They were told they couldn't.

The Told

"As the eldest of three, I learned early to follow instructions, care for others and meet expectations, often leaving little room for my own needs. In my 20s, I was expected to stay home, be a dutiful wife and put my ambitions aside. Later, as a woman building a career in technology, I faced doubts about my ability to lead and assumptions about why I succeeded. When I left my marriage with my young child, I went against another deeply held expectation: divorce was taboo. Through years of single parenthood, legal battles and a demanding career, I kept going—believing strength meant carrying whatever life placed on my shoulders."

The Did

At 40, I started running—something purely for myself. Short, overweight and unable to imagine running 10 kilometres in under an hour, I eventually ran sub 58mins, then half-marathons, marathons, trails and mountains. Now I’m venturing into ultramarathons. Running transformed persistence from something I needed to survive into something I chose for joy, challenge and discovery. Today, I’m a cybersecurity leader exploring my next evolution. I’m still learning, still running and still discovering what’s possible. I no longer measure strength by how much I can carry. I never needed permission to choose my own path.

The Told

"You aren't special or unique. You are just like everyone else that came before."

The Did

I went on to build a comprehensive framework while exploring and experimenting with different self-expressive roles as storyteller. They come in the form of therapeutic writing, acting & content creation while working as a marketer.

The Told

"'im too young, inexperienced and not ready to be part of Management Team'. 'im a female popping dancer in the dance community, my skills are not good enough to be a top tier popping dancer'"

The Did

have led a team and on track to do greater things in the current company i am in now. have represented Singapore in multiple dance competitions worldwide, got invited to judge at overseas events and teaching gigs locally and internationally. who said i couldnt? :)

The Told

"People told me that stopping strangers on the street and asking them questions would never become anything serious. They questioned whether it could become a real business. When I was interviewing Lori Greiner, she turned the question back on me: “Did anybody ever tell you you couldn’t do this?” “Of course.”"

The Did

I took the risk. Then I backed it with consistency. I approached strangers. I asked questions people actually wanted answered. I learned what made someone stop scrolling and what kept their attention. Then I did it again. And again. That consistency built an audience. And that audience became an eight-figure business. As I always say: “Where attention goes, revenue flows.” I did not need everyone to understand the idea. I did not need everyone to believe in it. “Nobody else’s thoughts ever paid my bills.”

The Told

"You'll never be able to start your career in banking"

The Did

Took a leap of faith to join a start up and learn basic credit skills before pivoting to a bank eventually!

The Told

"From hospitality and marketing, to surviving late-stage cancer, building a career in tech, and now starting my own business. Who says you have to follow a conventional path to succeed?"

The Did

I kept going. I moved from hospitality and marketing into tech, rebuilt my career after cancer, and eventually took the leap to start my own business.

The Told

"Hi All, I am grateful to share a journey. In late 1960s, a little boy had Cerebral Palsy and had to learn everything from scratch till he was seven. Till today, he is still learning. He was brought up by his foster family, especially his mama who piggybacked him, till she left in 2020, she lives in him, unconditional loving-kindly. In late 80s, he graduated from UK, and worked in SG for a US computer company for almost a decade in US working on Expert Systems. Since mid 1997, he has been working in IT area of a Global Bank. He has been advocating for the special need community. He has survived a few strokes in 2025 and a fall in 2026, with love from family, colleagues, friends and all; TCM, Acupuncture, Rehab, Therapy and own wishes. More can be found, when search using Alan Pek in Google, Linkedin, Youtube and etc. With blessing, Alan"

The Did

Be grateful, not granted.

The Told

"I wanted to study in Australia, fund myself by working part-time while studying, graduate and then work in a full-time profession there. My peers told me that it was not possible, and if it is so easy, everyone will be doing it. Well, many people didnt. I did."

The Did

I have lived and worked in 19 countries across 4 continents as an independent info security consultant.

The Told

"That I couldn't pivot out of healthcare into Tech, that I was too old to pivot into a new career."

