SFIO 208 - Still Figuring Out What Leadership Really Means with Thu Hue Nguyen
Release Date: 06/17/2025
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SFIO 208 - Still Figuring Out What Leadership Really Means with Thu Hue Nguyen
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📋 Episode Summary In this powerful episode, Marc and Emily sit down with Thu Hue Nguyen, a nonprofit founder, Obama Fellow, and leadership coach based in Hanoi, Vietnam. Together they explore the realities of leading through challenge, the evolution from founder to coach, and why investing in leadership development is essential—especially in resource-scarce sectors. Thu Hue shares how she transitioned from law into ocean and fisheries work, and how crisis moments taught her that leadership is not innate—it can be learned. With refreshing honesty, she talks about learning to let go,...
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SFIO 207-Story, Identity, and 30 Years Together
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SFIO 206 - Curiosity, Clarity, and Catalysts: SFIO with Cherian Koshy
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In this episode, Marc and Emily welcome their longtime friend and colleague Cherian Koshy—a nonprofit leader, AI entrepreneur, international speaker, and one of the earliest champions of the Quadrant 3 Leadership Coach Certification. They reflect on how their friendship started during early-pandemic Zoom happy hours and evolved into shared coaching, learning, and laughs across years and time zones. Cherian shares his take on identity, career shifts, and curiosity—from his time pioneering AI use in fundraising to his deep appreciation for the Iowa State Fair (yes, it’s serious). He...
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SFIO 205 - Backward Goals, Brewery Goals, and Bathroom Adventures
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SFIO 204 - What We’re Still Figuring Out—Professionally and Personally
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SFIO 203 - What a Year: Loss, Learning, and Lots of Play
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SFIO 202: Messy Growth, Inner Wisdom, and Leadership That Lasts
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SFIO 201 - Embracing the Messy
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Episode Summary Welcome to Season 2! In this honest and often humorous episode, Marc A. Pitman, CSP, and Emily Pitman, ACC, CPCC, reflect on their journey from the launch of their podcast to now. They talk about the initial tech struggles (hello, 18-minute setup delays), learning new tools like Hindenburg Pro, and the unexpected joy of growing together through the messiness of podcasting. You’ll hear about their commitment to showing up imperfectly, lessons from editing and production, and the evolving way they think about their message, their marriage, and their work in leadership and...
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1.4 Podcast Research
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Episode Summary In this enlightening episode of "We're Still Figuring This Out," hosts Marc and Emily Pitman dive into the intricacies of podcasting, sharing personal insights, and reflections on their journey as podcast creators. They explore the themes of intentional living, relationship dynamics, and the balance between humor and respect. Join them as they navigate the challenges and rewards of creating content that is both meaningful and engaging. Timestamps [00:00] Introduction: The origins of "We're Still Figuring This Out." [00:21] Meet Emily Pitman: Leadership coach, creative, and...
info_outlineđź“‹ Episode Summary
In this powerful episode, Marc and Emily sit down with Thu Hue Nguyen, a nonprofit founder, Obama Fellow, and leadership coach based in Hanoi, Vietnam. Together they explore the realities of leading through challenge, the evolution from founder to coach, and why investing in leadership development is essential—especially in resource-scarce sectors.
Thu Hue shares how she transitioned from law into ocean and fisheries work, and how crisis moments taught her that leadership is not innate—it can be learned. With refreshing honesty, she talks about learning to let go, inspire others, and coach teams instead of simply managing them.
This episode is rich with insights for leaders, founders, and coaches who are navigating transition or asking, "Am I doing this right?" Spoiler: if you’re asking, you’re probably on the right track.
🔑 Key Takeaways
- Leadership isn’t born—it’s built, often through challenges and reflection.
- Coaching helps leaders shift from control to empowerment.
- Founders often struggle to ask for help—but that’s when true leadership growth begins.
- Leadership development is worth investing in, even when resources feel tight.
- Great leaders create space for others, offer clear direction, and stay connected to vision and mission.
đź—Ł Quote Highlights
“You learn leadership by being in motion—by tripping and standing back up.” – Marc
“When people leave, we often realize we should’ve had that conversation a month ago.” – Thu Hue
“Founders lead down and up. If no one’s pulling them up, the system breaks.” – Marc
🌍 About the Guest
Thu Hue Nguyen is a Vietnamese social entrepreneur and nonprofit leader dedicated to sustainable development in coastal communities. She has served on numerous boards, supports fisheries and fisherpeople, and is an alum of the prestigious Obama Foundation Fellowship. She’s also a certified leadership coach through the Quadrant 3 framework.
🎺 That Music!
Special thanks to Lexi Moreno, Caleb Pitman, and Zoe Czarnecki for the original music. Lexi Moreno: composing, mixing, mastering, guitar; Caleb Pitman: composing, mixing, trumpet; Zoe Czarnecki: bass.