Who are the women that shaped you?

My mother shaped me profoundly. She raised me with discipline, resilience, and unwavering faith - very much the strong, traditional Asian mother. She instilled in me the belief that we do not give up, that we endure, and that we pray through every season. Her strength became the backbone of mine.

When I first moved to the US as a young mom, I had a Russian neighbor who took me under her wing. In a brand new country, navigating motherhood and adulthood at the same time, she cared for me with such gentleness. She taught me how to cook, how to grocery shop wisely, and how to build a home from scratch. Through her, I learned not just recipes, but culture, hospitality, and the power of quiet kindness.

A few years later, I met a Vietnamese neighbour who also had two toddlers. We were raising children side by side. She worked a demanding full-time remote job while nurturing her family with intention. What inspired me most wasn’t that she was “doing it all”. It was that she chose her life with strength and grace. She showed me that capability and care can coexist. That ambition and motherhood are not opposites, but partners.

Each of these women showed me different expressions of strength - discipline, nurture, resilience, and faith.

What’s a belief you had to unlearn to step into the woman you are today?

I had to unlearn the idea that I couldn’t “have it all.”

For a long time, I believed I had to choose - be ambitious in business or be fully present as a mother and wife. That success in one area would require sacrifice in another.

What I’ve come to understand is that it’s not about doing everything perfectly at once, it’s about integration. It’s about seasons, boundaries, and defining success on your own terms. I can be devoted to my family and deeply committed to my vision. I don’t have to shrink one identity to honor the other.

I’ve learned that fulfillment isn’t either/or. It’s intentionally designing a life where both can coexist.

What’s a belief you had to unlearn to step into the woman you are today?
That I had to have everything figured out before taking a step forward. I’ve learned that growth happens by doing, not waiting until I feel “ready.”

Who are the women who shaped you?
My best friends & Mariah Carey.

What makes you feel confident?

Honestly? The perfect outfit. When I feel good in what I’m wearing, it shows in everything else. I dress for the girls, so I really love when someone asks where I got something, I love to share my wardrobe finds!

What’s a belief you had to unlearn to step into the woman you are today?

Oh gosh this is such a good question, I had to do a lot of work around self worth and imposter syndrome. Believing you belong in the room and allowing yourself to take up space is 80% of the battle, followed by preparation for the role you're being asked to play. I had to unlearn an entire subconscious belief system that I wasn't good enough, or the thing I wanted wasn't attainable for me. Once I did that the world opened up, my priorities changed, I stopped caring what others thought, and I attracted better opportunities and partnerships.

What makes you feel confident?
I always prepare myself and think positively, which helps me stay confident in my work and daily life.

What’s a belief you had to unlearn to step into the woman you are today?
Negative thinking has never crossed my mind; I believe this is what has brought me to where I am today