episodic The #1 mistake that people make in their careers is making uninformed decisions. With so much noise out there today, and critical thinking so low, it's hard not to.

We want you to avoid the typical pitfalls by getting you informed about the latest & hottest trends in careers today, as well as what's coming up, so you can stay ahead of the game.

Most importantly, we promise to always give it to you straight, sharing with you the Good, Bad & Ugly. So plug-in and join us, Jon & Joanne, as we help you Cut Through The Noise.

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Jon is a recovering ex-management consultant turned career coach focused on the under-40 crowd, and a trusted career advisor to some of the world's top B-schools. He's fascinated by the idea of applying Design Thinking principles to individuals in their careers which will be a game changer in re-imagining how careers take shape in the future. After 15yrs in Singapore, he's excited to be back home in Toronto.

Joanne is a professional certified career and life coach. She enjoys applying tools in positive psychology and neuroscience to help individuals discover strengths and hopes to write a richer life story. A former diplomat, Joanne's career spans management roles in executive search, national workforce development and a global top-B school in Asia.

]]> Cutting Through The Noise 2023 Kwantum Leap Group Jon Kwan & Joanne Koo false Jon Kwan & Joanne Koo jon@kwantumleapcoaching.com en http://www.kwantumleapcoaching.com 🎙️ In this episode of "Cutting Through The Noise," we dive deep into the challenges and strategies surrounding the return to the office. 🏢💼

📊 We conducted an informal poll with people who have been working for some time, and the results were surprising! 50% preferred working from home four to five days a week, while only 10% wanted to return to the office every day. 🏠🌍

💡 But why do so many people want to work from home? We explore the reasons behind this preference and the importance of employees feeling productive and valued. We also discuss the pitfalls of remote work without collaboration. 🤝

🔑 Is the role of a Chief Experience Officer the key? And the need for a Chief Coordinating Officer to manage scheduling in a hybrid work environment??🙈📅✅

💥 Plus, we share insights on the importance of feeling connected to the organization's mission, and how companies can engage and foster loyalty in young employees. 🙌🌟

Topics Covered:

  • [00:00:25] Remote work may weaken employer-employee bond.
  • [00:05:47] Survey shows mixed desire for office return.
  • [00:08:23] Remote work eliminates wasted time, but lacks social bonding.
  • [00:13:22] Engage young employees for increased connection.
  • [00:15:44] Reengage employees through effective communication and managers.
  • [00:21:38] The problem: measuring productivity, power dynamics.
  • [00:23:37] Hybrid work schedule may lead to disconnection.
  • [00:27:11] Forget the Chief Experience Officer (CXO). Is what we really need a Chief Coordinating Officer?!


Music: "I'm on a Roll" by Grace Mesa

]]> Ep.6 - Returning to the Office: Yay or Nay? Ep.6 - Returning to the Office: Yay or Nay? 00:33:42 ac1fd8de-ad0d-4ac1-8f8b-9eb4290d8a39 Jon Kwan & Joanne Koo 6 1 full false https://pod.co/cutting-through-the-noise/returning-to-the-office-yay-or-nay Thu, 09 Jun 2022 16:29:42 +0000 In this episode, we explore the importance of human connection in the age of remote work. We discuss the use of cameras during virtual meetings, the challenges of working from home, and the potential for hybrid work situations in the future.

Join us as we dissect the nuances of virtual communication, the importance of human-to-human connection, and share insights on how to create a positive work environment in a post-COVID world.

Topics Covered:

  • [00:00:24] Virtual Work Etiquette: Camera On or Off?
  • [00:08:31] Remote Work Reveals Hidden Personalities at Workplace
  • [00:10:52] The Importance of Video Cameras in Reintegrating Offices
  • [00:18:44] Encouraging employee participation beyond verbal communication
  • [00:19:44] Navigating Work from Home Camera Policies
  • [00:22:57] How to Stand Out in Virtual Meetings
  • [00:28:52] Managing the Challenges of a Hybrid Workplace

Music: "I'm on a Roll" by Grace Mesa

]]> Ep.5 - Cameras On or Off? Ep.5 - Cameras On or Off? 00:34:46 ddaa45c5-d76f-41ca-9984-324bdfa76264 Jon Kwan & Joanne Koo 5 1 full false https://pod.co/cutting-through-the-noise/ep-5-cameras-on-or-off Fri, 20 May 2022 01:51:59 +0000 In today's new world of work, the old debate of a generalist vs. a specialist still remains as relevant as ever.

