Guest
Dona Amelia


Inspiring Women to Dream Big: Break Barriers & Lead Boldly
Dona Amelia shares her inspiring journey of resilience and empowerment, motivating women to dream big, overcome adversity, and lead with bold confidence.
Dona's Bio
Dona Amelia is a dynamic force in both the business and creative worlds. As Co-founder and Member Service Director at EGN Singapore & Malaysia and Managing Director at EGN Indonesia, she leads Asia’s largest peer network for top-level executives and entrepreneurs. Before stepping into the business world, Dona thrived as an award-winning singer, actress, DJ, and television host. Her remarkable ability to blend artistic creativity with strategic leadership has earned her international recognition. Dona is also a keynote speaker and coach, inspiring women to dream big and step into leadership unapologetically. Her personal story of reinvention, resilience, and bold ambition makes her a powerful voice in the movement for women’s empowerment across Asia and beyond.
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About this episode
Have you ever felt like your dreams were too bold—or maybe just too far away?
Meet Dona Amelia, the powerhouse who proves that no dream is too big when matched with resilience, reinvention, and purpose. In this compelling episode of Talking with the Experts, host Rose Davidson sits down with Dona to unpack what it means to lead with courage and live with intention.
From a celebrated career in entertainment to a leadership role as Managing Director of EGN Indonesia, Dona’s journey is a stunning reminder that we are all capable of transformation. Her work now centers around connecting C-suite leaders, entrepreneurs, and change-makers across Asia, while advocating for women’s empowerment worldwide.
Dona shares deeply personal insights into overcoming adversity, owning your story, and stepping fully into your power. You’ll learn how she found her path, navigated doubt, and now supports other women in doing the same.
This episode isn’t just a feel-good story. It’s a spark for every woman who’s been told she’s “too much” or “not enough.” If you’ve ever needed permission to dream, let this conversation be your invitation to rise.
🎧 Tune in to hear how to turn doubt into drive—and vision into victory.
🧠 THREE Key Takeaways
- How to overcome fear and limiting beliefs that keep women from pursuing their dreams.
- The power of reinvention and how to turn past experiences into future impact.
- Why bold leadership starts with belief, and how to model that for others.
Outline
Dona Amelia’s Background and Journey
- Dona Amelia grew up in a bamboo house with no electricity and dirt floors, fetching clean water from outside.
- Dona’s parents were a teacher and a market merchant, inspiring Dona to work hard and dream big.
- Dona’s name acronym DONA stands for Dreams, Opportunity, Never give up, and Action, reflecting her life philosophy.
- Dona faced imposter syndrome and setbacks but was encouraged by her father to believe in her talent and potential.
- Dona’s career included being an award-winning singer, actress, TV host, and now a keynote speaker and coach.
Dona Amelia’s Philosophy and Methodology
- Dona’s philosophy is encapsulated in the 4PE methodology: Pray, Prepare, Practice, Perform, and Evaluate.
- Pray involves centering oneself through meditation or prayer before undertaking any task.
- Prepare includes thorough preparation from A to Z, including having backup plans.
- Practice involves rehearsing and visualizing the task to build confidence and competence.
- Perform is about giving one’s best effort after thorough preparation.
- Evaluate involves assessing what went well, what went wrong, and what can be improved, with a focus on gratitude and acceptance.
Building Confidence
- Finding confidence starts with understanding one’s ‘why’ and having a clear purpose.
- Confidence is built through thorough preparation and practice, ensuring one feels ready and capable.
- Embracing failure and rejection as normal parts of the journey helps build resilience and confidence.
- The power of affirmation and visualization plays a crucial role in boosting self-confidence.
Enhancing Connections and Leadership Skills
- Belonging to a professional or peer network is crucial for growth and learning from like-minded individuals.
- Networking with people from diverse backgrounds and industries can provide new perspectives and solutions to challenges.
- Executive Global Network facilitates peer networking for senior executives to share knowledge and best practices.
Dreaming Bigger and Finding Purpose
- To dream big, one needs courage and a clear purpose, which involves asking what one truly wants to achieve and how to impact others.
- Finding one’s life purpose can provide direction and motivation, making other aspects of life easier to navigate.
- Dona’s purpose in life is to make people happy, which she achieves through her various roles and endeavors.
Keypoints
- Dona Amelia’s journey from a humble background to becoming a successful singer, actress, and entrepreneur is driven by her dreams and the support of her parents.
- Dona Amelia emphasizes the importance of having a dream, finding opportunities, never giving up, and taking action to achieve one’s goals.
- Confidence is built through understanding one’s purpose, thorough preparation, embracing failure, and using affirmations.
- Networking with like-minded professionals from diverse backgrounds enhances leadership skills and personal growth.
- To dream bigger, one needs to have courage, find their purpose, and consider what legacy they want to leave.
- Dona Amelia’s life purpose is to make people happy, which she achieves through her various roles and endeavors.

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