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Make It Work

Make It Work

Written by: Sarah Wong
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 🌏 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐃 𝐈𝐍 πŸ’πŸŽ π‚πŽπ”ππ“π‘πˆπ„π’ & > πŸ”,πŸ“πŸŽπŸŽ πƒπŽπ–ππ‹πŽπ€πƒπ’ πŸŽ‰ Hi! I'm Sarah, a working mom of two πŸ‘¨β€πŸ‘©β€πŸ‘§β€πŸ‘¦ πŸ‡ΈπŸ‡¬βœοΈ If you're seeking work-life balance inspiration or ever wondered, "Can one have it all?", this podcast is for you. Join me every other Wednesday as I uncover stories of ambitious moms in Asia redefining work, family, and everything in between. Follow along and let's Make It Work together! πŸ’ͺ Check us out on Instagram for the best moments in our episodes, parenting comedy, inspiration and more πŸ‘‰πŸ» https://linktr.ee/makeitwork.podcastSarah Wong Parenting Relationships
Episodes
  • From $2K Salary to Financial Independence: A Working Mom’s Playbook ft. SG Budget Babe | Ep 37

    From $2K Salary to Financial Independence: A Working Mom’s Playbook ft. SG Budget Babe | Ep 37
    Dec 10 2025
    From saving $20,000 on a $2,000 salary to making work optional while raising two young boys, Dawn Fiona Cherβ€”better known online as SG Budget Babeβ€”has spent the last decade helping others take back control of their money and mindset. A mom, author, Director of Government Affairs , and financial educator, Dawn continues to work in both corporate and content creationβ€”not because she has to, but because it fuels her purpose.In this episode, I sit down with Dawn to talk about what it really takes to grow your wealth while juggling motherhood, ambition, and a life you actually want to live. She shares the turning point that made her chase financial freedom harder than ever (hint: it happened mid-breastfeeding), the unglamorous truth of building a side hustle, and how she successfully negotiated for flexibility at work after proving her worth.Dawn opens up about how her own childhood struggles with money shaped her, why time-blocking (not 5AM routines) keeps her grounded, and the life lessons she’s deliberately modeling for her kids. Her practical, no-nonsense wisdom is a refreshing reminder that success isn’t about balanceβ€”it’s about clarity, discipline, and alignment.In this energizing conversation, we explored:πŸ“ˆ How Dawn reached financial independence in slightly over a decade (and still works by choice)πŸ‘Ά The raw truth about managing work while mothering two young kids🧠 Why β€œimposter syndrome” is actually a signpostβ€”not a dead endπŸ—‚οΈ How she schedules her chaotic week using time-blocking, not rigidityπŸ’‘ What it means to be visible, credible, and irreplaceable at work✍️ Her journey from corporate employee to trusted voice in financeβ€”and what’s nextCheckout:πŸ’» Dawn’s 7-Day Investing Challenge (Discount code: MIW) β†’https://nas.io/budgetbabe/challenges/investing-101-crash-course?discountCode=MIWπŸ“˜ Take Back Control of Your Money by Dawn Fiona Cher β†’ https://www.amazon.sg/Take-Back-Control-Your-Money/dp/9815323075🎀Sarah’s interview with Dawn on The Financial Coconut: I Left My Job to Care for My Family - Was It Worth It? [W&S 144]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6p3G4lZjBk&list=PLpo30qPT9yc6yAyrtqz7506sfiYaorR8Z&index=6β€”-----------------------------------------------Chapters:00:00 Intro01:07 Meet SG Budget Babe: PI, Mom, Finfluencer02:08 From $2K Salary to Financial Freedom05:39 How She Actually Juggles It All13:26 The Call That Changed Everything25:50 How She Earned Trust at Work26:26 Are You Invisible at Work?31:06 How She Negotiated Flexibility34:09 The Rule Behind Her Side Hustle Growth42:31 How She’s Raising Money-Smart Kidsβ€”-----------------------------------------------Connect with Dawn here:πŸ‘‹ Website: https://sgbudgetbabe.com/πŸ‘‹ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fionacher/πŸ‘‹ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sgbudgetbabe/Follow and connect with Sarah & Make It Work! ⁠https://linktr.ee/makeitwork.podcastβ πŸ“· ⁠Instagram:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/makeitwork.asia/πŸ’Όβ LinkedIn⁠: https://www.linkedin.com/company/make-it-work-asia-podcast/🎡 ⁠Facebook⁠: https://www.facebook.com/people/Make-It-Work/61566472637714/🍏Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/make-it-work/id1701442085🎡Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/78ulY0B27nYxGB6jPCABPI?si=abfc48d037d943beπŸ“₯⁠Email⁠: makeitwork.asia@gmail.comJoin our free ⁠Mommas Making It Work whatsapp community⁠ to find a group of like-minded mommas: https://bit.ly/MIWcommunityβ€”-------------------------------➀ Thank you for your support!πŸ§‘πŸ’™πŸ§‘ Please share your feedback on our video conversation in the comments boxπŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ’™ Help us make quality interviews by leaving a comment#WorkingMom #FinancialFreedom #SGbudgetbabe #CareerTips #InvestingForBeginners #ProductivityForMoms #MakeItWorkPodcast #WomenWhoLead #SideHustleSuccess
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    50 mins
  • Around But Not Present - A Working Mom's Honest Confession And More | Elena Chow Ep 36

