

Who We Are with Rachel Lim
Rachel Lim
Who we are is an ever-evolving journey without limits.
Join the ever-curious Rachel Lim as she delves into every facet of our lives — from work and family to relationships, self-discovery, and beyond.
Experience a series of conversations and shared reflections that span from in-depth discussions with thought leaders around the world, to personal lessons shared with friends. Each episode offers valuable insights into our identities and pathways to self-improvement.
Welcome to Who We Are — a podcast devoted to the continuous journey of uncovering our ever-evolving selves.
Join the ever-curious Rachel Lim as she delves into every facet of our lives — from work and family to relationships, self-discovery, and beyond.
Experience a series of conversations and shared reflections that span from in-depth discussions with thought leaders around the world, to personal lessons shared with friends. Each episode offers valuable insights into our identities and pathways to self-improvement.
Welcome to Who We Are — a podcast devoted to the continuous journey of uncovering our ever-evolving selves.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 11, 2025 • 1h 9min
#45: Rebecca Lim: Lessons From Heartbreak, Motherhood & Fame
In one of her most open conversations yet, award-winning actress Rebecca Lim reflects on the lessons she’s learned from heartbreak, motherhood, and life in the public eye.
From childhood dreams and early imposter syndrome to the role that changed everything, Rebecca shares the sacrifices, self-doubt, and resilience it’s taken to sustain a career under constant scrutiny. She opens up about friendship changes, public criticism, and the private grief of losing her father, and how each chapter shaped the woman she is today.
We also explore motherhood’s transformative impact, the realities of ‘mom guilt,’ and her evolving definitions of beauty, success, and boundaries.
This is Rebecca Lim as you’ve never heard her before; honest, deeply human, and full of wisdom for anyone learning to let go, start again, and find peace.
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00:00 Introduction
01:17 Rapid Fire with Rebecca Lim
05:24 Meet Rebecca: Childhood, School Days & First Acting Dreams
09:39 Battling Imposter Syndrome in the Early Years
14:43 Facing Negativity, Criticism & Self-Doubt
15:53 The Quiet Sacrifices Behind the Success
16:52 The Career-Changing Role That Defined Her
19:31 If She Could Go Back: Advice to Her Younger Self
20:40 Running on Empty: Motherhood’s First Impact
23:44 Rediscovering Herself After Becoming a Mother
26:50 Weathering Public Scrutiny & Staying True
29:16 Choosing Silence & Protecting Her Peace
33:04 Navigating Friendship Changes & Building Healthy Boundaries
35:57 Losing Her Father: A Silent Grief
42:24 Her Hardest Role Yet: Motherhood
49:14 Post-Maternity Comeback to Acting
52:04 Managing ‘Mom Guilt’ After Returning to Work
55:58 Redefining Success on Her Own Terms
57:56 Rethinking Beauty Standards in Entertainment
01:01:21 To My Younger Self: You Don’t Have to Be a Shooting Star
01:02:39 The Non-Negotiable Boundaries She Lives By
01:03:43 Learning from Past Mistakes
01:05:14 Final Reflections & Takeaways
Follow Rachel here: https://www.instagram.com/ms_rach/
Follow Rebecca here: https://www.instagram.com/limrebecca/

Jul 14, 2025 • 43min
#44: President of Microsoft Asia: Lessons from My Mum, Asia & Leading 30,000 People
In this soulful and wide-ranging conversation, Rodrigo Kede Lima, President of Microsoft Asia, reflects on the people, places, and pivotal lessons that have shaped who he is today. From the quiet strength of his trailblazing mother to the humbling experience of starting over in Asia, and the responsibility of leading 30,000 people across cultures, Rodrigo shares what it truly means to lead with purpose, humility, and heart.We discuss:The values his mother and grandfather instilled in himWhat starting over in Asia taught him about leadershipHow he stays grounded while leading at scaleHis views on hierarchy, culture, and human-first systemsWhat AI will demand of future leadersUnlearning, wellness, and the second mountainWhy legacy is about leaving people better than you found them00:00 Introduction01:08 Meet Rodrigo: Childhood, Curiosity & Dreams of Medicine05:14 The Legacy of His Mother and Grandfather07:13 Core Beliefs That Shaped Rodrigo’s Leadership10:00 Bold Career Moves & Embracing Discomfort12:35 Starting Over in Asia: Humility, Curiosity & Reinvention14:59 Wellness Routines That Keep Rodrigo Grounded20:07 Leading 30,000 People: Culture, Connection & Systems24:07 Asia’s Rise: From Manufacturing Hub to Innovation Powerhouse26:44 The Values We Must Hold Onto in the AI Era29:07 What Fatherhood Taught Rodrigo About Learning & Letting Go32:49 Where to Begin: Practical Steps for Embracing AI36:40 Beyond Boardrooms: Lessons from Parenting39:40 Redefining Purpose: Rodrigo on Legacy, Joy & Giving Back41:15 The Message Rodrigo Hopes to Leave Behind42:27 Closing ReflectionsFollow Rachel here: https://www.instagram.com/ms_rach/Follow Rodrigo here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodrigo-kede-lima-51941129/

