If you’ve ever felt out of place in a professional setting, battled imposter syndrome, or struggled to reconcile identity with ambition, this episode is a must-listen.

Yunsu Tang, AI Growth Marketer and creator of the newsletter From East to West grew up in Hong Kong in one of the city’s oldest lineage families. On the surface, her life seemed successful: international education, top-tier jobs, and global advisory experience. But internally, she wrestled with insecurity, cultural expectations, and the pressure of belonging. We dive into this on the Low to Grow podcast.

Her first venture, Senie, was a mental health platform for young professionals, born from her own struggles. Her story isn’t just about career achievements. It’s about how curiosity, reflection, and openness transformed anxiety into a purposeful impact. If you don’t have time to listen to the episode, keep on reading for some nuggets of wisdom!

3 Lessons You Can Apply Today

1. Understand Your Own Relationship with Fear

Yunsu’s early career was marked by imposter syndrome. Despite excelling at top firms, she constantly compared herself to peers and questioned her belonging. Her strategy for navigating fear? Reflection and self-awareness.

By noticing whether she instinctively fights, flees, or freezes in the face of anxiety, she could respond intentionally rather than reactively.

Try this:
Identify one area in your work or life where fear shows up. Can you train yourself to pause and ask: am I overthinking, avoiding, or overcompensating? Understanding your pattern gives you agency.

2. Relationships Are Critical, Don’t Do It Alone (all the time)

After her father passed away when she was 15, Yunsu didn’t process grief openly, especially in her traditional family. It was friends, mentors, and the professional networks she built through Senie that helped her make sense of her experiences.

Listening to others’ stories revealed she wasn’t alone, and inspired her mission to support other young professionals navigating pressure.

Try this:
Reach out to one peer or mentor this week. Ask not for advice, but to share their story. Connection is often the bridge to clarity and growth.

3. Align Your Work With Purpose, Not Just Validation

From East to West, Yunsu consistently balanced ambition with meaning. Her startup whilst at the London School of Economics, Senie, helped young professionals manage career anxiety and navigate cultural stereotypes. Her time at Synchro meant that she could help organizations make smarter decisions using AI-driven insights. In both cases, purpose guided the work more than external recognition.

Try this:
Before your next project or decision, ask: does this serve a meaningful purpose, or am I chasing approval? Purpose fuels resilience and fulfillment.

The Messy Truth Behind Yunsu’s Journey

Success is rarely linear. For Yunsu, it involved:

• Losing her father at a young age and navigating unprocessed grief

• Balancing traditional cultural expectations with personal ambition

• Overcoming imposter syndrome in elite professional settings

• Launching a mission-driven mental health platform while still building her own resilience

• Continuously learning how to bridge cultural and professional worlds

Yunsu’s ventures weren’t just about technology or business. They were platforms for self-discovery, cross-cultural dialogue, and helping others feel less isolated. The messy truth? Achievements don’t erase inner struggle, confronting them does.

Annie’s Anecdote

Speaking to Yunsu, what resonated most with me was her humility in describing imposter syndrome, grief, and cultural pressures in a multigenerational East-Asian family.

She doesn’t present a polished “success story.”

She shows us that even in high-achieving, global environments, anxiety, identity struggles, and self-doubt are real. It’s normal to feel human!

My biggest takeaway?

Growth happens when curiosity, relationships, and self-awareness meet action.
We can pursue impact while honoring our inner complexity. And being open about your journey doesn’t weaken you, but rather connects you to the people who need your story most.

ChatGPT drafted the first copy of this article before I came in to edit. If ChatGPT was my intern, my feedback would be: medium edits.

For me, politics was never an accidental interest. It was something that quietly shaped my worldview from childhood itself.

I did not come from a political family in the conventional sense. We were not electoral players, nor were we directly associated with any political organisation. Yet, politics was always present at home. Dinner table conversations often revolved around governance, leadership, economics, policy decisions, and the direction in which the country was moving. My parents consciously encouraged me to stay aware of public affairs and understand the importance of civic and political consciousness. Looking back, I realise that these discussions played a far bigger role in shaping my personality than I understood at the time.

As I grew older, my interest in politics evolved from curiosity to conviction. I increasingly felt drawn towards understanding how systems function, how public narratives are built, how governance impacts ordinary lives, and how political ecosystems shape the destiny of nations. While many people around me viewed politics as distant, chaotic, or transactional, I saw it as one of the most powerful instruments for nation-building.

My years at business school added another layer to this understanding. During my MBA, one of my batchmates Varun was appointed as the National In-Charge of Policy Research and Training at BJYM. Through him, I got the opportunity to closely observe the ecosystem of political organisation, research, cadre-building, and policy discussions. What began as conversations and collaborations gradually became my own entry point into the political space.

That phase fundamentally changed my perception of politics.

What struck me the most was that politics is not only fought during elections. A massive amount of political work happens far away from television debates and social media noise. It involves building organisational capability, training workers, strengthening ideological understanding, creating awareness about policies, and ensuring that political communication reaches the last-mile citizen. It requires systems thinking, execution capability, grassroots understanding, and an ability to continuously engage with people.

Unfortunately, much of this work remains invisible.

The public often associates youth in politics only with protests, aggressive slogans, or viral moments. But real political contribution also lies in building institutions, strengthening democratic participation, improving governance conversations, and creating long-term policy impact. Nation-building is not always dramatic. More often, it is deeply operational.

After completing my MBA, I briefly stepped into the corporate world. Like many young professionals, I had a stable career path ahead of me. Yet, there was a persistent thought in my mind: if I did not take the plunge into the political and entrepreneurial ecosystem then, I probably never would. Comfort has a way of becoming permanent.

That realisation pushed me towards an unconventional path.

I eventually decided to leave my job and pursue entrepreneurship, partly because I wanted financial independence while remaining connected to the broader political and policy ecosystem that I cared deeply about. In many ways, entrepreneurship and politics are not very different. Both require risk-taking, resilience, people management, communication, and the ability to operate in uncertainty. Both are ultimately about solving problems at scale.

Another important influence on my thinking came through the Raisina Young Fellows programme. Interacting with young leaders, professionals, and policy enthusiasts from different countries gave me a much wider understanding of the role youth can play in shaping global conversations.In a world increasingly defined by geopolitical tensions, polarisation, and competing national interests, these human relationships matter immensely. When young individuals from different countries engage with each other, exchange ideas, and build trust, they create informal diplomatic bridges that often outlast formal negotiations. Cultural understanding, intellectual exchange, and personal friendships can sometimes reduce distances that governments struggle to bridge.

That experience reinforced my belief that youth participation in politics and public life should not be seen narrowly through electoral or ideological lenses alone. Young people today are shaping narratives, influencing policy, building institutions, driving technological transformation, and increasingly participating in geopolitical discourse.

Politics, therefore, is not merely about power. At its best, it is about participation.And perhaps the most encouraging part is this: increasingly, many young Indians from non-political backgrounds are choosing to participate. Not because it is easy, glamorous, or viral, but because they genuinely want to contribute to the future of the country.

That, to me, is the real story of youth in politics.

Reese Wong proves that age doesn’t limit vision or impact. By 16, he had launched ISSIA Hong Kong, a youth-led nonprofit focused on global citizenship education and project-based learning. Over the years, he’s mobilized 500+ volunteers, launched 30+ projects aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goalss, and earned recognition from the NASDAQ, the Diana Award, and the Royal Society of Arts.

From Hong Kong to London, Reese has navigated new ecosystems, built communities, and scaled his influence. Intriguingly, he did so while staying true to his fundamental belief that leadership is less about status and more about intentional action and meaningful connection.

My conversation with Reese is a blueprint for anyone still figuring out their path in making positive social impact: how to transform curiosity into structure, ambition into action, and ideas into lasting impact.

3 Lessons You Can Apply Today

1. Start Small But Please, Just Start

Reese’s earliest spark for entrepreneurship wasn’t a boardroom or a startup pitch, it was a playground trading station in primary school. He organized peers, resources, and ideas without a strategy, purely driven by curiosity and initiative.

The lesson here? Impact begins with doing, even when you don’t have the full roadmap.

Reese’s first nonprofit, ISSIA, grew from small, tangible actions: inter-school magazines, projects on social issues, and volunteer coordination. These early, imperfect experiments built habits, networks, and resilience that would compound over time.

Try this:
Pick one small initiative this week, be it a project, conversation, or experiment, and commit to seeing it through. The act of doing is more powerful than waiting for clarity.

2. Embrace Rejection as Part of the Journey

From multiple attempts at the Princess Diana Award to navigating international networks as a young student, Reese experienced his share of setbacks.

Each “no” didn’t signal failure. He took it as a natural consequence of aiming higher, challenging yourself, and operating at new levels. He frames rejections as data points, not dead ends.

This perspective allows ambitious young people to persist without fear, cultivating resilience while continuing to grow.

Try this:
Reframe your next setback. Ask: What can this teach me? How does this move me forward? Keep the bigger picture in mind while handling the daily ups and downs.

3. Create Spaces and Magnets to Connect Authentically

Introverted and ambitious, Reese learned early that networking isn’t just about showing up but it’s about meaningful engagement.

Organizing events gives you agency; sharing your work and passions creates “magnets” that invite others in. Perfect for introverts!

This intentional approach transforms connections from transactional to meaningful.

Try this:
Host a small event, workshop, or discussion group around something you care about. Or share your projects publicly to attract collaborators. Take control of the environment to build authentic networks.

The Messy Truth Behind Reese’s Success

Launching a global youth network was never a straight path. Reese navigated:

• volunteer-led coordination with hundreds of contributors

• inter-school outreach and partnerships

• balancing academics, relocation, and cultural differences

• attempts to commercialize ISSIA that didn’t pan out

• the challenge of introversion in high-stakes, large-scale environments

None of these challenges stopped him but rather helped him to refine his approach.

The magic lay in simplicity: empowering volunteers, creating scalable but human-centered systems, and leaning into learning by doing.

Sometimes, Reese realized, the best model isn’t the most sophisticated one — it’s the one that amplifies passion, authenticity, and participation.

