What Will I Be When I Grow Up?
34 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 2 months ago -For as long as we can remember, we have been told that it is better to be a doctor, engineer or lawyer when we grow up. We want to inspire students and parents to think holistically, beyond the social constructs instilled in their minds. Join us as we explore ideas with people who are at the top of their game, pursuing their dreams and making a difference in the world.
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Episodes
Feasting on Fun: Ili Sulaiman’s journey from serving the British Royal Wedding to becoming Malaysia’s much loved celebrity chef
March 08, 2024 05:16 - 52 minutes - 48.2 MBIf you’ve watched Ili on screen, she’s always bursting with so much joy and laughter. The joy is real and permeates everything she does from her studies, to every career move, which includes serving at Will and Kate’s wedding (!). You don’t want to miss this episode!
Runways and ruins: Two senior academicians from Southampton University take us through their journey in luxury fashion and archaeology
January 19, 2024 05:55 - 43 minutes - 39.6 MBDoes fashion matter, or is it just frivolous? Also, what does a museum and archaeology expert do when she gets more confused from visiting Nepal’s Narayanhiti Palace Museum? Dig deep into all these and more as we chat with Professor Bryony Whitmarsh, Professor of Heritage and Museum Studies; as well as Amanda Bragg-Mollison, Deputy Head of School (Education) at the University of Southampton.
An award-winning writer at dawn and reservoir engineer by day: Wole Talabi on the joy of figuring out numbers and narratives
November 08, 2023 06:44 - 47 minutes - 43.4 MBWole Talabi’s curiosity has taken him places. At nine, he read his parents’ entire collection of encyclopedias because he enjoyed the process of finding things. Later, as a chemical engineer, he went to Imperial College to pursue a Master’s degree in Reservoir Engineering because he was so frustrated at the uncertain numbers given to him to design facilities for the oil and gas company. When given negative feedback on his writing as a new writer, he took it as a challenge. He continued to wr...
From engineering, literature to digital humanities: Leeds’ Dr Dibyadyuti Roy’s intricately woven journey across three continents
October 11, 2023 07:33 - 45 minutes - 41.7 MBThe word ‘text’ originates from ‘textile’ - which means woven together. To Dr Dibyadyuti Roy, this was the single most accurate way of describing his journey from literature into digital humanities. To him, his foray into media studies digital humanities was about looking at texts in the largest possible dimension. Listen to discover how digital humanities and media studies will be a core partner to help students retain skills necessary for jobs in the next ten years.
Proving the naysayers wrong: How Malaysia’s first blowdry bar, Cocodry broke even in six months during Covid-19
September 20, 2023 07:10 - 32 minutes - 30.1 MB“It won’t work,” people told Kim when she first bounced the idea of a blowdry bar. “You’re going to get eaten alive by the big fish.” Kim, the perennial lover of challenges, set out to prove everyone wrong. Here’s her story of starting Malaysia’s first blowdry bar to mind-blowing success.
Climate crisis: You can make an impact right where you are, says ecopedagogy specialist, Dr Ria Dunkley
July 12, 2023 05:00 - 37 minutes - 25.5 MBStraight from the heart, Dr Ria Dunkley revealed that she didn’t know what she wanted to do at university. Her tutor encouraged her to study tourism. She thrived at university and became a lecturer in tourism - then dedicated her life to ecopedagogy after she worked for the Eden Project in Cornwall, UK. Learn about her struggles with imposter syndrome, working part-time jobs while pursuing her doctorate, and how you too can play a part in the climate crisis right where you are.
Reconciling real life with art: How Tragikomedi founder Shari Jaffri grew her writing and illustrating skills from a childhood of ‘daydreaming’
May 22, 2023 05:00 - 27 minutes - 18.6 MBShari’s teacher would complain to her parents, “Shari’s just a daydreamer, she should really focus more in class.” But being a daydreamer had grown her observation and reflection skills, which in turn, she put to writing and illustrating. Today, Shari is a sought-after multi disciplinary creative who has worked for local and international brands, from Monki, Uniqlo, to local brands such as U Mobile.
A marketeer from childhood: Southampton University’s Assistant Professor in Marketing, Dr Tugra Akarsu on the invaluable impact of her entrepreneur parents on her career
April 28, 2023 02:00 - 34 minutes - 23.7 MB“There was always an action at the workplace,” Southampton University’s Assistant Professor of Marketing, Dr Tugra Akarsu shares. She confesses that growing up with her working parents had sown the seeds of sales and marketing in her from her early years. Discover how her food engineer parents’ influence had made her emotionally mature, resilient and took her to the heights of her career today.