Jun 30, 2025 • 1h 7min
#43: Adrian Ang: What I Built Almost Cost Me Who I Am
You may know him as “Xiao Ming”, the funny guy behind the shades, the face of SGAG. But in this conversation, I sat with Adrian Ang, the man behind the persona.
Adrian and I go way back to our school days. And over the past few years, we’ve reconnected, not over memes or milestones, but over the messy, honest work of untangling who we are from what we’ve built.
In this episode, Adrian opens up about the cost of becoming someone the world applauds, and the quiet courage it took to start unbecoming what no longer served him.
We talked about:
– The moment his son asked him to take off the sunglasses
– How he nearly lost himself trying to keep it all together
– Drinking to escape, leading while empty, and hurting the people he loved most
– And what it really means to heal — slowly, gently, from the inside out
———
00:00 Introduction: The Man Behind the Persona
01:37 Adrian Today: Diving Beneath the Surface
04:54 Kampung Childhood & Free-Spirited Beginnings
06:50 Becoming “Xiao Ming”: The Internet Persona Is Born
09:20 When the Character Overshadows the Creator
11:22 The Cost of Compartmentalising Who We Are
16:17 Chasing Impact, Validation & Approval
22:37 What Success Really Cost Him
25:56 Breaking Point: The Spiral He Couldn’t Ignore
30:31 Shutting Down, Pushing Love Away
34:53 Reclaiming Himself, One Layer at a Time
38:58 The Practice of Healing & Rewiring
44:12 The Hardest Work: Sitting With Discomfort
48:54 Learning to Find Peace Within
51:29 Redefining Success, Impact & Enoughness
56:58 To My Younger Self: It’s Okay to Feel
01:02:58 If His Eyes Could Speak…
01:04:08 Closing Reflections: The Journey Back to Self
Follow Rachel here: https://www.instagram.com/ms_rach/
Follow Adrian here: https://www.instagram.com/adrian.xiaoming/

May 20, 2025 • 31min
#42: Rolf Dobelli on Thinking Clearly in a Noisy World
Best known for The Art of Thinking Clearly, Rolf Dobelli has helped millions of readers sharpen their thinking and sidestep the traps that cloud our judgment. In his latest book The Not-To-Do List, he flips traditional self-help on its head; arguing that the key to a good life isn’t doing more, but doing less of what doesn’t serve us.
In this candid conversation, Rolf shares practical ways to reclaim your attention and energy: how to stop overcommitting, why reliability matters more than talent, when to quit (and why it’s not a failure), and what he’s learned from consciously stepping away from the news cycle.
This episode is a must-listen for anyone feeling stretched thin, trapped in a productivity loop, or simply ready to cut through the noise.
———
00:00 Introduction
01:04 Rolf Dobelli’s Not-To-Do Habit: Overconfidence
02:44 Rolf’s Study on Cognitive Biases
05:14 The Sunk-Cost Fallacy’s Impact on Our Decisions
07:22 How to Avoid the Manipulation of Reciprocity
10:12 Rolf’s Inspiration Behind ‘The Not-To-Do List’
12:44 Why Reliability Outweighs Brilliance
14:46 Knowing When to Quit or Persevere
18:33 Why To-Do-Lists Don’t Work
20:12 The Magic of Setting Low Expectations
23:54 Why Rolf Stopped Reading the News
27:25 Rolf Dobelli’s Mission to Sharpen the Quality of Our Thoughts
29:15 The Billboard Question: Rolf Dobelli’s Message
30:22 Episode Closing
Follow Rachel here: https://www.instagram.com/ms_rach/
Stay up to date with Rolf Dobelli here: https://www.dobelli.com/en/
Purchase 'The Art of Thinking Clearly: Better Thinking, Better Decisions' online here: https://singapore.kinokuniya.com/bw/9781444759549
Purchase 'The Not to Do List: The Surprisingly Simple Art of Success' online here: https://singapore.kinokuniya.com/bw/9781805464228

