In this episode, Krista talks with Marinel de Jesus, a former Washington DC-based prosecutor who became a global mountain nomad and entrepreneur.

Marinel is the founder of Brown Gal Trekker LLC & Equity Global Treks / The Porter Voice Collective.

From directing the docomentary, KM82 ,to developing her projects such as the Himalayan Women Trail Leaders, Marinel explains how tourism is rooted in systemic inequities that impact porters and women guides.

She shares her vision for a decolonized, people-centered industry—one that partners with local communities, values dignity and trains women to lead in the mountains.

She also opens up about the Filipino immigrant experience, the power of truthful storytelling, and why small, community-focused operators can deliver richer, more ethical travel.

Listen to rethink travel with heart, and learn practical steps to support women-led, ethical trekking and mountain tourism across Asia.

• 00:00 – Introduction to Marinel: from prosecutor to mountain nomad and social entrepreneur.
• 02:30 – The KM82 documentary and elevating porter voices.
• 05:15 – Systemic issues in tourism; why we need a decolonized approach.
• 08:45 – Himalayan Women Trail Leaders: training Nepali female guides; broader inclusion.
• 12:50 – The immigrant experience shaping leadership and cross-cultural understanding.
• 17:15 – Debunking myths about “bigger is better” in tourism; the value of smaller operators.

3 key takeaways

• Centering porters and women guides reshapes the entire tourism experience—dignity at the center.
• Smaller, relationship-driven operators can deliver more meaningful, ethical travel than large brands.
• True decolonization means co-creating with local communities, listening first, and letting local voices lead.

Marinel's websites:

www.browngaltrekker.com

www.theportervoicecollective

Womenpreneur Asia is partnering with InnovNation and you are welcome to join me if you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or established one: https://community.innovnation.ai/womenpreneur-asia

This episode is brought to you by RedboxStudio.com

In this short, solo season opener for Season 11, I share with you my thoughts about the evolving mission of Womenpreneur Asia. I realize that the podcast has transformed into a broader media platform that elevates Asian women entrepreneurs, the power of partnerships (From Vision to Voice with Rowena Morais; collaborations with InnovNation, Women4Women and G-Woman Media), and the importance of bold, personal leadership. Through stories of overcoming self-doubt, embracing a one-step-forward mindset and practicing daily gratitude, I invite you to show up boldly this year and to support each another on the journey.

• 00:00–00:01: Welcome to Season 11 and the fresh direction for Womenpreneur Asia.
• 00:01–00:03: In-between seasons, prepping for new episodes and gleaning insights.
• 00:03–00:04: The season’s theme: collective growth and expanding the show into a wider media platform.
• 00:04–00:06: Partnerships and programs: From Vision to Voice with Rowena Morais; the value of visibility and storytelling.
• 00:06–00:08: Opportunities with InnovNation and my invitation to you to be part of this community
• 00:08–00:10: Gratitude, being bold and the power of one-step-forward action.

3 key takeaways:

• Collective growth amplifies impact: when the platform grows, everyone benefits.
• Authentic confidence wins: showing up as yourself is your super power and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise
• Small, bold steps compound: one step forward opens doors and creates opportunities.

Links mentioned in this episode:

My interview with Rowena Morais in Season 2: https://womenpreneurasia.com/podcast/s2-e2-rowena-morais/

From Vision to Voice program: Fromvisiontovoice.com

My founder story: https://womenpreneurasia.com/visibility-brings-opportunities-my-story/

My newest partnership with InnovNation - the community that I am building and I invite you to join me if you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or established one: https://community.innovnation.ai/womenpreneur-asia

This episode is brought to you by RedboxStudio.com

Xiao-Ly Koh, chef and founder of Xiao by Crutz patisserie in Petaling Jaya takes us behind the scenes of building a 14-year pastry career in Malaysia.

From early online sales on Facebook to a flagship store, she explains her love for French pastry and everything crusty!

She cites how the French have a philosophy about “garnishing with a purpose”- how every decoration should add texture and flavour, not just look pretty.

She explains how she educates customers about French pastry, balances artistry with business, and uses seasonal menus, inspiration and beloved characters from Studio Ghibli and local ingredients to keep things fresh.

Social media, especially Instagram, has amplified her brand, but she emphasizes that word-of-mouth remains the strongest marketing tool. There’s a powerful message here for entrepreneurs: craft with care, learn from feedback, and build a legacy.

What you'll learn:

• 00:00 – Xiao-Ly, chef and founder of Xiao by Crutz patisserie and her journey to a flagship store.
• 02:00 – Defining roles: chef first, entrepreneur second; navigating multiple hats including content creator
• 04:30 – What is French pastry? Textures, garnishing with a purpose, and visual appeal.
• 08:30 – From education to trust: introducing customers to French pastry and expanding the menu.
• 12:00 – Marketing with stories: themed collections (Ghibli, kopitiam, local holidays) as differentiators.
• 16:30 – R&D in a small team: collaboration with staff, testing flavors, balancing trends with core offerings.
• 20:00 – Instagram as a visibility tool, but not the entirety of the business and how to differentiate which trends to follow (or not)
• 23:00 – Burnout, resilience, and the long game, pacing, legacy over quick growth.

3 big takeways:

• Craft and commerce can coexist: treat your artistry as a business asset by educating customers and balancing novelty with reliability.
• Garnishing with a purpose matters: visuals should complement flavor and texture, not just decorate.
• Build for longevity: balance ambition with sustainable systems, and focus on word-of-mouth and quality as your strongest growth engines.

For the full show notes, visit WomenpreneurAisa.com

This episode is sponsored by Redbox Studio.