The Story

All about how I came from being an insurance analyst to falling in love with podcast publishing, which inspired me to teach others how to create a successful podcast

It’s 2009, my job is on the chops. I walk into the room waiting for my manager to give me the news.

I was 18 months into my first job after university. I was an insurance analyst with the largest mortgage lender of the country and the Global Financial Crisis kicked off. Failing to retain my job would mean being shown the door. It meant losing my visa to remain in the country, which meant so much to me.

There was a moment in my teenage year when all I wanted was to get a university degree that lead to a safe and secure job. I chose an actuarial degree, that's got to be recession proof, or so I thought.

My dad ran his own company. He was a successful civil engineer running a construction business laying foundations for buildings. Business is good until the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis almost decimated the business. His company survives. He lives to tell the tale and still heads the business today.

My mum was a full time mother who raised 3 sons. She was a strict mum. She once confiscated my radio and like most asian parents still wanted me to learn how to play the piano.

I grew up in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in the 90s. 🇲🇾

In 2013, I met a business mentor who showed me how I could use my talent to create interviews and engineer a career pivot.

I knew nothing about sustainability and the environmental movement but was curious enough to learn about the topic. I launched my first podcast - Cleanweb Conversations, interviewing founders of environmental startups in the London tech scene. I was inspired by the people I met.

It was the start of my journey meeting and learning from great mentors. They were inspiring and generous.

I become a community manager at a tech startup. I organised lots of events. I even help build London's largest coworking space for sustainability startups.

One day, a friend asked me how to create a successful podcast, and if I could edit his shows. This was the first of many enquiries, which inspired me to launch my business "Podcast Publishing."

That is how I became a podcast agency owner and a podcasting mentor. Officially, my job is to work with impact entrepreneurs to launch and scale podcasts. But really, I make entrepreneurs fall in love with the podcasting process so that they learn how to start a podcast that they are proud of which ultimately leads to the income and impact that only they can make.

The greatest outcome for me is when my clients text me a screenshot telling me: “Woon, I’m getting this amazing review on my podcasts!” And that to me is the greatest reward of all. I know I was there at the beginning, and I showed them how to start a podcast.

I am so grateful that I get to wake up every day and be a part of the podcasting journey of really amazing people, getting their message out and making an impact.

And that first analyst job when the Global Financial Crisis hit, they kept me in the company but moved me to different team. I learned how important it is to be belonging.

My purpose in life is to acknowledge others to feel a sense a belonging and listened to so that knowing their voice is heard they can make a difference.

So, let me know. How can I help you?