Mai-Lan Khong

Advocate for well-being through meditation, mindfulness, and holistic practices. My work goes beyond coaching: I create, communicate, and collaborate to make well-being both accessible and practical.

I also bring another dimension: a background in business development, branding, and startups. Having founded and scaled companies, I now combine this entrepreneurial experience with my passion for wellness. Alongside guiding individuals, I partner with wellness brands and organizations to grow authentically—through strategy, storytelling, and creative partnerships.

What this looks like:
	•	For Individuals: designing programs and coaching that integrate meditation into daily life, helping people thrive without burnout.
	•	For Brands: shaping strategies, narratives, and partnerships that expand visibility and connect wellness companies to the right audiences.
	•	For Both: building bridges between ancient wisdom and modern life, creating practical, human-centered pathways for growth.

Founder

The Sunday Shift

Publisher of The Sunday Shift, a weekly newsletter on Substack: notes on awareness, change, and the beauty of small steps. Through reflective writing, I explore mindfulness, well-being, and personal growth in ways that are honest, warm, and human.

Writer & Publisher

Overseas Vietnamese

Managed and nurtured the global professional community of Overseas Vietnamese, a private network for Vietnamese entrepreneurs, leaders, and professionals worldwide.
	•	Built strong relationships with members, fostering trust and engagement across a diverse community.
	•	Curated and delivered meaningful content, discussions, and events to provide value and maintain high member retention.
	•	Supported membership growth through outreach, onboarding, and proactive care for new members.
	•	Ensured a positive and supportive community culture that encourages long-term connection and collaboration.

Community Manager

10X Tourism Business

Supported 10X Tourism Business in its early pivot stage, helping shape strategy and operational systems for a young and ambitious Vietnam-based startup in tourism marketing.
	•	Advised on business development and international partnership opportunities.
	•	Designed and optimized systems to improve customer success processes and streamline team operations.
	•	Contributed to building scalable foundations for digital marketing, sales, and partnership management.
	•	Collaborated with the founding team to align business goals with sustainable growth in Vietnam’s tourism ecosystem.

Business Development Advisor

Raise The Round

Joined Raise The Round in its founding stage, focusing on business development, partnerships, and growth strategy. Worked directly with a co-founder who is a serial entrepreneur with prior exits to Google and Apple, which gave me exposure to a high-caliber startup environment. I played a key role in shaping early traction by identifying opportunities, securing partnerships, and building scalable methods for expansion.
	•	Researched, recruited, and onboarded new strategic partners, creating win–win collaborations that increased sales revenue and product visibility.
	•	Negotiated and delivered partnership deals that provided direct value to clients and long-term benefits to partner organizations.
	•	Built and managed an established partner network, strengthening Raise The Round’s position in the startup ecosystem.
	•	Explored multiple growth channels—including digital marketing, live events, and affiliate models—while developing repeatable processes for business development.
	•	Recognized by the team for consistently driving partnership success and bringing high-value relationships on board.
	•	Contributed as part of the founding team to overall company strategy, operations, and cross-functional collaboration.

Business Development Manager

Padka Inc.

Co-founded an early-stage tech startup with an experienced serial entrepreneur (including prior exits to Verizon, US). As COO, I managed company-wide operations and strategy, taking on a wide range of responsibilities typical of a first-time founder.
	•	Conducted market research and identified opportunities to shape product direction.
	•	Formed and coordinated the founding team, aligning efforts with company strategy.
	•	Led product development cycles from concept to MVP launch with design partners and beta users.
	•	Managed operations including fundraising support, financial modeling, business planning, and legal documentation.
	•	Drove go-to-market activities, including direct marketing, early promotions, and outreach to strategic partners.
	•	Successfully secured acceptance into a startup accelerator program and built early strategic relationships.
	•	Gained hands-on experience in adaptability, problem-solving, and building resilience in a high-uncertainty environment.

Co-founder & COO

IDP Education Ltd

Delivered end-to-end counseling and relationship management for students, consistently exceeding performance targets and receiving recognition for outstanding service.
	•	Advised and guided up to 30 prospective students daily in-person and 50+ via phone, providing tailored recommendations on study programs, institutions, and application processes.
	•	Consistently exceeded monthly and quarterly sales and admissions targets through consultative counseling, upselling, and cross-selling strategies.
	•	Achieved exceptional customer satisfaction and retention rates, earning strong client referrals and repeat engagements.
	•	Represented ACET-IDP Education at education fairs, outreach programs, and public events, serving as a trusted brand ambassador.
	•	Collaborated with cross-functional teams (marketing, operations, international partners) to improve service delivery and develop creative engagement strategies.
	•	Recognized by management and clients for proactive problem-solving, innovative approaches, and a strong commitment to customer success.

