Q and A with Michelle from Dubai, United Arab Emirates
“…I tell my children every day: “You do you! Do not care about what others think.”
Q: What are you passionate about?
A: Last year, I started a management consulting agency that focuses on business process management and organizational efficiency. I wanted to start my own business for a longer time and within consulting but wasn’t sure what area to focus on.
During COVID-19, as for many others, I did a lot of reflection on my career in startups and corporations and saw a clear path ahead. In the general span of my career, I have always been drawn to bigger improvement projects and implementation of digital transformation and worked with these as my passion projects. Hence the most obvious choice for me was to start a consultancy that does exactly that!
Optimer is a boutique Scandinavian business process management and organizational efficiency consultancy. We operate with a client-centric and transparent approach, our team of 25 expert specialists (including contracted professionals) ensures personalized attention to your unique needs.
Our services include Process Mapping, Process Improvement, CRM/ERP optimization, SaaS implementation, and sustainable practices integration. We work with you as a trusted partner for driving impactful change.
Besides my professional work, I realized the need to also do something more expressive and different and found I have a love of baking and making customized cakes! This helps me to take my mind off stress in general as I focus completely on the creative process. It always amazes me what I have made. I am self-taught and would love to take some professional courses, should time permit.
Q: What were your younger years like?
A: I am from a mixed family of a Danish mother and an Indian father, born in Copenhagen, Denmark. When I was three years old, my father realized that school started much later in Denmark than in India and, therefore, moved the family to India so I could attend school. I remember snippets of this early time in my life, and it’s not with fondness. Yearly, we bounced back and forth as one parent would be homesick. Later in my teens, when my parents divorced, I settled in Copenhagen.
Living in such different countries gave me a great perspective and started me off on my expat mindset and journey. Since then, I have lived in Melbourne, Australia, where I did my bachelor’s, worked in London and Cambridge, managed a software company in Dubai, relocated to Saudi where I lived in both Riyadh and Jeddah and had my two kids, moved to Brussels where I worked for Mastercard, and then lastly back to Dubai.
Q: What is something valuable you’d like others to know?
A: Take chances and make mistakes! Lots of them. If you really feel for something, do it! Do it no matter how unlikely it may seem. Unlikely things can happen all the time. And like I tell my children every day: “You do you! Do not care about what others think.” It’s our daily mantra. I wish someone had been whispering or shouting this in my ear when I was young and naive.
Q: What does feminism mean to you?
A: To believe in oneself and stand up for yourself and other women that need it. Create equality in all aspects needed.
To be honest, I have a love/hate relationship with this word [feminism] as it serves as a constant reminder that we are still so far from where we ought to be. Being Scandinavian where there is a bit more equality when it comes to parenting, maternity/paternity leave, etc, and a different culture overall, living now in the Middle East for eleven years, I see that things are moving but very slowly.
I decided that I want to be a bigger part of the solution and am doing what I can to support women. I mentor young women and female entrepreneurs so that they can move forward in their businesses and ventures. Also, as the CEO of Optimer Consulting, under UN Women and UN Global Compact, I am a registered signatory for the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs).
The WEP is a set of Principles offering guidance to businesses on how to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment in the workplace, marketplace, and community. Established by UN Women [https://www.unwomen.org/en/partnerships] and UN Global Compact, the WEPs are informed by international labor and human rights standards and grounded in the recognition that businesses have a stake in, and responsibility for, gender equality and women’s empowerment.
Thank you for reading! Please feel free to connect on LinkedIn, follow me on other social media, and get in touch if I can help with mentoring or taking your business to the next level.
Q and A with Kelsey from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
“You don’t have to know how to start creating your dream life—start anyway. Be an inspired idiot.”
Q: What are you passionate about?
A: I’ve always had a feeling in my gut that I was put on this earth to do something big and have an impact on people, which probably explains why the 9-5 corporate life never felt quite right for me.
I’ve been a creative soul since I started walking. My dad still has my first-ever “artwork” taped to his toolbox in the garage—a masterpiece of macaroni noodles and glitter glue. Not really knowing what I wanted to do after high school, I pursued that creative drive and got accepted to the School of Fine Arts.