Annie’s Anecdote

What resonates most about Reese’s story is his relentless curiosity paired with intentional action. He models that leadership is not about perfection, age, or credentials, but about starting, learning, iterating, and giving back.

For anyone still figuring out life, university, or career direction, the key takeaway is clear:

You don’t need all the answers to start. You need initiative, curiosity, and the courage to create spaces for yourself and others.

ChatGPT drafted the first copy of this article before I came in to edit. If ChatGPT was my intern, my feedback would be: good work, light edits.

Nathaneo Johnson, co-founder of Series, the first AI social network. Series helps people form authentic connections across business, philanthropy, and social life, all without the vanity metrics of traditional social media.

By the age of 22, Nathaneo and his co-founder Sean raised $3.1 million in just 14 days, a rare achievement, especially for Black founders, who in 2024 received just 0.48% of U.S. venture capital funding.

I felt that my conversation with Nathaneo on Low to Grow reflected his direct and to the point personality. We didn’t just discuss fundraising numbers, but delved into early ambition, resilience, and creating space for opportunity where it didn’t exist before.

3 Lessons You Can Apply Today

1. Seek the Best, Even at a Small Scale

Nathaneo’s drive was shaped by a single formative moment: a last-minute transfer to a better high school in Irvine, California. That small decision to position himself in a more academically challenging environment ultimately propelled him to the path of valedictorian → Yale → VC-backed founder.

Nathaneo’s takeaway: Surround yourself with excellence, even if it’s on a small scale. You don’t need to wait for the “perfect” opportunity, take a risk and create it yourself!

Try this:
Think about one area of life that you feel stuck in, and one action you can take today to create your surface area of luck.

2. Build Confidence Through Resilience

Middle school competitions in cybersecurity and robotics didn’t come easy. Nathaneo had to prove himself to earn respect and opportunities in a challenging academic environment. Instead of letting it discourage him, he learned to channel those challenges into confidence. He explains it simply:

Resilience breeds self-esteem, which in turn gives you the courage to dream bigger.

Try this:
When you feel underestimated, lean in. Take initiative and own the work you know you can do well.

3. Relationships Are Leverage, Not Luxury

Series started with a simple insight that Nathaneo and Sean found at Yale:

Warm networks are often gated, limited, and inaccessible.

Nathaneo wanted to democratize that access. With AI, Series identifies the right person at the right time whether it’s for homework help, co-founder matchmaking, or meaningful real-world connections.

Try this:
Reach out to one mentor, peer, or friend this week and have a conversation with intentionality.

The Messy Truth Behind Nathaneo’s Success

Building a startup as a college student is not something that everyone would take on. Nathaneo and Sean navigated:

• balancing Yale studies with launching a company

• testing product prototypes (MVPs) with hundreds of users across 500 universities

• raising venture capital in just 14 days

• iterating the product from AI call agents to iMessage-integrated “AI Friends”

Every success came from grinding through uncertainty, staying determined, and leaning on a close-knit support system of teammates, family, and mentors.

Nathaneo’s story is about persistence, not perfection, and the courage to start early even while you are still learning.

Annie’s Anecdote

What struck me most listening to Nathaneo wasn’t the uber quick funding round, the product pivots, or the press stats. It was his clarity about purpose and passion: he’s solving a real problem, connecting real people, and doing it while still finishing his degree at Yale.

My takeaway here? Early ambition matters, but pairing it with intentional relationships and a willingness to iterate makes all the difference.

You don’t need to wait until you “have everything” to start. Start now. Surround yourself with the right people. Build relentlessly. And make connections that matter.

ChatGPT drafted the first copy of this article before I came in to edit. If ChatGPT was my intern, my feedback would be: headings needed help, but the right takeaways from the interview was captured here.

If you’ve ever felt crushed by pressure, swallowed by expectations, or afraid of admitting just how much you’re struggling, take a breath with this episode.

Asim Amin, CEO and founder of Plumm, was a successful businessman in Dubai before an economic downturn that nearly cost him his life. After a crash in Dubai’s property market, he reached a breaking point so severe he found himself standing on the balcony ledge of his 30th-floor apartment for three days.

That moment didn’t end Asim. Rather he took the bruises and redefined himself.

3 Lessons You Can Apply Today

1. When You’re at the Edge, Silence Becomes Your Worst Enemy

Asim grew up around mental health, his mother’s own transformation through therapy ultimately led her to become a therapist herself. But even with that background, he carried enormous shame around getting help.

So he hid everything.

He buried the fear, the loss, the financial collapse, the pressure of “being a man,” the cultural expectation to hold it all together. And that silence pushed him closer and closer to the edge.

It wasn’t until he walked into therapy alone, without telling his family, his partner, or anyone, that things began to shift.

His message is simple and deeply human:
You don’t have to wait for a collapse to reach out.

Try this:
If something inside you feels tight, heavy, or overwhelming today, tell one trusted person. Let the truth lighten in the open.

2. You Can Rebuild a Life From Zero, But Not Without Foundation

After therapy, Asim didn’t rebuild his life through grand plans or business pivots. He rebuilt through the smallest, least glamorous steps:

• better sleep

• cleaner habits

• physical health

• eliminating alcohol

• learning how to regulate emotions

• learning how to sit with discomfort

These basics also happen to be the ones most ambitious people tend to ignore, became the foundation he then built upon.

Only once his internal world stabilized could he begin imagining what would eventually become Plumm.

Try this:
Choose one foundational element of your day to intentionally focus on this week (e.g., sleep, hydration, movement, or rest). Note down how you feel after one week.

3. The Hardest Conversations Are the Ones That Actually Save Us

Plumm didn’t start as a grand vision.
It began with quiet conversations.

After coming out of his darkest period, Asim started asking friends (especially male friends) how they were really doing. What surprised him was how casually everyone admitted to stress and anxiety, spoken like passing comments rather than open wounds.

It hit him:
What if people were already at their version of the balcony?
What if no one around them knew?

This question became his mission. It’s why Plumm evolved from a consumer therapy platform to a full-stack HR wellbeing system. Asim built it with the intention to make support accessible before someone reaches a crisis point.

Try this:
Take note from Asim and deepen one conversation this week with:
“How are you doing, really?”
You never know what door you might open.

The Messy Truth Behind Asim’s Success

Plumm wasn’t born from stability. It wasn’t born from strategy decks or market analysis.

It was born from:

• overwhelming financial collapse

• untreated stress

• cultural pressure to “man up”

• three days at the edge of a balcony

• shame around seeking help

• confronting his own blind spots

• rebuilding a life step by step

• conversations with peers who were struggling quietly

Plumm’s evolution into an HR system with built-in therapy wasn’t linear. It was messy, reactive and grew because the world Asim moved through kept showing him the same truth:

People are struggling, quietly and alone.
Support needs to be accessible, integrated, and stigma-free.

His success is stitched together from vulnerability, reflection, and relentless compassion.

Annie’s Anecdote

Listening to Asim, what struck me most was not the scale of Plumm, or the innovation, or the pivots that he led his team through. It was the quiet bravery in Asim’s voice in telling the truth about his three days on the balcony. The way he speaks about shame, masculinity, fear, and rebuilding feels like an antidote to the curated image of the “resilient founder.”

My biggest takeaway?

You don’t have to wait until you break to ask for help.
And you don’t have to carry what you’re carrying alone.

Support isn’t a luxury for difficult seasons, its the infrastructure that we need to build our lives around.

ChatGPT drafted the first copy of this article before I came in to edit. If ChatGPT was my intern, my feedback would be: light edits.

If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re “qualified enough” or “ready enough” to chase after your dreams, Elisa Torres-Durney’s story is proof that you can have global impact even as a student.

At 19, she founded Girls in Quantum, a social enterprise now reaching 7,000 students across 27+ countries. She’s spoken at TEDx, The Economist, The Lancet, and landed on Forbes Under 30 Chile. But what came out on our Low to Grow conversation is how she started: with curiosity, no roadmap, and zero guarantees.

3 Lessons You Can Apply Today

Here are the three most transferable lessons for young professionals who want steady, intentional growth.

1. Curiosity Is a Compass, Not a Detour

Elisa didn’t have a grand plan. She simply followed what sparked her interest: quantum physics. That quantum leap shaped the trajectory of her life.

I found myself in a position where it was so bizarre, just quantum computing. I never heard that word before.

Most of us wait for clarity before we act. She acted before clarity arrived.

Try this:
What do you lift up thinking about?

2. When You Lack Experience, Collaboration Is Your Edge

Breaking into the world of quantum computing wasn’t just hard because, well, it’s one of the most academically complex fields of our times, but Elisa grew up in Chile where English is not her native tongue.

I remember it was so difficult to understand all the things that people were saying. I’ve been thankful enough now to study at University in the United States can practice my English more. But back then it was very complex and difficult to just understand difficult concepts being translated in English. So it was completely unknown for me.

Instead of being too scared to start, she took the initiative and asked for help. She emailed strangers. She built a supportive network of supporters before she felt ready.

Try this:
Reach out to one person who could help, inspire, or guide you. The message doesn’t need to be perfect. It just needs to be sent.

3. Your Community Shapes Your Trajectory More Than Your Credentials

Elisa once believed young people could share ideas but didn’t really influence change.

Then girls from around the world started writing to her, asking for mentorship, for access, for someone who understood their circumstances. She realized impact grows through connection, not titles.

Success is rarely solo work. It’s shared momentum.

In reality we have the chance to really make change by including others, by showing that things are happening today in the world that perhaps others are scared to say and afraid to mention… We can communicate things with each other, we can share about our love and passion, and we can help each other in moments that there’s a lot of uncertainty and a lot of, that feeling of, I feel powerless.

Try this:
Map out first degree connections who can help you move towards your goals, your network is often wider than you’d think!

The Messy Truth Behind Elisa’s Success

Elisa’s journey from Chile to Duke University to the UNESCO Stage wasn’t smooth, far from it.

She dealt with:

• technical overwhelm

• imposter syndrome

• being one of the few young women in a niche field

• cultural adjustment after moving countries

• people doubting her

• intense pressure to balance school, mental health, and leading a global nonprofit

But every challenge that she overcame built resilience.

