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Nichol Ng's extraordinary journey embodies the essence of resilience in leadership and life. Raised watching her father build a successful business empire through sheer determination, Nichol's world shattered when his bankruptcy in 1999 forced her to juggle multiple jobs at age 21 while shouldering family financial responsibilities. Rather than walking away, she chose to step back into the family business in 2002, beginning a remarkable story of rebuilding and purpose.

Just as success seemed secure with a new facility investment in 2019, COVID-19 threatened to repeat history. Facing crushing pressure as the responsible leader for hundreds of employees and her own family, Nicole reached a breaking point that led her to seek professional help. In 2022, she made the heart-wrenching decision to sell her family home to save the business, mirroring what her father had done decades earlier.

What makes Nichol's story truly exceptional is that throughout these personal financial battles, she co-founded and grew The Food Bank Singapore, an organisation now feeding over 300,000 people annually. During COVID-19, when recipients often saw no one else for months, Nichol's team focused on "nourishing souls" alongside bodies, adding moments of joy to their deliveries.

Today, at 47, Nichol stands at a powerful inflection point. After decades of putting everyone else first, she's discovering self-prioritisation. "In the last 12 months, amazingly, I have found my own voice," she reveals. "Having that self-love actually empowered me to do a lot more." Looking ahead, she envisions expanding to Food Bank Asia while exploring opportunities in education as her family business approaches its 100-year milestone in 2034.

Her advice resonates powerfully: think of difficult periods as being in a cocoon, not failing, but preparing for metamorphosis. For women specifically, she emphasises, "You are the decision maker in your life," encouraging them to make choices based on their own values rather than external judgments. Through her remarkable journey, Nichol demonstrates how purpose can transform personal hardship into meaningful leadership and lasting social 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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⚡ “Nichol Ng: The night she almost gave up - and why she didn’t.”

Nichol Ng opened up about a night during COVID when she sat on her office balcony and thought: should I jump? What stopped her was her kids, her mother, her staff, and the thousands fed by her charity The Food Bank.

It’s a raw, honest reminder that true strength isn’t about never breaking - it’s about finding a reason to keep going. 💙

Catch her full story on The Power Within when it drops on 1st September.

#Resilience #StrengthInStruggle #ThePowerWithinPodcast #MentalHealthMatters #LeadershipJourney

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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Mastering the art of salary negotiation requires more than just knowing your market value; it demands confronting deep-seated fears and limiting beliefs that keep us from advocating for our worth. In this illuminating conversation, compensation expert Souhila Keffi draws back the curtain on what really happens behind closed doors when pay decisions are made.

The statistics are striking: while 57% of men negotiate their starting salaries, only 7% of women do the same. This disparity creates a compounding effect throughout careers, affecting not just immediate earnings but long-term financial security. "If you fail to negotiate your starting salary," Souhila warns, "it will affect your bonus, retirement savings - the impact is massive." But the solution isn't simply telling people to negotiate harder; it requires addressing the psychological barriers that prevent us from speaking up.

Drawing from nearly two decades of experience working with major corporations across Europe and Asia, Souhila introduces frameworks that transform intimidating pay conversations into manageable processes. Her EDGE framework (Evaluate, Design, Ground, Elevate) provides a roadmap for employees, while the 3M approach (Mindset, Model, Message) helps founders price their services effectively. At the core of both is a crucial mindset shift: "Your worth is not your salary."

For professionals returning to work after career breaks, particularly women, Souhila offers pointed advice against accepting lower salaries just to "get a foot in the door." Instead, she encourages returners to own their story and recognise the valuable, transferable skills they've developed during their time away. This perspective shift turns a perceived liability into a unique strength.

Whether you're preparing for your next promotion conversation, wondering if you're being fairly compensated, or setting rates as a business owner, this episode provides practical strategies to approach pay discussions with confidence, clarity, and courage. Remember, as Souhila powerfully states, "There's no courage without fear"; you'll never feel completely ready for these conversations, but taking that first step builds the negotiation muscle that will serve you throughout your entire career.

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