It was at the School of Fine Arts that I realized that while being artistic was a fun hobby, what I actually had a real drive for was writing. This really came to fruition when I made my ballsiest move yet: running off to live in Thailand solo for 6+ months. Let me explain…
Not many of us really know who we are at 20 years old, but this was a quality about myself that I really wasn’t proud of. I’d depended too much on relationships that weren’t good for me, and I really didn’t know how to like myself enough to be alone. I’d even go as far as to say that I was afraid of being alone.
So, I figured the best way to confront my fear of being alone would be to force myself to be lonely. FYI: if you go live in a foreign country where the people don’t look or talk like you, and then throw a 13-hour time difference into the mix—yeah, you’re going to feel lonely.
The way I made myself feel less alone and kept my loved ones updated on my day-to-day was by starting a blog. Honestly, it sort of changed my entire life.
I realized that I could lose myself in writing and that other people felt something from reading what I wrote. When I decided to “come out” about the real reason I’d run off to Thailand—to start recovering from bulimia—I did so in writing. And the response was bigger than I’d ever anticipated.
If I had to sum up what my biggest passion is today, it’s helping people see beyond their own limiting beliefs about changing how they’ve always been to become what they’ve always wanted to be. I started with myself, and now I have that conviction to move other people to do it too. Today, I use that passion to help people leave their 9-5 lives, get into shape, and get the absolute most out of this game we call life.
Q: What were your younger years like?
A: My upbringing was the typical middle-class story. My parents both worked full-time jobs, and my two sisters and I all went to post-secondary before landing stable jobs—you know the deal.
Honestly, I’m very happy to have grown up in the environment that I did because it taught me what I want, and don’t want, the rest of my life to look like.
I saw two incredible parents work hard for decades to provide for their daughters, so we could pursue our passions and really learn what it means to work for what we want. I saw what a real partnership looks like, and how sitting down for dinner together every night really does create a strong family. And I also saw that hard work does not equal financial freedom if you’re always clocking in for someone else.
If I hadn’t grown up the way I did, I wouldn’t be the woman I am today. Not to mention, I wouldn’t have had the privilege to grow up being best friends with the man who is now my fiancé.
Q: What is something valuable you’d like others to know?
A: I believe that the most powerful thing I can do is take full responsibility for who I am today. My happiness level is not a result of my boss, my mom, my lack of time, or my past relationships.
Your life today is what you’ve created it to be, and your upbringing really only matters so much in the grand scheme of things.
We all have our stories and traumas and events that have impacted our personalities, but staying stuck in those stories only does just that: keeps us stuck. And if the “ideal you” that you’ve always wanted to be is something different than what you are today, clinging to your stories will keep you from ever making that real.
In the hundreds of calls I’ve done with people who want to become their own boss and have real financial freedom, I’ve heard a handful of reasons over and over for why they can’t do it: “I don’t have time.” “I don’t know how.” “I’ll do this once I have more money.”
And all of these excuses really boil down to one thing, in my opinion: “I’m afraid to try.”
I’ve been that excuse-maker. I’ve been a skeptic. I’ve been filled from head-to-toe with self-doubt. And I’ve come to believe that once you feel clear on what you want your life to look like, and you commit to not settling for less than that, then nothing can stop you. The excuses get shoved aside.
You are your own problem, which means you’re also your solution. You don’t have to know how to start creating your dream life—start anyway. Be an inspired idiot.
Q: What does feminism mean to you?
A: Feminism, to me, is about empowering people to make choices about their lives and bodies regardless of societal pressure. It’s about oppressed people finding their voices, being vulnerable, and having the courage to go after what they want—no matter their gender or sexual orientation.
As much as a lot of us believe that we live in a world of equality today, I don’t believe we do. And as much as it sucks that we still have such a long way to go in all people being treated with equal respect, I actually think it creates an exciting opportunity.
Personally, when I achieve something that I’m insanely proud of…
Lifting more than double my body weight
Hearing that my newsletter or coaching call helped someone take the leap to leave their job
Having a 60% sales close rate
Achieving awards, scholarships, and career opportunities
I feel even more proud BECAUSE I’m a woman. Living in a world where women are still treated as less than men makes it SO much more gratifying when you see a woman succeed because you know that she persevered in spite of any pressures and prejudices.