Admissions Counselor and Customer Relationship Manager

Sacombank Career

Provided financial advisory and relationship management services to retail banking clients at one of Vietnam’s leading commercial banks.
	•	Consulted with individual and business clients to assess financial needs and recommend tailored banking solutions, including savings, credit, and investment products.
	•	Built and maintained strong client relationships, ensuring long-term engagement and customer satisfaction.
	•	Collaborated with cross-functional teams and business partners to deliver comprehensive financial solutions.
	•	Consistently achieved and exceeded monthly and quarterly sales targets, contributing to overall branch performance.
	•	Gained in-depth knowledge of retail banking operations, compliance requirements, and financial product offerings.

Finance Consultant & Customer Relationship Manager

Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Contributed to a national-level project at VCCI focused on improving administrative efficiency in Vietnam’s commerce and industry sectors.
	•	Conducted outreach and data collection with small, medium, and large enterprises across the country to assess their experiences with bureaucracy and regulatory processes.
	•	Communicated with company representatives to gather insights and ensure accurate reporting.
	•	Supported project team in analyzing data to inform policy recommendations.
	•	Gained first-hand experience working in a professional institutional environment, strengthening communication, research, and stakeholder engagement skills.

Research & Outreach Collaborator

I’ve traveled the world, written books, built startups, and become a mother. Through all of it, meditation has been my constant—my way back to clarity when everything else felt uncertain.

Today, I advocate for well-being through meditation, mindfulness, and holistic practices. My work goes beyond coaching: I create, communicate, and collaborate to make well-being both accessible and practical.

I also bring another dimension: a background in business development, branding, and startups. Having built companies, I now combine this entrepreneurial experience with my passion for wellness. Alongside guiding individuals, I partner with wellness brands and organizations to grow authentically—through strategy, storytelling, and creative partnerships.

What this looks like:
	•	For Individuals: designing programs and coaching that integrate meditation into daily life, helping people thrive without burnout.
	•	For Brands: shaping strategies, narratives, and partnerships that expand visibility and connect wellness companies to the right audiences.
	•	For Both: building bridges between ancient wisdom and modern life, creating practical, human-centered pathways for growth.

My mission is simple: to help people live and lead with awareness, resilience, and balance—and to help wellness brands grow with authenticity and creativity, so that thriving becomes both human and sustainable.

Visit me at mailankhong.com

Don’t just do something. Sit there.

Many times life gets loud.
You feel like you have to fix it, fix yourself, fix everything.
Move faster. Do more. Try harder.

That’s how I was raised — to keep producing, keep finding solutions.
It worked… until it didn’t.

Because there are moments when your head is spinning, your chest is tight, and you’re running around inside yourself looking for the door out… and you can’t find it.

That’s why I love this line from Thich Nhat Hanh:

 “Don't just do something, sit there.”


It sounds upside down, doesn’t it?
Like the opposite of common sense.

But when you’ve been rushing, fixing, solving — maybe the most important thing you can do is stop.
Not forever - long enough to let your breath catch up with you.
Long enough to remember who’s actually living this life, what actually matters, and where is your Nord Star.

So today, maybe... don’t push.
Don’t fix.
Don’t try to find out what’s next.

Just sit there.
And let the world hold you for once (or twice 😄)

---

If you’d like to explore how meditation can make these pauses feel natural — and even nourishing — follow me here.
And if you’re curious about how it could fit in your own life, I offer free 1:1 calls. Link in the header 😊
No pitch, no pressure ;)

Growth for Wellness Brands | Startup Founder turned Meditation Coach | Personal branding for wellness founders - with proven system, clear strategies and actionable plans

When I started posting on LinkedIn in March, I noticed something strange.

In tech, design, finance - you see hundreds of voices.
Small, imperfect, sometimes clumsy - but they show up every day.
And that creates movement.
It creates a sense of growth.

But in meditation and mindful awareness?
Mostly Silence.
Except for a few big names, I don’t see the same consistent hum of voices.