No money, no network, no experience: How two Portsmouth College students built the award-winning media agency Hewitt Matthews all by themselves
March 21, 2023 07:00 - 37 minutes - 25.6 MB“I’ll just sell my car - that will do our salaries for a while, and we can just walk to meetings,” thought Carl Hewitt when his co-founder Reece Matthews and him first started their little-known media agency. Discover how these 18-year-old’s rose against all odds and gave their all to build an award-winning digital marketing agency.
Entrepreneur from young: How ZUS Coffee COO Venon Tian’s online business funded his university life and grew his career
February 20, 2023 00:00 - 38 minutes - 26.2 MB“We won’t be able to send you to university anymore, we couldn’t afford it. You got to think for yourself,” Venon Tian’s mother told him as he finished high school. Amazingly, Venon (who is now COO at ZUS Coffee) went ahead with university and even funded his own law degree in the UK. Tune in to find out how Venon overcame his financial challenges, secured a job in the UK and went on to preach and breathe operational excellence at work.
Super curricular and extra curricular: how Oxford International College CEO Yasmin Sarwar helps students track their career for life
December 13, 2022 05:00 - 42 minutes - 29.3 MBAs the founder and leader of the UK’s two highest-performing A-level colleges for twelve consecutive years, Yasmin started her career “purely by chance” in her kitchen-turned-to-lab when she was waiting for her research grant in Cardiff. Tune in to find out how this Malaysian education entrepreneur rose to the top of A-level education in the UK while continuing to help students rise the ranks in their career as well.
Break a leg: How a rugby mishap became a self-fulfilling prophecy for actor and MPW’s Director of Admissions James Barton
November 15, 2022 03:00 - 49 minutes - 34.2 MBWhen James Barton broke his leg as a teenager, his dreams of being a professional rugby player had to take a dramatic shift. Looking back, the mishap literally ushered him into a new ‘stage’ of his life: acting and Indiana Jones (yes) were part of that stage. Tune in to discover how it all came together for James who is now a renowned ambassador of UK education and a successful public speaker and actor.
Dime and time: Patreon’s Editor Julian Brimmers’ journey of giving his all in writing about music, pop culture and more
October 11, 2022 02:00 - 38 minutes - 26.4 MBJulian Brimmers grew up in unassuming Straelen, Germany where he “yearned for the exciting stuff”. He went on to be a journalist, filmmaker and podcaster whose works have been published by the BBC, the Paris Review, and many more. For Julian, the path that led him there was all about “going through the stories”. Tune in to find out more.
History ‘Manuel’: Leeds’ Professor of Global History Manuel Barcia’s makes his own history from a working class family in Cuba to international recognition
September 06, 2022 06:00 - 35 minutes - 24.6 MBProf. Manuel Barcia’s first day of work at a museum archive changed his life forever. “This is what I want to do for the rest of my life,” he thought to himself. Tune in to find out what’s in the museum archives and how he journeyed from Cuban history to global history at Leeds.
Still getting starstruck: Record label 4AD Head of Press & Communications, Annette Lee chats about how going for gigs turned into a career for her
August 08, 2022 04:00 - 49 minutes - 34.2 MBAnnette Lee started off as a receptionist before rising the ranks to be the Head of Press & Communications at 4AD, one of the world’s most respected indie record labels. Learn how Annette’s self-starting aptitude helped her to make the most out of the receptionist role as the only person of colour at the UK office, armed with her degree in Music Industry Management and Marketing.
Museum Musings: Corinna Gardner on her unique journey as a museum curator at the V&A, the world’s leading museum of art and design
July 18, 2022 02:00 - 37 minutes - 25.6 MBYou’ve probably visited museums, but have you ever wondered what it’s like to work in a museum? More specifically, being a museum curator? In this episode, Corinna Gardner shares her unique journey as a museum curator and how it’s like working at the V&A in London, the world’s leading museum of art and design.
Find your beat: How award-winning international broadcaster and social psychologist Aleks Krotoski found her own voice in her career and encourages you to do the same
June 13, 2022 07:00 - 55 minutes - 38.3 MBBorn in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, Emmy and BAFTA award-winning international broadcaster Dr Aleks Krotoski takes us through her journey of reinventing her own story. Shuffle with Dr Krotoski between the US and the UK — from being born to scientist parents, to her decision of studying “philosophical sciences” i.e. Psychology while pursuing her love for broadcasting.