MORE ABOUT KELSEY: If you’ve read this far, then you might find it amusing to know that this is why my partner and I called our brand “inspired idiots.” So many of us want more out of life than what we’ve settled for, but we’ve become accustomed to believing that it’s not realistic for us to have everything we want… -to be financially free -to have time to work on our bodies and feel good about ourselves -to have the freedom to travel the world.
But you truly do have the power to make your life look like whatever you want it to. And once you commit to that, you just need to be willing to be an inspired idiot for a while — someone who has no idea what they’re doing, but they know they’re going to keep trying until they figure it out.
I’m a proud Canadian! Just outside of Winnipeg, Manitoba! (not sure how proud I am of that part—just kidding!)
“My story is a bit scattered, but one important lesson I want people to take away from it is to not be discouraged by others’ judgments or let them hinder you from pursuing your dreams in life.”
Q: What are you passionate about?
A: Since my teenage years, my dream has always been to become a boiler maker in metal fabrication. After finishing high school in year 10, I pursued a pre-apprenticeship to speed up the qualification process by two years. As I completed my second year at TAFE, I secured a job doing Fifo and had everything set up for the next chapter of my life. However, everything came to a halt when I found out I was pregnant with our first child at the age of 17. This put my career on hold as we welcomed our first baby when I was 18. We were young and had very little, but my partner managed to get a job as a Trade Assistant in the mines doing Fifo. We ended up moving to a town called Hopetoun, and shortly after, we had a girl. As our family continued to grow, we decided to move back to our previous location to be closer to our family. My partner worked his way up the ranks and landed a 4/1 roster up north. It was challenging, but he made all the sacrifices for the sake of our family’s future.
Fast forward a few years and five babies later, we found ourselves in a comfortable position in life. However, I had a lingering desire to get back into the workforce. At the age of 28, having not worked since I was 17, it was difficult to re-enter the metal fabrication field. I also wanted to be present for our kids, so I postponed pursuing my passion. One day, as I was browsing through courses and considering the direction technology was heading, I realized that qualifying as a digital marketer would be a great opportunity. This is where I discovered my true passion. I worked diligently and launched my agency this year. It started off slow, but once I secured my first client, the rest followed. I dedicated my free time to building trust with my clients, and now I am able to not only help my partner but also fund our family vacations, all while working from the comfort of my home.
Q: What were your younger years like?
A: In my younger years, it was just my mum and me. I come from a big family of nine, but there is a significant age gap between my siblings and me. As a result, I grew up feeling like an only child at home. My parents separated when I was young, but I didn’t feel much impact from it in my life. At the age of 6, my mum met my stepfather, who I believe was a godsend. He has played a pivotal role in shaping the woman I am today and has always been my biggest supporter. He helped me with my education and even guided me through parenthood. He taught me the difference between right and wrong and showed me everything I know. My education was a bit unstable as I struggled with being associated with the wrong crowd. However, I had a school principal who never gave up on me. He guided me towards the right path so that I could make something of myself. I am eternally grateful for his guidance and his refusal to give up on me. During this time, I also managed to secure a weekend job as a kitchen hand in a local pub. This experience taught me a lot about responsibility and teamwork. By the age of 14, I had worked my way up the ladder and earned a full position working alongside the chef. I was responsible for fryer duties and even began organizing shifts and workers. We lived in a small town in the bush, on a farm, and it was truly the best. Now that I live in the city, I am grateful for the upbringing I had. City life and farm life are two very different lifestyles.
Q: What is something valuable you’d like others to know?
A: My story is a bit scattered, but one important lesson I want people to take away from it is to not be discouraged by others’ judgments or let them hinder you from pursuing your dreams in life. I had many people doubting me, saying that what I was doing was a waste of time and money and that I would never achieve anything. However, I proved them wrong. I didn’t really care about their opinions; I did what I needed to do to create a better future for my family. You are never too young or too old to start something new. Believe in yourself, and everything else will fall into place. Remember, you are the only one who can change your own story.
Q: What does feminism mean to you?
A: Feminism encompasses the quest for equality and justice, aiming to provide equal opportunities for all individuals to flourish. It confronts the hierarchies that confine us due to gender and advocates for the rights and acknowledgment of marginalized groups. To me, feminism also embraces personal autonomy and the appreciation of diverse life choices. It is a call to actively dismantle obstacles and foster inclusivity in all aspects of existence.
