3. Soleiman Dias From Brazil to Korea, Building Community Across Continents

My "Different" Path. Soleiman is the Director of Alumni & Int'l Relations at Chadwick International.

What motivates someone to leave the familiarity of their homeland to pursue a career thousands of miles away? In this episode, we're joined by Soleiman, a Brazilian-born educator whose journey from Brazil to South Korea is nothing short of extraordinary. Soleiman story is one of resilience and determination as he navigates the cultural and linguistic hurdles of his adopted country, ultimately becoming a pioneering figure in international education. From launching cultural immersion programs to becoming the first admissions director at Chadwick International, Soleiman shares his insights on adapting to new environments and his passion for seeing his alumni thrive on a global scale.

Growing up in a family that valued service, inclusivity, and innovation, Soleiman childhood was steeped in the principles that would later guide his career. We explore the significant moments that shaped his path, like organizing independent trips, and his bold decision to leave Brazil in search of new horizons. Solomon talks candidly about the influence of his parents, particularly his mother, whose passing left a profound impact on him. These formative experiences instilled in him the drive to continually challenge himself and seek growth, whether in Brazil, the US, or his long-term home in South Korea.

This episode is a testament to the power of perseverance and community. We delve into Solomon's academic journey, including the emotional highs and lows of completing a PhD in a foreign language. Despite intense challenges, Soleiman's dedication to education and leadership shines through as he builds supportive communities for fellow expatriates. His story serves as a powerful reminder to seize every moment and remain open to new possibilities, ensuring we never become too comfortable to grow. Join us as we uncover the wisdom and life lessons from a life lived with purpose and passion.

Feel free to leave comments here!

Episode Transcript

Soleiman Dias (00:01):
We have a word in Portuguese that there's no
translation, but it's like whenyou are in a comfort zone, you
have this sofa and you're justso relaxed that you'll never
think about anything else andyou stay in that sofa for the
rest of your life.
We call it acomodado.

Daniel Koo (00:17):
It's like.

Soleiman Dias (00:17):
It means you have zero growth in your life.

Daniel Koo (00:20):
As comfortable and nice that sounds.
I think that's true.
When we stop growing and whenwe get too comfortable, we stop
experiencing life.
Welcome to my Perfect Path, ashow about chasing dreams and
developing careers.
In today's episode, myDifferent Path, we take a look
at Solomon's career.

(00:41):
He's the head of internationalrelations and alumni relations
at Chadwick International.
That's an international K-12school located in South Korea.
Not only that, he foundedmultiple multicultural
associations in Korea, but hisstory is unique in that he was
born and raised in Brazil andsomehow, after his education in
the US, he ends up spending morethan two decades in Korea,

(01:03):
during which he gets a PhD in aKorean university, defending it
in the US.
He ends up spending more thantwo decades in Korea, during
which he gets a PhD in a Koreanuniversity, defending it in the
Korean language.
Could you imagine going to theopposite side of the earth,
learning a new language andbecoming proficient enough to do
a PhD?
Many of us don't venture thatfar out.
We like to stay in our comfortzones.
I would pay attention to theincredible journey Solomon

(01:24):
experiences as he pushes himselfto be different.
Also, for some additionalcontext, solomon is in the
admissions team for the school Igraduated from, I joined in the
seventh grade and we've knowneach other since then.
So Solomon and I are dearfriends and have known each
other for a while.
What's more interesting is thatwhen I was in elementary school

(01:45):
, he taught English at the verysame school.
We only found out later, butthat was an incredible
coincidence, so I'm very excitedto present his story to you.
Hope you enjoy the episode.
Solomon, welcome to my PerfectPath.
I'm thrilled to have you here.
Thank you, daniel.
It's a pleasure to be here.
It's great to meet you in Korea.

Soleiman Dias (02:03):
Thank you, daniel , it's a pleasure to be here.

Daniel Koo (02:05):
It's great to meet you in Korea.
Right now we're located inSongdo, back in my high school
actually, and Solomon is part ofthe admissions team at Chadwick
International.

Soleiman Dias (02:15):
Yeah, so since we started, I had the pleasure to
be part of the ChadwickInternational history from its
scratch.

