Yik is a connector and generalist who has lived and worked across Thailand, Japan, Germany, and beyond. Her name means "non-stop movement" in Thai, which matches her career perfectly. She studied engineering but pivoted to community building, creating virtual internship programs that connected 140 Southeast Asian students with major tech companies in Japan. She now works as a recruiter and community builder in Berlin, speaks five languages, and thinks deeply about impact frameworks, co-creation, and bridging communication between generalists and specialists. She's preparing to return to Japan after several years building community in Berlin.

Communication breaks down when goals aren't clearly set and shared between generalists and specialists. Yik's research found that when teams articulate shared goals and expectations, collaboration emerges naturally. The problem isn't the skill gap; it's the clarity gap.

Each yes is a no to something else; treat decisions like choosing ice cream flavours. You can't eat ten scoops a day. When overwhelmed by options, shrink the timeframe: instead of 12 months, think 24 hours or one week.

Impact requires understanding the full system of input, process, and output. Before pursuing an outcome, map which pieces are missing. Yik's research on internship programs identified that synchronised conversations (input) improved employability outcomes (output) regardless of skill level.

Don't wait for external confirmation or the perfect title; trust yourself and take risks. Even without a PhD on her resume, Yik advises enjoying what you do and taking more risks rather than waiting for credentials or approval.

🙏 Special thanks to our podcast producer James McKinven! (get in touch for all your podcast needs, he’s really great!)