The Roots of Leadership: What Different Cultures Teach Us About People - with DZ Tan

The Roots of Leadership: What Different Cultures Teach Us About People - with DZ Tan

What makes a good leader? In this episode, Tatjana speaks with DZ Tan about leadership across cultures - and how living between Singapore, Australia, and Germany shaped his understanding of communication, trust, hierarchy, and human connection. Together, they explore the hidden emotional layers of leadership: what it means to create psychological safety, why people often leave managers rather than jobs, and how empathy can transform workplace culture. DZ also reflects on returning to Singapore after more than a decade abroad - and the challenge of adapting not only professionally, but personally. This conversation is not about corporate leadership models. It is about people: how we relate to one another, how culture shapes behaviour, and what it truly means to lead with humanity. You'll Hear About * Leadership across Singapore, Germany, and Italy * Hierarchy, directness, and cultural communication styles * Why good leadership starts with genuine curiosity about people * Building trust and psychological safety in teams * The ripple effects of compassion - or its absence - in the workplace * Authenticity, empathy, and people-first leadership * Returning home after years abroad * Identity beyond career and professional achievement About My Guest DZ Tan is a problem solver with a passion for bridging business and design to create meaningful impact. His international experience spans Australia, Singapore, and Europe, where he has worked with diverse teams and cultures. With over 15 years of experience, he has led cross-functional teams in industries such as automotive, healthcare, and smart cities, designing user experiences that resonate and drive results. Previously, he worked at frog Design and Reply, collaborating with clients like BMW, IKEA, and Infineon to deliver innovative solutions. Leadership and people development are close to his heart because he believes we need different kinds of leaders, each with their own unique strengths and styles. Guiding individuals to uncover their leadership potential and grow into impactful leaders brings him immense fulfilment. DZ is dedicated to fostering growth, empowering teams, and building collaborative spaces where people feel valued and inspired. Outside of work, he coaches and mentors emerging leaders to discover their leadership style and confidently navigate the challenges of team management. Connect with DZ: * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tandengzhi/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tandengzhi/] * IG: dz.tan [https://www.instagram.com/dz.tan?igsh=ZXF0MWRnbWhpOHk1]   The MITA Podcast: * Website – https://www.tatjana-krajsic.com/the-mita-podcast [https://www.tatjana-krajsic.com/the-mita-podcast] * Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/mita.podcast [https://www.instagram.com/mita.podcast] * LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/tatjana-krajsic/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tatjana-krajsic/] Produced by Between Tracks:  https://www.betweentracks.com [https://www.betweentracks.com/]

The Space In Between: Transforming U.S.-Mexico Border Stories - with Robie and Alejandro Flores

What if the border isn’t a line - but a way of life? In this conversation, Tatjana sits down with Robie and Alejandro Flores, siblings and filmmakers who grew up on the U.S.-Mexico border, where crossing between countries was part of everyday life and identity was never singular. Through the lens of memory, grief, and storytelling, they reflect on what it means to live between cultures, languages, and expectations. They share the quiet tension of trying to belong, the instinct to shape-shift across spaces, and the realization that wholeness can exist in the in-between. An exploration of identity beyond borders and an invitation to rethink what it truly means to belong. --- You’ll Hear About * Growing up between Eagle Pass (U.S.) and Piedras Negras (Mexico) * Crossing the border daily and living between two cultures * Identity struggles: being “Mexican enough” vs. “American enough” * Shape-shifting, language, and adapting to different cultural spaces * Grief, memory, and returning home after loss * The psychological impact of border surveillance and normalization of control * Why border stories are often misrepresented in media * The role of storytelling, film, and art in shifting narratives * Education gaps and the absence of border identity in school curricula * Selena as a symbol of cultural hybridity and unapologetic identity * Spanglish, cultural mixing, and reclaiming hybrid identity * Why “in-between” is not a limitation, but an expansion --- Robie Flores is a filmmaker and editor drawn to telling stories that explore the nuances of her fronterizo and Mexican-American communities. Her first feature, The In Between, which received support from Ford Foundation and ITVS among others, had its world premiere at SXSW 2024 and its European premiere at FilmFest München. Her other work has been presented on CNN, Bloomberg, Independent Lens, BET, Fusion, and Teen Vogue. Alejandro J Flores is a Texican filmmaker living between Mexico City and Eagle Pass. He is interested in exploring the intersections of queer and Fronterizo identity, its evolution, and how it can empower others. He produced The In Between, which had its world premiere at SXSW 2024. He and his sister, Robie, co-founded the independent production company, Ambiente Films. Connect with them: Instagram:  * @ambientefilms/ [https://www.instagram.com/ambientefilms/] * @robieflores [https://www.instagram.com/robieflores] * @_alejandrojflores [https://www.instagram.com/_alejandrojflores] Website: https://www.theinbetween-film.com/ [https://www.theinbetween-film.com/] --- The MITA Podcast: Website – https://www.tatjana-krajsic.com/the-mita-podcast [https://www.tatjana-krajsic.com/the-mita-podcast] Instagram – @mita.podcast [https://www.instagram.com/mita.podcast] LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/tatjana-krajsic/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tatjana-krajsic/] --- Produced by Between Tracks - https://www.betweentracks.com  [https://www.betweentracks.com]