Her achievements didn’t come from having everything figured out, they came from showing up curious, asking for support, learning publicly, and choosing to chase momentum over perfection.

Annie’s Anecdote

This is when my two worlds collide in the best way. I first got to know Elisa through our work in the quantum community, and we first met in person at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris last year, for the Opening Ceremony of the International Year of Quantum.

Elisa was a breath of fresh air, so positive, bright and inquisitive. Elisa gained global recognition because like many founders before her, she didn’t wait to feel “worthy enough” before stepping forward.

My biggest takeaway?

You don’t need the perfect background to succeed.
You need curiosity and the courage to begin before you feel ready.

ChatGPT drafted the first copy of this article before I came in to edit. If ChatGPT was my intern, my feedback would be: good start, medium edits.

This week is I’m writing about lessons learnt from Ahana Banerjee, Forbes Under 30 founder and CEO of multi-million dollar company, Clear, the Y-Combinator backed startup that’s helping millions get science-backed clarity on their skin.

If you don’t have time to listen to our full conversation on making the leap into entrepreneurship at university on Low to Grow, here’s your bite-sized commute-friendly download for your ears.

3 Lessons You Can Apply Today

Here are the three most transferable lessons for those who want steady, intentional growth.

1. Use Your “Unfair Advantage” Then Share It

Most of us downplay the things that shaped us. Ahana didn’t.

She talked about moving from Chester to Delhi when she was 14 because of her father’s job. It was a move not just across continents, but also from a relatively normal upbringing to suddenly being surrounded by both extreme privilege and extreme poverty. This planted a deep sense of responsibility in her:

“I felt the unfair advantage I had was my education… I ought to do something with it to help other people.”

You just need to look honestly at what you’ve been given, be it skills, unique networks, or a loving family, and ask: How can I use this for impact today, not someday?

Try this:

Write down three advantages you have that others your age may not, big or small.
Pick one and ask: “How could I use this for someone else this week?”

2. Take Measured (Not Reckless) Risks

Ahana is proof you don’t need to “drop everything and leap.”

She negotiated two years of deferrals from her graduate job offer in finance so she could attempt to build Clear with a clear planB.

“I only take measured risks… I had to get myself in a position where I was comfortable with it.”

She also secured her bachelor’s degree before leaving university.

You’re not less ambitious for choosing a thoughtful path. It may not be sensationalised into tabloid headlines but you’re securing a strong foundation for yourself.

Try this:

Think of a risk you want to take. It could be a career change, side project, or even moving to a new city! What can you do to cushion that jump for yourself?

3. Choose People by Values, Not Prestige

In her early hiring days, Ahana made a mistake that I definitely relate to as a fellow first-time founder: overvaluing résumés, university names, age, and “seniority.”

It backfired.

“More years does not mean better experience… The name of your university has little to no correlation to your competence.”

Eventually, she found her CTO on Reddit, a fellow physicist living in Japan who shared her values, thinking style, and appetite for disciplined experimentation.

Human values > Education Pedigree.

Try this:

Before you choose a collaborator, co-founder, or even a flatmate, list 5 values that matter to you. Mine are curiosity, honesty, flexibility, kindness and perseverance.
How can you use those as actual interview criteria?

The Messy Truth Behind Ahana’s Success

Her journey wasn’t built on glamour, lucky breaks, or effortless genius.
It was built on:

• Hundreds of rejections when fundraising to VCs

• Overcoming fear with forward motion

• Taking measured risks

• a willingness to try everything

• and the emotional grounding of a supportive family who never let her feel alone.

Success wasn’t clean for Ahana, but the work she put in was consistent.

“I have experienced more failure and rejection than most people would be willing to go through.”

Annie’s Anecdote

Sitting with Ahana reminded me that the hustle and grind of start-up culture glorify bravery as big, dramatic leaps: quitting jobs, dropping out, moving countries overnight.
But most founders don’t need more chaos or uncertainty in their lives, especially if they are preparing to embrace the daily uncertainty that comes with company building.

I believe that strategic bravery wins, aka ambition with a plan.

What struck me most wasn’t that Ahana built a Y-Combinator startup at age 20. It’s that she did it whilst having the foresight to keep her options open. f you’re navigating uncertainty right now, I hope Ahana’s story shows you this:
You don’t have to be reckless to change your life. You just have to be open, curious, and quietly persistent.

If you want the full depth, emotion, and honesty behind these lessons, listen to my full conversation with Ahana on Low to Grow.

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ChatGPT drafted the first copy of this article before I came in to edit. If ChatGPT was my intern, my feedback would be: medium edits here, the tips are getting too lengthy and you kept repeating the same points. please be succint!

This Low to Grow episode with award-winning journalist Izzy Silvers goes far beyond Meghan Markle. It’s about race, belonging, public perception, and finding your voice in spaces that weren’t built for you.

Whether you’re navigating early-career politics, feeling misunderstood, or learning how to stand up for yourself, this is the episode for you.

3 Lessons You Can Apply Today

Here are the three most transferable lessons for those who want steady, intentional growth.

1. Learning to Hold Your Ground

Your identity shapes how you will be seen. Izzy reflects on Meghan:

“You can’t divorce her mixed-race identity from her other experiences… Everything she does will be criticised.”

And while your situation may not be royal-level public, the reality is that people will project assumptions onto you no matter what you do, based on age, race, gender, accent, background, or education. The growth hack here is learning to recognise this without internalising it.

Try This:

Write a quick list titled “Things people assume about me that aren’t true.”
Pick one and practice a 1-sentence correction you can use in real life, to calmly set your boundaries the next time they are challenged.

2. Pick Your Battles, But Don’t Lose Your Voice

One of Izzy’s most relatable admissions was this: early in her career, she didn’t always call things out even when comments were racist or demeaning.

“I’ve learned… I’m not afraid to call someone out now. But sometimes the best result comes from speaking to them one-to-one.”

This is a masterclass in tactical courage. Where you speak up in a way that protects your career and your integrity.

Try this:

Before confronting someone, ask yourself: Do I want a reaction, or do I want impact?
Let the answer decide how you address the issue: publicly or privately.

3. Be Media Literate: Don’t Simply Follow Headlines

As Izzy pointed out in the episode,

“What we read and the way it’s phrased influences how we think.”

From the “avocado” example to tone-loaded language around Meghan, the media often shapes our worldview. As a young professional, your worldview impacts how you lead, hire, advocate, and empathise. Think about who funds the media too.

Try this:

Next time you see a news story taking off, see if you can identify:

• What’s emphasised?

• What’s missing?

• How does the wording change how I feel?

Critical thinking is a competitive advantage, in life not just in business.

The Messy Truth Behind the Izzy’s Success

Izzy Silvers is featured in 30 Under 30 by MediaWeek, with bylines in ELLE, Cosmopolitan, Good Housekeeping, Prima, Digital Spy, Women’s Health, and Harper’s Bazaar.

Izzy’s writing is everything, but her success was shaped by being the only one in the room, learning through mistakes, comforting herself in the moments when she didn’t feel safe speaking up, and slowly building the confidence to challenge the narratives around race and identity, including her own biases.

Annie’s Anecdote

This was the second time I’d interviewed Izzy Silvers on the Low to Grow Podcast. This was a slightly different episode style where I analysed a cultural sticking point (the media takedown of Meghan Markle) with a guest, and together identified how we could project our cognitive freedom. I learnt that how we navigate bias, how we choose to respond to workplace putdowns, and the communities that we build around us matter more than winning in any single moment.

Izzy reminded me, and I hope reminds you, that we live in a world where not a single moment is free from marketing and politics. One option is to isolate, but that is counterproductive. We don’t need to retreat, just to consciously flex our critical thinking muscle.

If you found this helpful, share it with someone who’s navigating workplace politics and identity challenges.

Are you growth-orientated and want a weekly dose of insight in your inbox? Subscribe to LIFT with Low to Grow and check to save your welcome email from the spam/promotions tab!

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ChatGPT drafted the first copy of this article before I came in to edit. If ChatGPT was my intern, my feedback would be: I did some major edits here!

Career transitions. Burnout. Identity. Creativity.
Daisy Hung has lived all of it - across three continents, two careers, and now as a debut author with Harper Collins - and talks about it on this Low to Grow episode.

3 Lessons You Can Apply Today

Here are the three most transferable lessons for those who want steady, intentional growth.

1. Your First Career Doesn’t Define You

Daisy entered university convinced she’d become a microbiologist until she realised that she “could not do chemistry at all.” She pivoted into ethnic studies, then into law, then into diversity work, and finally into writing.

“I think people who are thinking about a major career transition… or are interested in a lot of different things” are exactly who she hopes will listen.

The truth: careers unfold in squiggles, not lines. Daisy didn’t lose momentum by changing direction, she simply multiplied her options.

Try this:

List three skills you enjoy and excel in (e.g., communication, problem-solving, empathy). These are your transferable anchors. Build around them, not your job title.

2. Take Burnout As A Data Point

Representing domestic abuse survivors, handling immigration crises, and working in under-resourced organisations pushed Daisy into emotional exhaustion:

“I started being very angry… it was invading areas of my personal life.”

She didn’t ignore the signals. She paid attention to them whilst she built her exit plan. Slowly, intentionally, and with support from peers who had also left the law.

Try this:

Quick fire questions, don’t think too much:

• What is my burnout trying to tell me?

• Is it the work, the environment, or the season I’m in?

3. You Don’t Need Permission to Start Something New

Daisy didn’t grow up dreaming of being an author. She also didn’t know a single person in publishing. She learned everything through open-access schemes, peer communities, and trial-and-error.

“I’ve learned that I can actually write a book.”

Her biggest shift? Allowing more of herself into the writing, something she resisted until her publisher insisted readers needed her story as the golden thread.

Try this:

Write one paragraph today about a topic you think you’re “not qualified” to talk about.
Chances are, that paragraph contains the seed of your next pivot.

