Low to Grow

In this episode of the Low to Grow podcast, Annie Wenmiao Yu interviews Sam Smith, the first female CEO of a City stockbroking firm and co-founder of Super Scalers. Sam shares her journey of building FinnCap into a leading investment bank for growth companies in the UK, emphasizing the importance of inclusivity and empathetic leadership in driving both profit and growth. She reflects on her experi...

Dr. Mitch Abrams shares his transformative journey from a successful radiologist to a holistic health advocate after undergoing open heart surgery. He discusses with Annie the profound impact of his experiences on his understanding of health, wellness, and the importance of heart coherence. Dr. Abrams introduces the Global Heart Sync project, which aims to gamify the practice of heart coherence, f...

In this episode of Low to Grow, Eileen Wada Willett takes us on a heartfelt journey from the world of fashion design to the deeply meaningful work of cultural community building. She reflects on the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, the abrupt challenges brought on by Brexit and COVID-19, and the personal growth that emerged after closing her clothing brand. Through it all, her story is woven wi...

How can an MBA lead to a political career? What is the future of AI in India? What should more youths in India do? In this episode of Low to Grow, investment banking professional and political strategist Dhritiman Mitra shares his remarkable journey from growing up in Bihar to becoming a rising business and political voice in India’s next era of innovation. He opens up about navigating family expe...

How to recover from burnout? Who turns down Google? What happens before a spiritual awakening? In this episode of Low to Grow, Ariel Sit opens up about her profound transition from corporate burnout to a spiritually aligned career that finally felt true to who she is. She walks us through the winding path from her early creative pursuits to entrepreneurship, unexpected pivots, and the emotional to...

How does one deal with getting FIRED FIVE TIMES? In this episode of Low to Grow , Karina Robinson, CEO of Redcliffe Advisory Ltd. and Non-Executive Director on the Board of Atlanti an Anglo-Swiss Fund Management firm amongst other roles, takes us through her extraordinary career pivot at midlife, from high-finance journalism to global security, and the cutting-edge world of Quantum and AI. She sha...

How does the Destiny Pinto Bag and Compression Gloves lead to a feature with BMW and Vogue? Is there luxury accessories for assistive devices? What led to Destiny Pinto's Addison Bag? In this episode of Low to Grow , designer and CEO Destiny Pinto opens up about the deeply personal journey behind By Destiny Pinto —the accessories brand turning medical devices into bold, stylish expressions of...

Why do investors not fund sex-ed? Why is imposter syndrome a lie? In this episode of Low to Grow, advertising industry veteran and long time sex-tech entrepreneur Cindy Gallop takes us inside the bold vision behind MakeLoveNotPorn and the uphill battle of building a sex-positive platform in a world that still treats open conversation about intimacy as taboo. She talks through the leap from her hig...

Why does the world need more IMPERFECT environmentalists? How do you balance building a social enterprise with university? What does moving abroad to study mean for your relationships? In this episode of Low to Grow , climate advocate and social entrepreneur Natalie Chung traces the path from an 11-year-old school project to becoming one of the region’s leading voices in sustainable tourism and cl...

Would you try 6 times to get into medical school? What happens after rejection? In this episode of Low to Grow, future physician and community leader of over 400,000, Aghogho Okpara shares what it really takes to keep going when life keeps saying no. After six attempts to get into medical school, Aghogho opens up about the emotional weight of rejection, the quiet strength she drew from her faith,...

What is undefinable life design with Charlie Rogers? How cycling off a cliff transform a life? Charlie Rogers, entrepreneur, community builder, and founder of undefinables, opens up about what it really means to design a life that doesn’t fit inside a neat box. Charlie shares his winding journey through national level sports, entrepreneurship, and self-discovery, highlighting the power of embracin...

What brings fulfilment to real estate investor Ari Rastegar? For Third Culture Kids, how does language affect the way you think? In this episode of Low to Grow , real estate entrepreneur AriRastegar unpacks the mindset behind building a billion-dollar portfolio and why fulfillment, not just achievement, should be the real target. He shares how a small law-school investment sparked his career, how...

Step inside a special behind-the-scenes episode of Low to Grow . Annie takes you along to South Kensington for the very first Offscript Generation Summit, a fresh, future-facing gathering built for 16 to 25-year-olds who are determined to carve their own paths beyond the traditional career rulebook. Armed with her mic and her usual dose of curiosity, Annie Wenmiao Yu sits down with Calypso Rose ,...