Daniel Koo (02:21):
Yeah, Solomon was there since the very beginning
of when I went to this school.
I came in as a seventh graderhere and he's been there ever
since.
So we're very close and he'shad a very interesting career.
He came all the way from Braziland ended up in Korea, which is
polar opposites, as you love toput it.
So I really am excited aboutwhat we're going to talk about

(02:41):
today.
Sure, Wonderful From a highlevel.
What were some of the rolesthat you've had in the past?

Soleiman Dias (02:44):
So as soon as I came to Korea I joined a
foundation, an educationalfoundation.
My master's was internationaleducation.
So usually when you finish theprogram you are sent somewhere
or you go somewhere for thepracticum to practice what you
learn, right.
So ideally you would go to aplace where you plan to stay for

(03:05):
a few years so that you cancontinue growing in your career.
But at the time universitiesplanned to send me to China and
at the time I was, I believe,not ready to go to China, but I
had too many Korean friends andI was learning a little bit of
the language and I really wantedto come to Korea anyway to
visit them and the professionalopportunity came.

(03:28):
But anyway, just to say that myvery first role was to start a
program on cultural immersionprogram at a Korean foundation,
and they had universities andthey have elementary school.
So that was my role and theyhave elementary school, so that
was my role.
And then, a few years after Iwas here, I started my PhD

(03:48):
program and then was able tofinish and then started teaching
at university.
And then Songdo InternationalCity, where I live currently for
the last 15 years, was at thetime being built.
It's a man-made island where weare and I heard about the
project so I joined the projectfrom its beginning when the city
was still being built and thenthey built an international

(04:09):
school.
So in the international schoolI was the first admissions
director for the school for thefirst 10 years and my current
role is alumni and internationalrelations for the school.

Daniel Koo (04:21):
I think that last role actually suits you the most
.
Do you feel the same?

Soleiman Dias (04:25):
Absolutely, absolutely, in admissions.
It's interesting because wehave a chance to truly meet
every single student that willbe joining and their families,
of course.
But the school has this veryunique mission to forming global
leaders and I guess we'rereally invested in finding ways,

(04:45):
strategies to fulfill thatmission and that's why we have a
very close relationship withthe embassies in Seoul of those
different countries.
We have the United Nationsoffice here, the Green Climate
Fund, which is, you know, thenewest organ within the United
Nations group, and theheadquarters actually are here.
So this quiz is quite focused ongrowing the international

(05:08):
relations and I'm, as you knowvery well, very passionate about
it.
I think the sky's the limit.
There's so many differentthings.
We can, through internationalrelations, fulfill our mission
and also provide our studentswith greater opportunities.
And, of course, alumni provideour students with greater
opportunities.
And, of course, alumni it'sjust, I don't have my own
children and seeing, you know,our 540 alumni out there doing

(05:30):
incredible things, it's justlike seeing those 540 children
of mine that finished, graduatedfrom here and are really giving
their contribution to a betterworld.
It is fascinating indeed.

Daniel Koo (05:42):
Yeah, we'll also talk about how you started from
Brazil and ended up in Korea,but we can kind of get to it a
little bit later right now.
Could you share with us why youchose the adjective different
for the episode today?

Soleiman Dias (05:54):
Yeah.
So I think, since I was verylittle, I felt in a way, the
call to be different, so itattracted me, the idea of being
different.
For example, I come from thenortheast part of Brazil, which
is a very traditional region.
Brazil is divided in fiveregions, right, but that region
is very unique in itself, hasits own kind of customs and

(06:18):
traditions.
The food is different, the waywe talk is different, so there
are quite unique regionalcharacteristics and people.
For example, where I come from,usually they dance one kind of
dance.
They learn, let's say, you know, we have a similar system as
here in Korea to go to afterschool academies.
It's exactly the same.
And in Brazil usually you know,you go for, let's say, english,

(06:40):
right, for the English languageacademy, so you learn English.
For me that was not the case.
I wanted to learn Italian,german, esperanto.
You know different languages,end up studying at least 10
languages.
I wanted to be different.
When everyone was going forswimming lessons, I wanted to do
karate, you know, or somethingelse, judo, or when everyone was

