#44 — Patterns of Power: History, Geopolitics & Investing | Meng Keet WONG: “We Destroy Ourselves From Within”

#44 — Patterns of Power: History, Geopolitics & Investing | Meng Keet WONG: “We Destroy Ourselves From Within”

What does the Iran war reveal about the current world order? What are we underestimating about China? Is AI as revolutionary as people think? Meng Keet Wong, Head of Managed Products and Alternative Investments at UOB Private Bank, discusses what most people don't see about what's happening in the world — and what history is actually telling us right now. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Introduction 01:49 Iran, US & Israel: What’s History Showing Us 04:38 The Limits Of Superpowers 10:30 Can We Still Trust Mainstream Media? 13:14 Ray Dalio's Big Cycle — Does It Hold Up? 16:35 When A Hegemon Starts To Lash Out 21:16 The Rot Is Always Internal 22:36 What We Underestimate About China 28:55 Is AI As Revolutionary As People Think? 32:25 Does Your AI Platform Have An Agenda? 33:46 US & China: Two Different AI Ecosystems 34:49 Investing For Profit vs Investing With Purpose 36:46 History or Markets — Which Taught Him More? 37:02 What Does You Never Know Mean To You? TODAY'S GUEST 🌐 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/meng-keet-wong-9288a74 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/meng-keet-wong-9288a74/] CONNECT WITH ME 🌐 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/nicoleleethisisme [http://www.linkedin.com/in/nicoleleethisisme] 🌐 Instagram & TikTok: @nicoleleethisisme 🌐 YouTube: www.youtube.com/@nicoleleethisisme [http://www.youtube.com/@nicoleleethisisme] 🌐 Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/show/5uRGujeye6cPVvaIGsAt7p?si=91942ccd3c054c1e [https://open.spotify.com/show/5uRGujeye6cPVvaIGsAt7p?si=91942ccd3c054c1e] 🌐 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/you-never-know-with-nicole-lee/id1789080795 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/you-never-know-with-nicole-lee/id1789080795]  🌐 Website: www.youneverknow.co [http://www.youneverknow.co] 🌐 Partnership & Speaking Enquiries: nicole@youneverknow.co [nicole@youneverknow.co]  WATCH NEXT ► No Gold Behind Paper Gold | Christophe Numa with Nicole Lee [https://youtu.be/2fMMcuOJJLo?si=_OTvZNV9V3PfZsD2] ► Inside Najib’s Office: Ei Sun Oh on 1MDB, Anwar & Malaysia’s Future [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axb1Nn3vVZI] ► Why Rich People Can Still Feel Poor | Kees Stoute with Nicole Lee [https://youtu.be/Y4a2O8U9KvU] 💌 I'm Nicole Lee. I spent more than a decade in private banking, took a leap of faith into fintech, walked away without a job while navigating a defining life transition — and started the You Never Know Podcast on alternative perspectives in life, business, finance & health. Today, I'm a moderator, speaker, and podcast producer — partnering with visionary organizations to shape strategic narratives through authentic storytelling. 📢 Views expressed on this podcast are solely those of the individuals, and do not constitute investment, legal, and health advice, or reflect the views of any organisation.

#43 — She Left Visa To Confront What The System Never Told Women | Maaike Steinebach: “Why Do I Know Nothing About This?”