How do you build self-confidence, create workplace equity, and thrive as a woman in business? Geeta Sidhu-Robb, five-time entrepreneur and founder of WCorp, shares how a firing after her child's hospitalisation left her a single mother with 2,000 pounds and three small children to support — how sheer financial necessity drove her to create Nosh Detox, accidentally build a top-tier coaching pra...

What is the true cost of telling the truth? What if AI could help redefine how we diagnose and treat mental health conditions? And how can investors, founders, and startups come together to make care more accessible worldwide? In this episode of Low to Grow , Annie Wenmiao Yu speaks with Shiv Bhavnani, a healthcare investor andfounder of GIMBHI, a global initiativedriving investment into mental he...

Why does healing centred leadership matter in the age of AI? Why did Linda build Gossip Group take off as a hub for founders and investors? Will AI reinforce digital ageism? In this episode of Low to Grow, Annie Wenmiao Yu speaks with Linda Hong Cheng, founder of InfraLabs and advocate for healing-centered leadership in the tech industry. From overcoming a challenging childhood to launching startu...

Ever wonder what happens when a high-performing investor faces burnout and decides to rebuild her life around mental health and purpose? In this episode of Low to Grow, Annie Wenmiao Yu sits down with Caitlin Ner, a global investor turned mental health tech leader and venture capitalist at PsyMed Ventures. Caitlin opens up about her personal experiences with mental illness, the pivotal role of the...

How can AI democratise coaching? Is entrepreneurship really about hustle, or is it more about resilience and balance? In this episode of Low to Grow, Annie sits down with Erika Brodnock MBE, a multi-award-winning entrepreneur, philanthropist, and champion of inclusivity in the tech industry. Together, they explore how knowledge, coaching, and mental health practices can transform not only careers...

Is being the quiet one a disadvantage? Wondering if introversion is holding you back from success? What does black box ai actually mean? In this episode of Low to Grow , Dr. Joyjit Chatterjee shares how he transformed from a shy introvert into a Forbes Under 30 honoree in Manufacturing and Industry . His journey is a story of empowerment, personal growth, and leadership —showing young professional...

Ever feel like you're stuck between cultures or like you're constantly proving yourself just to be seen? Meet Yunsu Tang, an entrepreneur, writer, and advocate for mental health whose journey from Hong Kong to the UK led her to explore the intersections of cultural identity, mental well-being, and career growth. In this episode, Annie and Yunsu unpack the emotional layers of being an Asian woman i...

What does it take to build a social enterprise in your teens and go on to win The Diana Award before the age of 21? Reese Wong knows the pressure. As a young social entrepreneur, speaker, and community builder, he opens up to Annie about what it really takes to lead with purpose without losing yourself. From his upbringing in Hong Kong to studying in London, Reese opens up about the cultural shift...

How do you fit in at an Ivy League school? How do you raise millions as a student for your startup? Ever feel like your background is holding you back from big dreams? In this episode of Low to Grow , Annie sits down with Forbes Under30 CEO Nathaneo Johnson , co-founder of the Series app , to talk about how he transformed a challenging childhood into fuel for building a VC-backed startup whilst at...

TRIGGER WARNING: suicide, debt Ever stood at your balcony contemplating your fall? Asim Amin did, and it nearly cost him everything. He opens up about hitting rock bottom after going into debt in Dubai, contemplating suicide, and what happened after he made one critical choice: to start therapy. Asim is the founder and CEO of Plumm, a HR platform with mental health support at its core. Plumm reach...

Think you’re too young or too inexperienced to make a global impact? Meet Elisa Torres-Durney , a 19-year-old Chilean student, UNESCO Advisor, and the visionary behind Girls in Quantum , a UN recognised global initiative making STEM and quantum education more accessible to youth worldwide against financial, political or institutional barriers. Annie sits down with Elisa to unpack how she turned ea...

Feeling like you need to have it all figured out before starting something big? Think again. In this episode, Annie sits down with fellow Third Culture Kid, Forbes U30, Times Young Powerlist and Y-Combinator alumna Ahana Banerjee, to unpack her path from her childhood physics student to founder of the award-winning beauty tech app Clear. Born from her personal experience with cystic acne, Clear is...