The Messy Truth Behind Daisy’s Success

She didn’t have a linear career, a stable identity label, or an insider network. She built all of it through slow accumulation: listening to herself, following her curiosity, and allowing herself creative reinvention.

Annie’s Anecdote

What stayed with me long after recording the episode was Daisy’s emotional honesty. She didn’t glamorise the burnout, or the identity confusion, or the writing process. Instead, she showed that sometimes the bravest career move isn’t a dramatic leap, but it’s admitting you’ve outgrown a version of yourself and taking a step back.

Her story reminded me that growth often begins in quiet moments: the first pros-and-cons list, the first honest conversation with a mentor, the first sentence of a book you’re not sure you’re “allowed” to write. Daisy proves to me that you don’t need certainty to start.

You just enough courage to follow the breadcrumb in front of you.

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ChatGPT drafted the first copy of this article before I came in to edit. If ChatGPT was my intern, my feedback would be: love the four key points at the beginning, medium edits.

If you’ve ever held yourself to impossible standards, pushed through burnout, or avoided slowing down, this episode with Amar will feel like someone finally saying the thing you’ve struggled to articulate. Amar Parmar is CoFounder of BAE HQ and speaks from lived experience of grief, and Punjabi cultural pressure to hold it together.

3 Lessons You Can Apply Today

Here are the three most transferable lessons for those who want steady, intentional growth.

1. Treat yourself how you would a friend

After his father passed away, Amar describes a period where his inner critic became brutal:

“I would just… attack myself constantly when I was going to sleep, when I was alone.”

What finally shifted things was following the thread of his thoughts all the way through, and realising the standard he held himself to was one he’d never apply to anyone else.

Try this:

Tonight, type out one recurring negative thought you’ve been having. Then answer this: Would I say this to a friend? If not, rewrite it as if you were speaking to them with compassion.

2. Avoidance is a response to trauma

When grief hit, Amar tried to outrun it:

“If I was always exhausted, then when I got home, I would just fall asleep… I kept trying to avoid that emotion.”

The real progress came when he finally let himself feel things fully even if that meant a temporary spike in pain.
This applies to grief, burnout, breakups, and work stress. If you don’t face it, it festers.

Try this:

Block out 20 minutes this week in your calendar for “Feel + Process”. No phone, no distractions. Allow the emotions to float into consciousness. You’re not fixing anything; you’re letting your system exhale.

3. You need to tell people how to support you

Amar says something most of us need to hear:

“Nobody knows how to react to somebody who’s dealing with grief… You can’t expect your friends to be mind-readers.”

Whether you’re overwhelmed at work or emotionally stuck, people often want to help but sometimes they need you to tell them how.

Try this:

Send one message today to someone you trust: “Hey, I’m dealing with a lot right now. What would help most is ___ (a chat / distraction / advice / just sitting with me). Would you be up for that?”

Remember, you are not burdening others but rather sharing a blueprint.

The messy truth behind Amar’s success

From the outside, Amar looks like someone who had a meteoric rise, from leaving tech consulting to becoming one of Medium’s fastest-growing writers and co-founding BAE HQ. The nice do at The House of Lords too of course.
But the truth is far messier: his biggest moments of growth happened in the same season as his biggest losses.

His achievements were tangled with grief, self-doubt, and pressure to honour his dad’s legacy. Pressure he later realised was impossible and self-inflicted.

Annie’s Anecdote

What struck me most wasn’t Amar’s accomplishments, it was his willingness to admit how much he struggled internally while appearing high-functioning on the outside. His story is a reminder that healing isn’t linear, and strength isn’t loud.

My biggest takeaway?
You don’t need to “earn” rest or emotional softness. You deserve it by virtue of being human.
And sometimes the bravest thing you can do is tell someone, “I’m not okay today.”

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ChatGPT drafted the first copy of this article before I came in to edit. If ChatGPT was my intern, my feedback would be: medium edits here, the tips are getting too lengthy and you kept repeating the same points. please be succint!

The air felt light. The kind of quiet that doesn’t last, but invites you to notice it while it’s there.

I was on my way to the Royal Geographical Society for the first day of the OffScript Generation Summit, an event co-founder Calypso Rose had been shaping for months with her team. OffScript is designed for 16–25 year olds who are curious about non‑traditional careers, entrepreneurship, and what work might look like alongside AI. It felt special because it was an event designed to be enjoyed by young people and their parents!

As I walked along Exhibition Road, sunlight bouncing off the museums on either side, I ran into Reese Wong, a Season 2 Low to Grow guest and Diana Award winner. He was heading to the summit to host a small group personal branding clinic. Seeing Reese, thriving in his post‑university life and still giving back to the local community, reaffirmed to me the compassionate thinkers and doers that Low to Grow is for.

My boyfriend dropped me off at the gate with a kiss as he was meeting a friend in the area for lunch. I felt a sudden wave of nostalgia and remembered all the times that my mum dropped me off at my school gate. That feeling intensified as I walked into the crowd of parents, teachers and teenagers coming out of the main lecture hall.

I wasn’t a student.
I wasn’t a parent.

I am somewhere in-between.

I wondered how often we get to return to a former version of our lives, not to relive it, but to witness it from the sidelines.

I began the day seated in the audience, listening to Max Fosh, a YouTuber and now international comedian that many people my age grew up watching. I remembered the video of him printing his CV on the top of a car and parking it outside the BBC trying to get a job. Needless to say, his advice to the next generation in the room was that there is always room for a new voice, regardless of how saturated you may think a platform has become. I took this as encouragement for podcasting, as I only started Low to Grow last year but have been a solid podcast fan since 2018!

Max also encouraged people to just get started if they have an idea, and I took that to heart. I had an insider tip that Max would be leaving soon after the talk, and because I knew just how impactful having him in Calypso’s episode will be, I snuck out of the auditorium shortly after he left, determined to put his words on stage to good use. Luckily there was just one exit out of the venue. I hung around there and was delighted to catch Max as he was heading out and grabbed him for a quickfire interview.

Annie Wenmiao Yu: How do you build mental resilience as a comedian and creator?

Max Fosh: Understanding that not everything you make is going to do well, the success of the content is out of your career, and knowing that the most important viewer is yourself.

Annie Wenmiao Yu: What is the one thing that you believe will allow more people to have better mental health?

Max Fosh: Communication with core group, movement and deep friendship.

Annie Wenmiao Yu: Why is the OffScript Generation Summit special for you?

Max Fosh: It’s an incredible space for the next generation to come to learn about different subjects, and to be able to contribute to it is an honour!

Edited for brevity, full interview here!

Later that morning, I interviewed serial entrepreneur and co-founder of the OffScript Generation Summit, Calypso Rose.

Calypso was as dynamic in real life as she was online. We spoke about her first business, Clippy London, which she began at 21, making clear tote bags designed to showcase your Polaroid collection in the 2000s, which somehow found their way into the hands of Helena Bonham Carter, Jools and Jamie Oliver, and Thandie Newton. She ran it for eleven years with the help of her mum before stepping away, and the concept still exists today!

Wanting to step away from a tradeshow-focused business, Calypso built Indytute as her second venture, an experiences platform designed for people who wanted to do something together, not just sit in a pub. I later learnt that Indytute began on a small glittery table in Selfridges, where Calypso ran workshops over 90 days from the gift department and sold the experiences as gifts to the clients. I did some online digging and excavated the fact that Calypso brought swing dancers in the aisles at Selfridges and at one point there were 40 ukulele players in the Selfridges bedding department!

OffScript Gen is Calypso’s third venture, and this time around, her only wish is to create something generational, and socially meaningful. In this interview, Calypso shared the main lessons that she learnt from scaling and selling her previous business, what she believes networking with people in real life brings over chatting online, and how she is teaching her son about resilience as a successful entrepreneur.

Annie Wenmiao Yu: How do you feel you’ve changed as a business owner and female entrepreneur?

Calypso Rose: At 21, I wanted to be a millionaire. My second business was about creating a more balanced lifestyle. Offscript is about purpose. I want to support the journeys of the young people we help, from start to finish, and build something with real longevity.

Annie Wenmiao Yu: Why are in-person events still important in such a digital age?

Calypso Rose: Because real connections are memorable. You’re not just being scrolled past. Events like this allow you to ask speakers questions and realise you’re not alone. LinkedIn, for me, is like everyone else’s Instagram — it gives me FOMO and makes me feel I’m not doing enough. But when you’re in a room with people, you see how much you actually are doing.

Annie Wenmiao Yu: How do you teach resilience [to your son]?

Calypso Rose: I tell my son it doesn’t matter if things go wrong — just keep trying. He’s nine and already an amazing little salesman. When he sells at markets and gets rejected, he just says “Next!” That thick skin is so important. You need to be able to ask without taking “no” personally. If you can relate to people, listen, and remember their names, that’s a superpower.

Full episode here!

Over lunch in the green room, I found myself talking about rats with Kristen Davis, former head of technology and innovation at the International New York Times, and now founder of a Paris‑based consulting firm CinqC.

Why was I talking about rats with an international businesswoman of such pedigree? Because Kristen Davis is also Chairwoman of the US Board of Directors of APOPO, a Belgian non-profit organisation that trains African giant pouched rats, known as HeroRATs to detect landmines and tuberculosis in developing countries. She even brought along 3D printed replicas of the vests that APOPO rats wear, which were resting beside the sandwiches. Super cool.

It struck me how often meaningful conversations begin sideways.

Having spent a good few years networking as an entrepreneur, I rarely dither about introducing myself to a stranger. However, I admit that I spent a good 10 mins debating if it’s good manners go up to the English Etiquette Coach, William Hanson in the Green Room to ask him to contribute to Calypso’s Low to Grow Episode. Some of you may know William Hanson as the guy on Instagram who showed the world how to eat a banana the correct way with a knife and fork.

I’m sure glad I did because William very graciously said yes, if I will allow him a few minutes to finish freshening up his breath with some gum. I had just finished a cheese and pickle sandwich (which was delicious) and felt extraordinarily self conscious. I quickly gulped down some water before we stepped outside.

Annie Wenmiao Yu: How do you build mental resilience as a creator and etiquette coach?

