In an industry defined by speed, shifting platforms, and relentless demands, staying motivated is often the hardest part of the job.
For Cindy Khoo, a young media professional who has risen quickly over the past five years, the answer is not found in titles or timelines — but in people, purpose, and perspective.
“I work with very good teams that motivate me to go to work every day, and there’s always new things coming up to excite people,” she shares. “That’s why it’s still fun for me to be in the industry.”
Recently recognised one of the industry’s Rising Stars and a regular presenter at the APPIES, her growth has been swift by any standard. Yet ambition, for her, is tempered with realism.
In the episode, Cindy is candid about the emotional toll of the job. “I cry a lot,” she admits. “What keeps me going is that I want to achieve something more. I want things to be completed in a satisfactory way.”
That drive, however, came at a cost. Last year, she was hospitalised due to an unsustainable work cycle. The experience forced a reset. “You only live once. That’s your own body and your own life,” she reflects. “You need to find something purposeful and meaningful to yourself.”
Today, balance comes from stepping away — spending time with friends, working out, and practising yoga. Small acts, but essential ones, in an industry that rarely pauses.
Listen to the rest of her story in the latest episode of The NexGen Show, a Sunday evening podcast hosted by Malaysian advertising veteran Prof. Harmandar Singh.
New episodes every Sunday, 7PM on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.
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