5GltN9UktcrVlqSeoLa> https://shows.acast.com/the-median-podcast

[Introduction]In this week’s episode I’m joined by Danny Thai, founder of Zecar, a data-driven one stop shop for all things electric cars and clean energy to help consumers make the switch. The conversation begins with how Zecar came to be before delving deeper on how Danny balances the three competing priorities of family, career and himself, in his life. To making sure he maximises his potential in order to make a change in this world to the opportunity cost of not being able to spend as much time as he can with his kids, this week’s episode encapsulates what we all think about as we try to forge a career path that does not leave behind our family and more importantly, ourself.********[Timestamps]00:00:00 Vehicle to achieving a means to an end00:09:15 How Zecar came to life00:19:34 Staying organised with so many competing priorities00:28:50 Role of family and friends in an entrepreneur’s journey00:41:09 How kids fit into the balancing act00:51:55 Switching off to allow for ‘me’ time********[Support The Median Podcast] https://www.buymeacoffee.com/medianpodcast********[Follow me]https://www.twitter.com/anotherjeffchan********[Follow The Median Podcast]> https://www.twitter.com/themedianpod> https://www.instagram.com/the_median_podcast/> https://www.facebook.com/The-Median-Podcast-110447448247432> https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-median-podcast/********[Watch The Median Podcast]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmXAjpJOKgY********[Listen to The Median Podcast]> https://linktr.ee/themedianpodcast> https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5hY2FzdC5jb20vcHVibGljL3Nob3dzL3RoZS1tZWRpYW4tcG9kY2FzdA> https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-median-podcast/id1609340408> https://open.spotify.com/show/7zA5GltN9UktcrVlqSeoLa> https://shows.acast.com/the-median-podcast

[Introduction]In episode #34 Jeff is joined by Jesse Oliveira who shares his immigration journey as a dyslexic kid growing up in South Africa. Now 28-years old, Jesse resides in Sydney where he has very much found his calling in software sales despite having studied law at the same university as Nelson Mandela. With his dyslexia causing him daily challenges, this has far from stopped Jesse from living by his values. His condition very much acts a reminder to keep pushing forward no matter what life throws at him.********[Timestamps]00:02:40 A salesperson with dyslexia, using it as an advantage00:17:32 Fear of being average, kid from Africa with nothing but a dream00:35:35 Living by your values, learning and experiencing new things00:49:55 Handling the pressure as a salesperson, time management and value selling********[Support The Median Podcast] https://www.buymeacoffee.com/medianpodcast********[Follow me]https://www.twitter.com/anotherjeffchan********[Follow The Median Podcast]> https://www.twitter.com/themedianpod> https://www.instagram.com/the_median_podcast/> https://www.facebook.com/The-Median-Podcast-110447448247432> https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-median-podcast/********[Watch The Median Podcast]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmXAjpJOKgY********[Listen to The Median Podcast]> https://linktr.ee/themedianpodcast> https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5hY2FzdC5jb20vcHVibGljL3Nob3dzL3RoZS1tZWRpYW4tcG9kY2FzdA> https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-median-podcast/id1609340408> https://open.spotify.com/show/7zA5GltN9UktcrVlqSeoLa> https://shows.acast.com/the-median-podcast

[Introduction]In Australia 1 in 6 couples will struggle with infertility. In this week’s episode of The Median Podcast, I’m joined by Wenyi who shares her four plus year journey to conceive her first. In this very personal and intimate story, Wen sums it up best in saying that "You think that you caught this expressway to achieving what you want in a quicker way. But in reality, we (as in Wen and her husband) actually went on a roller coaster of emotions.”********[Timestamps]00:01:23 Getting to the IVF journey, treatment through COVID, express way turned into a rollercoaster00:20:25 Public versus private hospital experience in Australia and China00:27:30 How to keep positive despite the heartache00:33:20 Route to surrogacy, large business in Ukraine 00:40:25 Lack of support, women delaying childbirth********[Support The Median Podcast] https://www.buymeacoffee.com/medianpodcast********[Follow me]https://www.twitter.com/anotherjeffchan********[Follow The Median Podcast]> https://www.twitter.com/themedianpod> https://www.instagram.com/the_median_podcast/> https://www.facebook.com/The-Median-Podcast-110447448247432> https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-median-podcast/********[Watch The Median Podcast]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmXAjpJOKgY********[Listen to The Median Podcast]> https://linktr.ee/themedianpodcast> https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5hY2FzdC5jb20vcHVibGljL3Nob3dzL3RoZS1tZWRpYW4tcG9kY2FzdA> https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-median-podcast/id1609340408> https://open.spotify.com/show/7zA5GltN9UktcrVlqSeoLa> https://shows.acast.com/the-median-podcast

