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S01-E08-CLIP02

What happens when a woman abandoned at birth refuses to let trauma define her destiny? Ivona Guzowska's extraordinary journey from orphaned child to world champion boxer, parliamentarian, equestrian, and spiritual guide reveals the transformative power of rejecting victimhood.

Growing up with an alcoholic adoptive father in a challenging environment, Ivona developed remarkable self-reliance at an early age. "I had to be focused on myself because no one else was," she shares with disarming honesty. This early necessity became the foundation for extraordinary discipline and resilience that would propel her to multiple world championships in both boxing and kickboxing.

As one of Poland's first professional female boxers in the late 1990s, Ivona broke new ground in a male-dominated sport despite earning just a fraction of what today's champions receive. She reveals her "4F rule" for success - Fun, Fitness, Focus, and Fight - explaining how maintaining calm focus amid chaos became her superpower in and out of the ring.

Perhaps most fascinating is Ivona's evolution after sports. Her two terms in the Polish Parliament led to significant reforms in child protective services and orphanage systems. Later, she pursued show jumping to fulfill a childhood dream before ultimately questioning the ethics of the sport despite her love for horses.

The most profound transformation came when Ivona finally recognized the connection between her childhood abandonment and lifelong drive to prove her worth. "In every cell of my body was written: you don't deserve life, you don't deserve love." Yet through this painful recognition came her greatest breakthrough - discovering her own completeness and inherent worthiness.

Today, Ivona helps others release their emotional "armour" through workshops and personal coaching. Her message is simultaneously simple and revolutionary: "We are complete. We have all the tools we need to fix our problems." By taking 100% responsibility for our lives and abandoning the victim role, we access tremendous power.

Ready to discover the champion within yourself? Listen now and learn how inviting all of life - even the difficult parts - can reveal the courage behind every fear and the joy behind every sadness.

Tune in for an inspiring conversation that will leave you equipped with the tools to lead with confidence, overcome obstacles and unlock The Power Within

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Steve Dawson's journey from tax accountant to acclaimed sports broadcaster to leadership coach exemplifies the transformative power of aligning work with your natural talents. Before becoming a household name across Asia through ESPN, Star Sports, and Fox Sports Asia, Steve made the difficult decision to walk away from accounting after 11 years; a career he had pursued partly to make his father proud but one where he never quite found his stride.

The magic happened when Steve discovered broadcasting, where his natural communication abilities, passion for sports, and work ethic created the perfect foundation for success. "Suddenly doors opened," Steve explains. "What unlocked my power within was doing something I was good at." His approach to live television - remaining composed under pressure, focusing only on his responsibilities, and maintaining professional boundaries with celebrity interviewees offers masterclasses in presence and poise applicable far beyond broadcasting.

One of the most valuable insights Steve shares comes from years of interviewing sporting legends. Rather than approaching celebrities as a "fanboy," Steve maintained professional respect and focus, a strategy that once resulted in Manny Pacquiao asking him for a photo, rather than the other way around. This philosophy of respecting boundaries whilst delivering excellence creates authentic connections that no amount of fawning admiration could achieve.

Now, as a leadership coach through his company CoachSD.com, Steve helps professionals overcome communication blind spots, particularly the unconscious assumption that audiences possess the same knowledge as presenters. "If you're speaking to someone and explaining something, it's because they don't know the things you know," he emphasises, highlighting how crucial proper scene-setting is for effective communication.

Whether you're contemplating a career pivot, looking to improve your communication skills, or simply seeking to unlock more of your potential, Steve's experiences offer a roadmap for finding fulfilment through work that leverages your inherent strengths.

Tune in for an inspiring conversation that will leave you equipped with the tools to lead with confidence, overcome obstacles and unlock The Power Within

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Leadership isn't about individual brilliance but assembling the right team, creating a shared mission, and fostering trust. This wisdom comes from Sir Clive Jones CBE, who transformed British broadcasting and raised over £500 million for humanitarian causes during his extraordinary career.

