In this episode, Stephanie sits down with Mel Yu for one of the most raw and transformative conversations yet — diving into identity, loss, healing, and what it truly takes to rebuild your life after everything falls apart.

Mel opens up about losing her partner to suicide at 23, navigating public heartbreak, surviving family loss, and growing through the kind of pain most people never speak about. Through it all, she shares the mindset, self-awareness, and authenticity that helped her rise from rock bottom and step into the woman she is today.

This episode is for anyone who has ever felt broken, stuck, misunderstood, or reshaped by struggle.

About Mel Yu

Melissa Yu built her early career in psychology, counselling, and mental health, working with the Royal Children’s Hospital and McAuley Community Services for Women. Her personal experiences with depression, suicidal thoughts, and the loss of her partner to suicide shaped her voice as a strong advocate for suicide prevention.

For close to ten years, she has pushed for lived experience to be heard across Australia. Her story has reached community groups and global conferences, always shared with honesty and calm conviction.

She has been recognised through nominations for Young Australian of the Year and Channel 7’s Young Achievers Award for Social Impact.

Outside advocacy work, Melissa runs several ventures, including MCO Events, Ego Expo, Paddle Across the Bay, and The Authentic Me podcast. Her coaching programs reflect her real world experience and her steady, grounded approach to personal growth.

Connect with...

Mel Yu

• LinkedIn
• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook

MCO Events

• LinkedIn
• Website
• Instagram
• YouTube
• Facebook

About Master of Achievement Podcast

For the ambitious who want more — not just more success, but more meaning.

Each episode breaks down the real stories, strategies, and mindset shifts behind building a life, career, and business that feel aligned and powerful.

It’s not about chasing achievement. It’s about mastering it from within.

If you’re ready to work with Stephanie to activate your brand, business, or personal growth, visit https://linktr.ee/stephanienguyenofficial or follow @masterofachievementpodcast on Instagram.

In this episode, Stephanie Nguyen breaks down one of the biggest traps in self-development — mistaking discipline for direction. She shares her own journey of realizing that high performance, structure, and “doing all the right things” mean nothing if the life itself is wrong underneath it all.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing everything “right” — the podcasts, the journaling, the workouts, the vision boards — but still feel stuck, disconnected, or unfulfilled, this one’s going to hit home.

It’s not about doing more. It’s about finally fixing what’s not aligned — and building habits after that, not before.

About The Master of Achievement Podcast

For the ambitious who want more — not just more success, but more meaning.

Each episode breaks down the real stories, strategies, and mindset shifts behind building a life, career, and business that feel aligned and powerful.

It’s not about chasing achievement. It’s about mastering it from within.

If you’re ready to work with Stephanie to activate your brand, business, or personal growth, visit https://linktr.ee/stephanienguyenofficial or follow @masterofachievementpodcast on Instagram.

In this episode of the Master of Achievement podcast, host Stephanie Nguyen explores the complex relationship between achievement and cultural expectations with guests Natalie Tran and Lina Chau Le. They share personal stories of pressure to succeed, the weight of familial expectations, and the journey towards defining success on their own terms. The conversation delves into the courage it takes to change paths, the importance of authenticity, and practical steps to navigate one's career and personal identity. Ultimately, the episode emphasizes the value of resilience and self-discovery in the pursuit of a fulfilling life.

What should I cover in the next episode?

For the ambitious who want more — not just more success, but more meaning.
Each episode breaks down the real stories, strategies, and mindset shifts behind building a life, career, and business that feel aligned and powerful.

It’s not about chasing achievement. It’s about mastering it from within.

If you’re ready to work with Stephanie to activate your brand, business, or personal growth, visit https://linktr.ee/stephanienguyenofficial or follow @masterofachievementpodcast on Instagram.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

• The foundations of a successful company include having the right people with alignment and achieving product-market fit.
• How increasing awareness and understanding of oneself and others is key to building high-performing teams.
• How to manage up and giving feedback to your managers (especially as a young professional)

Want to take Ploomo's psychometric testing to understanding your learning and leadership style?

Request your own personalised Brain Profile Assessment HERE.

✳️ Connect with Rebecca Del Rio
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-del-rio/
Bizcap - https://www.bizcap.com.au/
Ploomo - https://www.ploomo.io/

What should I cover in the next episode?

For the ambitious who want more — not just more success, but more meaning.
Each episode breaks down the real stories, strategies, and mindset shifts behind building a life, career, and business that feel aligned and powerful.

It’s not about chasing achievement. It’s about mastering it from within.

If you’re ready to work with Stephanie to activate your brand, business, or personal growth, visit https://linktr.ee/stephanienguyenofficial or follow @masterofachievementpodcast on Instagram.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

• How to use different interaction styles and core traits to improve team cohesion.
• How observing and understanding the workplace dynamics is crucial for junior professionals to contribute effectively.
• How to deal with politics in the workplace - focusing on facts, maintaining integrity, and not getting caught up in noise.

Want to take Ploomo's psychometric testing to understanding your learning and leadership style?

Request your own personalised Brain Profile Assessment HERE.

✳️ Connect with Rebecca Del Rio
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-del-rio/
Bizcap - https://www.bizcap.com.au/
Ploomo - https://www.ploomo.io/

What should I cover in the next episode?

For the ambitious who want more — not just more success, but more meaning.
Each episode breaks down the real stories, strategies, and mindset shifts behind building a life, career, and business that feel aligned and powerful.

It’s not about chasing achievement. It’s about mastering it from within.

If you’re ready to work with Stephanie to activate your brand, business, or personal growth, visit https://linktr.ee/stephanienguyenofficial or follow @masterofachievementpodcast on Instagram.

You're listening to Part 2 of this episode.