It reminded me of standing at a train station.
Trains from every industry roar past, full of passengers, momentum, noise.
But the meditation platform stays quiet.
The train is there, but it doesn’t move - because too many of us are still waiting, believing that people will “find” us when the time is right.

I know this because I used to believe it too.
“If my work is good enough, people will come.”

And in spiritual terms, yes - that belief makes sense. We trust. We surrender.
But in the practical world we live in now, before things “work out,” we’ve already run out of patience.
We’ve doubted ourselves a million times when “people” don’t come.
We’ve compared ourselves to everyone else’s highlight reel.

I still believe the soul, the spirit, pure consciousness—that’s the true source.
But I’ve also learned: action accelerates the process.
Especially in today’s world.

Because awareness won’t spread if we all stay quiet on the platform.
It spreads when more of us step onto the train—visible, consistent, imperfect.
That’s the shift I want to see in my own field.
Not waiting. Not idling.
But raising the collective awareness in our way by daring to show up, one voice at a time.

And that’s why I’ve started my new work: helping wellness founders and coaches turn their wisdom, their services, their products into visible, consistent signals online.
Not by chasing trends, but by making their voice sustainable, memorable, and true.
Because if we want meditation, mindfulness, and holistic wellbeing to grow - it won’t be enough to just practice quietly.
We’ll need to show up visibly. Together.

If you’re in meditation and holistic wellbeing, what holds you back the most from stepping onto that “train”?
(And if you want to explore how your own voice can be shaped into a brand that lasts - and bring clients - I’m opening a few slots for Free Clarity Call - link in my profile header!)

Photos: Talking about trains, I can't help but think of Vietnam and its train streets. I was there to take pictures when it was at its most authentic state about 10 years ago, before it became a tourist attraction, as of the last photo. You see, even that train moves :)

When my first book came out in 2018, the publisher encouraged me to share more of my story on social media. 

“You have a unique journey,” they said. “If we tell it right, it could go viral.”

But I refused. I told them it wasn’t my thing. That I just wanted the book to speak for itself.

Looking back, I see I wasn’t just being humble. I was afraid. Afraid of being seen, of being judged, of having the story no longer be mine once it entered the public space.

The other day Ania Halama brought this full circle when she wrote to me: 

“The spiritual world taught me to trust divine timing, but the human world taught me that showing up is how we become the vessel for that timing to move through. I stayed silent about my plant medicine work for years, afraid of judgment, until I realized my visibility wasn’t about me at all, it was about the people waiting to find what I offer.”

I felt every word of that.

Because I lived it too.

But I see now what I couldn’t see then:
Visibility is not about self-promotion. Think of it in terms of service.

If you’re a coach, healer, or wellness founder, maybe you’ve felt that same tension - trusting life, but hiding from being seen.

Let's face the truth:
People can’t find what isn’t visible.
And when they can’t find you, they miss out on the medicine only you can bring.

That’s the lesson I had to learn slowly, the hard way.
It’s also why I now guide wellness founders through this exact shift - from hiding to showing up, from fear of judgment to authentic presence.

If you’re standing where I once stood - with something powerful to offer but no desire to “market yourself” - I’m opening a few slots for Free Clarity Call - link in my profile header! This is the work I do here on LinkedIn.

P.s: Photos from my first book launch, wow, it was 7 years ago already haha

There was a sentence I heard in a Deepak Chopra MD (official) meditation:

“Ultimately, you are the true meaning and purpose of your life—not what you do.”

I didn’t know what to do with it.
Still don’t, really.

It felt true. But not in a way I could explain.
Just one of those moments where your brain quiets, and your body leans forward a little.

We think meaning is something we have to figure out.
Like a project. Or a puzzle.

But this idea - that maybe the meaning isn’t in the work or the goals or the impact, but in us - in our own being -
it’s hard to sit with. But I’m trying.

That’s all this post is. Just sitting with it 😅

Brand Growth Strategist for Wellness | Helping wellness founders grow organically through personal branding, partnerships & community building — with clear strategies and actionable plans | Ex-Startup Founder

A while ago, I learned storytelling from someone whose communication work has shaped half the industry in Vietnam.
And the very first lesson from that time still stays today in my work.

It’s this:

Information is what happened.
Communication is what people remember.