    Around But Not Present - A Working Mom's Honest Confession And More | Elena Chow Ep 36
    Nov 19 2025
    From a 15-year career at Procter & Gamble to taking a 4 year career pause to be a stay-home-mom to building ConnectOne, a company that helps high-growth startups find and develop their teams β€” Elena Chow has spent decades helping others build meaningful careers, all while raising four children and navigating her own seasons of work and motherhood.In this episode, I sit down with Elena, who shares her rare honesty about the paradox of being around but not present, what β€œbalance” really looks like in different seasons of life, and why sometimes, the bravest thing a woman can do is pause.Elena opens up about stepping away from corporate life, starting over as an entrepreneur in her 40s, and how faith, community, and purpose guided her through each transition. As a recruiter and pioneer member of the Portfolio Careers Asia group, she also shares her candid advice for mothers today β€” whether you’re taking a break, returning to work, or exploring a more flexible, fractional path.As a mother, founder, and mentor to many, Elena reminds us that having it all doesn’t mean doing it all β€” it means understanding the season you’re in, and choosing what matters most in it.In this heartfelt conversation, we explored:πŸ’Ό How Elena pivoted from corporate to entrepreneurship β€” and built Connect One from scratch🧭 What it means to β€œfake it till you make it” with courage and humilityπŸ‘©β€πŸ‘§β€πŸ‘§ The hardest lesson about being present as a working momπŸ’¬ Why there’s no such thing as perfect work-life balance β€” only shifting seasons✨ How women can thrive in today’s world of fractional work, portfolio careers, and flexible opportunitiesβ€”-----------------------------------------------Chapters:00:00 Debunking Work-Life Balance Myths01:01 Introduction03:14 How She Knew It Was Time to Leave Corporate07:56 The Hardest Part of Being a Mom-Entrepreneur16:08 What She Wishes She Knew Earlier24:52 The Unexpected Way Her Kids Learned26:25 Why Volunteering Changed Everything27:16 The Trips That Shifted Her Family’s Worldview31:06 The Truth About Career Pivots for Moms42:21 The One Thing Moms Returning to Work Must Hearβ€”-----------------------------------------------Connect with Elena here:πŸ‘‹ ConnectOne: https://www.connectone.com.sg/πŸ‘‹ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenachow/πŸ‘‹ Join Portfolio Careers Asia group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14287306Watch more:When You Show Up Anyway: A Mother’s Story of Loss and Leadership - Maria Li: https://youtu.be/Pwv8XfGJp9ANavigating Life's Transitions With Belief - Sarah Wong | On The Soft Power Project: https://youtu.be/H2Lb05Awnm8Parenthood Across 10 Countries: The Village Every Parent Needs - Marina Lopes: https://youtu.be/hDMbVn725uA29 Weeks Too Soon: Motherhood, Identity, and Building Something Radically New: https://youtu.be/Yau2wLUNS5U?si=srWjlnBhnBKuqZ9oFollow and connect with Sarah & Make It Work! ⁠https://linktr.ee/makeitwork.podcastβ πŸ“· ⁠Instagram:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/makeitwork.asia/πŸ’Όβ LinkedIn⁠: https://www.linkedin.com/company/make-it-work-asia-podcast/🎡 ⁠Facebook⁠: https://www.facebook.com/people/Make-It-Work/61566472637714/🍏Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/make-it-work/id1701442085🎡Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/78ulY0B27nYxGB6jPCABPI?si=abfc48d037d943beπŸ“₯⁠Email⁠: makeitwork.asia@gmail.comJoin our free ⁠Mommas Making It Work whatsapp community⁠ to find a group of like-minded mommas: https://bit.ly/MIWcommunityβ€”-------------------------------🧑 Please share your feedback on our video conversation in the comments boxπŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ’™ Help us make quality interviews by leaving a comment#WorkingMoms #CareerTransitions #FractionalCareers #WomenInLeadership #MakeItWorkPodcast #WorkingMom #FutureOfWork
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    50 mins
  • When You Show Up Anyway: A Mother’s Story of Loss and Leadership - Maria Li | Ep35

