Rethink the Algorithm - It’s Time to Challenge the Stories We’re Sold with Shawn Lim

What does it really mean to rethink not just technology — but the culture behind it?

In this episode, we talk to Shawn Lim, a journalist-turned-solopreneur whose work now lives at the intersection of identity, media, and digital transformation. After more than a decade reporting on adtech, agency shifts, and marketing innovation across APAC, Shawn now runs Human Algorithm — a newsletter and podcast that challenges surface-level stories in business and explores more human, inclusive ways forward.

We cover #AIagents, #brandloyalty, #parenting, #burnout, and why #internalculture is no longer something that stays hidden behind closed doors. Shawn shares his own story of #reinvention, from being told he couldn't write without a degree, to becoming one of the best tech reporters in #APAC.

“We live in an age of automation, but we still need that human connection. That’s why I chose the name Human Algorithm.” - Shawn Lim

Whether you're working in retail, BFSI, or tech or you're simply trying to build something that lasts this episode is about moving beyond the hype and doing business in a way that feels more honest.

⏱️ Episode Chapters:
00:00 – What moves Shawn forward
07:29 – Bullying & self-acceptance
11:28 – Solopreneur life & parenting
15:38 – Human connection in the attention economy
19:21 – Accountability & what AI could actually solve
23:22 – Outdated business assumptions
26:44 – Future trends: storytelling, B2H, and AI agents
30:22 – The fall of brand loyalty
34:33 – Burnout & letting go of people-pleasing

The Let Them Poem by Cassie Phillips

The Let Them Book from Mel Robbins