Let it be a journey: Accenture’s SEA Energy Lead Cheah Wai Seng bares all about his most important influences and principles that led to his success
March 29, 2022 02:00 - 40 minutes - 28 MBMost of Cheah Wai Seng’s childhood memories revolved around what he did outside of school. Discover how these puzzles of life fit into his journey from childhood to his successful career in one of the world’s top management consulting firms today. Cheah Wai Seng is the Southeast Asia Energy Lead for Accenture. He studied for a degree in Computer Systems Engineering at UMIST (now the University of Manchester). Since graduating, he has worked at Accenture in multiple roles in Malaysia and g...
Courting destiny: Kelantan-born Vinita Templeton's journey from child rights specialist to immigration lawyer
February 18, 2022 07:00 - 43 minutes - 30.3 MBVinita Templeton disliked studying law and thought it was the most dreary thing ever. “I’d sooner pick up a novel than read a law book,” thought Vinita when she was studying her LLB in the UK. Little did she know that she would be Director of Immigration and Public Law at Duncan Lewis Cardiff office today. Vinita’s journey has been nothing short of serendipitous: tune in to this episode as we discover Vinita’s rich Kelantanese and Thai upbringing, her adventures in Camp America, Thailand, ...
Yalpanam author Shivani Sivagurunathan on creativity, the creative process, teaching creative writing and finding her creative voice
January 03, 2022 07:00 - 46 minutes - 32 MBCreativity—as author Shivani Sivagurunathan discovered for herself—was birthed out of the lack of activities and events in her quiet hometown in Port Dickson. Because she kept to herself mostly, she often invented creative activities of her own while burying herself in books. Tune in to discover how this successful Malaysian author and lecturer found her own writing voice from the age of eight. Shivani Sivagurunathan’s first collection of short stories, Wildlife on Coal Island, was publishe...
Business unusual: How Professor Peter Rodgers’ interest in Soviet Union politics paved the way to his role as MBA Director at Southampton Business School
December 20, 2021 01:00 - 32 minutes - 22.2 MBEver wondered what it is like to study at one of the most sought-after MBA programmes in the world at the University of Southampton? Listen in as Southampton MBA Director Professor Peter Rodgers shares about the programme and his journey from political science into the world of business. Professor Peter Rodgers is a Professor of Strategy and International Management and MBA Director within Southampton Business School, University of Southampton. He gained a BA (Hons) degree in Social and Pol...
Paradise found: Dr Bryan Brazeau on the immeasurable value of an interdisciplinary liberal arts degree and how it has transformed his life
December 01, 2021 03:00 - 53 minutes - 36.9 MBWhat really is the value of a liberal arts degree? Associate Professor (Liberal Arts) at the University of Warwick, Dr Bryan Brazeau, has answers and questions for those of you considering a liberal arts degree. Discover how the world can be your oyster with this degree and how it’s made Dr Bryan cross oceans and transformed his life. Dr Bryan Brazeau is Associate Professor (Liberal Arts) at the University of Warwick, UK. Before joining the Warwick’s School for Cross-faculty Studies in 20...
Fashion educator Karen Heard on growing up as a country girl, her Devil Wears Prada years and unending discovery with students at UAL
November 18, 2021 02:00 - 56 minutes - 39.2 MBFashion educator Karen Heard grew up in the West Country, England where the seeds of curiosity and exploration were first sown. Later, when faced with “what will I be when I grow up” at secondary school, she was advised by her teacher to work in a bank, despite her obvious interests in creative work. Karen was not going to let that happen. Tune in to unfold the story of how Karen ‘stubbornly’ got into art school, the world of couture, backpacking around the world and now a fashion educator...
Connecting people and culture: How Dewakan restaurant founder and head chef creates meaningful connections through every ingredient
November 10, 2021 03:00 - 30 minutes - 20.8 MBIn 2016, Dewakan was named the Best Restaurant in Malaysia on the prestigious Asia’s 50 Best Restaurant list. Join us as we talk to Dewakan’s head chef, Darren Teoh about his journey from childhood to being a world renowned chef.
I couldn’t have planned any of these: Dr Lata from Leeds on her identity, her career journey so far and how everything worked out fortuitously for her
October 21, 2021 03:00 - 44 minutes - 30.3 MBAs a first generation of an Indian diaspora to Canada in the 70’s, Dr Lata Narayanaswamy, Associate Professor at the University of Leeds traces her interest in global development back to her identity as an immigrant in Canada. Learn how Dr Lata grapples with the big questions on belonging, identity, and “following her heart” in her career so far. About Dr Lata Narayanaswamy: Since 2001, Dr Lata Narayanaswamy has worked as a research practitioner, consultant and lecturer in gender and devel...