In the last session I had with a well-being coach who wanted to grow her personal branding,
she told me, “I’ve just finished guiding my 100th meditation class!”
Beautiful milestone — but when she shared it online, almost no one reacted.

Not because it wasn’t meaningful,
but because it was information, not communication.

As we looked deeper and tried on different perspective, here’s what she could’ve shared from that one line of fact:

“I still remember the first class when only two people came. Today it’s a hundred. The practice worked — not just for my students, but for me.” =>  tells consistency.
“A student messaged me: ‘I finally slept through the night for the first time in months.’ That’s what 100 means to me.” => tells impact.
“When I started teaching, my hands shook every time I spoke. Meditation taught me to be calm before teaching calm.” => tells authenticity.

Same fact.
Completely different message.


Many wellness founders and coaches are like that.
You have so many stories waiting inside your head - meaningful, human, powerful -
but they stay quiet because you don’t yet know how to shape them into communication.

Next time you share something, ask yourself:
“What do I want people to remember about me from this story?”

That one question alone can change how people feel about your brand.

If you’re a wellness founder sitting on beautiful stories but don’t know where to start — this is exactly what I help you clarify, so your message feels aligned, not forced.

Book a Free Calrity Call with me - link in my profile header!

p.s. the best season for family forest bathing is here!!!!

Does your mind feel like a stormy ocean?
Big things happen, but they barely leave a mark—because the water’s already too rough.

Recall a time when it gets quiet, more like the surface of a lake.
Still. Clear.
And then even the tiniest pebble sends ripples all the way through.

That’s the gift of silence.
It doesn’t make life smaller.
It makes us able to notice more of it.
I don’t stay in that lake-state all the time (far from it).
But when I do, I remember: sensitivity is a kind of strength.

If you haven’t tried it in a while, sit in silence for just a few minutes today.
No agenda, no fixing—just noticing.
You might be surprised at the ripples.

P.S: Hi! I'm Mai-Lan
for People: I coach Meditation as a way of living
for Brands: I make your wellness story heard - Strategy, Storytelling, and Partnerships to help your brand be seen, trusted, and loved.

I once tried a hugging meditation in an airport.
(0/10 recommend. Too many gate announcements. Too little presence. 🙃 )

But the idea stuck with me.

It comes from Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, who taught that a hug can be a meditation — when done with full awareness.

Not the quick pat-pat kind.
The kind where you actually pause.

🫶 First breath — you arrive in the moment
🫶 Second — you recognize the other person
🫶 Third — you feel grateful to be alive, together

Then you part, bow, and move on. A little lighter.

It sounds simple. But it changes something.

Even now, I don’t always remember to do it.
But when I do, the hug feels real.
I feel more real.

Try it. (Just… maybe not at the boarding gate. 😉 )

P.S. Hi! I'm Mai-Lan
for People: I coach Meditation as a way of living
for Brands: I make your wellness story heard - Strategy, Storytelling, and Partnerships to help your brand be seen, trusted, and loved.

Follow me for honest reflections on meditation, clarity, and navigating life with a bit more heart.

Hugging meditation

Wanting to make more money doesn’t make you less spiritual.
It just means you’ve stopped pretending you don’t need support.

For the longest time, I avoided that topic.
Money talk made me squirm.
I told myself, “If I just keep doing good work, the universe will take care of it.”

Ok, what I really meant was: I’m too uncomfortable to look at it directly.

So I kept helping, serving, giving —
and quietly resenting how hard it was to stay afloat.

Guess what got into the way here, it was pride — the kind that hides behind the label of “being spiritual.”

The shift came slowly.
Building startups taught me that love for the work isn’t enough.
Becoming a mother showed me that energy is not infinite.
And running my own practice reminded me that purpose needs structure — or it collapses under its own sincerity.

I learned to see money as a mirror.
It reflects how well I’ve built the systems that allow my work to flow, without draining me.

No, it’s not about chasing more, BUT staying resourced enough to keep serving with joy.

That’s what I help spiritual founders figure out -
how to build sustainability without losing soul, grow without guilt. Book a Clarity Call with me - it's free! (Link in my profile header)

🌿 If that’s something you’ve been quietly struggling with too, you’re not alone.
Let’s make your practice support you, not just the other way around.

P.s. I gotta travel the world the second round, the 3rd round with this girl, so no, I'm not afraid of wanting more money, hehe.


#MindfulBusiness #FounderBranding #HolisticCoach

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