William Hanson: Building mental resilience can be difficult, especially online. The digital world is democratic: everyone can share their thoughts and opinions, even when those comments are abrasive or bigoted. That’s part and parcel of free speech. One thing that helps me is simply not reading the comments and not taking things too seriously.

Annie Wenmiao Yu: What is one thing that you believe will allow more people to have better mental health?

William Hanson: We need to prioritise interacting with people rather than relying entirely on devices. Phones and laptops are useful and essential, but they should complement human interaction, not replace it. Developing people skills, focusing on real human contact. This boosts confidence and improves mental health.

Annie Wenmiao Yu: And what makes the OffScript Summit special to you?

William Hanson: The Summit is special because it’s a chance to connect with the next generation as they step into the workplace. It allows me to talk about something that isn’t discussed enough: treating others with respect, civility, charm, and grace. You only have to glance at the news to see how much we need that right now.

Watch my interview with William Hanson, THE etiquette coach here!

Before leaving, I spoke with the influencer Charlotte Liebling, who is also the CEO and founder of Loved Before, a sustainable soft toy adoption agency that has already partnered with Bloomingdales, Selfridges and Fenwick on their mission to save soft toys from death in landfill.

Annie Wenmiao Yu: How do you build resilience as a female entrepreneur, and influencer?

Charlotte Liebling: For me, it’s been about accepting that doubt, failure, and even profile-related hate will always be part of the journey. That energy sits with you, but I’ve learned to turn it into rocket fuel, not something that pushes me down, but something that helps lift me into who I know I can be.

Annie Wenmiao Yu: What is one thing that you believe will allow more people to have better mental health?

Charlotte Liebling: For better mental health, I think we need to invest more time in imagining the positive. It’s easy to get swept up in negative news and catastrophising, but we rarely allow ourselves to envision the possibilities of good things happening. Whatever the opposite of catastrophising is, that needs to become a habit.

Watch my interview with Charlotte Liebling, influencer and CEO of Loved Before here!

As the day closed, I noticed a quiet thread weaving through every conversation: the importance of being in the room, of building a career that is meaningful to you.

I think that the quote below from Charlotte really sums up the value of what Calypso, John and the OffScript team have done for the future generation, and why their work is so important especially in a modern society that is fracturing socially, economically and digitally.

Maybe our understanding of careers will evolve from simple role descriptions into stanzas of activity that underline each of our lives.

If you’re wanting a next step…

Subscribe now

Learn from a compassionate community with the Low to Grow podcast. It features people such as Erika Brodnock MBE who turned tough times into opportunities for growth. They each demonstrate that same philosophy of slow, grounded progress. Let your growth be steady and intentional.

If all you manage today is this article, I hope you walk away feeling seen, and reminded that you’re not alone, you have Low to Grow.

Share LIFT with Low to Grow

Ari also gets personal about teaching his kids to embrace failure, navigating the ups and downs of entrepreneurship, and how cultural influences shape our approach to business. The conversation wraps with a grounded look at AI’s role in the next era of human potential.

What you’ll walk away with:

Inspiration to turn early-career confusion into clear, forward motion

A mindset reset that helps you prioritize real fulfillment over performative success

A simple, repeatable meditation approach to boost focus and cut through your mental clutter

A resilience playbook for recovering quickly when plans fall apart

A healthier way to teach your kids about failure so you can all take bolder risks without the fear spiral

A new lens on how your language and cultural roots quietly influence your ambition and outcomes

A future-ready perspective on using AI to amplify your strengths

Follow Low to Grow

⁠Instagram: ⁠@lowtogrowpodcast⁠⁠

⁠YouTube: @lowtogrow⁠

Substack Newsletter

Connect with Ari on his profile page on our website!

Please Note: Low to Grow is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional advice. For free mental health resources, visit ⁠

https://www.mind.org.uk⁠

Chapters

00:00 Ari Rastegar on the Low to Grow Podcast - helping young professionals navigate change

00:30 Follow @lowtogrowpodcast on Instagram!

01:23 Introducing Ari Rastegar on Low to Grow Podcast

02:02 Who Ari Rastegar thinks will benefit from Low to Grow episode

02:25 How Ari Rastegar started his Real Estate Titan Career

05:51 Success vs. Fulfillment

11:24 The Power of Meditation

15:47 Resilience and Overcoming Challenges

21:04 Teaching Kids About Failure

24:18 The Importance of Emotional Resilience

28:23 Cultural Influences and Language

31:25 Meditation for Mental Health

32:43 AI: The Fourth Industrial Revolution

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If you don’t have 40 minutes to listen to the full episode, here’s your high-impact breakdown of my conversation with Lily Elsner, Oxford MBA and Co-founder/CEO of Jack Fertility, the world’s first high-street male fertility testing company.

This one’s for anyone in their 20s or 30s who feels behind, unsure, or quietly terrified they’ve chosen the wrong path. Lily’s story is a masterclass of how you can pivot in your career without losing yourself.

3 Lessons You Can Apply Today

Here are the three most transferable lessons for those who want steady, intentional growth.

1. You Live With Your Choices, No One Else

Lily spent half her life thinking she wanted to become a doctor. But when she finally stepped into the role, something felt deeply off:

“I’d been gunning toward this one goal for half my life… and suddenly realised this role was actually really badly suited to me.”

Walking away from a dream you’ve held for years is painful but staying in the wrong one is worse. It’s like mold that slowly spreads over your life, dimming your enthusiasm. You can be good at something AND still be miserable doing it.

Try this:
Think about the unglamourous things that you’ve now learnt about your current career, how do they affect you?
Would you choose it again knowing what it demands?

2. Your strengths might be hiding in the “wrong” places

After leaving medicine, Lily moved into law, not out of passion, but curiosity. She didn’t expect to thrive… until she did:

“So many things that held me back in science were massive strengths in law… I could just be myself at work.”

Sometimes the environment is the problem, not you.

You won’t discover your strengths by thinking but only by trying. Follow the clues: what feels easy for you but impressive to others?

Try this:
Ask three people who know you well: “What do I do that seems effortless to me, but impressive to you?”

3. Choose the problems you want to complain about

Lily’s favourite philosophy:

“I always say: choose what you want to complain about.”

Every job has problems. Every path has pain. But not all pain is equal.

As a founder, she deals with stress, rejection, funding battles, but now the challenges feel meaningful. They move her forward instead of wearing her down because they are obstacles on a path that she knows she wants to pursue.

Try this:
List your top 3 recurring frustrations. Ask yourself: Are these the kinds of problems I want to be solving for the next 3 years?
If not, it’s a sign you’re climbing the wrong mountain.

The Messy Truth Behind Lily’s Success

Lily’s career looks linear on paper:

medicine → law → MBA → founder

But the truth is the opposite. Her journey is built on unlearning core self-beliefs, walking away from identities people praised her for, and learning to live with an investor world where she admitted:

“I’ve done everything right… and still you realise you’re pitching to a brick wall.”

Her success is not polished. It’s iterative. Rejection-ridden. And beautiful in hindsight, just like real life.

Annie’s Anecdote

Talking to Lily, a fellow female founder from Oxford, reinforced to me the importance of taking action. Clarity comes through motion, not thoughts alone.

I think back to how I normally jump into action after reading ~30% of a manual. I like learning by iterating. For me, I believe that growth comes through small experiments, honest pivots. It comes from the courage to say, “this no longer fits”, and walking away.

If you’re looking for a sign to redesign your career or choose a new life path, let Lily’s story be it. You can listen to our full conversation with Lily Elsner on Low to Grow, available wherever you get your podcasts.

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ChatGPT drafted the first copy of this article before I came in to edit. If ChatGPT was my intern, my feedback would be: good key points from the episode, I actually went through some internal changes reading this draft.

Armed with her mic and her usual dose of curiosity, Annie Wenmiao Yu sits down with Calypso Rose, the serial entrepreneur behind this brand-new venture, to explore why this moment in 2026 matters so deeply and what inspired her to create a socially meaningful space for the next generation of creatives, coders, thinkers, and doers.

But the conversations don’t stop there. You’ll also hear from:

• Matt Fosh, YouTuber and comedian, on breaking through an already crowded platform

• William Hanson, Britain’s etiquette coach, on why good manners still open surprising doors

• Charlotte Liebling (the Fluffy CEO), on building a business with heart and social impact—already partnering with Fenwick and Bloomingdale’s

• Reese Wong, Diana Award recipient and returning Low to Grow guest, on the art of personal branding for young changemakers

This bonus episode captures the energy, candour, and ambition that made the Offscript Summit such a powerful space. If you’ve ever wished for guidance that felt real, relevant, and rooted in possibility, you’ll feel right at home.

Settle in for an inspiring, intimate look at the voices shaping a less-linear, more meaningful future.

Feeling motivated? Take action today by subscribing to LIFT with Low to Grow, a weekly email newsletter with my personal take on all things Mental Health X Entrepreneurship!

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Transcript

Annie Wenmiao Yu (00:00)
Hello everyone, it’s Annie, and welcome back to the Low to Grow podcast. Today I have something a little different for you — a bonus episode. Over the weekend, I packed up my mic and headed to South Kensington to attend the very first Offscript Generation Summit. This is a brand-new gathering that’s neither a careers fair nor a traditional networking event. Instead, it’s a curated space for 16 to 25-year-olds who don’t want to follow a linear, well-trodden career rulebook. It’s for the creatives, coders, thinkers, doers — all eager to learn from people who carved their own path and proved that a well-lived life doesn’t have to be linear.

My main mission was to interview Calypso Rose, one of the brilliant founders of the Offscript Summit and a serial entrepreneur, to understand why creating this third venture is socially meaningful and why something like the Offscript Generation is so needed in 2026. Over the course of the day, I also spoke with several inspiring speakers, such as YouTuber Max Fosh on how he broke into YouTube when the platform was already crowded.

Max Fosh (01:27)
For me, building mental resilience as a creator is about understanding that not everything you make will perform well, and divorcing the effort you put in from the outcome — because the outcome is often out of your control. As long as you’re making things you genuinely enjoy, that’s what matters most. I’ve always said the most important viewer you have is yourself. If you’re happy with your content, the right audience will find you.