In this episode we'll look at both sides of the issue:

Topics covered:

  • Which profile is more desired by hiring managers?
  • How would you build a team from scratch?
  • How should you start your career?
  • What makes a good generalist?
  • Siloed Thinking vs. System Thinking

Music: "I'm on a Roll" by Grace Mesa

]]> Ep.4 - Generalists vs. Specialists Ep.4 - Generalists vs. Specialists 00:38:56 0943bed9-88bb-421e-8c5b-a9cae20ba67a Jon Kwan & Joanne Koo 4 1 full false https://pod.co/cutting-through-the-noise/generalists-vs-specialists Mon, 03 Jan 2022 19:46:13 +0000 This is a continuation from Part 1, where we go into even more detail about some of the dirty secrets b-schools don't want you to know.

Topics Covered in Part 2:

  • The Real Costs
  • Calculating your payback/ROI
  • What they don't tell you about rankings
  • 2yr programs aren't as expensive as you think
  • Supply & demand of talent
  • The Top 3 considerations for an MBA

Music: "I'm on a Roll" by Grace Mesa

]]> Ep.3 - Is an MBA Worth It (Part 2)? Ep.3 - Is an MBA Worth It (Part 2)? 00:30:52 54bd5928-84c7-4e40-846f-4b9d028ef2ce Jon Kwan & Joanne Koo 3 1 full false https://pod.co/cutting-through-the-noise/ep-3-is-an-mba-worth-it-part-2 Thu, 12 Aug 2021 23:00:12 +0000 If you're thinking of heading back to school, the MBA is a degree that's most likely on your list. But there's so much noise out there about B-School, and it's definitely not a cheap proposition.

Since we both have MBAs and have been on the inside as staff for Top 10 B-schools, we'll take you behind the scenes and share as we always do, the Good, Bad & Ugly.

What are some of the major considerations and things they don't tell you? We've got so much good stuff, we'll be breaking this into 2 parts for you!

Topics Covered in Part 1:

  • Macro trends in post-graduate education
  • Is the 2yr MBA model dying/dead?
  • Online vs. in-person
  • The importance of your WHY
  • The Case Study Method: What the classroom is really like
  • "Being in the Centre" is undervalued
  • The networking fallacy of B-School
  • You must have the end in mind

Music: "I'm on a Roll" by Grace Mesa

]]> Ep.2 - Is an MBA Worth It (Part 1)? Ep.2 - Is an MBA Worth It (Part 1)? 00:27:25 a8a46221-1332-4632-9476-a59d829604df Jon Kwan & Joanne Koo 2 1 full false https://pod.co/cutting-through-the-noise/is-an-mba-worth-it-part-1 Sun, 25 Jul 2021 23:01:05 +0000 Welcome to our FIRST episode! Recorded during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic with fear, layoffs & uncertainty all around the world, we tackle one of the questions on many young people's minds right now: Is now a good time to go back to school?

Topics covered:

  • Pros to going back now
  • What programs are hot
  • Traditional in-person Master's vs. Online Learning
  • The value of your classmates
  • What you need in the workforce
  • How employers view degrees today
  • A view from the C-Suite
  • If we had to do it all over again...

Music: "I'm on a Roll" by Grace Mesa

]]> Ep.1 - Time to Go Back to School? Ep.1 - Time to Go Back to School? 00:34:03 e10d05eb-a030-4143-bfa6-fa521b82f0b1 Jon Kwan & Joanne Koo 1 1 full false https://pod.co/cutting-through-the-noise/ep-1-time-to-go-back-to-school Mon, 19 Jul 2021 10:45:42 +0000