Maaike Steinebach, former CEO of Visa for Hong Kong and Macau, walked away from 25 years of financial services and tech to found FemTech Future — an advisory platform closing the gender health gap through women's health innovation. Because even though women make up half the world's population, the products, services, and systems we rely on every day were never really designed with us in mind. How much do we really know about women — what it even means to be one, and what we actually need? TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Introduction 01:29 From Visa CEO to FemTech Founder 04:31 Why We Put Ourselves Last 10:19 Only 10% in Hong Kong Show Up for Their Mammogram 12:54 Do We Have to Become Men to Succeed? 15:02 The Cost of Wearing a Mask at Work 16:21 Why Leaders Need to Be More Vulnerable 18:39 What Healthcare Got Wrong About Us 24:05 I'm Successful. Why Do I Know So Little? 25:07 Is Sexual Health Still Taboo in Asia? 29:18 Is Sex Education in Schools Broken? 37:09 Do We Resist Talking About Our Own Health? 42:47 The Hardest Thing to Unlearn as a Woman 45:36 Why We Stay Silent About Our Health 47:44 What Do Men Really Need to Know? 49:16 What You Never Know Means to Maaike TODAY'S GUEST 🌐 Website: www.femtechfuture.com [http://www.femtechfuture.com] 🌐Instagram: @maaikeloveshk & @femtech_future 🌐 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/maaike-steinebach-8a3a304/ CONNECT WITH ME 🌐 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/nicoleleethisisme [http://www.linkedin.com/in/nicoleleethisisme] 🌐 Instagram & TikTok: @nicoleleethisisme 🌐 YouTube: www.youtube.com/@nicoleleethisisme [http://www.youtube.com/@nicoleleethisisme] 🌐 Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/show/5uRGujeye6cPVvaIGsAt7p?si=91942ccd3c054c1e [https://open.spotify.com/show/5uRGujeye6cPVvaIGsAt7p?si=91942ccd3c054c1e] 🌐 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/you-never-know-with-nicole-lee/id1789080795 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/you-never-know-with-nicole-lee/id1789080795]  🌐 Website: www.youneverknow.co [http://www.youneverknow.co] 🌐 Partnership & Speaking Enquiries: nicole@youneverknow.co [nicole@youneverknow.co]  WATCH NEXT ► No Gold Behind Paper Gold | Christophe Numa with Nicole Lee [https://youtu.be/2fMMcuOJJLo?si=_OTvZNV9V3PfZsD2] ► The Body Never Forgets: What Pain, Disease & Insomnia Are Telling You | Sufen Paphassarang [https://youtu.be/PICisWyDKfw?si=iQfz_mM7CfVwA5aq] ► Why Rich People Can Still Feel Poor | Kees Stoute with Nicole Lee [https://youtu.be/Y4a2O8U9KvU] 💌 I'm Nicole Lee. I spent more than a decade in private banking, took a leap of faith into fintech, walked away without a job while navigating a defining life transition — and started the You Never Know Podcast to have real conversations that challenge the way we think, what we believe, and how we live. Today, I'm also a moderator, speaker, and podcast producer — partnering with visionary leaders and businesses to shape strategic narratives through authentic storytelling.

#42 — Full-Time YouTuber: Is It Worth It? | Max Chernov on Choosing Singapore & Reinvention

Max Chernov built a YouTube channel interviewing expats, entrepreneurs and billionaires across Asia. Born in Russia, lived in eight countries, and now calls Singapore home. We talk about living in Singapore, what it really costs to be a full-time creator, what billionaires actually teach you about success, and why so many foreigners never leave the expat bubble. TODAY'S GUEST 🌐 YouTube: https://youtube.com/@maxchernov?si=CUL57DUDlixzjf5A [https://youtube.com/@maxchernov?si=CUL57DUDlixzjf5A] 🌐Instagram: instagram.com/chernov_networking [http://instagram.com/chernov_networking] 🌐 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/maxchernov [http://linkedin.com/in/maxchernov] CONNECT WITH ME 🌐 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/nicoleleethisisme [http://www.linkedin.com/in/nicoleleethisisme] 🌐 Instagram & TikTok: @nicoleleethisisme 🌐 YouTube: www.youtube.com/@nicoleleethisisme [http://www.youtube.com/@nicoleleethisisme] 🌐 Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/show/5uRGujeye6cPVvaIGsAt7p?si=91942ccd3c054c1e [https://open.spotify.com/show/5uRGujeye6cPVvaIGsAt7p?si=91942ccd3c054c1e] 🌐 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/you-never-know-with-nicole-lee/id1789080795 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/you-never-know-with-nicole-lee/id1789080795]  🌐 Website: www.youneverknow.co [http://www.youneverknow.co] 🌐 Partnership & Speaking Enquiries: nicole@youneverknow.co [nicole@youneverknow.co]  WATCH NEXT ► Best Cities In The World To Live & Work | Nirbhay Handa with Nicole Lee [https://youtu.be/gTzW6-ao4BM?si=jh7iSqFeB9TxWlGL] ► Why Rich People Can Still Feel Poor | Kees Stoute with Nicole Lee [https://youtu.be/Y4a2O8U9KvU] ► No Gold Behind Paper Gold | Christophe Numa with Nicole Lee [https://youtu.be/2fMMcuOJJLo?si=_OTvZNV9V3PfZsD2] TIMESTAMPS 00:27 Introduction 01:02 From Russia to Finding Home in Singapore 03:56 Embracing Local Culture as an Expat 05:56 The Upside of Singapore’s Predictability 09:21 What Travel Teaches 12:19 The Reality of Being a YouTuber 14:41 From Street Interviews to Meeting Billionaires 17:54 What Successful People All Have in Common 21:55 Inside the Backstage Circle 25:35 Why Creators Should Be Creative and Business-Savvy 29:46 What It Takes to be a Successful YouTuber 33:31 How Do You Find Your Passion in Life? 40:48 What You Never Know Means to Max 💌 I'm Nicole Lee. I spent more than a decade in private banking, took a leap of faith into fintech, walked away without a job while navigating a defining life transition — and started the You Never Know Podcast to have real conversations that challenge the way we think, what we believe, and how we live. Today, I'm also a moderator, speaker, and podcast producer — partnering with visionary leaders and businesses to shape strategic narratives through authentic storytelling. —-----

#41 — No Gold Behind Paper Gold | Christophe Numa: "Gold Is Not A Speculative Asset."