For better mental health, communication and having a core group of people you love and trust is crucial — friends, family, anyone you can genuinely talk to. Moving your body always helps too. I’m also incredibly grateful to have close friendships that give me real grounding. So for me it’s friendship, communication, and getting outside for a run.

What makes the Summit special is seeing so many passionate young people eager to learn about different subjects and industries. If I can impart even a small piece of wisdom to them, I’m honoured to be part of it.

Annie Wenmiao Yu (02:35)
I then found the courage — and hopefully the good manners — to ask William Hanson, the British etiquette coach, why he believes that minding your manners will serve young people well in today’s job market.

William Hanson (02:47)
Building mental resilience can be difficult, especially online. The digital world is democratic: everyone can share their thoughts and opinions, even when those comments are abrasive or bigoted. That’s part and parcel of free speech. One thing that helps me is simply not reading the comments and not taking things too seriously.

For better mental health, we need to prioritise interacting with people rather than relying entirely on devices. Phones and laptops are useful and essential, but they should complement human interaction, not replace it. Developing people skills, focusing on real human contact — this boosts confidence and improves mental health.

The Summit is special because it’s a chance to connect with the next generation as they step into the workplace. It allows me to talk about something that isn’t discussed enough — treating others with respect, civility, charm, and grace. You only have to glance at the news to see how much we need that right now.

Annie Wenmiao Yu (04:08)
I also connected with fellow female entrepreneur Charlotte Liebling, also known as the Fluffy CEO, about building a social-impact company that has already partnered with Bloomingdale’s and Selfridges.

Charlotte Liebling (04:22)
As a female entrepreneur, building resilience has been something I’ve had to learn quickly. For me, it’s been about accepting that doubt, failure, and even profile-related hate will always be part of the journey. That energy sits with you, but I’ve learned to turn it into rocket fuel — not something that pushes me down, but something that helps lift me into who I know I can be.

For better mental health, I think we need to invest more time in imagining the positive. It’s easy to get swept up in negative news and catastrophising, but we rarely allow ourselves to envision the possibilities of good things happening. Whatever the opposite of catastrophizing is — that needs to become a habit.

This Summit is special because there was nothing like it when I was young. There are career fairs for people who already have a sense of where they’re headed, but for those following non-linear paths, there’s so little that celebrates and empowers them. This event feels magical for that reason.

Annie Wenmiao Yu (06:00)
On my way around, I surprisingly ran into a previous Low to Grow guest, Reese Wong — a Diana Award winner and recent graduate who was leading a workshop on personal branding.

Reese Wong (06:14)
Offscript stood out to me instantly because first, it brings young people together with their parents — and so few events do that. Second, it’s incredibly needed. We’re moving into a world where careers are non-linear and young people need to embrace entrepreneurship. This event hits all those marks. I’ve been speaking with parents and their kids all day; it’s been great.

With so much uncertainty right now, young people need to think about their careers, yes — but also about protecting their mental health and safeguarding their wellbeing. Go out, be entrepreneurial, take initiative, but also know when you’re pushing yourself too far and avoid burnout.

Annie Wenmiao Yu (07:09)
Every speaker, organiser, and entrepreneur I met brought something real and grounded to the Summit. It truly is something I wish I’d been able to attend as a teenager. Now, here’s your exclusive behind-the-scenes conversation with Calypso Rose — the powerhouse behind the Offscript Generation Summit. Let’s dive in.

Annie Wenmiao Yu (07:33)
Calypso, who do you want to be listening to this podcast?

Calypso Rose (07:38)
After this event, we’ve gathered all this incredible content, and instead of just putting it on YouTube, we’re creating an educational library for schools, career leads, and universities. I’d love them to get in touch so we can share access. We didn’t want the content getting lost in YouTube algorithms — we want it used intentionally.

Annie Wenmiao Yu (08:07)
It’s great to be here. So where did your story start?

Calypso Rose (08:10)
This is my third business. I’m a serial entrepreneur and sold my previous company about six months ago. My co-founder, John Ford Gordon, came to me and said careers fairs simply aren’t doing the job anymore — the world is changing, and people need to explore what the future looks like now, not what it looked like ten years ago. Together we came up with Offscript: a Summit featuring big-name thinkers and workshops on the future of work, AI, and more.

Annie Wenmiao Yu (08:38)
Today is the first day of the Summit. How’s it going?

Calypso Rose (08:45)
It’s been fantastic. The insights we’re getting from young people who’ve seen speakers like Ali Eslami and Max Fosh are incredible. It’s our first time running this, so it’s been slightly chaotic — but it’s all coming together beautifully.

Annie Wenmiao Yu (09:01)
What’s the most meaningful part of organising this event?

Calypso Rose (09:07)
It’s the outcomes for the young adults. Even if only a handful leave with clarity on their next steps — whether that’s starting a business, pivoting away from a big tech dream, or realising they want to do something on their own — that’s what matters. We’re doing this because we truly believe in helping people find their direction.

Annie Wenmiao Yu (09:40)
Earlier, I attended a talk by the Editor-in-Chief of The Observer on AI and how young people can adapt. What struck me was seeing parents and children together — that’s so rare.

Calypso Rose (10:00)
Exactly. Parents are feeling lost too. Many default to saying “Go to university, do what I did,” but hearing these talks opens up new possibilities. There are apprenticeships, side hustles, entrepreneurial paths — and parents seeing this alongside their children is powerful.

Annie Wenmiao Yu (10:28)
Was entrepreneurship something you pursued while studying?

Calypso Rose (10:32)
Not quite — I went to about three different universities for about two weeks each. I tried PR and marketing but felt too young to work full-time, went back to university, got overwhelmed, and dropped out. At 21, I started my first business — a product company I ran for ten years. It sold across the world, from Japan to becoming a Christmas bestseller in Selfridges.

Annie Wenmiao Yu (11:04)
How did it feel at 21 to create that first success?

Calypso Rose (11:12)
I loved the adventure. I don’t know how much money I made — most of it went into stock and paying everyone else — but the opportunities were incredible. I learned so much. After licensing that business, I started The Indytute, because by then I felt unemployable after years of working for myself. If I could redo my first business, I would have found a mentor and a finance director early on.

Annie Wenmiao Yu (12:01)
Were you handling everything yourself?

Calypso Rose (12:03)
Pretty much. I was young and successful quickly, so part of me didn’t think I needed advice. Now I know I absolutely did. I’d tell my younger self to seek guidance from someone who understood my industry and could look at my books with insight.

Annie Wenmiao Yu (12:25)
How do you feel you’ve changed as a business owner and female entrepreneur since then?

Calypso Rose (12:36)
At 21, I wanted to be a millionaire. My second business was about creating a more balanced lifestyle. Offscript is about purpose. I want to support the journeys of the young people we help, from start to finish, and build something with real longevity.

Annie Wenmiao Yu (13:06)
Why are in-person events still important in such a digital age?

Calypso Rose (13:23)
Because real connections are memorable. You’re not just being scrolled past. Events like this allow you to ask speakers questions and realise you’re not alone. LinkedIn, for me, is like everyone else’s Instagram — it gives me FOMO and makes me feel I’m not doing enough. But when you’re in a room with people, you see how much you actually are doing.

Annie Wenmiao Yu (13:59)
How has young people’s definition of success changed?

Calypso Rose (14:08)
Young people today want balance. They’ve seen burnout firsthand and don’t want it. They want to stay healthy, see their friends, and build something meaningful — very different from my generation.

Annie Wenmiao Yu (14:28)
In the age of AI, what’s one thing young people can do to equip themselves?

Calypso Rose (14:37)
Just start. Use tools like Lovable, build something, and put it on your CV. Solve a small problem in your life. Create an app, build a brand with ChatGPT, make lots of mini-projects. These micro-skills will make you invaluable in your next job.

Annie Wenmiao Yu (15:10)
What’s one challenging moment that shaped you?

Calypso Rose (15:21)
The pandemic. I had an experience-based business and lost all revenue overnight. We pivoted to at-home experiences. During that time, I also fell off my bike and broke my jaw — it was wired shut for lockdown, so I could only drink soup. With a three-year-old at home, it was tough. But I learned how resilient I am. In business, setbacks feel catastrophic, but you come out the other side stronger. Now when things go wrong, I remind myself it will be fine.

Annie Wenmiao Yu (16:43)
That’s such an entrepreneur’s mindset. How do you teach resilience?

Calypso Rose (16:52)
I tell my son it doesn’t matter if things go wrong — just keep trying. He’s nine and already an amazing little salesman. When he sells at markets and gets rejected, he just says “Next!” That thick skin is so important. You need to be able to ask without taking “no” personally. If you can relate to people, listen, and remember their names, that’s a superpower.

Annie Wenmiao Yu (18:00)
Do you experience imposter syndrome?

Calypso Rose (18:05)
Not really. It wasn’t a concept when I was younger. I just get on with things. Do you get imposter syndrome?

Annie Wenmiao Yu (18:18)
For me, imposter syndrome means I’m in the right place — pushing myself outside my comfort zone. It shows I’m doing something new, uncertain, and challenging, which is often exactly where I need to be.

Calypso Rose (18:41)
Exactly. When things go wrong or you have to push yourself to learn something new, I get excited. During the pandemic, even in the chaos of pivoting the business, I loved the challenge. When things are too easy, I get bored.

Annie Wenmiao Yu (19:06)
Running an event at this scale must come with pressure. How did you handle the anxiety?

Calypso Rose (19:23)
The anxiety hit two weeks ago — wondering whether we’d sold enough tickets, or reached enough schools and community groups. Last night was surprisingly calm — the calm before the storm.

Annie Wenmiao Yu (19:45)
As you start this new venture, how is your mindset different from when you were 21?

Calypso Rose (19:55)
With Offscript, I have a bigger team. It’s amazing to have people to bounce ideas off — but I’ve had to adjust, because I’m used to making decisions alone. Now I pause, consult the team, and move together. It makes everything better.