MORE ABOUT SARIAH: Thank you for reading my story! I tried my best to fit it in without writing a book on my life. I feel so humbled I get to share a bit about myself and what I do with other like-minded women. I help small to medium-sized businesses, and I enjoy combining my skills in digital marketing and Magnetic Mind Coaching to help businesses increase their lead and sales flow by 3-5 times using proven marketing systems. My approach is based on The TAP System, which was developed by The Digital Marketing School. This group of entrepreneurs currently invests over $500,000 per month in advertising with profitable outcomes.
Upon learning this system, I realized that many businesses complicate their lead-generation process unnecessarily. If you are ready to take control of the number of leads and sales entering your business, the TAP system is the perfect solution for you.
Let’s get connected and create a Structured Emotional Clarity Clear Vision marketing game plan that aligns with your desired end result.
Q and A with Sherry originally from North Bay, Ontario, living in Epsom, Surrey
“Grit, determination, willingness to learn, perseverance, having a positive attitude, being someone nice to work with, and consistent action are what will set you apart from the masses.”
Q: What are you passionate about?
A: From a young age, I’ve been driven by a passion for people and travel. I started working at the age of 15, cleaning cottages, which sparked my desire for customer-facing roles. I was outgoing and a good communicator, and at the age of 16, I walked into a convenience store one day, asked for the manager, extended my hand, and introduced myself. I think he was so caught off guard, and he gave me the job right then and there after a 20-minute conversation. This journey led me from working in a convenience store in my hometown of North Bay, Ontario, to administrative positions, and eventually to the bustling HR scene in London, U.K. My experience ranges from recruitment in financial services to managing HR for start-ups, where I thrived in creating dynamic, efficient work environments.
When I moved into an administrative role for a computer store, I worked with a fabulous financial controller who took me under her wing. She was responsible for all finances and people stuff, and it was there that I realized I wanted to move into some type of HR Role.
After a few years working for the computer store, I decided to move to the city of Toronto, Ontario, to seek better opportunities. I met with some recruitment agencies and eventually was placed in a recruitment role with a leading financial services recruitment firm. It wasn’t exactly HR, but it was a step in the right direction.
During the three years of working for the recruitment agency, I found some success, received some awards, and was transferred to their office in Vancouver, British Columbia, where I met candidates passing through while travelling. There were a lot of Australians and New Zealanders who would come to Vancouver looking for temp work and I was responsible for interviewing them. Hearing their stories of travelling the world, spending time in Europe, etc., inspired me, and so, I started to look at how I could do the same.
I moved to London, U.K., in 2004 on a working holiday visa to stay only two years. I knew wholeheartedly that I wanted to work in HR to gain more experience while I was traveling on weekends and holiday breaks because the holiday entitlement in the U.K. is so good compared to Canada. I was placed in some contracts with some big financial institutions and gained some exceptional training along the way. I held a number of different contracts, mostly in the financial services space, however I just felt I hadn’t truly found my niche. However, I was honing my HR skills along the way and started to work for SME companies. That is where I began to find my passion for start-ups.
I loved the buzz of the start-up environment, with having a blank slate to set up operations, policies, processes, and technology. I also love the employee experience element and helping people find their passions, hone their talents, and stay motivated. Start-up life is not for the faint-hearted, but it kept me energized and I worked with some top talent along the way.
Following the last five years of contributing to building a fintech start-up with an exceptional group of people, I decided that my family priorities needed to shift. With my daughter growing up, and me working 15 hours a day, I was missing out on some crucial moments of her life. So, I decided to take some time out to spend time with my family, plan a trip to Thailand, which we just completed, and figure out my next move.
As fate would have it, I met a woman (Lisa Smith) who introduced me to the travel business while I was planning our trip to Thailand. She discussed the business opportunity with me and showed me how I could make commissions on selling travel and earning a residual income through multiple streams over time too. So, I took the opportunity head-on as it was something I was excited and passionate about. The start-up costs are low and the group of people I’m in business with are the most supportive and creative individuals I have met. Plus, it allows me to be here for my family, work from anywhere, and I’m building something on my own terms that I’m passionate about.
Now, I can combine my love for exploration with entrepreneurship, running a travel business that also helps others achieve work-life balance and financial independence.
Q: What were your younger years like?
A: I grew up in Canada and lived there until the age of 27 before moving to the U.K. My mother was 15 years old when she had me with my biological father, who was 17 at the time. My mum met my stepdad (whom I call dad), who raised me when I was four years old, and he worked in the airline industry as a buyer of plane parts. We moved to Calgary, Alberta, when I was six and then moved back east to North Bay, in Northern Ontario, when I was 10. I spent my teens there until I moved to Toronto and then Vancouver before I came to London, U.K., in 2004.
I was an average student in school, always had to work hard to get good grades and I did okay. I moved out of my parent’s house at the young age of 16 and worked full-time while completing secondary school. I didn’t see a way to support myself through university, nor did I know what I wanted to study, and I was motivated to work to support myself. My mum and dad were always hard workers as they were young and trying to survive while supporting our little family. I would say I get my work ethic from my dad as he worked in a professional environment and would sometimes bring me into the office, which sparked my professional curiosity. I recall sitting at an old-style typewriter, entertaining myself by pretending I worked there and typing gibberish.
My upbringing was a little chaotic having young parents, but they did the best they could. There was little direction from them in terms of life skills and schooling, and I was left to make my own choices. I was influenced by my maternal grandmother too, who was a big part of my life and helped raise me those first six years in particular. She is turning 102 in July, and I would say she passed down her tenacious and feisty spirit to survive in life. During my school years, I excelled in sports and music, but as I didn’t have a lot of family support or encouragement to guide me, I didn’t progress further than just school competitions. I would say my overall upbringing was nontraditional and all about survival and learning as I go, and the paths taken in my journey have always been a little off the beaten track. It has given me the ability to look at life practically, tackle obstacles head-on, and always keep my eyes open to new opportunities.
My dad was big into camping and fishing, so I learned from an early age basic survival skills in the great outdoors, and to this day, the outdoors is my grounding place when I’m feeling stressed or overwhelmed. I’m an adventurer at heart, and I love to see the world through fresh eyes and experiences, which is why I think the travel business suits me so well.
Every element of my upbringing prepared me for a life of adaptability and perseverance.
Q: What is something valuable you’d like others to know?
A: Surround yourself with experienced, positive, and motivated people who can help guide you and keep being curious, asking questions, and absorbing all the information you can. Growing and learning isn’t just about going to the most elite university. Skills can be taught on the job, but a good attitude and willingness to learn are deep within you. Grit, determination, willingness to learn, perseverance, having a positive attitude, being someone nice to work with, and consistent action are what will set you apart from the masses. Don’t underestimate yourself or let others do that either. Just because you have taken a different path to the masses, doesn’t make you any less valuable.
Q: What does feminism mean to you?
A: Feminism is the pursuit of equality and justice, ensuring everyone has equal opportunities to thrive. It challenges the structures that limit us based on gender and advocates for the rights and recognition of all marginalized groups. For me, feminism is also about personal autonomy and respecting diverse life choices–it’s a call to actively dismantle barriers and promote inclusiveness in every facet of life.
MORE ABOUT SHERRY:
I run an independent travel business and coach working professionals who are burnt out and looking for a career shift towards more work-life balance, flexibility, and independence, and who want to travel themselves.
I give people a chance to run their own businesses and profit from the travel industry by earning commissions on all travel arrangements and events they organize! This includes bookings made for themselves, loved ones, or clients.
My business is proudly affiliated with InteleTravel, which is a reputable business that has been thriving for over 30 years and stands as one of the UK’s top independent travel agencies! Some of the benefits of working with this business are:
✅ Working remotely from anywhere on any device, mobile phone📲 iPad, or laptop 💻
✅ Being your own boss and determining your own hours
✅ No targets or deadlines & No prior experience needed
If you’re curious about what it takes to be your own boss in an exciting and growing travel industry and would like more information👇, Visit our social media sites and website and get in contact.
*This business opportunity offers unlimited earning potential with the best compensation structure around. A minimal initial fee is required for training and access to our travel platform and partners.
Q and A with Shannon C. from Cupertino, California, United States
“Many don’t realize you can appear to be a confident and capable high-achiever with low self-esteem at the same time.”
Q: What are you passionate about?
A: Wellness! Specifically “alchemy,” but not in the conventional sense. I help people become the best versions of themselves. I’m all about natural, holistic methods that are equal parts science and spirituality. My brain works on both sides—I’m often described as hyper-logical, scientific, and analytical, while also intuitive and creative at the same time. I’m happy to say that all my solutions bridge these two together!
I’ve pioneered something called the “IAM Method.” It stands for “inner alchemy mastery,” and it uses evidence-based methodologies as a basis for spiritual practices that enhance people’s lives. People interested in psychic independence, self-development, and manifestation would benefit most from it.
At some point, I’m also going to develop “skin alchemy.” This is for people struggling with atopic dermatitis [eczema]. It is a natural and sustainable method to heal from the inside out. I’m excited about that one because I think it can change a lot of lives.
Q: What were your younger years like?
A: I grew up happily and healthily in a “bubble.” It was always safe for me, I felt very taken care of, and I was fiercely protected by a loving family!
But being in a predominantly Asian-American immigrant community, I wasn’t completely shielded from insecurity, scarcity, and fixed mindsets from the culture of older generations. They trickled down into my school environment. Everything was a competition, and external validation in the form of good grades, accomplishments, and prestige became my primary motivators for success. This automatically disqualified me from pursuing a career as a pop music producer and recording artist, which was an area I expressed extreme passion and skill. I spent every waking moment teaching myself audio engineering instead of studying. I went on to study statistics at the University of California, Berkeley (side note: 100% a successful manifestation story, but for another time).
Many don’t realize you can appear to be a confident and capable high-achiever with low self-esteem at the same time. Later in life, I discovered the type of environment I grew up in was the formula for low self-esteem. My intellect, hard work, and manifesting carried me through college, my first job, and even a complete career change in four years, but I hit a wall. I knew I could do better.
I became very interested in psycho-cybernetics, or reconstructing the self-concept. I read so much about neuroplasticity, psychology, persuasion, meditation, self-development, and anything remotely esoteric and magical. In 2022, I took a gamble: quit, left everything behind, and spent about 15 months in isolation in the middle of the woods. I was very lucky to have that experience. It wasn’t exactly the wilderness (I stayed in my sister’s beautiful vacation house, with floor-to-ceiling glass windows on all sides). This was transformational, big-time! In complete isolation, this experience allowed me to chip away at my self-concept. It was hard work, but it was healing!
That’s what I bring to the table for anyone else struggling with the same things—people feeling disconnected, wanting more from life, burnt-out, breaking free of their “selves” and unlocking their potential. Coming out of college and entering the workforce as an adult for the first time is huge, and people often go through the motions without really thinking about it. But this period in life is when a lot of unresolved issues start to pop up. Issues don’t get better in time; they fester until they burst. It’s something that can be avoided, and it’s so much nicer when someone is supporting you through it!
Q: What is something valuable you’d like others to know?
A: It’s a common assumption these days to feel burnt out and say you need to take a vacation. Or go to the spa, or go shopping, or treat yourself, or to do something relaxing. While traveling and these other things do help with self-discovery, they don’t help with healing, reprogramming the subconscious, or unlocking potential! Not to mention, there’s a whole world of self-development and spirituality accessible to us. Things like manifesting can be fun and life-changing!
Q: What does feminism mean to you?
A: For me, feminism encompasses both emotional and tangible dimensions. Emotionally, it signifies the liberation to pursue individual happiness, countering historical norms that confined women to predetermined roles dictated by a patriarchal society. There was a time when “gender” was synonymous with “biological sex at birth,” and where “women” was synonymous with “biological female.” Under conventional definitions, we were expected to look, behave, and function in a way that primarily served others, almost like written prescriptions. As victims of oppression, we weren’t free to be individuals; we were taught to be good wives, mothers, and sisters. Feminism represents the opposite of that. While it’s an ongoing movement, it means conventional definitions of women are becoming obsolete, and the pressure for us to meet society’s expectations will continue to fade away.
Tangibly, feminism manifests in the pursuit of equal opportunities across political (voting rights), socioeconomic (education, employment, compensation), and physical realms (reproductive rights). Personally, feminism enables me to pursue my professional aspirations without judgment, while also preserving the option to prioritize starting a family should I choose. To me, it represents freedom and choice, and it’s a movement that empowers us to define paths on our own terms.
More from Shannon C. The best way to get in touch with me is through email at shannon@alchemyxaura.com.
The Woman Wednesday Blog 