Growing up in the Welsh valleys with what appeared to be limited prospects, Clive's path was altered by two pivotal influences: his mother who sacrificed her own education who wholly focused and Clive and his brother's education and an inspirational headteacher who believed that pupils in Clive's local grammar school could compete with the best and aspire to entry into the very best universities in the UK if given the opportunity. This foundation of opportunity and potential shaped his leadership philosophy throughout his career.

What began as an "accidental" journalism job after university evolved into a masterclass in team leadership. During his tenure across major networks including ITV, Carlton Television, and GMTV, Clive navigated British television's transformation from public service franchises to commercial enterprises. This required not just creative excellence but difficult business decisions affecting thousands of lives; teaching valuable lessons about accountability and compassion in leadership.

Beyond broadcasting, Clive's work with the Disasters Emergency Committee demonstrated how effective leaders unite competing interests toward common goals. By convincing 15 rival aid agencies to temporarily set aside competition and coordinate massive humanitarian responses, he helped create systems that raised hundreds of millions for global crisis relief. His founding of the Creative Diversity Network similarly reflects his belief that organisations must reflect the diverse communities they serve.

The most powerful revelation? True leadership isn't about personal accomplishment but creating the conditions for collective success. "Build a good team, empower that team, and urge them to get on with it," Clive advises. "If you've had a successful career, you're duty-bound to give something back." This philosophy of opportunity, teamwork, and service offers a blueprint for leaders across any industry seeking meaningful impact.

Tune in for an inspiring conversation that will leave you equipped with the tools to lead with confidence, overcome obstacles and unlock The Power Within

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From shop floor to General Manager for Longchamp Singapore and Malaysia, Mollie Rogers shares how vulnerability became her superpower. "Our uniqueness is our superpower" - discover how authentic leadership creates business resilience in challenging markets. What would your workplace look like with emotional inclusion?

Tune in for an inspiring conversation that will leave you equipped with the tools to lead with confidence, overcome obstacles and unlock The Power Within

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"Clients do not come first, employees do." Hear how Mollie Rogers, GM of Longchamp Singapore & Malaysia has transformed Longchamp in SE Asia through emotional inclusion and humanistic leadership. When businesses prioritise employee wellbeing, profitability naturally follows. Listen now to reshape your leadership approach.

Tune in for an inspiring conversation that will leave you equipped with the tools to lead with confidence, overcome obstacles and unlock The Power Within

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What if the secret to business success isn't putting profits first, but prioritising the emotional wellbeing of your team? Mollie Rogers, General Manager of Longchamp in Singapore and Malaysia, challenges conventional business wisdom with her revolutionary approach to leadership.

From an unexpected start on the shop floor of Longchamp's Madison Avenue, New York store to becoming a regional leader in Asia for the prestigious French fashion house, Mollie's journey demonstrates how understanding retail from the ground up shapes authentic leadership. Her pivotal moment came during COVID when she fully embraced "humanistic leadership," putting emotional inclusion into action as a core organisational value.

"There's no such thing as splitting our home selves from our work selves," Mollie explains, rejecting the Industrial Revolution mindset that still dominates many workplaces. At Longchamp, this philosophy manifests in tangible ways - from a "Zen Den" where employees can rest or meditate to a hybrid work model designed with employee input. When questioned about business impact, she quotes Richard Branson: "Clients do not come first, employees do. If you take care of your employees, they will take care of your clients."

Mollie's passion extends beyond her corporate role. As author of the book 'Emotional Inclusion" and founder of a not-for-profit organisation by the same name, she provides organisations with practical frameworks for prioritising emotional wellness. Her approach involves modelling vulnerability as a leader, creating psychological safety that empowers teams to bring their authentic selves to work.

Working within Longchamp's 4th generation family-owned structure has allowed Mollie's leadership philosophy to thrive without quarterly pressures, creating continuity in thinking and ethos. The company's values of authenticity and optimism perfectly align with her leadership approach, demonstrating how businesses can maintain their unique identity while serving diverse demographics.

Ready to transform your approach to leadership? Listen now to discover how emotional inclusion can revolutionise your workplace culture and drive sustainable business success.

