Erika Casupanan is a media personality, keynote speaker, podcast host and historic reality TV champ. As the winner of SURVIVOR 41, she became the franchise’s first Canadian and first Filipino winner, and the first woman to win in seven seasons. Before reality TV, Erika had a decade-long career in marketing and corporate communications. The lessons she learned as a Filipino immigrant navigating the corporate world have fuelled her passion for empowering underrepresented groups and overlooked experiences. Now, Erika dedicates her career to telling stories that inspire resilience in the face of change and being underestimated. Erika is the host, creator and executive producer of the Happy to See Me podcast which puts the spotlight on the overlooked and underestimated. As a motivational speaker, Erika combines her communications expertise, relatable storytelling style and natural wit that’s been honed by years of comedy training, to inspire employees, not-for-profits, students and more. Erika returned to TV as a correspondent on Entertainment Tonight Canada and competitor on the Traitors Canada. She has appeared in the Globe and Mail, Chatelaine and the RepresentASIAN Project. Erika talks about how competing and winning Survivor helped show up as her true confident self and is now on a mission to tell stories that inspire the underdog, one of them through her own podcast called Happy To See Me. Check out her full episode to learn more about how her story competing on Survivor and becoming the first Canadian to win the competition.

Dominique Narciso Kim is an LGBT Filipina-American Entrepreneur, Founder of the Women’s Entrepreneurial Corps (WE Corps) for Mission-Driven Coaches, Speakers, and Visionary Entrepreneurs, author of Live Your New Story: Discover Your Best Self and Live Your Best Life, and host of the WE Corps Podcast. Her mission is to train and mentor women coaches and speaker entrepreneurs to stand in their power and build profitable and transformational businesses helping people thrive and heal the planet. Through her work, Dom has spoken on the topics of Women’s Leadership, Women’s Entrepreneurship, and Living a Mission-Driven Life. She has spoken on the global stage for the US Embassy in South Korea, the Philippine Embassy in Australia, UN Women Canberra, The Expat Woman Global Summit, and the Women Rocking Business Global Speakathon, among others. In a prior life, Dom served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Costa Rica and US Diplomat in Peru. She recently repatriated back to the United States, and lives in Virginia with her wife and three daughters. Her goal is to continue living the adventurous life with her family and financially empower women to start businesses and build generational wealth. Dom shares her story of going full force as an entrepreneur and how that built her confidence to be the woman that she is today. She also shares tips that you can use in your own journey to confidence.

Goldie Chan is a creative, keynote speaker, author and cancer survivor. She has nearly half a million followers and was named the "Oprah of LinkedIn" by Huffington Post and her creative video channel of nearly 100k followers won LinkedIn Top Voice. Goldie also founded Warm Robots, an award-winning social media strategy and creative agency based in Los Angeles with global clients and previously was a Sr. Contributor at Forbes where her internationally-recognized column received nearly 10M views and she was named Journalist Of the Year in 2024. Her book, “Personal Branding for Introverts” through Basic Venture (Hachette Book Group) comes out in October 2025, writes for Archie Comics and has been featured as a fresh voice in The New York Times, CNN, Fast Company and more and is based in sunny Los Angeles. Goldie shares her journey of how being a confident introvert has led her to living life on her terms. She shares tips on how she was able to create a huge platform to get to where she is today. Tune into her episode to listen to her story.

Samorn Selim is the daughter of Lao refugees, a first-generation college graduate, and a recovering workaholic perfectionist who has been burnt out many times in her career. As the Founder of Career Unicorns® – Spark Your Joy®, host of the Career Unicorns® – Spark Your Joy® Podcast, and former Director of Employer Outreach at Berkeley Law, Samorn has coached over 1,000 women, BIPOC, and first-generation professionals to land their dream jobs, negotiate well-deserved promotions and raises, and create sustainable and thriving careers. Combining career expertise with cultural competency, Samorn has been featured as a trusted career expert by Forbes, Harvard Business Review, and Mental Health America, and served as a Board Member of the American Bar Association Career Center. Samorn is a sought-after speaker who has presented at Google, Wilson Sonsini, and UC Berkeley on topics including building your signature personal brand, conquering imposter syndrome, and sponsoring women of color and first-generation professionals. Drawing on her lived experience and 10+ years of researching and practicing strategies, Samorn has written two bestselling books that reached #1 new releases to help others who have faced similar challenges:

Kate Hancock is a self-made serial entrepreneur, investor, author and keynote speaker. She is recognized as one of the Top 100 Women of the Future and dubbed as a trailblazer of tech by Forbes Magazine in their “Trailblazers of Tech: 6 Women Leaders Shaping the Future.” Kate started with just $20 and scaled her first company to over a million dollars in revenue within its first year—reaching $20 million after a few years. As a Harvard Business School speaker and advisory board member for tech projects, she is a true pioneer in entrepreneurship. Kate is also the founder of the Global AI Council, has a book launching in December 2025 called Unlimited Possibilities and the proud mom of two amazing boys. Kate opens up about her journey into entrepreneurship and the powerful realization that taking action unlocked limitless possibilities. She also shares practical tips to support you on your own path.