    When You Show Up Anyway: A Mother’s Story of Loss and Leadership - Maria Li | Ep35
    Oct 29 2025
    What happens when a tech leader, mother of two, and expat in Singapore decides to redefine what β€œhaving it all” really means? From leading one of Asia’s most prominent startup platforms through an acquisition β€” to navigating miscarriage, maternity, and mom guilt β€” Maria Li, COO of Tech in Asia, has lived through the highs and heartbreaks of making both career and motherhood work.In this episode, I sit down with Maria Li, who moved from Silicon Valley to Singapore eight years ago, expecting to stay for a year or two. But somewhere between building a company, building a family, and building a village, Singapore became home. πŸ‡ΈπŸ‡¬Maria opens up about the reality behind the title β€” what it means to lead through loss, to parent with purpose, and to show up authentically at work when life feels anything but perfect. She shares how community support, flexible work, and honest leadership helped her find balance in the chaos.As a mother and leader, Maria is rewriting the playbook for working women everywhere β€” reminding us that β€œhaving it all” isn’t about doing it all, but about choosing what matters most.In this heartfelt conversation, we explored:πŸ’Ό How motherhood reshapes your leadership and priorities at workπŸ’¬ Why being authentic at work makes you a stronger, not weaker, leaderπŸ‘©β€πŸ‘§β€πŸ‘¦The tradeoffs she has had to make to prioritize family in this seasonπŸ’” How Maria navigated a miscarriage while leading her company through an acquisition✨ Why redefining β€œhaving it all” starts with owning your trade-offs and your truthβ€”----------------------------------------------------------------Chapters:00:00 Introduction01:23 Meet Maria Li: COO and Mom of Two03:05 How Singapore became home in ways she never expected.06:46 What Maria learned about asking for help.10:41 How becoming a mom reshaped her work β€” and herself.23:27 Why stepping away might be the smartest move you make.24:16 What employers really think about moms returning to work27:59 How Maria learned to trade perfection for peace.32:21 The surprising lesson her kids taught her about leadership.37:20 The advice every ambitious woman needs to hear.β€”--------------------------------------------------------------Connect with Maria here:πŸ‘‹ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariasli/πŸ‘‹ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marialiiiii/Get to know Maria Li and her work:πŸ‘‰ https://share.google/AQD31CHB0ZBiPJpzZπŸ‘‰ https://share.google/tdvJ2FIGP206UK7mGπŸ‘‰ https://share.google/37LILv0l0Vdj39KXdπŸ‘‰ https://www.techinasia.com/video/unfiltered-maria-li-coo-tech-asiaWatch more:29 Weeks Too Soon: Motherhood, Identity, and Building Something Radically New: https://youtu.be/Yau2wLUNS5U?si=srWjlnBhnBKuqZ9oFrom Stay-At-Home to Single Working Mom: What Divorce Taught Me with Sherry Fang: https://youtu.be/pw6r_MizOuI?si=Ykt0wLV_YBToMWdhHow This Mom Built a Million-Dollar Brand with Zero Marketing - Cheryl Yeo: https://youtu.be/Gz0dPLB74BM?si=9OpJFlCE-AAy0rFySME vs Big Tech: Why Small Might Be The BEST Career Move! - Louisa Lee: https://youtu.be/7pSNn8KZMZ0?si=Y2vWnNJrSvobwpdEFollow and connect with Sarah & Make It Work! ⁠https://linktr.ee/makeitwork.podcastβ πŸ“· ⁠Instagram:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/makeitwork.asia/πŸ’Όβ LinkedIn⁠: https://www.linkedin.com/company/make-it-work-asia-podcast/🎡 ⁠Facebook⁠: https://www.facebook.com/people/Make-It-Work/61566472637714/🍏Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/make-it-work/id1701442085🎡Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/78ulY0B27nYxGB6jPCABPI?si=abfc48d037d943beπŸ“₯⁠Email⁠: makeitwork.asia@gmail.comJoin our free ⁠Mommas Making It Work whatsapp community⁠ to find a group of like-minded mommas: https://bit.ly/MIWcommunityβ€”-------------------------------#MakeItWorkPodcast #WomenInLeadership #WorkingMoms #WomenInTech #FemaleLeaders #WomenEmpowerment #SingaporeMoms #CareerMoms #CareerGrowth #LeadershipJourney
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    44 mins
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