I couldn’t have planned any of this: Dr Lata from Leeds on her identity, her career journey so far and how everything worked out fortuitously for her
October 21, 2021 03:00 - 44 minutes - 30.3 MBAs first generation child of Indian migrants to Canada in the 70’s, Dr Lata Narayanaswamy, Associate Professor at the University of Leeds traces her interest in global development back to her identity as an immigrant in Canada. Learn how Dr Lata grapples with the big questions on belonging, identity, and “following her heart” in her career so far. About Dr Lata Narayanaswamy: Since 2001, Dr Lata Narayanaswamy has worked as a research practitioner, consultant and lecturer in gender and deve...
Art-iculating through life: Multidisciplinary artist Nini Marini’s colourful journey through art school, work and beyond
September 27, 2021 01:00 - 47 minutes - 33 MBNini Marini is a full-time multidisciplinary artist and maker who explores art through various mediums such as ceramic, textile, metal and even artificial intelligence. This year, Nini was listed on Tatler Asia’s Most Influential: The Culture List 2021 that identifies leaders making indelible impacts in their respective fields. In this episode, Nini bares all about her journey in art school, the hardest thing to reckon in art school, and her wisdom for those who want to pursue a career in ar...
Writing in his genes: How an English Literature and Genetics degree massively benefited Dr David Kent’s science career
August 13, 2021 06:00 - 34 minutes - 23.6 MBEver wondered what it’s like to study English Literature and Genetics together? These two fields may seem worlds apart, but Dr David Kent, Deputy Head of University of York’s Department of Biology, begs to differ. Listen in to find out how and why he combined those two fields in his undergraduate degree! Dr. David Kent is the Deputy Head of Department of Biology at University of York.
A journey of letting go: From film-making dreams to historian in the Netherlands
July 26, 2021 02:00 - 28 minutes - 19.5 MBA historian of colonial Malaya, Dr Sandra Khor Manickam didn’t start her university life with studying history. She wanted to study filmmaking, but found that it wasn’t what she expected. Studying history, she discovered, helped her to tap into her curiosity of the world. Listen to Sandra as she shares her exciting journey from Malaysia to the US, then to Singapore, UK, Australia and now at the Netherlands. Dr Sandra graduated with a PhD in History (2011) from Australia National University,...
No shortcuts: From Imperial College to world-recognised Water Engineer
June 28, 2021 05:00 - 39 minutes - 27.2 MBWhat was it like studying at Imperial College, London as a young man from Petaling Jaya under the tutelage of professors who are leaders in their own fields? Dr James Lau shares his experience as an undergraduate and postgraduate student at Imperial and growing his career in the UK for over a decade. Dr Lau is an Associate Director at Dr Nik & Associates and an Honorary Lecturer, Imperial College London. He graduated with a PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Imperial College Lon...
From helplessness to helping others: Know what you stand for
June 22, 2021 07:00 - 25 minutes - 17.5 MBA Chevening scholar and formerly a journalist in a Malaysian daily, Natasha Joibi attributed her current vocation at an environmental services NGO to her childhood days. Discover how Natasha is breaking out from the patriarchal, socialistic exposure in her childhood to carve out a future of her own. Natasha is currently a Communication Specialist for an environmental NGO. She was also a 2019/20 Chevening Scholar. She pursued Master of Science in Equality and Human Rights at University of Gla...
Soil-mates for life: How environmental science can be so fulfilling
May 17, 2021 03:00 - 25 minutes - 17.6 MBDr. Ian Oliver grew up in Adelaide, Australia where he enjoyed the great outdoors, animals, plants, math and the sciences. Discover how a degree and career in Environmental Science helped Ian to combine these interests together, along with why earthworms are such a fascinating study. Dr. Ian Oliver is Senior Lecturer in Environmental Science at Keele University. He obtained a Ph.D. in Environmental Chemistry. 2004. School of Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of Adelaide, Australia. ...
Life as an international aid worker: Doing things that matter
April 23, 2021 04:00 - 42 minutes - 29.2 MBWhen Michelle Gunaselan saw villagers and their children being evicted from their homes due to Malaysia’s zero squatter policy, she decided that news reporting is not enough. She wants to be a part of things that matter. Listen in as Michelle shares about what it’s like to be an international aid worker and how she got there. Michelle holds a BSc degree in Journalism from Taylor’s College & University Sains Malaysia and a MSc degree in Human Rights from London School of Economics.
Introduction to What Will I Be When I Grow Up?
April 23, 2021 03:00 - 2 minutes - 1.45 MBWhat if there are careers out there that you didn’t even know existed? What if being a teacher isn’t what you expected it to be? Listen in to find out why we started this podcast.