#TheAspiredCXO

I used to think being the team’s agony aunt was a good thing.I mean, I was the emotional backbone after all!When they were stuck, stressed, and lost, mama was always there to bring clarity! And man, it felt good to be needed.To be everyone’s “safe place”, the one they could count on. But eventually, over-reliance … Read more

Last year, when I did my debut EA (Employment Act 1955) Tour, our NPS (Net Promoter Score) was 88.2%.I took every comment seriously, tweaked the syllabus, and improved the flow.This year, we closed NPS at 91.9%. Terharu. Thank you for trusting my teaching. And since many have asked when I’m going to Johore…I’m listening. And … Read more

Many people have asked, “Is buyout taxable?”Unfortunately… yes, it is. As clarified by Poovarni Rajagopal FCCA UK CA(M) B.Juris (Hons) UM , a licensed tax agent with 20 years of experience in taxation. If you want to understand your buyout, your PCB, and how to manage your income tax better, watch the full conversation in … Read more

I used to pride myself on being the peacemaker.You know, the one who could feel tension in the room before anyone said a word. So I’d step in like a smart alec.Redirect the topic, crack a joke, and wrap things up nicely.Everyone smiled, and the meeting ended peacefully. And I’d pat myself on the back, … Read more

I used to think empathy was harmless. “There’s no such thing as too much empathy!” I told myself.After all, what could go wrong with understanding people deeply, right? Oh gawd.So many things, actually. Empathy is funny like that.The same skill that builds connection… also opens the door for exploitation. You understand people so well that … Read more

Kerja bertimbun sampai geli,Mata rabak tak sempat mandi,Boss kata, “Komitmen kamu tinggi,”Tapi claim OT? “Sorry, tak boleh bagi!” OT, oh OT! Kesabaran diuji,Esok datang kerja lagi,OT, oh OT! Bilalah kerja siap ni?Engkaulah punca tekanan darahku tinggi. #Dugaan

I used to think that I was empowering people.I saw who they could become.Semangat, capable, and full of promise! So I gave them important projects and extra responsibilities.I even promoted some of them ahead of time.Because good leaders believe in people’s potential. Oh, how wrong I was! I wasn’t really managing the person in front … Read more

Before we learn to lead others, we must first learn to lead ourselves. Like… Managing our ego when we’re praised.Managing our temper when we’re challenged.Managing our humility when we’re right. Yes, we can attend every leadership course in the world, but until we face our own blind spots, we’re just performing authority, not practising leadership. … Read more

EQ, short for Emotional Quotient, refers to the measurable aspect of Emotional Intelligence.It measures our ability to recognise, understand, and regulate emotions, in ourselves and in others. Having high EQ doesn’t mean we’re always calm or nice.But it means we know what we’re note and we can course-correct before chaos starts. Out of curiosity, I … Read more

I knew company gifts are taxable… but I shrieked anyway. 💀🎁💸Because honestly, it still feels unfair. You work so hard, the company rewards you, and LHDN still gets a slice! This week I sat down with Poovarni Rajagopal, Licensed Tax Agent & Founder of Invatex Consulting, to discover the truth about Malaysia’s employer tax.From Form … Read more