The Did

Retraining to do AI at present

The Told

"When I first moved to Singapore as a little girl my schoolmates made fun of me and said things like: You’re mute and your English is horrible. You will never make friends here."

The Did

I went to the library and borrowed 16 English books every week. After 2 years of reading my English improved. I ended up teaching English and even leading a team of English teachers. Today I’m a professional speaker. I also run a networking community and help leaders to own their voices on LinkedIn and in real life. p.s. I have made lots of incredible friends along the way :)

The Told

"As a female, I can't be vocal and have to be agreeable all the time."

The Did

I ignored them and became louder and just be myself.

The Told

"You won’t be able to handle the goodie bags packing for NDP if another outbreak or surge in covid-19 infections happens during the build up and rehearsals"

The Did

Instead of just following the traditional model of just manual labor packing the goodie bags, I spearheaded the use of robotic arms around a conveyor belt system for picking and packing operations with business continuity plans in mind (in case of resorting COVID numbers) and sparking interest toward IR3.0 to our younger generations (EG P5 students during NE shows) to be interested to know that the bags were packed by robots. That was a 1st in Army. Robotics/ automation initiatives and projects continued for another 4years till NDP 2025, providing the personnel involved the experience in handling robotics and warehouse automation systems for the preparation for the nation’s birthday celebration

The Told

"I was once told by a senior leader that I wasn't suited for management."

The Did

I left that organisation and went on to build and lead high-performing cybersecurity teams across multiple enterprises. The very qualities they saw as unsuitable, my pragmatism, my focus on cost-saving delivery, my strategic mindset, my technical credibility, my directness, and my unconventional path turned out to be my greatest leadership assets. Sometimes the best response to doubt isn't to debate it. It's to outgrow the room where it was spoken and most importantly believing in yourself.

The Told

"For your age, school won't send you to attend part time courses to learn more about the special needs."

The Did

In 2024 I was happy to see online news on a course jointly organised by Temasek Polytechnic and Rainbow Centre. I was looking forward to attend. However, I was sick when registered for October 2024 batch and missed April 2025 batch. I am currently attending Specialist Diploma in Applied Autism Studies since October 2025. Its a part time course using SkillsFuture credit to pay. On 20 August 2026 my last session and last group presentation. When first performed permanent Relief teaching assistant in a SPED school in October 2023, the teachers would share with me the student trait and strategy for me to use. However, this year I hv to come up with my own. Usually I do one to one with the weaker ones in repeating what the teacher has taught. I am a catechist on Sunday in a Catholic church in sharing bible story and to build their chracracter with two teenage boys with moderate to high needs. I am using Claude to create visual signs or communication board. I observe what the boys like and how they stim (self regulate) or sensory seeking. Its challenging as i meet them twice a month on one Sunday

The Told

""You don't have enough grey hair," my CEO told me. I was 26, just appointed to lead a team and a crucial business unit — and he saw my youth as a liability. Leadership is rarely about the grey in your hair. it's about the perspective you bring to the table."

The Did

Growing grey hair wasn't an option, so I found another way: I mastered my craft. I spent countless hours learning the business and working closely with clients, turning local insight into a bridge between regional strategy and what actually worked on the ground. Four years later, I'd run the business successfully and silenced the doubt. Today, in my work helping organisations validate the safety and security of GenAI applications, I work alongside cybersecurity experts, data scientists, product managers and business leaders - some younger than me, some older. What matters isn't age. It's the capacity to learn, adapt, and bring a perspective no one else has. The value you bring isn't measured by the grey in your hair, but by the perspective you share.

The Told

"I was told I cannot speak on leadership. I don’t look it. To speak on leadership and be respected, I was made to feel I had to be a general who had led his army into battle and won. Or a CEO who had rescued a multinational corporation in crisis."

The Did

I did more with my current tribe of CxOs. I continued finding more innovative ways to train executives in cybersecurity and AI, shifting awareness and influencing behaviours. I wrote my 4th book. Guess the title? Who Told You You Couldn’t!