[Introduction]In this week’s episode of The Median Podcast, I’m joined by Yan Kruger who is the managing director of Growth Wave, a boutique business and HR advisory firm. Throughout his 15+ year journey, Yan has worked across the full remit of human capital and brings a unique blend of experience as a consultant as well as internal employee and leader. With that, Yan shares the four pillars to creating an enduring business, the values that define him and his business, the painful leadership lessons he has learnt in his career and how his upbringing has very much shaped his desire to achieving social justice where the ultimate reward is very much an emotional one.********[Timestamps]00:01:18 Injustices in the world, a wanting to achieve social justice, achieving an emotional reward, influences when growing up - best friend and mum00:11:53 Applying core business principles in his consulting business - fair/equitable pay for workers, adopting a transparency ethos for customers and employees, profitability from day one and challenging the status quo, disrupting the business consulting space00:28:32 Values that define who he is - people, planet and profit, the importance of sustainability00:31:47 How fatherhood was a pivotal time in his career, burning the candle at both ends 00:35:25 We teach what we most need to learn, being vulnerable as a leader, leading a team in a hybrid work environment, mistakes as a leader, giving feedback in the workplace, the pitfalls of heuristics01:01:45 “A comet is coming - which camp are you in?”********[Support The Median Podcast] https://www.buymeacoffee.com/medianpodcast********[Follow me]https://www.twitter.com/anotherjeffchan********[Follow The Median Podcast]> https://www.twitter.com/themedianpod> https://www.instagram.com/the_median_podcast/> https://www.facebook.com/The-Median-Podcast-110447448247432> https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-median-podcast/********[Watch The Median Podcast]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmXAjpJOKgY********[Listen to The Median Podcast]> https://linktr.ee/themedianpodcast> https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5hY2FzdC5jb20vcHVibGljL3Nob3dzL3RoZS1tZWRpYW4tcG9kY2FzdA> https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-median-podcast/id1609340408> https://open.spotify.com/show/7zA5GltN9UktcrVlqSeoLa> https://shows.acast.com/the-median-podcast

IntroductionPhil and I met over six years ago when we joined Freshworks during its early years. With that, this week’s episode of The Median Podcast is very much picking up where we left off all those years ago as we talk about the existential challenges of growing up, creating your own blueprint to life and the importance of having strong friendships as you navigate through life. Overall, this is very much a fun and casual conversation between two good friends that just so happens to be recorded.Timestamps00:01:45 Existential challenges of growing up, root of comparison, growing up with seven close friends, understanding your own blueprint to life00:23:54 Power of just giving it a go, having a support network that tells you how it is, criteria for good friendships00:39:00 Responsibility that comes with rearing children, just being good enough, the opportunity cost of chasing perfection, running your own race, being a kid againFollow mehttps://www.twitter.com/anotherjeffchanFollow The Median Podcasthttps://www.twitter.com/themedianpodhttps://www.instagram.com/the_median_podcast/https://www.facebook.com/The-Median-Podcast-110447448247432https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-median-podcast/Watch The Median Podcasthttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmXAjpJOKgYListen to The Median Podcasthttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-median-podcast/id1609340408https://open.spotify.com/show/7zA5GltN9UktcrVlqSeoLahttps://shows.acast.com/the-median-podcastSupport The Median Podcast http://supporter.acast.com/the-median-podcast