(07:05):
really into at the beginning ofcomputers and all that my thing
was.
My father is a writer, so goingto the Academy of Literature
with him and listening to thespeeches that I did not
understand, but I was like fiveyears old, six years old, and I
insisted, I fought, I guess, tobe different.
That is something that I Idon't know if it's a lesson that
applies to everyone, but Ithink being different, you find

(07:27):
a lot of challenges, but also,at the same time, you feel
different and you are proud tobe different because you end up
doing things that no one else isdoing and you have things to
share that people say wow, Inever thought about Esperanto.
What language is that Right?
Does it even exist, right?
So I guess being differentleads to different conversations

(07:50):
, to make new friends, attractsome attention, and also part of
education I think it'ssomething that I enjoy is
telling people new things, sothat's why I'm always fascinated
about news.
I read three newspapers a dayonline, and when I'm at home,
the only thing I watch is thenews.
Because I'm always fascinatedabout news, I read three
newspapers a day online, andwhen I'm at home, the only thing
I watch is the news, becauseI'm really want to know what's
happening around the world, butalso be able to share things

(08:13):
with people when I meet them.
So I guess it's the beingdifferent is something that I
grew up with and it's still nowsomething that I you know.
When everyone is going, let'ssay, to Europe, no, I want to go
to North Korea, I want to go toperhaps you know Uzbekistan or
East Timor.
Who wants to go to East Timor,right?
So I mean, I just find itfascinating the idea of going

(08:36):
somewhere different or doingsomething that no one else is
doing.

Daniel Koo (08:40):
Let's talk a little bit about your current role,
then.
Do you think the career thatyou have right now enables you
to be different in every step?
Do you think it things becauseyou can't fail right and being
mediocre.

Soleiman Dias (09:05):
For me is the worst thing.
So I could just do my job andthat's it and go home after five
o'clock, right, so that's whenwe go home here.
I can't do that, I just cannot.
I'm not.
And being constant busy, Ithink I'm a bit too busy.
So I'm not a model for someonewho's so dedicated to do

(09:25):
something.
I think you have to find limits, and all that which I do, you
know, that's why we've gotweekends.
But the beauty of my job is theability to do new things, to
create new programs.
So I just shared a little bitabout this new community garden
program.
I'm not supposed to do thatbecause technically it's not
international, but it becamevery international because of

(09:48):
the network that we built,having our students presenting
at international events aboutthis incredible project of
working in the garden of thecity and with the city officials
and all that.
So, as I said, in whateverfield we are in, we should
absolutely think let's do verywell what we need to do.
But it becomes even moreinteresting what you do if you

(10:12):
come up with something uniquethat adds on to the flavor of
what you do every day.
So, in my capacity, absolutelyand of course I have to have a
supportive system that allows meto do it.
So, for example, we haveagreements with the embassies.
Well, we could just keep thosestudy two agreements, but I'm
thinking that's not enough.
We should have 40, maybe 50.
So my goal for next year is toadd 10 more, which is the

(10:35):
opposite of, let's say, forexample, someone that works for
the government, that you haveyour list of things you need to
do and that's it, and if you doit well, it's fine, but you
don't have to add anything.
For me, it's always in my mindwhat can I add?
What is a new thing that I canperhaps increment a little bit
on what I've been doing for along time?

Daniel Koo (10:57):
Could you tell us a little bit more about what your
role here is specifically aswell, so what kind of tasks you
have to do and what are youresponsible for?

Soleiman Dias (11:06):
Sure, it's a very unique position because it's
alumni and internationalrelations.
There's no other school that Iknow of with that title, so I'm
the director of alumni andinternational relations.
That is quite unique because Ihave to deal with all the alumni
related events, efforts,initiatives, keeping the
database, maintaining the socialmedia alive all sorts of things

(11:29):
that we typically would do withalumni relations, which is
quite unique to schools.
It's usually universities dothat very well, but it's still
kind of new for schools.
Here in Korea we're the onlyones who are actually having an
office of alumni relations,because other schools they do
things, but someone else isfulfilling that role For
international.
That is the only school that Iknow of in the world that

(11:52):
actually has something like that.

