28/09/2025

ON SUNDAY September 28, 2025 theSunday Special IX

Betty Suarez: Lead with empathy and edge In Ugly Betty, Betty Suarez enters the glitzy fashion editorial world in pon chos, braces and zero chill. But what she lacks in polish, she makes up for in intelligence, kindness and a level of organisation that would put most project managers to shame. Betty reminds me that you don’t KDYH WR ¿W WKH DHVWKHWLF WR ¿W WKH UROH

As someone who entered the content world from a humble working desk (read: IKEA table, RM15 ring light, inconsistent WiFi), I’ve seen how kind ness, listening and tenacity matter more than a curated feed. Betty taught me how to lead with empathy, whether managing content ZRUNÀRZV RU MXJJOLQJ VWDNHKROGHU H[ - pectations. She’s proof that you can be both underestimated and unforgettable.

Credit: TV Land

Credit: ABC

Liza Miller: Reinvent with intention In Younger, Liza Miller lies about her age to re-enter the publishing world. She masquerades as a 26-year-old, navigating entry-level chaos while hiding the wisdom of her 40-something life. Age fraud aside, Liza’s story taught me something crucial: You can start over, but take your experi ence with you. When I transitioned from copywriting at advertising agencies to writing lifestyle

content for digital fashion/lifestyle plat forms, I had to learn how to repackage my sales writing style into a more conversa tional voice. Liza showed me how to blend new beginnings with old strengths. She also taught me that career pivots aren’t shameful, they’re brave. According to a LinkedIn Workforce &RQ¿GHQFH ,QGH[ RYHU RI SURIHV sionals in Southeast Asia have considered changing careers post-Covid. Reinvention is no longer a risk, it’s a strategy.

Fictional frameworks in a real world career There’s real psychology behind why we absorb traits from characters we love. According to researcher Inge %URNHUKRI ¿FWLRQDO QDUUDWLYHV DOORZ individuals to simulate future selves, test moral perspectives and build pro fessional identities. In my case, these five characters helped shape my approach to leader ship, storytelling and self-belief. They whispered words of encouragement in moments when I doubted my path

and cheered me on during late-night deadlines. As a Malaysian professional navigat ing the ever-evolving world of digital media, I also know how isolating the journey can feel. According to the Malaysian Journal of Social Sciences, creative freelancers continue to face income insecurity, limited welfare protections and burnout. H DYLQJ ¿FWLRQDO ³PHQWRUV´ PLJKW sound frivolous, but when structural systems fall short, sometimes what you need is a character arc to lean into.

Manifesting your own Bradshaw era

You don’t need a column in the New York Times to live out your own Carrie Bradshaw moment. It could be starting D EORJ ¿QDOO\ VD\LQJ \HV WR WKDW VLGH hustle or pitching your dream role with the audacity of Peggy Olson. What matters most is claiming your narrative. Whether you’re a fresh grad, a corporate dropout or someone mid SLYRW ¿FWLRQDO UROH PRGHOV FDQ KHOS \RX access versions of yourself you didn’t know were possible. A V IRU PH ,¶P VWLOO ¿JXULQJ LW RXW But each pitch I send, each brand I help shape and each article I write is laced with a little Carrie, a little Peggy and a whole lot of belief that the story is mine to tell. Now excuse me while I sip my kopi kampung and come up with next month’s article pitches, laptop open, designer heels optional.

Credit: Freeform

Jane Sloan: Passion can be professional The Bold Type’s Jane Sloan is the type RI MRXUQDOLVW ZKR ¿JKWV IRU QXDQFH LQ a 500-word article. She writes about taboo topics, pushes her editors to think deeper and believes storytelling can be a form of activism. Working in branded content, I don’t always get to write think pieces on gender politics, but I do get to create

narratives that shape how brands speak to their audience. Jane reminds me that passion and profession aren’t mutually exclusive. When we lead with conviction, even commercial work can have purpose. Her style of leadership also inspires how I manage my relationships with my colleagues. It’s not about perfection, it’s about progress, transparency and asking better questions.