Special Issue: Jorene's Story of Courage

My sister Jorene has always been a trailblazer. Despite being just four years older, her wisdom feels well beyond those years. Growing up, she was always the first in our family to tackle new challenges head-on, setting an example of courage and resilience.

Now, as she steps into her newest role as a mother, I couldn’t think of a better time to sit down with her and capture her thoughts, experiences, and the lessons she's already learned along the way.

Enjoy the read!

Jorene is a product manager with Walmart Data Ventures.

She’s a mom to 9-month-old Archer and currently resides in New York City after a few corporate stints in Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines. In this season of life, she is prioritizing going on adventures with her family, working out and supporting her husband’s small business.  

What does courage mean to you?

It’s about setting boundaries so that I can prioritize getting the most important thing done in the day. Demands in a workday can come from all directions from different stakeholders wanting my attention. For me to be effective at work and balance what is needed of me at home, I have learned to be firm when work meetings happen outside of typical working hours, or when I have had to take an urgent day off to attend to my child.

Having been my current employer for a few months, my manager has offered me flexibility to take time off whenever I have had to bring my son to medical appointments, and more flexible working hours since I’m responsible for childcare drop-offs in the mornings. The start of my workday can coincide with standup calls that I have with colleagues in Asia but my team has been understanding of the constraints and have been able to accommodate.

Where do you draw strength from?

I draw strength from my identities. As a mom who shows up for her child because he is only this young once. As a wife who supports her husband who is running his business, especially when times are tough. And as a daughter, whose parents are proud that she has now established a family of her own with a thriving career.

I remind myself daily with positive affirmations (something that I got into during my pregnancy as I was preparing for a non-medicated birth). It helps to a fairly large extent to cope with the jitters and fears that I confront with at work.

What is your greatest fear? What do you tell yourself in the face of fear?

Fears are subjective.

I find that it depends on the stage of my life and whether I have that financial or even mental health support at that time. In my 20s, I was most uncomfortable with being single. I thought far ahead – how would life be different if I had a partner to travel the world with me.

Now that I’m in my 30s, my greatest fear would be death. What would happen to my family if I weren’t around? This is an event that can be prepared for in the form of a death box for example. We can only control factors that are within our control and that is something I remind myself constantly.

Hearing stories like my sister’s reminds us that courage isn’t just about grand gestures—it’s about embracing every new chapter with an open heart and a brave spirit. If you have a courageous story or lesson of your own, I’d love to hear it!

Reply to this email or leave a comment below and let’s celebrate the everyday acts of courage that inspire us all.

I’ll always be here,

Joping

Joping is Certified Coach based in Singapore. She believes courage helps us embrace our fears and lead the lives we want. This newsletter is the manifestation of her courage.