Daniel Koo (11:53):
Right To provide some context.
There are a couple ofinternational schools in Korea
and we are pretty much the onlyschool that has alumni relations
and it's kind of modeled afterChadwick School, which is back
in Palos Verdes, right, yes, andthe relations that we have are
vastly different and very useful, and very helpful to each other
.

Soleiman Dias (12:11):
so that's kind of like a responsibility that you
carry on, I guess, yes, yes,that's true.

Daniel Koo (12:17):
So now that we know what you do, now we kind of want
to go back to your earlyinfluences.
Can you share a little bitabout where you grew up and what
your childhood was like, maybea little bit of background on,
like how you grew up and howyour parents were and things
like that, just briefly.

Soleiman Dias (12:32):
Yeah, sure.
So I come from a family of Iwould perhaps call educators,
because my father, as I said,he's a writer, but he was a
professor of Portuguese languageand literature and part of the
Academy of Literature.
But he also has a degree in law.
But I think education wasalways his passion and my mom
was working for the Ministry ofEducation her whole life.

(12:53):
And I have a sister who's alsoa principal coordinator at a
school and a family.
I guess that education was apriority.
It's a big family of five of us.
I have four siblings and I thinkwe all found education as
something that we needed to doand we, I guess, learned how to
enjoy it in a way.
So I think we are a product ofwhere we come from and the

(13:17):
environment that we grew up in.
So the one that I grew up withreally supported me, with
limitations.
For example, every time Iwanted to do something
completely out of the ordinary,my father and my mom would
always say perhaps no.
And even like going to theAcademy of Literature meetings,

(13:38):
my father was like why are yougoing?
You don't need to go, please,don't no.
But I insisted.
Everything that I conquered.
In a way, I believe I foughtfor those things because I truly
believe they were giving meopportunities, perhaps to grow
and be happy.
So I think the background ofthat is that the environment
helped me to grow in that aspect.

Daniel Koo (13:59):
Yeah, perhaps you kind of jumped to my next
question actually, but it seemedlike you kind of grew up in a
very supportive environmentwhere you were encouraged to do
different things and encouragedto do what you really want to
achieve.
Were there any particularexperiences or individuals that
you would say kind of influencedyou at a young age?
And enabled you to kind of pushthrough.

Soleiman Dias (14:17):
So actually it's not necessarily the family that
would support me to do differentthings.
The family that would supportme to do different things.
But once I started doingdifferent things or traveling on
my own for example, getting ajob when I was 14, 15 and making
money so that I would pay formy trips and buy the tickets and

(14:38):
say, mom, I already bought theticket so I should go, but they
were all great trips with verygood people and all very
organized, but I plannedeverything and then they would
support me.
You know that kind of support.
But I think if I have to answerboth my mother and my father in
different ways, they are very,very different.
We always ask them.
You know how did that work?

(14:58):
Because we're so different, butI think they managed to find
the good things about each otherand give value to that.
So you know, my mom passed awaya few years ago and it was the
hardest day of my life Havingsomeone that I declared my love
every single day for 20something years through email

(15:20):
when I had to leave my homecountry, through email, when I
had to leave my home country,and then she left and you know,
I guess her influence was reallythe focus on sacrificing things
for the good of all and havingyou know there's no distinction
between this or that kind ofpeople.
This concept of serving andopening the doors for other
people that's from my mom, Frommy dad is, of course, the value

(15:42):
of learning and reading andwriting, and I still do.
He published a newspaper and Iwrite articles every month in
Portuguese language and you know, I think that played a very
important role in my life andsomeone who's so just and so
honest and really educated thefive children in that way.

(16:03):
My father never hugged us,never kissed us, never.
It was a very uniquerelationship, but it was so much
love to the point that when Isee my friends now with their
children hugging and kissing, Ifeel sorry for the children
because I never had it.
And the love that I got from mydad, from my father, is so

(16:23):
special and so strong until nowthat I need no hugs, I need no
kisses, because in my mind thoseare artificial, they're not
necessarily the way you expresslove.
So I think there is aninspiration for me.
I think I had very, I would say, inspirational parents that
raised me the way they believedto be the right way.

