Before We Get There

Purposeful Careers and Work-Life Integration with Abby Ling

In this episode of 'Before We Get There,' host Nicholas Braman interviews Abby Ling, an experienced marketer who currently leads the Singapore branch of an international marketing agency. Throughout the conversation, Abby shares insights into career planning, setbacks, and the challenges faced by working moms. She discusses her experiences with various organizations like TEDx Singapore and her journey from Beijing to Singapore. Abby emphasizes the importance of networking, community involvement, and the notion of 'integration' over 'balance' in managing professional and personal life. Her tips on job searching, adapting to new environments, and supporting working parents offer valuable guidance for listeners at different stages of their careers.
00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest
04:55 Moving to Singapore: A Personal Journey
08:07 Navigating Job Search Challenges
08:54 The Importance of Networking
16:06 Agency vs. In-House Marketing
19:11 Cultural Differences in Companies
21:02 The Importance of Perspective, People, and Potential
24:41 Career Planning and Long-Term Goals
29:42 Challenges and Strategies for Working Moms
34:18 Gender Bias and Leadership
40:04 Inspiring the Next Generation
42:30 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

From the Boxing Ring to the BBQ Pit: Chasing Passion with Davis Ng

In this episode of Before We Get There, host Nicholas Braman interviews Davis Ng, a professional boxer and chef. Davis recently won the WBC Silver Asia Middleweight title and runs a unique fusion restaurant in Singapore, Kemuri BBQ, which combines Texas barbecue with Japanese culinary influences. Davis shares insights into his boxing career, overcoming setbacks, starting a food business while in culinary school, and his epic internship in a famous Austin barbecue joint. He also talks about the challenges and rewards of opening and running his restaurant and balancing his boxing career. Tune in to hear about Davis's journey, his inspirations, and future aspirations.
 
00:00 Introduction and Guest Overview
01:25 Davis Ng's Boxing Journey
02:33 Overcoming Defeats and Challenges
07:52 Starting a Culinary Career
13:57 Building a Food Business
17:00 Opening a Restaurant
33:04 Future Plans and Reflections
37:47 Conclusion and Contact Information
 

Leveling Up: Lessons from Gaming and Jiu Jitsu with Michael Thompson

In this episode of 'Before We Get There,' host Nicholas Braman interviews Michael Thompson, a Canadian game designer who has lived in Singapore for over 15 years. Michael discusses his extensive career in the gaming industry, working on major titles like FIFA and NHL for Electronic Arts and Ghost Recon for Ubisoft. Currently, he is the course chair for the Department of Game Design at DigiPen Institute of Technology in Singapore. Michael also shares his experiences and insights from over 20 years of training in Brazilian Jiujitsu, touching on the growth of the sport in Singapore and how to stay fit as you age. The conversation delves into the challenges and rewards of both fields, highlighting the parallels between them. Michael also offers advice to those aspiring to enter the gaming industry.
 
00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest
01:29 Michael's Journey to Singapore
04:54 The Reality of Working in the Gaming Industry
10:45 Challenges and Rewards of Game Development
19:40 Transitioning to Teaching
23:30 Analyzing Game Design Flaws
25:25 How building games is similar to Brazilian Jiujitsu
26:08 Early Days of Training and Grind of Jiujitsu
33:35 Measuring Progress in Jiujitsu
36:47 Staying Healthy and Disciplined
39:32 Growth of Jiujitsu in Singapore
43:30 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Leaving Corporate to Pursue Purpose with Eliza Koo

In this episode of Before We Get There, host Nicholas Braman sits down with Eliza Koo, founder of Tender Loving Milk and an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. Eliza shares her journey from a corporate career in B2B tech marketing to becoming an entrepreneur, driven by her passion for supporting new mothers. They discuss her gradual pivot into lactation consulting, her insights on parenting, and the life lessons she learned from building her own business. Eliza also opens up about the challenges of balancing family and entrepreneurship, her evolving perspective on success, and her future goals to expand into life coaching for working mothers.
Topics Discussed:
Transition to Entrepreneurship: Eliza’s journey from corporate marketing to founding her own business, Tender Loving Milk.
Building Tender Loving Milk: How she launched her lactation consulting service while juggling a full-time job, clinical hours, and motherhood.
Defining Success Beyond Money: Insights on balancing purpose, family, and professional fulfillment as an entrepreneur.
Challenges of Parenting and Family Dynamics: The role of supportive partners and family in raising children and balancing business and parenting.
Future Goals in Life Coaching: Eliza’s aspiration to expand her services to help working mothers navigate major life transitions.
Follow Eliza:
Instagram (Lactation Consulting): @tenderlovingmilk
Instagram (Life Coaching): @eliza.life.coaching
Additional Resources:
Podcast Website
Podcast Instagram
 

Journey to Success from Early Failures with Kyson Xu

In this episode of Before We Get There, host Nicholas Braman welcomes Kyson Xu, a passionate marketer and prolific LinkedIn content creator. Kyson shares his journey from his beginnings in business development to discovering his passion for marketing, while also building a strong personal brand on LinkedIn. He opens up about imposter syndrome, balancing work with family life, and his unique insights from working across industries and within diverse teams. Kyson also reflects on defining success beyond traditional measures and how his role as a father and husband shapes his personal and professional goals.
Topics Discussed:
LinkedIn Growth: How Kyson grew his audience on LinkedIn through authenticity, consistent engagement, and strategic content creation.
Career Transition: Moving from business development to marketing and the insights he gained working in sales that he applies to marketing today.
Navigating Imposter Syndrome: Dealing with self-doubt as a young content creator and finding purpose in building a personal brand.
Work-Life Balance: The importance of family and health, finding time for his wife and son, and why success goes beyond the corporate ladder.
Defining Success: How Kyson’s perspective on success has shifted from financial metrics to work-life integration, team empowerment, and personal fulfillment.
Parenting in Singapore: Balancing traditional expectations with a modern approach, and how Kyson wants to support his son in choosing his own path.
Follow Kyson:
LinkedIn
Additional Resources:
Podcast Website
Podcast Instagram

Creativity, emotion, and being a VICE star with Mathew Yuhico

In this episode of Before We Get There, host Nicholas Braman sits down with Mathew Yuhico, a creative force in video production with a knack for storytelling. Mathew shares insights from his childhood, inspired by his artist mother, and his journey from graphic design to a career in video production. They delve into the evolution of his creative process, from personal projects that inspire emotion to handling constraints in client work. Mathew also reflects on finding balance between personal passion and professional commitments.
Topics Discussed:
Early Inspirations: Mathew’s childhood influences, including his artistic family and his mom's passion for visual arts.
Career Evolution: Transitioning from graphic design in PR to video production, and his creative journey across various media platforms.
Working with VICE: The story behind his unconventional “rap application” that landed him a job at Vice during COVID and the challenges of being in front of the camera.
Creative Process: The difference between creating personal projects versus client-driven work and finding fulfillment through personal creative expression.
Life Lessons from Jiu-Jitsu: How Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu taught him patience, resilience, and flexibility, drawing parallels between the mat and life’s challenges.
Life in Singapore: Adjusting to life in a new culture, finding a sense of belonging, and how these experiences shape his creativity.
Follow Mathew:
Instagram: @mathewyuhico
TikTok: @mathewyuhico
Additional Resources:
Mathew’s rap application 
Podcast website
Podcast Instagram

Before We Get There - Trailer

Exploring life's journeys from family, hobbies, careers, personal growth, and more with your host Nicholas Braman. During frank conversations with a wide variety of guests, we talk about how people got to where they are, how they keep moving forward, and where they want to get to. Listen to what our journeys are like Before We Get There.