Today’s episode is a little different— I’m flipping the script and sitting in the guest seat! I’ll be interviewed by John Wang, host of Big Asian Energy, and we’ll dive into my latest book, Bridging the Confidence Gap, and why building confidence is essential to your personal journey. This also marks the final episode of the season. We’ll be back with a brand new season on September 2, 2025—so mark your calendar! In the meantime, catch up on past episodes and grab your copy of Bridging the Confidence Gap on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Indigo, or wherever books are sold.

Gina Romero is a serial entrepreneur who openly shares that she’s failed in business multiple times since the age of 16—not out of pride, but because she believes failure is a powerful driver of growth and success. That mindset has shaped her mission: to help others succeed, especially women, through community, entrepreneurship, and technology. She is the Founder and Head of Special Projects at Connected Women, a high-growth services company delivering AI and digital task outsourcing solutions. With the tagline “Bringing Opportunities Home,” Connected Women empowers Filipino women through socially responsible online work and is building the inclusive workplace of the future by scaling women’s participation in tech. Under her leadership, Connected Women has gained international recognition for its impact in inclusive innovation, the future of work, e-employment, and women’s empowerment. She is also a recipient of the TOWNS Award (The Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service)—a national honor given to women who demonstrate exceptional commitment, leadership, and positive impact on society. Gina shares her unconventional upbringing and her story for starting Connected Women. She also shares her tips on self-confidence that you can use in your own journey. Enjoy listening to Gina's story.

Sara Fung is a career coach and registered nurse with 17 years in healthcare and leadership. She helps healthcare professionals—whether at the bedside or in executive roles—build careers that align with both their goals and well-being. Sara holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Western University and a Master’s in Nursing from the University of Toronto. Her clinical background is in maternal-child health, including obstetrics and the NICU, and she’s worked in academic and community hospitals, home care, and leadership roles as an educator and practice specialist. She’s also the co-author of the #1 national bestseller The Wisdom of Nurses and co-host of the Gritty Nurse Podcast. In her episode, Sara talks about the power of saying yes to new opportunities—how it shaped her path to becoming a successful entrepreneur and bestselling author. Tune in to hear her full story.

Leilani Quiray is the Founder and CEO of be the change HR, an HR consulting firm on a mission to empower businesses to scale with heart and purpose. Since launching the company in 2017, Leilani has blended HR excellence with social impact, proving that for-profit organizations can be powerful forces for good. be the change HR delivers top-tier HR services to small businesses—especially in the natural products industry—while committing 1% of its topline revenue to provide free job readiness training and coaching to survivors of human trafficking. As a WBE and MBE-certified company, be the change HR fosters a joyful, purpose-driven environment for both its clients and team. Outside of work, Leilani climbs sketchy stuff, competes in long-distance triathlons, and fills her life with art, balance, joy, and love. LeiLani shares about how she started her company and why it's important that she had to be change she wished to see in this world. She also shares tips to help you in your journey to self-confidence.

Sheena Yap Chan is a Wall Street Journal bestselling author, keynote speaker, strategist, and award-winning podcaster renowned for her expertise in elevating leadership and self-confidence through media. She is the founder and host of the acclaimed podcast, The Tao of Self-Confidence, where she interviews women about their journeys to self-confidence. With over one million downloads, her podcast ranks among the top 0.5% most popular shows globally and features over 800 interviews, including conversations with celebrities and eight-figure CEOs. Sheena’s influence extends beyond podcasting. Her debut book, The Tao of Self-Confidence: A Guide to Moving Beyond Trauma and Awakening the Leader Within, published by Wiley, is a Wall Street Journal and Publishers Weekly bestseller. It is also recognized as one of the top 20 best self-confidence books of all time by Book Authority, the world’s leading site for book recommendations. Her second book, Bridging the Confidence Gap, also published by Wiley, continues her mission of empowering women by addressing the barriers to confidence and leadership. Her work has been featured on prominent platforms such as MindValley, FOX, NBC News, and the Manila Times. Sheena is dedicated to closing the gender confidence gap through her training and programs, aiming to elevate women into leadership roles across all industries. She has delivered impactful speeches for organizations like Live Nation, NASA, and UKG, sharing her insights on self-confidence and leadership. This episode is a solo episode as Sheena shares a little bit about her story and the importance of taking action in your journey to confidence. Hope you enjoy this short and impactful episode.