May 6, 2025 • 28min
#41: From DBS Intern to CEO: Tan Su Shan on Redefining Leadership at the Top
Tan Su Shan’s story is more than a career trajectory; it’s a masterclass in resilience, reinvention, and redefining what it means to lead. In this special and intimate conversation during Love, Bonito's IWD event, Su Shan, now the CEO of DBS, reflects on her journey from intern to the top of one of Asia’s most influential banks.She opens up about the moments of self-doubt, the lessons learned from “demotions,” and how she learned to command a room without changing who she is. From cultivating clarity and conviction, to breaking through the “sticky floor” that holds many women back, Su Shan shares powerful truths about ambition, presence, and the price of leadership.Whether you're a rising leader, a seasoned professional, or simply navigating what it means to take up space in your own life, this conversation is filled with wisdom, warmth, and actionable insight.00:00 Introduction00:38 From Intern to CEO: Su Shan’s Early Days at DBS02:04 When a “Demotion” Becomes a Turning Point07:16 Facing Self-Doubt and Leading Through Discomfort08:57 Learning to Command the Room with Confidence12:02 Grounding Leadership in Customer-Centricity14:08 How “WRECKOON” Shaped Her Perspective as a Leader15:41 The One Leadership Skill That Will Define the Next Decade17:57 The Best Investments Su Shan Has Made in Life19:28 Q&A: Building Clarity and Communicating with Impact21:07 Q&A: Finding the Right Mentors and Sponsors23:59 Q&A: What It Really Takes to Build Great Teams26:15 Final Reflections: What Leadership Means TodayFollow Rachel here: https://www.instagram.com/ms_rach/Follow Su Shan here: linkedin.com/in/tan-su-shan-50296732

Apr 14, 2025 • 56min
#40: Inside the Adolescent Mind: Belonging, Identity & Emotional Survival
Dr. Cheryl Loh, a leading adolescent psychiatrist from Singapore and a mother of two, delves into the complex emotional landscape of today’s teenagers. She discusses the profound need for belonging, identity, and emotional safety, emphasizing why many seek solace online. Cheryl offers invaluable parenting insights, focusing on how to truly connect with teens by fostering open communication and building trust. Highlighting the importance of consistent presence and positive reinforcement, she empowers parents to meet their children’s emotional needs effectively.

Apr 1, 2025 • 37min
#39: Don’t Just Lead — Communicate With Intention. Wes Kao Shows You How
Wes Kao, entrepreneur and educator who co-founded Maven and champions cohort-based learning, shares sharp takes on leadership and communication. She explains why concise messages win. She warns against seeding doubt with common phrases. She shows how to test worries with quick experiments and align communication to what others care about.

Mar 24, 2025 • 29min
#38: Supporting Leo Through Depression: The Role We Can Play As Partners
After Leo’s episode, I was deeply moved by the messages that poured in, not just about his story, but about the unspoken weight many of you are carrying in your own lives. So many asked: How do you support someone you love when they’re struggling? How do you stay steady for them without losing yourself in the process?In this intimate solo episode, I share my personal experience; what it looked like to walk beside Leo during one of his hardest seasons. Not from a place of having it all figured out, but through the lens of the lessons it taught me.I open up about what helped, what didn’t, and the truths I had to learn the hard way; like not taking his withdrawal personally, listening to understand (not to fix), and continuing to show up with love, even when I felt emptied out.If you’re in that space right now, quietly holding it all together, I hope this conversation reminds you:You are not alone. And you are allowed to be strong and tired at the same time 💛00:00 Introduction: Why This Episode Matters01:38 Q&A: Navigating Turbulent Seasons in Relationships02:15 The Subtle Signs: Spotting Early Symptoms of Depression05:16 Creating a Safe Space for Vulnerability09:25 How to Stay Resilient When There’s No Timeline12:49 What Support Really Looks Like: Small Acts, Big Impact16:29 My Own Breaking Point: Personal Struggles and Lessons19:15 The Hardest Truths I Had to Learn21:45 If I Could Speak to Her: A Heart-to-Heart With My Younger Self26:45 Final Reflections & ClosingFollow Rachel here: https://www.instagram.com/ms_rach/Listen to Leo's story here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7cfdJMK348KROmJzLJzKgo?si=iT5YgN0xRG6ATPEHFTvHjQ