Daniel Koo (16:46):
Yeah, Well, first of all, I'm sorry for your loss
and may she rest in peace.
Yes, I do think that even thatenvironment was a very different
one I would say very unique andI'm sure that you know helped
you become the person that youare right now.
I do want to kind of shiftgears a little bit and start
talking about how you leftBrazil and how you made that

(17:06):
decision to do that.
That must have been a very bigjump for you, right?
Like, how did you make thatchoice?

Soleiman Dias (17:12):
Absolutely.
And I think you know the firstquestion kind of answers that
question.
Because when you want to bedifferent, you also think
differently, you act differentlyand you kind of feel that you
don't fit in the norm.
The norm is just not okay.
You have to do something else.
You have to innovate and createnew things, right?

(17:32):
So I always felt that Brazil,being the fifth largest country
in the world, was too small.
I had to leave that very smallcountry which is gigantic, you
know continental size, but forme was too small.
I needed to learn languages, Ineeded to explore the world and
learn new things.
So since I was very little, Ireally wanted to go somewhere

(17:54):
else and travel and, veryinterestingly that I never
really explored much my owncountry.
It's too big, right.
So I have never been to theAmazon, never been to the
waterfalls in the South, whichare the two most famous places I
don't know if I will ever visit.
I have cousins in differentplaces, but because I wanted to
leave the country and learn anew, so I first went to the US

(18:17):
and then the US.
You know, things are quite easyin a way.
You get used to things, right,you have access to everything,
so everything kind of works in away it made more sense to you.
Yeah, exactly, you know I wascoming from another reality,
right?
So everything was a bit tooeasy and I thought, okay, now
time for Asia to come to theother extreme.

Daniel Koo (18:37):
So it seems like you've had motivation or kind of
an enthusiasm for beingdifferent that pushed you to,
you know, leave the country,even to pursue something that
you think would bring yousuccess, or what were you trying
to achieve there?

Soleiman Dias (18:50):
I never gave up on growing.
So I think that is somethingthat if it's one thing that I
learn in my life is there'salways a space for growth and
learning.
So for me, as soon as I got tothe US, I thought, okay, so
maybe I will stay here until Ifeel that I learned at least
something, and then now it'stime to grow further, to go

(19:14):
somewhere else.
And I think, geographically youhave to understand we are
exactly the extreme.
This is the farthest point toBrazil.
So even China is closer,depending on how you look at the
globe, but you know this is thefarthest you can get.
We're talking about 32 hours togo home and, as you know those
of us here in Korea coming fromany place outside Asia the

(19:37):
retention here is very low.
It's like two years max, andthis is my 24th year.
So it means probably I was bornfor this.
I think I'm meant to be here.
But I love challenges and Ithink that's the point in life.
When you cannot find challengesanymore and everything is too
easy, then life is boring andyou need to find oh, let me go

(19:58):
somewhere, Let me meet someonenew, never met before.
Let me go to a new restauranttoday, because I know already
what I like in that restaurant.
Let me go somewhere else.

Daniel Koo (20:10):
They do recommend.
You know, even for jobs andcareers like once you stop
learning at your current job,you want to think about going to
the next step and finding thenext thing so that you
constantly grow.
I think what we can learn fromhere is that whenever we feel a
little bit stagnant in ourcareer, maybe that's a sign for
you to step out of your comfortzone.

Soleiman Dias (20:25):
And the question you asked me about.
You know my current role inwhat I do, the space that I have
to create new programs, newprojects.
That really makes me wake up inthe morning and come to work so
excited.
Because the worst thing is andI know I understand the
circumstances, the constraintfinancial needs you know we have
to do what we have to do.

(20:46):
We need a job and we go andwork and we get stressed out and
that's the end of the day yougo home.
But the beauty of waking up inthe morning and going to work
and do something you truly enjoybecause you can create
something new, it really getseverything more exciting and
life becomes fascinating becauseyou know today I have no idea

(21:08):
what I can accomplish and I willcome up with something new.
So in any career, in anythinglike to wake up and go to work
happy.
I think it's such a privilegethat not everyone may have and
say, wow, this is great.
I wake up and jump out of thebed and go to work.

Daniel Koo (21:26):
Would you say there's a chance that there's
another job out there that couldbe more fitting?

Soleiman Dias (21:30):
to you.

Daniel Koo (21:31):
It's just a question I just thought of on the spot.