The Told

"People thought I wouldn’t be able to get back on track after my mental health struggles in high school. Before that, I was known as someone who was hardworking, responsible, and often seen as a high-achieving student. So when I had a breakdown in class, it became a big topic in school. Some people started questioning me, seeing me as someone who was no longer reliable, and wondering what my future would look like. It was a difficult period, but looking back, I think I needed that moment and realization to rebuild myself. It helped me become stronger and more resilient."

The Did

I started by being honest with myself, accepting what I was feeling instead of ignoring it. I also sought professional help, which became an important part of my healing journey. Surprisingly, my little family, who had never been very close or open with me before, became one of my biggest sources of support. And eventually, the loneliness and feeling underestimated became fuel for me to thoughtfully plan the future I wanted to build. Little by little, I started turning those plans into reality.

The Told

"Business is not in family and you should only do full time work"

The Did

Took the leap of faith and started business

The Told

"Ten years into a successful career at Dell Technologies in the UAE, I made what many thought was an irrational decision. I left a role I loved and moved to Singapore, stepping into a completely new region with little experience in ASEAN or APAC. It felt like pressing the reset button on my career. As I built my network, many people generously shared their advice. The message was often the same: *"It's going to be tough."* They told me it was rare for an expat to land a role at the same level. I should be prepared to compromise, accept a more junior position, get my foot in the door, and work my way back up. No one ever said, "You can't." But over time, those well-meaning words began to sound like, "Maybe you shouldn't." There were moments when I questioned myself. It would have been easier to settle or return to what was familiar. Instead, I chose to invest in relationships instead of titles. I volunteered with communities. I showed up at networking events. I helped others without expecting anything in return. I kept learning, kept connecting, and kept believing that my experience still had value—even if I had to wait for the right opportunity. After 14 months of persistence, it did. I landed a role at Google—a company I had only dreamed of working for. Looking back, proving anyone wrong was never the goal. The real challenge was refusing to let other people's version of reality become the limit of my own. Sometimes, "Who told you you couldn't?" isn't about one person. It's the quiet voice of well-meaning advice, market realities, and our own self-doubt—that slowly convince us to play smaller than we're capable of. I'm grateful I listened to a different voice: the one that reminded me not to compromise on my potential, even when the journey took longer than I had hoped."

The Did

I shifted my mindset from "How do I get hired?" to "How do I create value?" I volunteered, built communities, expanded my network, kept learning, and stayed visible. Instead of letting rejection define me, I used the time to grow. At the same time, I realized that networking wasn't about asking for opportunities—it was about building genuine relationships.

The Told

"You are just a mom! You can't get back into your career"

The Did

I took care of my son, who had a liver transplant, for 17 years, to stay at home; as they say, you are just mom. You can't get back into your career. I studied, learned, and adapted to being a virtual assistant, and I got hired by my first UK client, and to date, I am still their trusted VA. Keep going. If I managed my sons, I can manage all the company chaos.

The Told

"“You’re not smart enough to pursue a STEM career. Try something else.” “Programming separates the boys from the men. Women are not a part of it.” Today, I am the co-founder of three fully funded AI tech-startups and I will soon be presenting and publishing one of my accepted papers at an IEEE conference."

The Told

"I came from a small district to Chennai with big dreams. The journey wasn't easy. I struggled to sustain myself in a job and adapt to the culture of a new city. Many people told me that I couldn't read or write English well, and some even said I didn't have leadership skills. Instead of letting those comments define me, I chose to learn, improve, and keep moving forward. Today, I confidently interact with my leaders, communicate in English, and lead many people who are facing challenges in the workplace. Looking back, I feel proud of how far I have come. Indra Nooyi is my biggest leadership inspiration. Her journey reminds me that determination, continuous learning, and resilience can overcome any obstacle. I am confident that one day I will achieve my dream of reaching a leadership position and inspiring others, just as she has inspired me."

The Told

"I was told I can't give my kids a decent living and kickstart with a job as a piano teacher."

The Did

I worked really hard, and focused on teaching my kids good values. They have now graduated from top University schools and are excelling in their career.