Most people think they own gold. They don't. I discuss all things gold with Christophe Numa, Founder & CEO of Gauld — who spent over a decade building businesses around physical gold, from running a multi-million dollar trading platform backed by global hedge fund Millennium, to now making physical gold ownership accessible to everyone, anywhere in the world. Enjoy! TODAY'S GUEST 🌐 Learn about Gauld: www.gauld.com [http://www.gauld.com] 🌐 LinkedIn: https://sg.linkedin.com/in/christophe-numa-69946927/en [https://sg.linkedin.com/in/christophe-numa-69946927/en]  CONNECT WITH ME 🌐 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/nicoleleethisisme [http://www.linkedin.com/in/nicoleleethisisme] 🌐 Instagram & TikTok: @nicoleleethisisme 🌐 Website: www.youneverknow.co [http://www.youneverknow.co] 🌐 Partnership & Speaking Enquiries: nicole@youneverknow.co [nicole@youneverknow.co]  TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Intro 02:44 Is Gold Really A Safe Haven? 04:40 Paper Gold vs Physical Gold: The Real Difference 11:06 What Gold ETFs Actually Invest In 15:44 How Physical Gold Actually Works 18:40 Gold Supply Chain: Mine to Vault 23:10 How Physical Gold Is Priced 25:20 How To Buy Physical Gold Today 26:13 How To Know If Your Gold Is Legitimate 32:30 Gold vs Real Estate 34:43 How To Generate Yield On Gold 35:25 Gold Price Outlook 39:40 Should Everyone Hold Gold? 40:15 Why Christophe Started Gauld 45:38 The Syria Story That Changed Everything 47:20 Is There Enough Gold For Everyone? 49:22 Gold vs Silver: Which to Hold First? 51:20 What Would Change His Mind About Gold 52:28 What "You Never Know" Means to Chris 💌 I'm Nicole Lee. I spent more than a decade in private banking, took a leap of faith into fintech, walked away without a job while navigating a defining life transition — and started the You Never Know Podcast to have real conversations that challenge the way we think, what we believe, and how we live. Today, I'm also a moderator, speaker, and podcast producer — partnering with visionary leaders and businesses to shape strategic narratives through authentic storytelling.

#40 — Best Cities In The World To Live & Work | Nirbhay Handa

If you could live anywhere in the world, would you know where to go? I speak with Nirbhay Handa, global mobility entrepreneur & CEO of Multipolitan, about how cities are evolving, why global mobility is becoming more nuanced, and how Millennials and Gen Zs are shaping a more borderless way of living. We explore why cities are increasingly becoming “pseudo-states” where talent and capital concentrate, the three types of cities that will thrive — financial centres, nomad-friendly cities, and startup-friendly cities — and why “builder cities” like Singapore and Dubai are rising while legacy titans risk falling behind. We also dive into digital states, AI, sovereignty beyond geography, and what people often get wrong when choosing where to live. Chapter markers: 00:00 Introduction 02:10 Millennials & Gen Z: Redefining Success 04:18 What Wealth Means Today: Optionality, Frictionless Living, Well-Being 06:31 Decoupling Identity From Your Birth Certificate 08:44 Why Cities Are Becoming “Pseudo-States” 09:28 The 3 Types of Cities That Will Thrive 10:30 Builder Cities vs Legacy Titans 12:09 Why Singapore and Dubai Are Rising 17:15 How to Choose Where to Live Today 24:37 Alternative Residencies & Hedging Your Life 33:30 Digital States 37:00 One Underrated City to Watch 38:00 The Future of Global Mobility 39:12 What Most People Get Wrong About Choosing Where to Live 40:14 What “Home” Means in a Borderless World 💌 If you’re new to this channel, I’m Nicole Lee. I spent more than a decade in private banking, took a leap of faith into fintech, walked away without a job while navigating a defining life transition — and started the You Never Know Podcast to have real conversations that challenge the way we think, what we believe, and how we live. Today, through You Never Know Studios, I partner with leaders and organizations to shape strategic narratives through video content that authentically resonates. --- 🔗 Connect with Nirbhay Handa 🌐 Website: https://www.multipolitan.com/ 👤 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/nirbhay-handa-44949822 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nirbhay-handa-44949822/] 📲 Instagram: @handa.eth @multipolitan.app 🔗 Connect with Nicole Lee 🌐 Website: www.youneverknow.co 👤 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/nicoleleethisisme 📺 YouTube: www.youtube.com/@nicoleleethisisme 📲 Instagram / TikTok: @nicoleleethisisme