7. Transforming Health Challenges Into Opportunity - Career Pivots
Release Date: 12/30/2021
S3 E25: Always Create Opportunities with Tanzila Khan
Curious Monica
Embark on an inspiring journey with , a trailblazing Pakistani entrepreneur, disability rights advocate, and author. From her early days hustling soap and friendship bracelets to her groundbreaking work as the creator of the Woopie Town board game, Tanzila's story is one of resilience, innovation, and unwavering determination. Born with disabilities, Tanzila defied expectations and transformed adversity into opportunity. Her experiences have fueled her passion for challenging societal norms and reshaping perceptions surrounding disability. Through her advocacy and global travels, she has...
info_outline
S3 E24: Rethink Inclusion Innovation as an Ally with Sandy Lacey
Curious Monica
was always passionate about innovation and community-building. In the first half of her career she was a renewable energy innovator. From starting companies, ecosystems, and innovation centers, she built a knack for bringing out the best in people and seeing the small to big picture to ignite new thinking across industries and communities. While she loved what she did, she was hungry to learn more. So when she came across an incredible opportunity at the Perskins School for the Blind, she dove all in. While she was new to the disability ecosystem, the leadership at Perkins made it clear - 'We...
info_outline
S3 E23: Design for Accessibility with Kevin H. Yoo
Curious Monica
When learned of his friend Marcus's impending blindness, he was inspired to make a difference. Drawing on his expertise in industrial and product design, Kevin embarked on a journey to address a crucial challenge in technology accessibility, revolutionizing navigation for the visually impaired. This journey led to the founding of Haptic (previously WearWorks), dedicated to crafting not only functional but visually-appealing products accessible to all. Through his innovative use of touch and elegant design principles, Kevin reimagined accessible navigation. Today, Haptic (previously WearWorks)...
info_outline
S3 E22: Turning Adversity into Advantages. Why Self-Esteem Matters with Xian Horn
Curious Monica
Low points, adversities, and feeling stuck are all challenges we sometimes face as innovators. It's part of the process of doing something new and living life as a human being. The key is what you do when you face these moments and how you get back up. Meet , national disability advocate leader and founder of Give Beauty Wings, who is changing how we engage with self-esteem and understand disability. Xian grew up loved and supported as a half-Asian woman with cerebral palsy. In-fact, the first time she felt hurt for being different wasn't because she was disabled but rather because she...
info_outline
S3 E21: Be Willing to Reinvent Yourself to Grow with Erica Vogel
Curious Monica
You can't do anything about an opportunity you do not take. This is the mantra that gave the courage to always reinvent and adapt herself - professionally and personally. Erica is an award-winning Senior Product Manager with 20+ years of experience in design, strategy and product management, currently working at Kforce Inc. She is also a queer, transgender woman who is passionate about cultivating safe, inclusive spaces for LGTQIA+ people to thrive. It wasn't always easy reinventing yourself, but it taught Erica an important lesson in life that helps her thrive as an innovator today - you...
info_outline
S3 E20: Be True to Yourself and Follow Your Curiosity with Trung T. Tieu
Curious Monica
Find your tribe and surround yourself with positive, supportive people. Growing up gay in a traditional Catholic, Asian household, faced challenges in expressing his identity. It took time for him to come out to his family and loved ones. But once he did, he embraced his truth wholeheartedly. Throughout his career journey, Trung found alignment between his passion for representation and his interest in supply chain and business while actively participating in LGBTQ+ Employee Resource Networks (ERNs). Today, as the supplier diversity manager at Wells Fargo, Trung is a sought-after leader...
info_outline
S3 E19: Love the Story You Live in By Looking Forward Instead of Dwelling in the Past with Yao Zhao
Curious Monica
Growing up in a very traditional Chinese family in Chongqing, China as a gay man brought both happiness and difficulties. Still, Yao Zhao learned early on how important it is to focus on seeing every moment as an opportunity to learn and rewriting the narrative to growth. From how he became passionate about renewable energy to becoming the Founder and CEO of 50Hertz Tingly Foods, Yao never lets the challenges and changes stop him from pursuing what he wants to do. When he rediscovered his favorite flavor in a pasta dish, a green pepper oil that his mother often used, he realized he was onto...
info_outline
S3 E18: Write Your Own Story and Claim Your Seat at the Table with Jenn T. Grace
Curious Monica
has always been drawn to the transformative power of storytelling. Her affinity for communication and marketing, intertwined with her passion for storytelling, wasn't merely coincidental. Friends and family often sought her out to navigate explanations or bridge communication gaps during conflicts, finding solace and guidance in her ability to connect the dots. However, embracing her own narrative didn't happen overnight. Today, Jenn stands as the Founder & CEO of , a thriving independent publishing brand that has facilitated the sharing of voices from over 200 individuals worldwide by...
info_outline
S3 E17: Take the Path Less Travelled with Designer Kimberly Wong
Curious Monica
Fashion designer is not shy about building her own path. Today Kim is the founder of Cukimberly, a successful brand of original and colorful print, jewelry, clothes, and accessories in New York. But her journey into fashion was somewhat atypical, and in a way represented the very strength of her unique approaches to creativity and her work as an artist. Kim always loved art, but growing up Asian-American meant that she was encouraged to pursue a traditional career in business. Instead, she paved her own path, going to Japan and becoming an English teacher, and then starting her career in...
info_outline
S3 E16: Disrupt Industries with Agility and Determination with Scott Sassa
Curious Monica
The lack of a traditional background in business did not stop young from dreaming of a future in Hollywood. He didn't like school nor wanted to finish college but he loved learning and was determined to find a path for his dream career - even if that meant calling the same office every day until they gave him a chance for an interview. Today, is renowned for disrupting numerous industries as an intrapreneur, establishing large-scale businesses within corporations. As an American entertainment executive, he has occupied several high-level positions in prominent entertainment companies such as...
info_outlineThe pandemic gave us all a taste of what it’s like when health challenges derail our business models and careers. Some people have already had to overcome health challenges in order to succeed, and for the guests on this podcast today, we were able to transform their pain into inspiration for their lives and career changes. Being able to overcome challenges, especially health challenges, takes an incredible amount of resilience. And it takes creativity to be able to apply the lessons we’ve learned from those challenges into our careers. In this episode, we highlight the incredibly inspirational stories of Michelle de Matheu and D. Anthony Evans who pushed through their darkest health moments to find inspiration and a career.
Subscribe today. Curious Monica is hosted by Monica H. Kang and InnovatorsBox. Learn more at curiousmonica.com. Find summary notes here.