Annie Wenmiao Yu (20:10)
How did you meet your partners and know they were the right people?

Calypso Rose (20:36)
I worked with John Gordon in my previous business — he’s wonderful. I go a lot by instinct. You need good rapport and complementary skills. Our investor, Mehdi, is empathetic, open, and instantly inspiring. I knew I wanted to work with them.

Annie Wenmiao Yu (21:03)
What is one thing you believe will allow more people to have better mental health?

Calypso Rose (21:11)
Make time for yourself and exercise. Go for a run, get outside, look up, appreciate the world.

Annie Wenmiao Yu (21:19)
Wonderful. Thank you for coming on the Low to Grow podcast.

Calypso Rose (21:22)
Thank you.

If you’re wanting a next step…

Subscribe now

Learn from a compassionate community with the Low to Grow podcast. It features people such as Erika Brodnock MBE who turned tough times into opportunities for growth. They each demonstrate that same philosophy of slow, grounded progress. Let your growth be steady and intentional.

If all you manage today is this article, I hope you walk away feeling seen, and reminded that you’re not alone, you have Low to Grow.

Share LIFT with Low to Grow

If you’ve ever moved to a new city, changed jobs, or watched people around you seem effortlessly social while you quietly wonder “Did I make the right move?” this episode is for you.

Sam moved solo from the UK to Dubai for her career, when there was a big demand for British primary educators in the Middle East. Her expat story is a potent concentration of honesty, vulnerability, and grit. And if you listen to the full episode later, you’ll hear the kind of conversation most people only have behind closed doors.

3 Lessons You Can Apply Today

Here are the three most transferable lessons for those who want steady, intentional growth.

1. Loneliness isn’t the absence of people. It’s the absence of connection.

Sam didn’t lack people around her, but rather she lacked people she could relate to.
She describes her lowest moment clearly:

“I left work on a Friday and returned on Monday realising I hadn’t spoken to a single human being.”

Many young professionals experience this after moving cities, starting a new job, or leaving university. It’s not your fault, and there is nothing wrong with you! Your environment simply changed faster than the time that your support system takes to rebuild.

It’s a work in progress.

Try this:

Identify one person you feel even slightly safe with. Send a message that’s 10% more honest than usual: “Hey, could really use a bit of face time this week, want to grab a coffee?”
Sharing small glimpses of vulnerability builds real relationships.

2. Social anxiety can hide behind “I’m just tired” or “I prefer being alone”

Sam only realised she had social anxiety when she took stock of physical symptoms that came up:

“I found myself pacing my living room, talking myself out of leaving the house… headaches, vomiting, shortness of breath.”

This didn’t fit her self-image. She thought she was someone who simply enjoyed her own company. But anxiety often masquerades as “preference,” becoming a negative reinforcing loop that eats away at your health and confidence.

Try this:

Before cancelling plans, pause and ask yourself: Is this decision coming from my physical needs, or fear?
If it’s fear, don’t force yourself to go. But do something tiny that breaks the cycle: a 10-minute walk outside, a message to a friend, or attending an event for 15 minutes only.

3. You can be surrounded by people and still feel alone. This is normal.

Sam describes watching other expats forming friendships quickly:

“They were forever busy… and I just couldn’t figure out how is this the case? Am I unlikable?”

Comparison made her doubt herself, even though her experience was completely normal.
Everyone’s timeline for settling in is different.

Fast friendships ≠ deep friendships.
And sometimes the bravest thing you can do is admit, “I’m not okay right now.”

Try this:

Replace comparison with connection. The next time you see someone who looks like they “have it all together,” ask one question: “How did you actually find settling in when you first moved here?”
You’ll be surprised how often this breaks the shell for honesty to come through.

The messy truth behind Sam’s success

Sam didn’t build She Knows Best, the anonymous support community for women, because she had life figured out. She built it because she didn’t.

She created the platform after recognising, through another woman’s post on social media, that she wasn’t the only one suffering from loneliness. As she put it:

“I wanted to tell her, you’re not a failure… I feel the same as you.”

Her success came from leaning into the truth that she once tried to deny.

Annie’s Anecdote

I was shocked when Sam cried during the recording. Speaking further with her reminded me why Low to Grow matters: these conversations are healing for those behind the mic, and in front of the mic.

My parents left their close-knit family to build a life abroad. As their only daughter, I grew up with the quiet pressure of wanting to “make them proud” while struggling with my fears privately.

Sam’s honesty reaffirmed this: growth, especially as an adult, isn’t glamorous. It’s human, messy, and often lonely.
My takeaway this week?

When one person speaks up, others feel permission to breathe again.

Are you growth-orientated and want a weekly dose of insight in your inbox? Subscribe to LIFT with Low to Grow and check to save your welcome email from spam/promotions tab!

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ChatGPT drafted the first copy of this article before I came in to edit. If ChatGPT was my intern, my feedback would be: good, minor edits.

The room felt intentionally warm, as if the organisers understood that ambience is not created by dim lights, white space and candles alone, but by permeant permission. Permission to speak plainly. Permission to feel. Permission to be interrupted by the good and the bad of life itself.

Friction was one of the first to arrive, and it arrived bravely.

Singer-songwriter and AI ethicist Tess Buckley explained why friction is her choice of word, “I was born with a facial difference, which results in asymmetry in my face, specifically my smile.” The simplicity of her statement was its power.

How rare is it for us to be invited to sit with discomfort without rushing to resolve it. Tess didn’t ask for reassurance. She didn’t smooth the edges for us. She let the friction exist, and in doing so, made space for an utterly honest kind of beauty. The kind that doesn’t beg to be liked, because it knows it is real. As Tess broke into song, I wondered how much energy we all expend trying to sand ourselves down, instead of letting the asymmetries in ourselves to lead us to courage.

When impact entered the room, it did so quite literally in arms.

Art entrepreneur Marine Tanguy of MTArt Agency spoke with her baby in her lap. A baby who, at one point, decided to swap its pacifier for the microphone. The audience laughed, but there was something profoundly symbolic unfolding. Impact wasn’t being simply being described as a lofty mission. It was embodied and it was generational. Marine showed us that impact is shaping culture while actively caring for the next person who will inherit it.

And then came incommensurability. What are your metrics with a soul?

Alina Kukarina, one-half of Deeply Human Innovation, offered a quiet recalibration to the room. She said that some measurements won’t matter next year, while others will. How do we know that we are measuring the right things? In a data-driven world obsessed with growth curves and dashboards, she reminded us that not everything meaningful is easily quantifiable. I thought of relationships, integrity, mental wealth. These are harder to measure but are part of what makes us deeply human.

Pride was the unexpected guest of the evening who arrived with a bang.

As Caro Ames took to the stage, I heard the timeless roar of maternal pride. From one row behind me, her mother clapped with abandon, calling out, “That’s my daughter!” It was unscripted, slightly chaotic, and to me utterly perfect. I felt my chest expand with second degree pride.

How often do we celebrate achievement without acknowledging the invisible scaffolding behind it? The parents, mentors, friends who believed in us first. That evening, pride wasn’t ego - it was relational. Pride came into the room to remind us that that none of us arrive anywhere alone.

Last came togetherness, and the room melted together.

Connector of the dots Simona Barbieri was effervescent in the truest sense with contagious, joyful energy. But I could sense that beneath the sparkle was something grounded. Togetherness, in her world is about showing up with curiosity and giving to people rather than taking from them.

I reflected how togetherness doesn’t equate consensus. And when it’s real, togetherness doesn’t erase difference but rather holds it playfully and generously.

I was reminded that community isn’t built through grand gestures alone, but through repeated, deeply human ones: inviting, listening, staying, and singing.

As the evening closed, I realised that what made it deeply human wasn’t any single story, but the collective willingness to share and to be deliciously interrupted by music, by children, by applause, by emotions. It was a reminder that technological and societal progress do not require us to harden. If anything, progress asks for groups to meld together.

I left feeling softer, and also stronger. I left with a renewed commitment to choose the right metrics for my life. I will embrace friction, celebrate shamelessly and collaborate. I will live every day that comes next being simply, human.

Thank you, Iliana Grosse-Buening, for the invitation, the exquisite piano performance that opened the evening, and bringing all of us together.

And if you’re wanting a next step…

Subscribe now

Learn from a compassionate community with the Low to Grow podcast. It features people such as Erika Brodnock MBE who turned tough times into opportunities for growth. They each demonstrate that same philosophy of slow, grounded progress. Let your growth be steady and intentional.

If all you manage today is this article, I hope you walk away feeling seen, and reminded that you’re not alone, you have Low to Grow.

Share LIFT with Low to Grow

Looking for a story that blends resilience, entrepreneurship, mental health, and inclusive technology?

In this episode of Low to Grow, Annie Wenmiao Yu speaks with Linda Hong Cheng, founder of InfraLabs and advocate for healing-centered leadership in the tech industry. From overcoming a challenging childhood to launching startups focused on age-inclusive and digitally equitable solutions, Linda shares how her journey shaped her vision for a more inclusive future.

The conversation explores the power of personal narrative in leadership, why autonomy is essential for mental health, and how technology can—and must—serve marginalized communities. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, leader, or someone navigating adversity, Linda’s story is a testament to the power of resilience and purpose.

Follow Low to Grow

Instagram: ⁠@lowtogrowpodcast⁠

TikTok and YouTube:

Say hi: lowtogrowpodcast@gmail.com :)

You’ll learn:

• Why healing-centered leadership is critical for the future of tech

• How digital inclusion can empower marginalized communities

• The role of autonomy in mental health and well-being

• What it means to design age-inclusive technology

• How resilience shapes identity, purpose, and entrepreneurial success

Chapters

00:00 – Introduction to Linda’s Journey

07:38 – Overcoming Adversity and Finding Purpose

13:44 – The Impact of Environment on Identity

21:51 – Launching Mung! and Addressing Digital Inequality

25:52 – Healing-Centered Leadership in Tech

37:03 – The Importance of Autonomy for Mental Health

Follow Linda Hong Cheng

Gossip Group: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gossip-group/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/lindahongcheng

Instagram: @lindahongcheng

Please Note: This podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional advice. If you’re experiencing challenges with your mental health, please reach out to a qualified professional. Free resources are available at

https://www.mind.org.uk

Hey, this is for you if you’re juggling work, relationships, expectations, and are feeling the pressure to “hold it all together”. Izzy Silvers’ story is the reminder so many of us need as busy professionals living the grind in London: you don’t have to be the strong one all the time.