The Healing Power of Sound: Crystal Bowl Therapy with Robin Hart

What if sound could help restore balance in the body? In this episode of The MITA Podcast, Tatjana speaks with Australian sound healing practitioner Robin Hart about discovering crystal bowl therapy after the devastating Black Summer bushfires. After witnessing the grief and trauma in her community and experiencing unexplained health issues herself, Robin began exploring vibrational sound as a form of healing. Today she works with crystal bowls tuned to specific frequencies to support relaxation, emotional release, and deeper states of calm. They talk about sound as medicine, the nervous system’s response to frequency, and why ancient sound practices are finding renewed relevance in modern life. --- You’ll Hear About ▪ The impact of the Black Summer bushfires on Robin’s community ▪ How trauma and stress manifested physically in her body ▪ Discovering crystal bowl sound therapy as a healing practice ▪ Sound frequencies and their effects on the brain and nervous system ▪ The idea of vibrational medicine and DNA healing ▪ Playing crystal bowls in nature to support environmental healing ▪ Sound healing sessions and their impact on sleep, stress, and wellbeing ▪ Intergenerational trauma and emotional patterns carried in the body ▪ The role of sound therapy in modern wellness practices ▪ Bringing sound healing to communities and children --- About the Guest Robin Hart is a crystal bowl sound healing practitioner and the owner of Miracles By The Sea, a hair and beauty salon in Bermagui, New South Wales, Australia. Her path into sound therapy began after the devastating Black Summer bushfires of 2019–2020, when she sought ways to heal from the emotional and physical impact of the disaster on both herself and her community. Working with crystal bowls tuned to the 528 Hz frequency - often referred to as the “love frequency” - Robin integrates vibrational sound healing into meditation sessions, community gatherings, and sound healing spas at her local yoga studio. She regularly collaborates with musicians and wellness practitioners, including performances at the Four Winds Sound Pavilion and Murrah Dream Retreat in Australia. Robin is currently completing advanced training in International Crystal Sound Therapy and continues to explore the role of sound as a powerful modality for healing mind, body, and environment. --- The MITA Podcast: Website – https://www.tatjana-krajsic.com/the-mita-podcast [https://www.tatjana-krajsic.com/the-mita-podcast] Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/mita.podcast [https://www.instagram.com/mita.podcast] LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/tatjana-krajsic/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tatjana-krajsic/] --- Produced by Between Tracks - https://www.betweentracks.com  [http://www.betweentracks.com/]

