She led billion-dollar teams, built movements for women across Asia… and once wished her mother would run away.
In this episode, I sit down with Uma Thana Balasingam - leadership strategist, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Lean In Singapore, Walk the Talk and Elevate Group. A woman who was born in Malaysia and has sat in the world’s most powerful boardrooms, yet found her deepest lessons in forgiveness, vulnerability, and learning to ask for help.
We talk about reinvention born from survival - the little girl who dreamed of escaping a broken home, who learned politics as empathy, and who built success not to prove herself, but to finally feel safe.
We talk about the cost of becoming “the strong one.” And realising that caring for everyone else means nothing if you forget to care for yourself.
And we talk about softness - how, after decades of holding others, Uma is learning to be held.
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Join me for Return to Love – a 28-day guided journey to rest, reset, and realign with what truly matters.
Because love — for yourself, for your work, for the people around you — is the foundation of lasting wellbeing and nourishing success.
🌹 Next cohort starts on 18 Jan 2026 → http://bit.ly/3IAKXfB
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IN THIS EPISODE
(00:00) Intro
(00:50) The little girl who planned her escape
(03:58) When power stopped being enough
(06:27) The beauty pageant that changed her purpose
(08:30) The price you pay to become yourself
(10:11) Who holds the strong woman when she breaks?
(13:43) When success starts to feel heavy
(16:56) Can you have love and leadership?
(19:27) The moment she stopped laughing along
(20:39) Finding peace after years of proving yourself
(22:06) Beneath the title — who is Uma, really?
(24:40) The failure she never forgot
(28:02) To anyone standing at the edge — don’t give up
(32:38) Redefining success on your own terms
(34:56) Blooper
💫 ABOUT UMA THANA BALASINGAM
Uma Thana Balasingam is a leadership and reinvention strategist, entrepreneur, writer, keynote speaker and movement builder. She previously led billion-plus dollar businesses across 48 markets and has been recognised multiple times on global technology lists. She is also the force behind Lean In Singapore, Walk The Talk and The ELEVATE Group, communities that have empowered thousands of women to lead and rise in their careers.
LEARN MORE UMA → https://www.linkedin.com/in/umathana/
YanaTV is a socially responsible platform, and with this episode, we are proud to support Lean In Network, Singapore — a community empowering women to lead boldly and challenge gender bias. As a local chapter of Sheryl Sandberg’s LeanIn.Org, they bring together over 7,000 women, men, and allies through mentorship, advocacy, and inclusive events. Learn more here: https://www.linkedin.com/company/leaninsg
💫 ABOUT YANA FRY
Yana Fry is a globally recognized speaker, top-ranked podcast host, and founder of YanaTV and Timeless Teachings. Known as a soul interviewer, Yana has a rare gift for creating intelligent, emotionally safe spaces where people reveal truths they’ve never spoken publicly before. Her emotionally intelligent conversations have featured leaders, visionaries, and change-makers across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the U.S., making YanaTV a trusted platform for showing the human side of leaders and sharing their real stories.
LET’S CONNECT
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/yanafry
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/yanafry
Bookings → connect@yanafry.com
YouTube → YanaTV Channel
❤️ RETURN TO LOVE → http://bit.ly/3IAKXfB
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And tell me in the comments: What does success mean to you - today, in this season of your life?