Not On My CV

9. (Un)Prepared for 2026: Intentions Over Expectations

For the Season 2 finale, Maya & Olivia sit down for a very honest, no-filters reflection on 2025 and talking candidly about how they're approaching 2026; the wins, the wobble moments, the lessons they didn’t see coming, and the reality of starting a new year when things aren’t going to plan. We talk about starting the year with curiosity instead of urgency, letting go of rigid timelines, and how we’re thinking about intention-setting for 2026 without pretending we have it all figured out. If your January hasn’t been the “new year, new me” reboot you imagined — you’re not alone. 💭 TOP TAKEAWAYS * Reflecting on an eventful 2025 * Starting the year behind schedule — and not letting it define you * Finding balance and fulfilment while maintaing your ambition * Setting goals for 2026 that actually feel achievable If you’re starting the year feeling behind, burnt out, or quietly re-mapping your plans — this one's for you. 🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts. Follow us for more: TikTok → ⁠⁠⁠@notonmycvpod⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@notonmycvpod]⁠⁠ Instagram → ⁠⁠⁠@notonmycvpod⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/notonmycvpod/]

8. This Wasn’t The Plan: Ditching Corporate for Community & Purpose

Ever taken the “sensible” path… and realised it wasn’t actually your path? This week, we’re joined by Krishana — founder of Kasa Café and host of the Kasa Connect podcast — who did exactly that. After ditching a classic corporate career (and even turning down a shiny AI startup), Krishana took a leap into hospitality to build something far more aligned: a café rooted in community, connection, and purpose. We talk about what it really takes to back yourself when comparison is loud, the resilience needed in the brutal early months of hospitality, and how burnout, competition, and outside noise forced Krishana to double down on her strengths — turning Kasa into a hub for events, conversations, and community. 💭 TOP TAKEAWAYS * Choosing alignment over status (even when it’s risky) * Having conviction in a world of constant comparison * Navigating burnout, setbacks & the early days of building something new * Letting go of external pressure to find your real USP * Why community can be your biggest competitive advantage If you’ve ever felt pulled between what looks good on paper and what actually feels right — this one’s for you. 🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts. Follow us for more: TikTok → ⁠⁠@notonmycvpod [https://www.tiktok.com/@notonmycvpod]⁠⁠ Instagram → ⁠⁠@notonmycvpod⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/notonmycvpod/]

7. Accidentally Achieving: Product, Mentorship & Bold Moves

This week, Maya and Olivia sit down with Dinushi — a former fintech co-founder turned product lead at JPMorgan Chase, and a product mentor at BrainStation (and on TikTok: @thenewproductmanager) [https://www.tiktok.com/@thenewproductmanager?lang=en]. Dinushi’s career hasn’t followed a straight line. From studying medicine, to accidentally co-founding a fintech startup, to now building AI-driven products inside one of the world’s biggest banks — her path has been shaped by curiosity, taking chances, and saying yes before feeling “ready”. In this episode, we get into what it’s really like finding startup energy inside a corporate giant, transitioning between careers, and building a role that blends product, tech, and impact. We also talk mentoring in tech — why you don’t need 20 years of experience to start, and how becoming a mentor early can shape your own growth just as much as others’. 💭 TOP TAKEAWAYS * Career transitions & finding the right work environment * Finding startup pace and ownership inside a corporate environment * What working in product actually looks like day-to-day * Becoming a mentor earlier in your career — and why it matters * The realities of relocating to the US — visas, mindset, and balance This episode is honest, insightful, and full of perspective for anyone figuring out their next move — without a perfectly mapped-out plan – and interested in product and tech. 🎧 Listen now on Spotify & Apple. Follow us now for more:TikTok → @notonmycvpod [https://www.tiktok.com/@notonmycvpod] Instagram → @notonmycvpod [https://www.instagram.com/notonmycvpod/]

6. Scaling Startups: The Unsexy Truth about Building, Progressing & AI

This week, Maya and Olivia sit down with someone very special — family, super-fan, and one of the most dynamic (yet ridiculously humble) people in the startup game. Rohan Bedi has built his entire career inside high-growth startups: from leading sales and marketing straight out of uni, to shaping strategy in data & AI, to joining a pre-seed AI startup where he rose to COO. And because “chill” clearly isn’t in his vocabulary, he’s now the CEO of an AI consulting startup — while advising YC-backed Lightdash on GTM operations. If you’re curious about how to progress quickly in startups, deal with the tough moments, make an impact, and navigate the world of AI — all while seeing what startup life really looks like behind the glossy LinkedIn updates — this episode is for you.  TOP TAKEAWAYS * What it’s actually like joining a startup straight out of university  * The highs, lows, and chaos behind scaling startup * Navigating high-pressure moments and how to approach tough decisions   * Betting on AI: how conviction drives bold career leaps and real impact  * Moving fast without losing sight of your values  * Dropping ego and prioritising output over recognition This one’s honest, energising, and packed with real talk about building, leading, failing, pivoting, and choosing the life you want — even when it means stepping into the unknown.  Listen now wherever you get your podcasts. Follow us for more:  TikTok → ⁠⁠@notonmycvpod⁠⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@notonmycvpod]  Instagram → ⁠⁠@notonmycvpod [https://www.instagram.com/notonmycvpod/]

5. The 'So What' Moment: A Plan Won't Make You Happy, But A Purpose Will

Ever hit every milestone you thought would make you happy… and still felt that quiet “so what?” This week, we’re joined by Selena — born in Italy, lived in 7 countries, and now working in sales at Amazon — to unpack the moment she realised that a perfectly planned life still wasn’t a fulfilling one. Together, we break down the difference between having a plan and having a purpose — and why chasing timelines won’t satisfy you if they’re not aligned with who you are at your core. We get into the messy middle of it all: mental breakdowns, therapy, vulnerability, and the wake-up calls that force you to finally stop running on autopilot. 💭 TOP TAKEAWAYS * Why a perfect plan won’t make you happy if it lacks purpose * What it feels like to be out of alignment (and how to recognise it) * How self-awareness can rebuild your sense of direction * Letting go of timelines and choosing what actually matters * How purpose fuels motivation more sustainably than hustle ever could If you’ve been chasing achievement without asking why — this one’s for you. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts. Follow us for more:  TikTok → ⁠@notonmycvpod⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@notonmycvpod]  Instagram → ⁠@notonmycvpod [https://www.instagram.com/notonmycvpod/]