Soleiman Dias (21:32):
Yeah, it is a very interesting job and this
job you know right now for thelast 14, 15,.
so 2009 was when I was hired,but anyway, different titles and
all that, but I have this jobpretty stable.
In Portuguese we say we walk oneggshells, like meaning so
carefully doing what we do everyday, and that's exactly how I

(21:54):
do every day, although it's astable job that I think I've
contributed to the institutionand the growth of the city
itself, being part of so manythings we haven't talked about
so many associations, so manygroups, so many foundations and
all that and leading so manydifferent things.
But I'm always walking on thoseeggshells, right, I'm always
very careful.
And, going back to yourquestion, I still have somehow

(22:18):
associated my name to some ofthose job search engines.
So, I think if the door is open,there's a reason for that door
to open and you should at leastlook carefully what's inside and
check.
So I think that's somethingthat, although I have what I
have, I'm never completelyforget about all these different

(22:40):
options out there, because Ithink we have to.
There's always something newhappening and being still
connected to different people.
I think makes a lot of sense,at least to me, to look at those
doors that may open one day.
We have a word in Portuguesethat there's no translation, but
it's like when you are in acomfort zone, you have the sofa

(23:02):
and you're just so relaxed thatyou never think about anything
else and you stay in that sofafor the rest of your life.
We call acomodado.

Daniel Koo (23:10):
It's like it means you have zero growth in your
life, as comfortable and nicethat sounds, I think that's true
.
When we stop growing and whenwe get too comfortable, we stop
experiencing life.
You know, I think that'ssomething that we can really
learn from here.
Kind of going back on ourtimeline here so now you're in
the States and you get yourfirst bachelor's, and what was

(23:32):
that in?

Soleiman Dias (23:33):
So the undergrad, the first year, was general
medicine, medical school.
So the general courses you taketo finish the course of
medicine, to finish and become adoctor, become a physician, and
then, of course, all the otherinternships and observationships
and all sorts of things thatyou do after the program.
So to make it short, I wantedto finish in four years, right,

(23:54):
so I did in speech and hearingpathology.
So very medical, very technical, especially the audiology
portion of speech and hearingpathology.
It is, you know, anatomyphysiology, you know it's very
specific pathology.
It is, you know anatomyphysiology, you know it's very
specific.
So I had to learn all that.
But I really wanted to finishbecause I realized that I was
not happy.
So I had to intern a little bitin the hospital and I suffered

(24:17):
more than my patients.
I would go home and sodepressed I felt, ah, this is so
not for me, because I wasteaching aside and I felt in the
classroom it was where I reallyfelt my place, this is where I
belong.
Then I realized that for mygraduate school I would change
completely and go into educationand I did international

(24:37):
education my master's.
But I also wanted to do maybesomething in politics.
So international relationswould be potentially something
else.
So I said, ok, so aftermaster's my PhD will be focused
on this.
So that's what happened, anyway.
So from something very medical,scientific, to education, you
know, and internationalrelations, more humanities, you

(25:00):
know, political science.
So my resume people read it andsay, hmm, that's kind of
strange.
Right At the same time itopened to so many different
opportunities, I guess, in life,because I've studied this and I
worked in all those threedifferent areas and I respect so
much each field and I learned,of course, a lot, naturally

(25:23):
because I had to study.
But I think the main lessonthat we get after we study so
much for so many years is youstill have a lot to learn.
That's just the beginning,because the more you learn, the
more you start asking questionsand you know that's what happens
in countries that are notdemocratic, right.

(25:43):
So once you educate people,then they start asking questions
.

Daniel Koo (25:46):
We'll dive into the PhD portion a little bit later
as well, but I kind of want tozero in on the decision-making
process of how you decided to gointo medical school and also
deciding to switch out of it.
I know you mentioned that youweren't happy about what you
were doing and you actually hadsomething else that you really
wanted to do?
What were the decision criteriabefore you went in and what did

(26:09):
you feel like you didn'tachieve that you thought you
would achieve?

