Malaysians on the Move

Having moved from Malaysia to Australia and survived a cancer diagnosis, Jason shares how adversity, innovation, and the right distribution approach transformed his journey into building AI-powered platforms that serve thousands globally with tiny teams. In this episode, Jason also shares his vision for Malaysia as a future hub for AI innovation by empowering its talented youth. Whether you're...

Yoshnee speaks with Kai Yee, a PhD candidate at Oxford specializing in cancer immunology. From growing up in Malaysia and studying biomedical science at Imperial College London, Kai Yee shares how she adapted to life in the UK, and found her way into cutting-edge cancer research. We also talk about the challenges of shifting from traditional education to a research-driven mindset and what it means...

Tasha's journey from a young beach volleyball enthusiast in Malaysia to playing Division I in the US reveals why access and resources matter more than raw talent. She shares how she discovered her passion for indoor volleyball at age 10, navigated Malaysia's sports system, and found her sporting home abroad — transforming her approach to training, coaching, and competition along the way. Tune in f...

Join Yoshnee in another video episode as she chats with Kathrine Leong, a music teacher thriving in Japan. From her roots in Ipoh to her adventurous move to Tokyo, Kathrine shares her journey of cultural adaptation, language mastery, and building a vibrant community abroad. Discover how her passion for music opened unexpected doors and learn her tips for embracing life in a new country. ----------...

In this special first video episode, Yoshnee chats with Ayne Zarof, a pediatrician-in-training based in the UK. After a brief stint in Scotland post-boarding school and a meaningful volunteer experience in Kenya, Ayne pursued her medical degree and eventually settled in the UK, where she's now raising her two children. Inspired by the desire to preserve cultural identity, Ayne authored Malaysi...

In this episode, Yoshnee chats with Janice Siew, a friend she’s known for over 15 years. Janice moved to the UK for her undergraduate studies and later relocated to Australia through a work opportunity. While they touch on her journey living abroad, much of the conversation centers on Janice’s growing passion for freediving—what started as a casual ocean activity has evolved into a deep and meanin...

Yoshnee chats with Dhiren Doshi (uncle), a distant relative of her mum, who moved to the U.S. in 1999 with his young family after transferring offices from Malaysia. He stayed with the same company for an incredible 32 years before recently retiring. Dhiren shares how easy the decision to move was, what he learned about settling into a new culture, and his naturally adventurous spirit—one that’s t...

Yoshnee chats with Aishah A, her first guest from the UAE! Growing up in Shah Alam, Selangor, always just 10 minutes away from her childhood home, Aishah never expected to move away—until a random opportunity led her to Dubai nearly two decades ago. What started as a temporary move for work turned into a long-term adventure in the world of interior design. Time and again, she planned to return hom...

In this episode, Yoshnee chats with John Lee, who left Malaysia for the U.S. to study and build his career, living first in New Hampshire then in D.C. and finally in San Francisco. Despite putting down roots abroad, his heart always longed for home. With the unwavering support of his American wife, John made the bold decision to return to Malaysia and see where life would take them. Tune in as he...

In this heartfelt episode, Leonard Chen opens up about the struggles of finding passion in a world that prioritizes stability. Raised with the belief that hard work leads to security—not necessarily fulfillment—Leonard shares his journey of self-discovery and the internal tug-of-war between staying in Nebraska or returning to Malaysia to be with his mother. Tune in for a raw and honest conversatio...

In this episode of Malaysians on the Move , I chat with Aiman Abdul, my first guest from Canada! Aiman moved from Malaysia to the U.S. at just seven years old and quickly embraced sports—from rugby to baseball—but badminton remains his first love. We also talk about his passion for chess, video games, and the unexpected full-circle moment of meeting his Malaysian (now) wife in Canada. Tune in! Con...

On this episode, I speak to Grace Chan, a global citizen whose journey has taken her from Malaysia to Beijing, Hong Kong, and now the USA. Uprooted at the age of 13, Grace shares her experience of adapting to life in Beijing and how this transition shaped her worldview. Unexpectedly, life led her to discover her true calling as a mental health therapist, a role that allows her to help others navig...

In this episode, Yoshnee chats with Sanjna Selva, an award-winning documentary filmmaker at the start of her exciting career. Growing up in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, Sanjna commuted daily across the border to Singapore, where she attended secondary school. While she had always been drawn to the arts, her schooling gave her the opportunity to fully explore her love for acting and the performing arts....

In this episode, Yoshnee speaks with Neekita Patel, now based in London, UK. Neekita first moved to the UK for university, then returned to Malaysia to build a thriving career in consulting. Love took an unexpected turn when she met her husband through a mutual friend, leading to a two-year long-distance relationship between Malaysia and London. Now married and back in London, Neekita shares her j...

Selva Ashwini joins Yoshnee all the way from The Land Down Under. From a young age, Selva dreamed of becoming a doctor, but what she didn't foresee was leaving her close-knit family behind to start a new life in a distant land. Tune in as she shares her inspiring journey of pursuing her passion for medicine while navigating the challenges of building a home away from home. In Selva's own w...

In this episode, Yoshnee speaks with Trisha, currently based in Northern Ireland. Trisha reflects on her journey from studying law in the UK to launching her career in Singapore. Her adventurous spirit eventually led her to Dublin, where she found both career success and the love of her life. Tune in for an inspiring story of courage, ambition, and bold moves across borders. In Trisha's own wo...

In this episode, Yoshnee sits down with Shi Yunn Chua, a dynamic professional whose journey of reinvention spans countries, industries, and life philosophies. From her humble beginnings in Selangor, Shi Yunn earned a prestigious Maxis scholarship, which set her on a path to study overseas. This opportunity laid the foundation for a successful decade long career marked by professional growth and no...

In this episode, Yani Asari joins Yoshnee from New York for a heartfelt conversation about her journey, passions, and the surprising discovery that they attended the same high school, though years apart—what a small world! Yani shares her experiences with joy and insight, covering topics like: Spending some of her childhood in the US, before returning to Malaysia at age 10 Returning to the US in h...

On today's episode, Vinisha speaks to Yoshnee about moving to London unexpectedly. Vinisha shares: How uprooting her life spontaneously was both challenging yet rewarding, but ultimately worth it Her passion for food, creating new recipes and future plans to share all of this with more people How much she loves being a cat mum Click play to be inspired by Vinisha's journey as she leaves he...

Joining us on todays episode is Irsal, who has lived on and off in the United States for just over two decades now. Irsal speaks about: Growing up in Penang and how he got introduced to programming at a young age The difficulties in landing a job in the US during the 2001 dot com bubble burst, as a programmer Returning to and working in Malaysia for a few years before then again coming back to the...

In this episode, Yoshnee chats with Talitha who was her highschool classmate. Talitha speaks about: How she landed a scholarship for her undergraduate studies in Australia The lack of a work-life balance when practicing as a full-time lawyer in Malaysia Moving to Singapore for a new job opportunity that was outside of her comfort zone Finding community through her church group and spending quality...

In this episode, Yoshnee speaks with her close friend Daven, who lives in New York City. Daven candidly shares: His formative years growing up in Klang, Selangor His unconventional decision to study law in the United States How he learnt Spanish and then later used it to advance his career His passion for helping immigrants and starting his very own immigration law firm Don’t miss this inspiring c...

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