Misa is the founder of The Authentic Asian, an AAPI Female Leadership Community, to help AAPI Female Founders and C-Levels feel less alone and more connected. Misa's exceptional leadership and entrepreneurial style have propelled her into high demand as a speaker, podcast host, television personality, and has even earned her the distinction of being ranked as the 23rd most viewed woman on LinkedIn worldwide and #1 most viewed Asian American woman nationwide with 16 million+ views per month. Her past speaking clients include Harvard Business School, UCLA, USC, and University of Washington. She has been featured in Inc. Magazine 30 under 30 entrepreneurs, Forbes Women to Watch, LinkedIn Top Voices, and as a serial entrepreneur on the Food Network’s Great Food Truck Race embarrassing herself in front of over 60 million viewers worldwide. Misa was also recently named Inc. Magazine's 2025 Female Founders 500, a list of the most creative and inspiring female leaders in America. Misa shares her journey of how she started The Authentic Asian and why she is so passionate about uplifting the voices of Asian women. She also shares some personal branding and confidence tips along the way. Tune into her episode to listen to her full story.

Lorraine K. Lee is an award-winning global keynote speaker, an instructor for Stanford Continuing Studies and LinkedIn Learning, and the author of Unforgettable Presence: Get Seen, Gain Influence, and Catapult Your Career (Wiley, 2025). She is recognized as a LinkedIn Top Voice and has more than 300,000+ LinkedIn followers and over a decade of experience leading editorial teams at the world’s top tech firms. Lorraine has been invited as a guest speaker to some of the world’s most recognizable brands including Zoom, Cisco, Amazon, ASICS, Hilton, and McKinsey and Company. She covers a wide range of topics including creating engaging virtual presentations, growing your presence on LinkedIn, effectively communicating in a virtual world, leading collaborative remote and distributed teams that thrive, and designing impactful virtual and hybrid meetings. Lorraine shares her journey in corporate and how she was able to seize the moment to write her upcoming book. She also shares tips that can help you in your own journey to self-confidence. Check out the full episode to listen to her story.

Hiromi Okuyama is a Toronto-based multi-hyphenate artist with a dynamic career spanning acting, martial arts, and content creation. With over 30 years in film, television, and theatre, she has brought compelling performances to life in productions like The Contest and FOB. She is also a talented voice actor, best known for voicing Farmer Yumi in Season 1 of Paw Patrol. A 5th-degree black belt in Shotokan Karate, Hiromi carries forward her family’s martial arts legacy, learning from her father, Grandmaster Kancho T. Okuyama, who also trained her in judo and other disciplines. She deepened her practice by studying Tai Chi under her maternal grandfather. As a dedicated instructor, she empowers women through her signature program, Embracing Menopause with Martial Arts, blending strength, wellness, and tradition. Beyond martial arts, Hiromi is a recognized digital creator and community builder. As a popular TikTok mom, a former Clubhouse App Icon, and a thought leader in social audio, she has cultivated a loyal audience through her engaging short-form videos. She even shares her expertise through her LinkedIn Learning course on the power of social audio, inspiring others to harness new platforms for connection and growth. Hiromi shares how she was able to unlock her confidence to be the powerhouse woman that she is today. She also shares an important tip to help you in your own journey to self confidence.

Tam R. Luc is the Founder of the Women Who BossUp Book series. In January 2018, Tam published her first book, "A Woman’s Side Hustle," marking the beginning of her six-figure success and inspiring many women to pursue entrepreneurial dreams. In 2019, Tam organized international retreats to help women write and produce their own books, broadening her influence by empowering others through storytelling and publishing. In June 2019, DelucsLife Media LLC. became the corporate name DBA Women With Vision International and was officially incorporated, facilitating greater organizational growth and commitment to helping women achieve their publishing goals and build personal brands. In March 2020, The project "Women Who BossUp" Movement was launched, bringing together ambitious women to share their success stories and strategies. This move proved to be a success and to date has produced 14 books, over 200 authors and multiple International Bestselling book projects. By 2024, Women With Vision International membership was initiated to enhance its reach, providing more resources and opportunities for women to grow and succeed. Today, Women With Vision International are dedicated to inspiring, educating, and supporting women in achieving their dreams. The commitment to empowering women and fostering a supportive community remains steadfast. Tam opens up about the pivotal moment that empowered her to level up in her own journey. She also reveals how, after 17 years of pursuing entrepreneurship, she finally achieved her breakthrough. Tune in to the full episode to hear Tam’s inspiring story!