Soleiman Dias (26:12):
Very good question.
So if you were just watching amovie or playing a game or
something that will probably beover in a few hours, then that's
it, you do it.
You're not thinking too much,you just do it.
But it's life, it's learning,it's a work.
It's a job, it's a study.
So you spend years doing thatat least you should to get some

(26:33):
experience in whatever fieldthat is, or studying, you know,
and the grad takes four years,or when you go to a graduate
school, two, four years,depending on you know.
So it's years of your life.
It's years of your life.
It's not a game that you playfor a few minutes.
So you have to think in a longterm.
And for me, once I startedlearning more and more about
medical field, let's say, Irealized it's a very serious,

(26:56):
very beautiful job, but will Ibe happy?
So you have to connect what youdo with fulfillment, with
happiness, because life is waytoo short.
It's one of my models, right?
So I think you don't get toexperience this twice.
That's the way I think.
At least.
You have one life and it goesvery fast, and you have only

(27:16):
those years to do everything youcan to be happy and make others
happy.
But I have to go through theexperience to realize that.
So maybe one year, two years inthe program I realized this is
not going to work.
I'm not going to be happy.

Daniel Koo (27:28):
So how did that differ from before?
Like when you applied like whatwere you thinking that you
would achieve?

Soleiman Dias (27:33):
Of course, because it's beautiful.
It's something that, oh, youknow, I'm going to be a doctor.
Oh, I'm going to do this I willwear a white gown and go to the
hospital.
It it's a beautification ofwhat you may be doing and then
you realize this is reality.
It's not that beauty.
The white guy will be coveredin red.
So it's not going to be whiteanymore when you go home and all

(27:54):
the things you see right andyou start realizing and it's so
intense.
So I think it's what my fatheralways said when he was studying
law and he finished the programIn Brazil.
It's the same thing.
It's like about eight years.
It's very long, just likemedicine, and he realized that
it was not for him, but he hadto finish.
So for me it was something likethis and if I had done the

(28:18):
whole program it would be eightyears, but doing focus,
programming, speech and hearingpathology would be just those
four years and finish and dosomething else.
So I realized, I guess in themiddle and it's okay when we
realize things in the middle ofsomething, we're doing something
and then kind of wake up andthat wake up moment led me to
think, okay, so I have to finishsomething so that I can move on
and do something else.
I can do other things aside,but still we live in a world.

(28:41):
I would love to say that youdon't need that diploma, you
don't need to finish.
Of course we have verysuccessful people who have done
incredible things and changedtheir fields without that
diploma, but I think still thegreat majority of us normal
people, we need to finishsomething and then move on and

(29:01):
do something that we truly enjoy.
So I think it happened to methat process of realizing that
in the middle of something, andthen I said, okay, I will finish
this, because there's also theself need to be proud of
yourself, but also make othersproud of you.
So you want to make othershappy too your parents, your
family, whoever you're dating soyou want that to happen, right.

(29:25):
So you said you start plentythings.
It's always long-termprojection where I want to be
next, right.

Daniel Koo (29:32):
I think what I'm learning from here is that you
don't know if something is rightfor you until you try it
Exactly, and it's plenty okay tobe not happy with it and, if
needed, to move on to adifferent one.
And I think as long as you doit in a timely manner, you
should be able to find somethingthat you can be happy with
later.
So it seems like you alreadywere teaching, so is that why

(29:54):
you kind of delved into yournext field?

Soleiman Dias (29:56):
Yeah, Again, going back to what I said life
is too short so we have to findthings in life that makes you
happy.
So when I had to do a littlebit of internship in the
hospital and I was so unhappybut I was very excited that
after that I would go and teachmy classes and meet my students,
so it's almost as if you are inthe school but you know, have a
vacation, right.

(30:17):
So you have summer break andthen you kind of survive through
because you know you're goingto do something fun, or you
study the whole day but youproject yourself doing something
fun after you have to do whatyou have to do, because guess
what you have to do?
What you have to do it's notalways going to be this
beautiful beach, drinkingcoconut water and enjoying this

(30:38):
breeze.
No, life is life and you haveto go through the challenges
that life poses to all of us.
So I don't believe in someonethat does not have a problem.
I think we all have issues, weall have challenges that you
know we have to face and theymake us grow and we move on.
So I think there was always thisthing in my mind because I was
teaching right, so I was even.