Identity Through an Indigenous Lens: A Māori Perspective with Ngata Tapsell

In this episode of The MITA Podcast, Tatjana speaks with architect Ngata Tapsell about Māori identity, ancestry, and belonging in modern Aotearoa New Zealand. After 12 years abroad, Ngata returned home to reconnect with his cultural roots. Together, they explore growing up between Māori and European heritage, the resurgence of te reo Māori, language loss, indigenous knowledge systems, and the structural inequalities that continue to shape Māori communities today. Ngata shares how the Māori concept of interconnectedness informs both his personal identity and his architectural work - and why we are, as he says, “our ancestors’ wildest dreams.” A thoughtful conversation about cultural continuity, indigenous worldviews, and what it truly means to come home. --- You’ll Hear About * Returning home after 12 years abroad * Growing up between Māori and European heritage * Cultural in-betweenness and navigating two worlds * The resurgence of te reo Māori and language loss * Structural inequalities between Māori and non-Māori communities * Indigenous knowledge and its relevance today * Whakapapa — understanding interconnectedness beyond a family tree * Cultural appropriation and intellectual property * Architecture as a way of honoring people and place * Being “our ancestors’ wildest dreams” --- About the Guest Ngata Tapsell is an architect from Auckland, New Zealand, and the founder of Falk Tapsell Architects.  He is of Māori descent (Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Pūkenga, Tainui, Ngāti Porou) and Danish, Scottish, and Irish lineage, and he has spent his career exploring the tensions and opportunities inherent in culturally diverse individuals and communities. Borne from his own upbringing, this lived experience underpins a deep professional interest in the complex interrelationships that exist between cultures and their representation in the modern built environment. Ngata has amassed considerable and varied experiences over the course of his 25+ year career.  Half of that time was spent working in markets as diverse as Australia, Asia, and the Middle East, and as such, his professional expertise encompasses a range of building typologies at a variety of scales. A leadership style developed across a portfolio of large complex projects, his unique cultural outlook, and the drive to push boundaries are all cornerstones of his work.    Ngata’s expertise has been recognised through his appointment to various industry advisory boards, design panels, and directorships. He is a trusted voice in a wide range of forums and a thought-leader in the field of culturally responsive design. --- Connect with Ngata LinkedIn: https://nz.linkedin.com/in/ngata-tapsell-35967620 [https://nz.linkedin.com/in/ngata-tapsell-35967620%0B%0B] --- The MITA Podcast Website – https://www.tatjana-krajsic.com/the-mita-podcast [https://www.tatjana-krajsic.com/the-mita-podcast] Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/mita.podcast [https://www.instagram.com/mita.podcast] LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/tatjana-krajsic/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tatjana-krajsic/] --- Produced by Between Tracks - https://www.betweentracks.com  [http://www.betweentracks.com/]

From Undocumented to Professor: Claiming Her Place in the US – with Dr. Soledad Reyes de Barbosa

In this deeply personal conversation, Tatjana sits down with Soledad, who crossed the U.S.-Mexico border at four years old after the sudden loss of her father. For nearly two decades, she lived in the United States without legal status - growing up undocumented in the country she would come to call home. This episode tells the human story behind the label “living undocumented in the U.S.” Beyond politics and headlines, Soledad shares what it means to move through childhood and early adulthood with chronic uncertainty: the vigilance, the fear of being noticed, and the emotional weight of building a future while technically not allowed to belong. And yet, through relentless determination and a deep belief in education, she became the first in her family to earn a PhD in the life sciences. Today, she is a scientist, professor, and mother of two, raising the next generation with the stability she once lived without. A story about growing up invisible in a country where attention could mean deportation - and finding the courage to claim your place anyway.   You’ll Hear About * Crossing the desert as a four-year-old child * Losing her father and leaving Mexico * Growing up undocumented in California * Living in constant fear of deportation * The hidden realities of education without legal status * The emotional toll of invisibility * Becoming the first in her family to earn a PhD * Identity, belonging, and redefining what it means to be American * Raising bilingual children and honoring cultural roots * Motherhood, legacy, and resilience About My Guest At four years old, Dr. Soledad Reyes de Barbosa crossed the US-Mexico border with her mother and sisters after her father was killed in Mexico. She grew up undocumented in California, navigating fear, instability, and limited opportunities - yet never letting go of her dream of an education. As a child, she helped her mother sell homemade bread and tamales. As a teenager, she worked in her aunt’s taco truck. Without access to financial aid because of her legal status, she sold food at construction sites to pay for college. She became the first in her family to earn a PhD in the life sciences. Today, she is a UC Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Fellow, building her path toward becoming an Assistant Professor - and a proud mother of two incredibly resilient micro-preemies. Connect with Soledad: Instagram: www.instagram.com/nabora.reyes [https://www.instagram.com/nabora.reyes] Facebook: Soledad Reyes --- The MITA Podcast: Website – https://www.tatjana-krajsic.com/the-mita-podcast [https://www.tatjana-krajsic.com/the-mita-podcast] Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/mita.podcast [https://www.instagram.com/mita.podcast] LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/tatjana-krajsic/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tatjana-krajsic/]   Produced by Between Tracks - https://www.betweentracks.com  [http://www.betweentracks.com/]