Timestamps00:02:10 Expat life in Hong Kong during COVID, establishing friendships in a new country00:07:15 Berlin - Europe’s place for partying, the changing landscape00:09:42 A new life in Helsinki, Helsinki compared to Berlin, enjoying the city for what it is, Finnish culture, happiest nation in the world00:19:00 Continuing the remote working life, the joys of product management, hiring anyone in the world with the Horizons software platform00:38:00 Serendipity in job searching, being open to new opportunities, listening to your gut00:49:18 Why The Median Podcast, content moderation, role of critical thinkingFollow mehttps://www.twitter.com/anotherjeffchanFollow The Median Podcasthttps://www.twitter.com/themedianpodhttps://www.instagram.com/the_median_podcast/https://www.facebook.com/The-Median-Podcast-110447448247432https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-median-podcast/Watch The Median Podcasthttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmXAjpJOKgYListen to The Median Podcasthttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-median-podcast/id1609340408https://open.spotify.com/show/7zA5GltN9UktcrVlqSeoLahttps://shows.acast.com/the-median-podcastSupport The Median Podcast http://supporter.acast.com/the-median-podcast

IntroductionGirsh and I met over 10 years ago when we’re at Thomson Reuters. Hence, today’s episode of The Median Podcast is very much a conversation between two good old friends. We talk about the importance of routines, not letting past experiences affect the experiences of today, the triumphs and challenges of fatherhood and where to next in search of the next professional challenge.Timestamps00:01:00 Getting back into the groove after a move, creating new and improved routines, moving in with someone and how the dynamics change in a positive way00:07:00 Fear of not being good in relationships, opportunity to learn and grow, and not to repeat the same mistakes, embarking on an experience as a first-timer again00:16:22 Using circuit-breakers and being self-aware to overcome negative emotions00:21:40 Being a single-father and the challenges of raising a child in today’s modern world, developing a relationship with your child, finding the balance between family and career00:42:33 Navigating the next professional challenge, creating the next impact, being a good man is good enough01:00:27 Mastering meditation, stopping the constant hum of lifeFollow mehttps://www.twitter.com/anotherjeffchanFollow The Median Podcasthttps://www.twitter.com/themedianpodhttps://www.instagram.com/the_median_podcast/https://www.facebook.com/The-Median-Podcast-110447448247432https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-median-podcast/Watch The Median Podcasthttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmXAjpJOKgYListen to The Median Podcasthttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-median-podcast/id1609340408https://open.spotify.com/show/7zA5GltN9UktcrVlqSeoLahttps://shows.acast.com/the-median-podcastSupport The Median Podcast http://supporter.acast.com/the-median-podcast

IntroductionIn episode #28 of The Median Podcast, I’m joined by Robert Chen - in addition to being a partner at a renowned professional training and coaching organisation called Exec|Com based in New York, Rob is a Wall Street Journal best seller having recently published his book, “Selling your expertise” to glowing 5-star reviews. In this conversation, Rob shares his views on how anyone can live their best life and where his mission/his purpose, much like the premise of his book, is to help business leaders and their teams, or anyone else as a matter of fact, tap their innate potential, deepen client relationships, and to win in the most competitive marketplaces and in life.Timestamps00:01:40 How do you live your best life, living every day with purpose, definition of ‘best’00:07:40 Rob’s personal story, the catalyst for self-evaluation, finding a profession that fits you00:15:12 Importance of contribution as a mission for life, finding one’s life purpose, 00:20:25 The Pan-Asian community in the US, improving the representation of Pan-Asians in the corporate and government sectors00:28:10 Letting it be00:30:40 The premise of “Selling your expertise”, the importance of selling in all facets of life, being a kid again to not worry about failure00:43:30 Aligning your actions with what you say, learning with purposeFollow mehttps://www.twitter.com/anotherjeffchanFollow The Median Podcasthttps://www.twitter.com/themedianpodhttps://www.instagram.com/the_median_podcast/https://www.facebook.com/The-Median-Podcast-110447448247432https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-median-podcast/Watch The Median Podcasthttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmXAjpJOKgYListen to The Median Podcasthttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-median-podcast/id1609340408https://open.spotify.com/show/7zA5GltN9UktcrVlqSeoLahttps://shows.acast.com/the-median-podcastSupport The Median Podcast http://supporter.acast.com/the-median-podcast