Selena Rezvani is a recognized author, speaker, and consultant on leadership. Her newest book, the instant Wall Street Journal bestseller, Quick Confidence was born out of a viral newsletter she started in 2020, to help people build their confidence through small actions. Selena is also the author of the bestseller, Pushback: How Smart Women Ask — and Stand Up — for What They Want, which focuses on the unmatched power of negotiation skills in women's career advancement, and was recognized with an Axiom Business Book Award. Selena's first book, The Next Generation of Women Leaders, was published in 2009. Having amassed over 500,000 followers on social media, Selena creates daily video content on leadership and has been recognized by The Washington Post, Bloomberg, as a LinkedIn Top Voice and as a 'Fast Company top career creator'. Her experience and success in the leadership arena make Rezvani a frequent resource for news media and an in-demand business speaker. She has been quoted, interviewed, and profiled by CareerBuilder, The Wall Street Journal, Oprah.com, The LA Times, Marie Claire, NBC television, and ABC television. Selena shares the importance of being an advocate for yourself and how she does that in her own career. She also shares tips that can help you in your own journey to self-confidence. Tune in to listen to your episode.

Sohee Jun, Ph.D. is a premier leadership coach with 20+ years history working with highly ambitious and successful female leaders. A sought-after and recognized top executive coach who works with high achieving women, keynote speaker, and active contributor to Forbes Coaches Council, Sohee has more than two decades of experience in the corporate world. She’s been where you are: a former corporate leader and an expert in managing diverse team, a high achieving and ambitious mom of 3 with big visions and goals and a top leadership coach who brings her lived experience to empower women to be their most authentic, integrated selves in today’s dynamic landscape. Through her guidance, clients overcome impostor syndrome, silence their inner critics, build core confidence and uplevel their presence and beat burnout to tackle workplace challenges head-on. She has worked with some of the world’s most admired Fortune 500 companies in a variety of high-powered industries. She holds a Ph.D. and Masters in Organizational Psychology and multiple leadership certifications. Sohee shares how she was able to embody the confidence to become that leader that she is today while helping other women step into their power. Tune into her episode to listen to her story and wisdom.

This episode will be different since I was interviewed on the Sweet But Fearless Podcast with Mary Sullivan. I hope you enjoy today's episode and this will be the last episode for 2024. The Tao of Self-Confidence will be back with a brand new episode on January 7, 2025. Happy Holidays to you and your loved ones!

Wendy Kim is an international best-selling author of the book: Beyond Blending In: An Immigrant Daughter's Guide to Overcoming Cultural Bonds for a Life of Authenticity and Abundance, public speaker and certified diversity, equity and inclusion educator. She works with Fortune 500 companies to support people from underrepresented groups to make their voices heard, take up space and be leaders in their organizations. In her work across different organizations, Wendy has found that one of the most underutilized resources is leadership across underrepresented groups. To address this, Wendy has created the VOICE Framework, to support people from underrepresented groups to have greater influence and impact, making a difference to themselves, their teams and organizations. Wendy shares how writing her book, Beyond Blending In, led her to her purpose to create a positive impact on others while having the confidence to step into her greatness. Tune into the episode to listen to her story.

Amy Au is the founder of Innovate You. As an executive leadership coach, she radiates inspiring transformation with energizing connections. Amy empowers women in tech leaders and professionals by evoking their innate creativity and unlocking their innovative thinking pathways to seize opportunities, focus and take actions to turn their aspirations to accomplishments faster and be fulfilled in life. Transforming their lives and creating more positive impact to those around them for a brighter future. Before her coaching journey, her role as an IT leader at Nestlé equipped her with insights into the unique challenges and opportunities in the technology-driven corporate world. This experience, combined with her expertise in human-centric design and innovative thinking, forms the foundation of Amy's coaching approach. Amy shares her story of how she was able to transition from a corporate job to starting her coaching business Innovate You. She also shares tips that can help you in your confidence journey. Tune into the episode to listen to Amy's inspiring story.

Rechie Valdez is the Minister of Small Business for the Government of Canada. She was elected as the Member of Parliament for Mississauga—Streetsville in 2021. She has been a member of various parliamentary committees and associations, including the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs, the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food, the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association, as well as the Chair of the Canada-Philippines Parliamentary Friendship Group. Minister Valdez is a Canadian entrepreneur, television personality, and community advocate. She is the first Filipino-Canadian woman elected as a Member of Parliament and appointed to Cabinet, and is committed to ensuring the diverse voices of her community are heard. Before entering politics, Minister Valdez owned and operated a small business, and dedicated herself to growing her online business avenues. She was also the host of a television show that shares the stories of entrepreneurs, creators, and artists. Prior to that, she worked in corporate banking for 15 years, where she developed her expertise in change management and strategic initiatives. Drawing on her longstanding advocacy, Minister Valdez also sponsored the National Women’s Entrepreneurship Act in 2022. Rechie shares her inspiring story of how she made herstory by becoming the first Filipina to be elected as a Member of Parliament in Canada. She also shares her passion to empower more women in entrepreneurship succeed with the policies she has created since being in office. This is an episode you definitely want to tune in to be inspired to forge your own path.