If you haven't heard part 1, go back and listen to it now https://open.spotify.com/episode/1Rh15rx2SWDcqYe8ENUQWu?si=a91d003d80694922

At the age of 30, Spiroula had the perfect life. She was married, a home owner of 2 investment properties, lived in the Eastern suburbs of Sydney, and absolutely dominated her career through countless promotions. She made life look perfect because she was brought up to curate the perfect facade. She ticked all the boxes she believed would make her life fulfilled. But behind closed doors it wasn’t as it seemed. Her marriage was failing and after filing for divorce, she lost everything. Starting again from $0, she decided to found Fos Collective, an award design studio and more recently, her Interior Architecture Academy for junior interior designers to thrive in their careers.

I'm so very grateful that Spiroula opens up about her raw and honest experiences.

In this episode, you’ll learn about

• Building and setting strong boundaries in both personal and professional environments
• Developing the fine balance between independence and healthy vulnerable relationships
• The Elite Interior Academy for ambitious interior designers and how they can exponentially progress their careers

Hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed having the conversation.

Sincerely,

Stephanie Nguyen

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ABOUT SPIROULA

Spiroula’s portfolio extends to national and pioneer levels, having designed showrooms for some of the largest companies across the country, working on Australia’s first co-living space and being part of the incredible team at Sydney’s Crown Casino amongst many others. Winning design awards, Co-authoring a book, Australian Women’s Small Business finalist, Business NSW Outstanding Business Leader Finalist, Business Elites 40 under 40 honouree, working within the media, ambassadorships, podcasts, coaching, judging and key-note presentations, has secured her position within the industry as an expert in her own right with a cornucopia of experience which she endeavors to expand on through her business FOS Collective and as an ambitious individual who wants to continue making waves in the design industry.

⁠Connect with Spiroula⁠'s LinkedIn and⁠ Instagram⁠

ABOUT FOS COLLECTIVE

FOS Collective is a Sydney based National Award Winning Design Studio and Academy that has been built on 3 main principles, to inspire, to collaborate and to educate. Spiroula wanted to ensure that her studio provided more than just beautiful and practical spaces but also an opportunity for young designers to grow and learn, and leverage off the diverse experience she has acquired over her career. She believes the key to a successful project and overall outcome is complete transparency and education with all parties involved and that this allows room for exploration and

What should I cover in the next episode?

For the ambitious who want more — not just more success, but more meaning.
Each episode breaks down the real stories, strategies, and mindset shifts behind building a life, career, and business that feel aligned and powerful.

It’s not about chasing achievement. It’s about mastering it from within.

If you’re ready to work with Stephanie to activate your brand, business, or personal growth, visit https://linktr.ee/stephanienguyenofficial or follow @masterofachievementpodcast on Instagram.

In this session, Stephanie Nguyen discusses the new rules of success in the digital age, emphasizing the importance of personal branding, digital skills, and becoming a key person of influence. She contrasts the outdated industrial age pathways with modern strategies for career security and wealth creation, highlighting the need for visibility, value, and leveraging technology. The conversation includes practical steps for mastering a niche, publishing ideas, building authority, and creating scalable income streams, while also addressing the challenges and opportunities in the current landscape.

Takeaways
• The industrial age formula for success is outdated.
• Personal branding is essential for career advancement.
• Job security now depends on adaptability and visibility.
• Digital skills are crucial for increasing value in the job market.
• Creating a personal brand can lead to multiple income streams.
• Publishing knowledge consistently is key to being recognized.
• Finding a micro niche can help you stand out.
• Value is subjective; focus on your target audience.
• Networking is now global and not limited to physical locations.
• The creator economy offers new opportunities for wealth creation.

What should I cover in the next episode?

For the ambitious who want more — not just more success, but more meaning.
Each episode breaks down the real stories, strategies, and mindset shifts behind building a life, career, and business that feel aligned and powerful.

It’s not about chasing achievement. It’s about mastering it from within.

If you’re ready to work with Stephanie to activate your brand, business, or personal growth, visit https://linktr.ee/stephanienguyenofficial or follow @masterofachievementpodcast on Instagram.

In this conversation, Stephanie Nguyen and Jane Auxilio discuss the journey of self-discovery and entrepreneurship, exploring the challenges and triumphs faced along the way. They delve into the importance of mindset, the impact of family expectations, and the significance of building genuine relationships in business. Jane shares her experiences transitioning from hospitality to launching her own business, emphasizing the need for conviction and purpose in achieving success. The discussion also highlights the importance of understanding one's value, pricing strategies, and the role of social media in shaping perceptions. Ultimately, the conversation serves as an inspiring reminder of the power of resilience and the impact one can create in the lives of others.

About Jane

Jane started out as a freelance photographer and social media manager, but it didn’t take long for her to realise her skillset stretched far beyond what she was offering. That’s what led her to build a full-service marketing agency.

Her mission has always been clear: to empower and support entrepreneurs at every stage of their business journey. That purpose remains at the heart of every decision she makes.

Today, Jane feels incredibly grateful to have created a business that not only fuels her passions, but also aligns with her deeper personal purpose - through every client, every project, and every service offered.

Connect with Jane

https://www.instagram.com/janeauxilio/

More about Haus of Blanc & Blanc Studio

https://www.blancstudio.au/hausofblanc

https://www.instagram.com/hausofblanc/?hl=en

https://www.instagram.com/blancstudio.au/?hl=en

What should I cover in the next episode?

For the ambitious who want more — not just more success, but more meaning.
Each episode breaks down the real stories, strategies, and mindset shifts behind building a life, career, and business that feel aligned and powerful.

It’s not about chasing achievement. It’s about mastering it from within.

If you’re ready to work with Stephanie to activate your brand, business, or personal growth, visit https://linktr.ee/stephanienguyenofficial or follow @masterofachievementpodcast on Instagram.