Mentors Told Her to Dress More Professionally. She Ignored Them. Clients Paid Her Anyway. | Rae Fung

When Rae Fung started her coaching business, older male mentors in the speaking industry told her she needed to dress more professionally to be taken seriously. She ignored them. She showed up the way she wanted. People with decades more experience - including a billionaire - paid her to coach them. But getting there wasn't linear. There was a season where she stopped posting for six months. Her revenue dropped. She had to ask herself what she actually needed - creatively, emotionally, mentally - before she could show up again. Rae is a coach and speaker who works with rising leaders on owning their voice. She's coached corporate directors, trained global teams, and hosted Singapore's first ever live in-person talk show. In this episode, we revisit one of her earliest videos - the one where she was trying to look like an expert before she felt like one - and talk about what actually builds the kind of presence that makes people pay you. Her research-backed insight: over 80% of first impressions come down to just two things - how competent and how warm you feel in someone's presence. Most people only practice one.     TIMESTAMPS   (00:00) Introduction  (01:31) The role of content in Rae's business  (03:23) The stages of Rae's business  (06:57) Reviewing Rae's past content  (10:46) Newbie coach vibes (15:06) How to develop substance  (20:20) Being proud of past you  (21:51) When business feels misaligned  (25:57) Inspired and strategic content  (31:58) Professionalism vs authenticity  (41:20) Actionable takeaways      CONNECT WITH RAE FUNG   Newsletter: https://sendfox.com/raefungx Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raematrix LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raefung Blog: https://raefung.com/blog  CONNECT WITH CHERYL LAU   Website: https://cheryllau.com  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cheryltheory  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheryltheory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryllau WORK WITH CHERYL LAU   I produce distinctive and deeply resonant podcasts for leaders and organizations who want their content to command attention, spark meaningful conversations, and attract high-value opportunities. I ensure your podcast isn't just another show in the feed - it's an asset that elevates your authority and moves your work forward. Here are 3 ways we can work together: ✨ 1:1 Editorial Podcast Production ✨ Corporate Podcast Producing & Consulting ✨ Hosting for Corporate Shows   Schedule a discovery call for us to explore what working together might look like: https://cheryllau.com/discovery CONTACT   Please email [email protected] for business inquiries.