Mar 10, 2025 • 29min
#37: Conscious Leadership with Joyce Chen: A Live Session with Entrepreneurs
Leadership is more than just strategy; it’s about self-awareness, emotional mastery, and the ability to lead from a place of integrity and presence. In this special live session, renowned leadership coach Joyce Chen joins a room full of entrepreneurs for a deep, unfiltered conversation on what it truly means to lead with consciousness.This episode features four live coaching sessions, where Joyce guides participants through some of the most pressing leadership dilemmas:🔹 How to hold yourself and your team accountable using the Teach the Class method.🔹 Navigating burnout and knowing when to take a break; is it a whole-body yes or time to realign?🔹 Leading by example; how to teach the Above-Below the Line framework through role modeling.🔹 Overcoming overwhelm and uncertainty; learning to trust your instincts while staying open to growth.Through raw, honest coaching and actionable insights, Joyce helps uncover the deeper patterns that shape how we lead and shows us how to shift into a more empowered, intentional way of showing up - both in business and in life.00:00 Introduction00:54 Understanding the ‘Above-Below the Line Framework’03:42 Shifting from Contraction to Expansion 05:24 ‘Teaching The Class’ Method for Improved Accountability 12:00 ‘Whole Body Yes’ Framework: Navigating Burnout and Indecision 18:04 Role-modelling and Implementing Change as Leaders20:41 The Importance of Joy and Celebrating Wins 24:55 Evaluating Progress from Above the Line / How to Know I’m Doing Things Right26:46 Final Reflections and Key TakeawaysFollow Rachel here: https://www.instagram.com/ms_rach/Get connected with Joyce: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joyce-chen-coach/

Mar 3, 2025 • 50min
#36: Gurmit Singh: The Untold Cost of Fame, Family & Finding Purpose
This conversation with Gurmit Singh moved me deeply. It’s not just about a career; it’s about the constant pull between ambition and presence, the delicate balance between success and self-worth, and the courage it takes to step away and realign with what truly matters. Whether you’re in the thick of building your career, questioning your path, or seeking clarity in life’s transitions, this conversation will stay with you long after it ends. I can’t wait for you to hear it.For over two decades, Gurmit Singh was a household name, bringing laughter to millions. But behind the scenes, he was giving everything; his time, his energy, and unknowingly, pieces of himself, to an industry that demanded more than it gave. Then, at the height of his fame, he made a decision few expected—he walked away. In this deeply personal conversation, Gurmit shares the story of why he left, the sacrifices he made along the way, and the hard-earned wisdom that reshaped his understanding of identity, purpose, and what it truly means to live a meaningful life.00:00 Welcome & Introduction01:47 Gurmit Singh: The Man Behind the Laughter07:06 Fighting Inner Battles: Overcoming Inferiority Complex10:45 The Legacy and Burden of Phua Chu Kang13:31 Why Gurmit Walked Away from Fame for Family17:22 The Power of Saying ‘No’: Guarding Time & Priorities19:35 A Child’s Silent Plea: The Cost of a Father’s Absence23:45 Parenting in a Changing World: Lessons & Challenges26:40 Choosing Love Without Conditions: A Father’s Journey30:03 Bridging Generational & Belief Gaps with Your Kids35:27 A Near-Death Experience That Changed Everything40:31 What Gurmit Would Tell His Younger Self Today44:47 Beyond the Persona: Who Is Gurmit Singh, Really?47:48 Final Reflections & Parting WisdomFollow Rachel here: https://www.instagram.com/ms_rach/Follow Gurmit Singh here: https://www.instagram.com/gurmit.65/


