INTERVIEW | Make Money by Making Better Decisions in a World of Constant Change with Cornelia Choe

Cornelia Choe is an international leadership expert, global keynote speaker, and Thinkers50 Radar honoree who has advised hundreds of CEOs and senior leaders across five continents. A Georgetown University and Harvard Kennedy School graduate, Cornelia has worked in private equity at Morgan Stanley and other institutions, supporting leadership teams across Asia, Europe, and North America. Fluent in three languages and having lived in 11 different places, she brings a uniquely global perspective to leadership, decision-making, relationships, and navigating complex, high-stakes environments. Her TEDx talk has been viewed more than two million times. On this episode we talk about: How moving from Minnesota to South Korea at age 10 taught Cornelia to question her assumptions and adapt to new environments The importance of being willing to rewrite your mental “map” when entering a new culture, industry, or situation How Cornelia’s early efforts to help women start businesses shaped her perspective on using your efforts to create meaningful change Why embracing uncertainty and constant change can help you develop resilience and better decision-making skills How talking to people with different perspectives can help leaders see a bigger picture and make better decisions Cornelia’s approach to personal finance, including the importance of timing, flexibility, savings, and having “dry powder” for unpredictable opportunities Why strong relationships and trust are essential infrastructure for building businesses, leading people, and accessing accurate information Top 3 Takeaways Question the map in your head. The assumptions and mental models that work in one environment may not work in another. When circumstances change, be willing to gather new information, challenge your assumptions, and build a new understanding of how to succeed. Seek perspectives you don't already have. Leaders can easily surround themselves with people who think similarly or tell them what they want to hear. Talking with customers, suppliers, employees, and people who see situations differently can reveal angles you wouldn't see on your own. Build relationships based on trust. Strong relationships aren't just valuable socially—they can become the infrastructure for better leadership, better information, and greater opportunities. Leaders need to create enough trust that people feel safe telling them difficult truths rather than simply telling them what they want to hear. Notable Quotes "We can't just expect to coast through life and do nothing, yet at the same time empowering people so that they can realize their dreams." "Any person in a world of constant change is only able to see a certain part of the puzzle or the certain part of the landscape." "Our relationship network and the relationships that we have in our lives are the infrastructure and the backbone of our ability to create money." Connect with Cornelia Choe: Website: Cornelia Choe Instagram: @corneliachoe_author A Word from Our Sponsors: - The most successful business owners don't do it all themselves — they delegate. Upwork lets you build a team of highly skilled specialists for every function your business needs, so you can focus on what you do best and let experts handle the rest. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices