Home: Katonah, NY. Birthplace: Saigon, Vietnam. Profession: Consultant, entrepreneur, business executive. Organization: Meta Leadership Design (MLD). Title: Co-Founder & CEO Flourish and LIMINAL | Former IBM Vice President for Innovation & THINK Labs | Executive Consultant and Coach. Pronouns: She/Her/Hers. Alma mater: Stanford University; Lehigh University. Languages spoken: Vietnamese, English.
Current project: Building a purpose-driven company. Recent professional development: Hendricks Institute Evolutionary Playground and Body Intelligence Classes. What’s been your big (or biggest) leap? I am taking my biggest leap right now. What business accomplishment are you most proud of? Creating the Global Think Labs at IBM Research. Recent travel or adventure: Antibes and Paris, France. Last book read: At the Speed of Life, by Gay and Kathlyn Hendricks.
Personality profile: Energetic, resilient, grit and grace. What one word would your closest friend use to describe you? Caring. Moral compass: I am practicing to trust my heart more. How do you define an ideal business relationship? I like to work with people who share my purpose, expand and challenge my point of view and with whom I can laugh easily. What is your greatest joy? My family’s laughter; a California mid-coast drive on Route 1 with my husband. What is your guilty pleasure? Shopping and dim sum. What natural talent have you neglected? Design. What occupation, other than your own, do you most admire? Writers.
What three emojis best describe you?🧘🏻♀️🍜 👨👩👧👧.
How do you relieve stress? Breathing. What ingredient is essential to your perfect vacation? The unexpected and a well-designed apartment/hotel. What is your go-to workout? Yoga.
What book have you repeatedly read? The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion. What’s featured prominently on your home or office wall? William Faulkner's acceptance speech upon receiving the Nobel Prize for literature. Who has had the greatest influence on your life? My mother and my teachers. What is the best advice you received growing up? It’s nice to be important but it’s more important to be nice. What is the best advice you received in your career? Seek what you love and the money will follow. What modern technology innovation do you most appreciate? Handheld milk frother for my coffee. What world event has had the greatest influence on your life? The Vietnam War. What company or organization do you most admire? IBM Research.
What change are you working on to effect in your profession or field? The adoption and scaling of conscious leadership, particularly in hyper growth companies. What message do you want to send out into the world? There is no such thing as work-life balance; it's all life. The balance has to be within you. What widely held belief do you reject? Time is finite.
How would you choose to spend tomorrow, if you knew it was your last day on earth? Discovering a new place with my family and eating all of our favorite foods together. What advice would you give your younger self? You are safe to explore and take chances.
Personal mission: Expand in abundance, success and love everyday, as I inspire others around me to do the same. Favorite quote: "Our work is to make ourselves visible in the world. This is the soul's individual journey, and the soul would much rather fail at its own life than succeed at someone else’s" (David Whyte).
