You Never Know with Nicole Lee
You Never Know with Nicole Lee
Podcast Description
Welcome to You Never Know where we talk about life, career, change & the stories of people who have taken the unconventional road & embraced the unknown. Where we talk about things we don’t normally talk about with our families and sometimes even with our friends, especially here in Asia. After more than a decade in a top private bank and a transformational experience at a startup which changed my life, I am now rewriting my life story, walking into the unknown, and inspiring others to thrive in life. Thank you so much for your support, wherever you are in the world. It means a lot to me. - Nicole
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast covers various themes such as career reinvention, generational dilemmas, and personal transformation. Highlights include discussions on the pressure faced by Gen Z regarding social media, as well as stories of professionals like Frank Koo who challenge traditional views of success and fulfillment, emphasizing purpose over pay.
You never know where one choice might take you. One story that could change your life. One conversation that shifts everything you thought you knew.
I’m Nicole — host of You Never Know, a podcast with real conversations about life, career, finance, and health, featuring visionary people who’ve taken the unconventional road and embraced the unknowns.
After 13 years at a top private bank and a transformational leap into fintech and entrepreneurship, I created You Never Know to inspire people to discover the different truths in life — and the infinite pathways that emerge when we look within.
Thank you so much for being here. If this resonates with you, I’d love for you to like, comment, subscribe, and share it with someone who might need it today.
With ❤️ from Singapore,
Nicole
Born with cerebral palsy, Alan Pek beat all odds to survive and build a meaningful life when so many people expected less of him. He has spent nearly three decades at Deutsche Bank, serves as President of HWA (formerly Handicaps Welfare Association) in Singapore, and received the Goh Chok Tong Enable Award in 2024 for his work in disability inclusion. In this episode, Nicole Lee sits down with Alan to talk about the discrimination and doubt he's faced, why we should look at ability before disability, and the unconditional love of his foster mother and family that carried him through.
TIMESTAMPS
0:00 – Introduction
1:54 – Growing Up with Cerebral Palsy: Childhood & School
4:58 – Motor Skills, Health Challenges & Surviving a Stroke
6:33 – Dealing with Discrimination & Being Doubted
8:20 – A Foster Mother's Unconditional Love
9:41 – Living with Purpose, Not Just Surviving
12:48 – Looking at Ability Rather Than Disability
14:39 – The Chicken Rice Story: Persistence When No One Understands You
18:01 – How to Support People with Disabilities
21:47 – Building a Career at Deutsche Bank for Nearly 30 Years
26:45 – Workplace Inclusion: Culture, Mentors & Support
28:58 – Marriage & Family: What People Don't Expect
31:22 – Life Advice for Everyone: Smile, Reflect, Believe
33:20 – What ”You Never Know” Means to Alan
TODAY'S GUEST
🌐 HWA Website: https://www.hwa.org.sg/
🌐 LinkedIn: https://sg.linkedin.com/in/alan-pek-16a69b94
CONNECT WITH ME
🌐 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/nicoleleethisisme
🌐 Instagram & TikTok: @nicoleleethisisme
🌐 YouTube: www.youtube.com/@nicoleleethisisme
🌐 Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/5uRGujeye6cPVvaIGsAt7p?si=91942ccd3c054c1e
🌐 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/you-never-know-with-nicole-lee/id1789080795
🌐 Website: www.youneverknow.co
🌐 Partnership & Speaking Enquiries: [email protected]
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💌 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.
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