Project Curiosity- Burmese Podcast

👋Hello again! It's been a while. I'm back with another episode. This week I'm tackling a topic that I think a lot of us struggle with - having difficult conversations. You know those times when you really need to have a talk with someone but have been putting it off because it's not going to be easy? I've got this thought from the movie that highlighted all the unsaid conversations two people had - The Marriage Story. How many things went unaddressed that likely could have changed the course of their relationship? It got me thinking about all the opportunities we miss out on in life when we avoid difficult discussions. Then I explored what even makes a conversation difficult and different scenarios where they're more or less probable. I shared some of my own experiences needing to discuss hard things with friends, family members and coworkers over the years. And I shared a tip or two for preparing for and having those important yet uncomfortable talks.

Hello 👋 As the late night hours blend into the early morning, my mind drifts to games of various sorts - specifically chess, poker, and pondering the broader "games" we engage in across politics, relationships and life in general. I start with factual reflections on chess, noting how it focuses strictly on strategy without luck involved. One player's gain only comes at the direct loss of another. Does this reflect a zero-sum view of success? Are certain real-world arenas similarly cut-throat, where we must sacrifice others to achieve our aims? With poker, random chance and calculated risks are major factors. Reading others and making the best moves with unpredictable information feels applicable in many situations requiring strategic social navigation. But are we truly in control, or do unseen forces shape outcomes beyond our knowledge? This leads me to question - in the games woven throughout our existence, against whom exactly do we compete? Ourselves, other individuals, broad societal forces? What are the goals and stakes we're playing for - money, power, happiness defined by ever-shifting standards? Most significantly - are we truly the players, or might unseen hands be moving us as pieces on their board? Where do we draw the line between fair and foul plays? What strategies do we accept or reject in love, politics and business? How do we balance cooperative and competitive drives to optimize mutual gain without compromising integrity? I hope my mumblings provides similar midnight food for thought.

Hello! 👋 (⬇️ [https://emojipedia.org/down-arrow]Scroll down to read more) This week I had the pleasure of speaking with Thandar Aung Soe, a bright young woman from Myanmar who was selected as a Chevening scholar for the 2022-2023 intake. Thandar shared her inspirational journey of becoming one of just 8 Chevening scholars from Myanmar last year. She discussed her background and what motivated her to apply for this prestigious UK government scholarship program. The Chevening scholarship provides full financial support for scholars to pursue a one-year master's degree at any UK university*  Thandar walked me through her detailed planning and preparation process for the Chevening application. This included researching scholarship requirements, timing the application process, obtaining letters of recommendation, and drafting compelling personal essays. She highlighted how the 4 essays were a critical part of the process, where her passion, personal story and alignment with Chevening's mission had to clearly come across. For those interested in applying, Thandar stressed the importance of understanding what makes you stand out as a leader and how your goals align with Chevening's mission. She advised on overlooked areas for applicants, like emphasizing the importance of grades from local universities, gaining ample work experience, and articulating those experiences effectively. It was inspiring to hear first-hand from Thandar how she leveraged this opportunity to expand her horizons and gain new skills. She is now working towards a master's in development studies at the prestigious London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).  The Chevening scholarship application for 2023-2024 is now open (and closes on 7 November 2023). I hope this episode provides insights into the requirements, preparations, expectations, and inspirations to help you understand the application process. A few resources: * To learn more about Chevening: https://www.chevening.org/ * Study with TAS (from the Chevener herself): https://www.facebook.com/studywithtas * UK in Myanmar (For news, updates and resources) https://www.facebook.com/ukinmyanmar * Approaching Essays: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fP8_1uoNQlE&t=281s  * Chevening Scholarship Help (https://www.youtube.com/@cheveningscholarshiphelp) * Delphine Konda (https://www.youtube.com/@delphinekonda) * Askarina Bintari (https://www.youtube.com/@AskarinaBintari)

Hello! 👋 This week I had the opportunity to catch up with my former colleague Ma Thiri Yadanar Kyaw, who is now working as a Product Manager in the U.S. Thiri shared insights into her career journey and role as a ⁠Product Manager⁠. Thiri walked me through how she transitioned from her background in finance into product management. A Product Manager acts as the voice of the customer and helps teams build products that meet customer needs. Her day-to-day involves a lot of meetings, facilitation, and stakeholder communication. ⁠Key skills⁠ for the role are being able to see the big picture, understand customer problems, and prioritize what's most important. For those interested in product management, Thiri recommended gaining ⁠domain knowledge⁠ in an industry you care about, developing ⁠soft skills⁠, and obtaining relevant certifications. She discussed courses and resources that have helped her, which I will link below. Thiri also shared some practical tips for career growth. Focus on developing a ⁠growth mindset⁠, build your network, look for opportunities to gain new experiences, and don't be afraid to take risks. We explored various other topics, including what Thiri is currently curious about. She discussed how she stays on top of trends in product management and ⁠UX design⁠ through newsletters, podcasts, and online communities while also working on Lending domain specific certifications. It was great to reconnect with Thiri and learn from her experiences. Her insights into product management and ⁠career growth⁠ were valuable. I appreciate her openness in sharing her journey and wisdom. Resources mentioned/referenced: * PMI Certifications- https://www.pmi.org/certifications/agile-acp * SAFe by Scaled Agile- https://scaledagile.com/training/safe-product-owner-product-manager/ * Product School- https://productschool.com * Books on Product Management- https://productschool.com/blog/career-development/top-most-read-books-by-product-managers * Leading Through Uncertainty: (Brian Chesky, Airbnb) https://config.figma.com/video-on-demand/6329872286112 Other Resources * What separates top product managers from the rest of the pack (McKinsey, 2023): https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/technology-media-and-telecommunications/our-insights/what-separates-top-product-managers-from-the-rest-of-the-pack

👋Hello again! In this week's episode, I dive into the design thinking process for life and career planning using insights from Bill Burnett and Dave Evans’ book “Designing Your Life”. I have been feeling stuck recently in mapping out my next steps, so I revisited this practical handbook on applying design thinking principles to live. The first step in the design process is to identify the problem by clarifying what exactly isn’t working. This involves collecting data over time through self-reflection and journaling to determine the root cause of feeling stuck. Once the problem is clearly defined, the next step is generating ideas and options through brainstorming. Bill and Dave recommend developing an “Odyssey Plan” of different 5-year life scenarios and “prototyping” each through conversations with others and low-risk experiments. This allows us to iterate and improve based on learning and feedback. I also discussed Ali Abdaal’s video on “The 3 Alarms” by Eric Partaker which emphasizes focusing on your identity and purpose rather than specific goals or numbers. This aligns with the design thinking approach of seeking clarity on your core values and priorities before setting new goals. Accountability groups, like online study groups or Discord channels, support the design process through shared learning and encouragement. I appreciate how this book encourages action and data collection. It provides a framework to track my progress, documents my insights and prompts me to collect the dots - the observations, ideas and feedback - that will eventually connect into a clearer picture. As Steve Jobs said, "You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards." Resources mentioned/referenced: * Design Thinking (Concept)- IDEOu-https://www.ideou.com/pages/design-thinking * Designing Your Life- (Find Free Resources too)- https://designingyour.life/ * Snippets from Stanford Life Design Lab- https://youtu.be/wnU5DaIPr2Q * How to Build a Life You Want by Ali Abdaal- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwSD4uCSX_M&t=421s * Steve Jobs's Quote on Connecting the dots from his speech at Stanford- https://news.stanford.edu/2005/06/12/youve-got-find-love-jobs-says/