3 Lessons You Can Apply Today

Here are the three most transferable lessons for those who want steady, intentional growth.

1. You don’t need to be in a crisis to ask for help

Izzy only realised she needed outside help when she found herself

“in the hotel bathroom at 4 a.m., crying… thinking, I can’t go on like this.”

That moment pushed her to speak to her friend, book a doctor’s appointment, and start therapy and medication - all choices she now calls “life-changing.”

The lesson? Help shouldn’t be the last resort.

Try this:

Text one person today: “Hey, could I talk something through with you?”
You don’t need a meltdown to justify the ask.

2. Rest is a skill

Izzy jokes that her biggest lesson is something we all know but ignore when things get busy:

“If I rest, I will get better quicker.”

Rest wasn’t natural for her as she was always doing, saying yes, rushing, reacting. Learning to slow herself down became emotional survival, not indulgence.

Try this:

Pick one plan this week to say no to. When you do, say out loud: “I’m choosing capacity, not guilt.” How does that feel in your chest?

3. Sitting with your emotions is uncomfortable… and freeing

When Izzy started therapy, she didn’t yet understand her emotions, just that they were overwhelming. Over time, she learned to pause and ask:

“I’m reacting emotionally to this… why? What’s underneath?”

This self-inquiry changed everything: her dating life, her friendships, her ability to make decisions that don’t betray herself.

Try this:

Next time you feel overwhelmed or reactive, ask yourself what the real thing you are feeling under the surface is. Pause and feel where it sits in your body. No need to fix, sometime just acknowledging what’s there is enough.

The Messy Truth Behind Izzy’s Success

Behind being a BAFTA Connect member, award-winning journalist, and founder of the Mixed Messages Newletter, Izzy is someone who felt she had to be “the strong one” until life overwhelmed her with grief “once removed,” anxiety, and sleepless nights. Sure, her career as a journalist is demanding, but her success wasn’t built from always being switched on. it was built on acknowledging when she needed help, and building emotional skills that serve her.

Annie’s Anecdote

I was struck by how Izzy applied the natural inquisitiveness she has as a journalist, to self-introspection. Her openness about the time it takes to heal - even when it is “grief once removed” - showed me that time itself is a privilege.

I used to think that running on fumes is a) a must for any founder, and b) a badge of honour. Now I realise real progress is when you give yourself permission to slow down, and give yourself the same compassion you’d give anyone else.

ChatGPT drafted the first copy of this article before I came in to edit. If ChatGPT was my intern, my feedback would be: need a stronger hook at the beginning, why should readers bother? otherwise mild edits.

What if AI could help redefine how we diagnose and treat mental health conditions? And how can investors, founders, and startups come together to make care more accessible worldwide?

In this episode of Low to Grow, Annie Wenmiao Yu speaks with Shiv Bhavnani, a healthcare investor and founder of GIMBHI, a global initiative driving investment into mental health innovation. Shiv opens up about his career pivot from finance into mental health, the turning points that reshaped his path, and why self-awareness is one of the most important traits for founders and professionals alike.

Together, they explore:

• What investors look for when evaluating mental health startups

• The reality of today’s mental health funding landscape

• The importance of career pivots, resilience, and self-reflection

• Practical ways to improve your own mental health and work-life balance

Whether you’re a founder, investor, or young professional interested in innovation, healthcare, and personal growth, Shiv’s story shows how challenges like being fired can become the catalyst for a more meaningful career.

Follow Low to Grow

Instagram: ⁠@lowtogrowpodcast⁠

TikTok and YouTube: @lowtogrow

https://www.lowtogrow.com

Say hi: lowtogrowpodcast@gmail.com :)

Chapters

00:00 – Introduction to Mental Health Innovation

02:41 – The Importance of Mental Health

04:40 – Future of Mental Health Startups

07:33 – AI in Mental Health Diagnosis

10:31 – Shiv’s Career Journey

12:42 – Turning Points and Starting GIMBHI

17:27 – Advice for Career Transitions

19:22 – GIMBHI’s Mission and Impact

22:17 – Trends in Mental Health Funding

23:18 – Shiv’s Start-Up Spotlight: Third Space Mental Health

25:29 – What Investors Look For

28:31 – Self-Awareness in Founders

29:27 – Keys to Better Mental Health

30:39 – Outro

Follow Shiv Bhavnani & GIMBHI

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shivbhavnani?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3B0AWIbXYoQVGGJJ%2BEVNMXRQ%3D%3D

Website:

https://www.gimbhi.com/

X: https://x.com/ss_bhav

Please Note: Low to Grow is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional advice. If you’re experiencing challenges with your mental health, please reach out to a qualified professional. Free resources are available at

https://www.mind.org.uk

Three weeks ago today, I fought the throngs of tourists at the Tower Bridge Christmas Market to host my first Low to Grow workshop. 12 young professionals, some friends and some strangers, gathered at the Blue Duck Cafe for a cozy evening of reflection and conversation. Strangers turned into friends and each left with a framework of how to make 2026 their happiest year yet.

Curious? Grab a pen, a piece of paper and follow along!

Let’s start with a body scan.

Close your eyes for a few minutes and take note of what emotions are present in your body. Where and how do you feel it?

Scanning from head to toe, I noticed:

• Anxiety: tension in my tight shoulders

• Nervousness: butterflies in my stomach, tight chest

• Excitement: butterflies in my stomach.

These are the emotions present in you today → write them down in a list.

Thinking back to the past week, what other emotions were you feeling? Were they very different from the ones you feel today? → add any new ones to your list.

Over the past week, I felt:

• Curiosity: lightness and expansion in my brain

• Energetic: tingling toes

• Loved: my heart felt full, my mind felt like a cotton ball

• Peaceful: my heart felt full, my mind felt like a cotton ball

Now next to each emotion, jot down what you were doing when you felt those emotions. Reflecting back on your year, note down any other activities that trigger those emotions in you.

My list:

• Anxiety: planning to lead the workshop, thinking about a big presentation at work

• Nervousness: thinking about leading the workshop, meeting new clients at work or at a networking event

• Excitement: leading the workshop, going to my friend’s Christmas dinner

• Curiosity: learning about Substack, meeting other entrepreneurs at The Entrepreneur Network’s Festive drinks

• Energetic: starting a new project at work

• Loved: spending time with family and friends, getting a mini dachsund toy from my secret santa

• Peaceful: spending time with family and friends

Circle the emotions that you want to feel more of next year (mine are in bold below). One thing that we noticed in the workshop is how the same activity can bring about multiple emotions, both positive and negative. I reflected how sometimes “negative” emotions are necessary to help us grow, and shouldn’t be rejected in full.

My list:

• Anxiety: planning to lead the workshop

• Nervousness: thinking about leading the workshop

• Excitement: leading the workshop, going to my friend’s Christmas dinner

• Curiosity: learning about Substack, meeting other entrepreneurs at The Entrepreneur Network’s Festive drinks

• Energetic: starting a new project at work

• Loved: spending time with family and friends, getting a mini dachsund toy from my secret santa

• Peaceful: spending time with family and friends

Ask yourself why you want to feel more of certain emotions. Does it link to having more energy to achieve a personal goal? Will it help you to strengthen relationships with your family and friends?

• Nervousness: thinking about leading the workshop → This emotion taps into my perfectionist side, and gives me the adrenaline boost I need to step out of my comfort zone.

• Curiosity: learning about Substack, meeting other entrepreneurs at The Entrepreneur Network’s Festive drinks → This allows me to enter my creative state, helping me to write well. I also find that I network well with strangers when I am able to tap into genuine curiosity in who they are and what they do.

• Energetic: starting a new project at work → This helps me to get things done. It also helps me to keep going when problems rise up.

• Peaceful: spending time with family and friends → When I am in a peaceful state, I can spend more quality time with those I love. I am also less short-tempered and can connect more.

Which of the whys are calling out to you? Pick 2-3 activities that you want to prioritise in the coming year. Write them using this structure:

One of the workshop attendees wrote her intentions as though she had already achieved those goals. I loved this contribution as this is commonly used as a manifestation technique to “trick” the brain into thinking that you are already at the finish line, which makes it easier to take the necessary actions to get there. Getting over that starting hump, so to say.

My intentions for 2026

• In 2026, I will publish a weekly newsletter because I want to find other compassionate thinkers and doers, and because its an outlet for my creativity outside of work.

• In 2026, I will spend quality time with family and friends every week because I need strong relationships in my life, I want to love & feel love and peace when around them.

• In 2026, I will take more ownership of a new work project because it will unlock business milestones which energises me.

It always amazes me the liberation that comes from being in a room of supportive strangers. We have space to share our thoughts to a blank canvas. I found it beautiful to listen to the 12 young professionals share their raw reflections on the past year, and voice out loud their 2026 intentions to the group. We concluded that sharing the intentions with other people is a good way to keep yourself accountable.

It is now three days to the new year, what will you do to set yourself up for a happy 2026?

In January we will meet again on a weekday after work, to check in with each other and see if any of our intentions need tweaking. After all, life is fluid ~ it’s helpful to reflect that in our intentions. If you would like to join us for that session at Blue Duck London, 7pm on the 21st of January 2026, subscribe below and keep an eye out for the registration link!

Subscribe now

And if you’re wanting a next step…

Join the compassionate community listening to the Low to Grow podcast. It features people such as Erika Brodnock MBE who turned tough times into opportunities for growth. They each demonstrate that same philosophy of slow, grounded progress - let your growth be steady and intentional.

If all you manage today is this article, I hope you walk away feeling seen, and reminded that you’re not alone, you have Low to Grow.

Share LIFT with Low to Grow