Tune in for an inspiring conversation that will leave you equipped with the tools to lead with confidence, overcome obstacles and unlock The Power Within

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What does it take to perform at the absolute pinnacle of human ability? Alex Yoong, Malaysia's first Formula One driver, takes us deep into the mindset of elite performance in this captivating conversation about resilience, leadership, and high-speed decision-making.

Alex's journey to Formula One wasn't paved with privilege, it was bootstrapped through sheer determination. His family sold their house to fund just two Formula 3 race weekends in what he describes as going "all chips in." Despite eventually reaching F1 and racing alongside future champion Fernando Alonso, Alex never considered it a success because his goal wasn't merely to participate but to become world champion. This relentless pursuit of excellence shaped his entire approach to performance.

The most fascinating insights emerge when Alex discusses what truly separates elite performers from the rest. Beyond talent and hard work, he identifies "clarity of thought" as the defining characteristic of champions; the ability to maintain focus without getting muddled by emotions or biases. This mental clarity doesn't always correlate with intelligence but instead reflects an exceptional ability to control emotions and make sound decisions under extreme pressure.

As Alex transitioned from uncompromising athlete to business owner, he discovered that succeeding in a new arena required developing an entirely new set of skills. With only five years of business experience compared to 25 years as a driver, he had to embrace humility and a growth mindset. This evolution demonstrates how leadership qualities must adapt to different contexts, a lesson applicable far beyond motorsport.

Now pioneering simulator racing as a pathway for Southeast Asian talent, Alex is working to disrupt traditional motorsport development by leveraging technology to overcome regional infrastructure limitations. His approach to mental resilience - reframing challenges and expanding one's "appetite" for difficulty - offers a powerful blueprint for anyone facing setbacks or transitions in their own journey.

Whether you're leading a team, pursuing personal growth, or simply fascinated by the psychology of high performance, this episode will transform how you think about resilience, clarity, and what it truly means to stay in the game.

Tune in for an inspiring conversation that will leave you equipped with the tools to lead with confidence, overcome obstacles and unlock The Power Within

Subscribe, share and leave a review to help others discover the show

Send us a text

What does it take to perform at the absolute pinnacle of human ability? Alex Yoong, Malaysia's first Formula One driver, takes us deep into the mindset of elite performance in this captivating conversation about resilience, leadership, and high-speed decision-making.

Alex's journey to Formula One wasn't paved with privilege, it was bootstrapped through sheer determination. His family sold their house to fund just two Formula 3 race weekends in what he describes as going "all chips in." Despite eventually reaching F1 and racing alongside future champion Fernando Alonso, Alex never considered it a success because his goal wasn't merely to participate but to become world champion. This relentless pursuit of excellence shaped his entire approach to performance.

The most fascinating insights emerge when Alex discusses what truly separates elite performers from the rest. Beyond talent and hard work, he identifies "clarity of thought" as the defining characteristic of champions; the ability to maintain focus without getting muddled by emotions or biases. This mental clarity doesn't always correlate with intelligence but instead reflects an exceptional ability to control emotions and make sound decisions under extreme pressure.

As Alex transitioned from uncompromising athlete to business owner, he discovered that succeeding in a new arena required developing an entirely new set of skills. With only five years of business experience compared to 25 years as a driver, he had to embrace humility and a growth mindset. This evolution demonstrates how leadership qualities must adapt to different contexts, a lesson applicable far beyond motorsport.

Now pioneering simulator racing as a pathway for Southeast Asian talent, Alex is working to disrupt traditional motorsport development by leveraging technology to overcome regional infrastructure limitations. His approach to mental resilience - reframing challenges and expanding one's "appetite" for difficulty - offers a powerful blueprint for anyone facing setbacks or transitions in their own journey.

Whether you're leading a team, pursuing personal growth, or simply fascinated by the psychology of high performance, this episode will transform how you think about resilience, clarity, and what it truly means to stay in the game.

Tune in for an inspiring conversation that will leave you equipped with the tools to lead with confidence, overcome obstacles and unlock The Power Within

Subscribe, share and leave a review to help others discover the show