There Wasn't a Stage for My Story. So I Built Singapore's Biggest. | Anna Ong

Anna Ong spent 15 years in banking hoping her work would speak for itself. It didn't. What she learned instead: great ideas don't win. Great storytellers do. After leaving banking, Anna couldn't find a stage for the kind of stories she wanted to tell - raw, vulnerable, real - so she built one. What's Your Story Slam is now Singapore's longest-running live storytelling show, and Anna has coached over 300 leaders to tell theirs. In this conversation, we talk about why she rejects polished TED Talks and humblebrags on her stage, the question she asks every storyteller before they're allowed to perform ("is this a wound or a scar?"), why she believes everyone has a story worth telling - even if they don't believe it yet - and what happened when her five-year-old niece said "I love you, good night" for the first time. TIMESTAMPS   (00:00) Introduction (01:51) Telling stories that show your flaws  (03:10) What's Your Story Slam (06:06) Telling stories to impress  (09:42) Humble bragging  (15:23) The impact of storytelling  (19:59) A storytelling stage built in Asia (26:26) Anna's past content  (31:29) AI and storytelling  (35:16) A story Anna is working on  (39:35) Actionable takeaways  CONNECT WITH ANNA ONG   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-ong/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whatsyourstoryslam Website: https://www.anna-ong.com/  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.