Stepping Up

You’ve recently gone back to school—share with us a little more about this.
It’s a relatively quiet year, so I’ve been trying to upgrade my skills. I’m currently pursuing a diploma for English to Chinese translation (which is currently on hold due to Covid-19), so I can open up new career pathways for myself in the future. I’ve always wanted to be effectively bilingual. For now, I’m focusing on my ongoing classes where I coach people to speak with confidence, which has kicked off recently!

Three things you always have with you in your bag are:
Given the current climate, definitely hand sanitiser. Apart from that, I always have two tumblers with me—one filled with coffee and the other with warm water. I never drink cold water, since I work in a  field where taking care of my voice is such a priority. I’ve always got a notebook with me to pen down my thoughts—it’s not filled with distractions like my phone.

Do you have a routine before you start work?
Two hours before an event, I avoid all spicy and fried food, and try not to go for heavy food. I always make sure I’ve got black coffee and some mint with me.

How did you first get into this line of work?
Even before I went to university, I tried out a radio academy course, just to be certain this is really what I wanted to do. I have done my fair share of corporate jobs—my mother wanted me to be part of the corporate world, so I did quite a bit of client servicing. Eventually, all of that experience led to where I am today.

What’s one personal project you’re hoping to work on this year?
It’s a tough year, and it’s not going to be easy for anyone, but I’ve been trying to carve out the space and time needed to reacquaint myself with habits I might have lost touch with or leftover tasks. I’ve managed to donate a quarter of my clothes and start on a book that’s been on my to-do list for a while. We all have to find the opportunities to grow when we can.