(30:59):
It was just a private.
But I got a job when I was 16,17, a real job getting paid
illegally back then.
But it a real job getting paidillegally back then.
But it was a real job that Ihad to be on time at a school
and teach.
But I was so happy, I was likethe happiest teacher ever and my
students at one point becauseit was a language academy.
They were older than me and Iwas younger than everybody else,

(31:22):
but I was a teacher.
I really enjoyed those momentsso it really motivated me to
kind of continue and do what Ineeded to do.

Daniel Koo (31:32):
So I want to get into how you decided to go for a
PhD instead of getting a job orsomething like that.
That's perhaps more practicalin a way.
So what was the decision makingcriteria for you there?

Soleiman Dias (31:44):
That's a very important question.

Daniel Koo (31:47):
Your PhD was also in Korea.
Right, it was in.

Soleiman Dias (31:48):
Korea.
So it was very, verychallenging.
You know, there are a fewthings that I think before you
do you really need to be 130%sure that this is the right
thing for you.
It's for very few peoplebecause it takes so much.
I felt so humiliated throughoutmy program when I had to

(32:09):
present my dissertation, and allthat Because, again, there will
be always a professor that isnot happy with and you work so
hard, you studied so much andyou wrote so much and you fully
devotion to what you did and I,of course, I had a full-time job
when I was doing my PhD, whichis something else, but you have
to be so strong just likegetting married or having a

(32:30):
child that this is for you youreally want to do For me.
I never asked much if I shoulddo or not, because when you do a
PhD, usually what you think isis it going to help me to grow
in my career?
Am I thinking of becoming aprofessor?
You know the questions that youask normally because you really
it's beyond what anyone isexpected to learn in life.

(32:53):
But I always kind of knew thatthis was going to happen in my
life, that this doctorate wouldhappen, but then it did not
influence my decision to do it,because it was not because of my
job that I did it, Because Iknew the day I got my diploma in
2013 from a Korean university,I had to take the Korean

(33:16):
language test.
It was so hard and I was sostressed out because of the
process that you know one of theprofessors on the board.
He humiliated me and if you'relucky to have only wonderful
people that are very supportive,you're lucky to have only
wonderful people that are verysupportive.
You were lucky to have that.
I didn't.
I had someone who was reallydifficult, Anyway.
So when I came with a degree tomy current job and I presented

(33:36):
to HR and said this is it, Ijust wanted to let you know, and
they said, yeah,congratulations, and that's it.

Daniel Koo (33:42):
I felt they don't know what you went through Wow.

Soleiman Dias (33:44):
They have no idea what I had to go through, but
it will not add a penny to mypaycheck and it won't change
anything.
So that kind of thing it has tobe something that you are so
determined to do because youwant to fulfill, of course, the
fulfillment of finishing and thevery beautiful moment that you
show the diploma to your parents.

(34:05):
It was a very depressing momentbecause I was alone here in
Korea when I got it.
No one came to the ceremony andit was for me like it's okay,
because it's for a greater good.
Maybe it will be used somehowin the future.
So it didn't change myprofession, it didn't change my
career, but I checked that boxright, so I fulfilled that and
that feeling is just.

(34:26):
It's incomparable to any other.
It's just like wow, Iaccomplished something.

Daniel Koo (34:31):
It seems like perhaps getting a PhD was one of
your life goals and you reallywanted to achieve that.
No matter what, and I reallywant to ask it seems like you
had a hard time during PhD aswell.
How did that differ from whatyou experienced in your
bachelor's and what made youstick with it this time right
For your PhD?
You were able to finish it.

(34:51):
What was the different factorthat kind of went into that?

Soleiman Dias (34:54):
Very good question.
I think what I could share iswhen you're presenting your
dissertation, there's a group ofprofessors that will comment
and listen to your presentationsand they will make some
comments and you'll change alittle bit of what.
So in one of those meetings,this specific professor he came
to me and he used a very stronglanguage, cursing in front of me

(35:16):
, and said what he said and Ifelt so depressed.
Of course I started crying andI went to my advisor's room and
I could not recover from thatmoment because it was so strong.
And once you do something withso much care and so much passion
and someone comes to you andsays this is nothing, this
doesn't have any value, ofcourse you feel completely

(35:38):
destroyed, right, and that's howI felt.
And then my advisor came and hetold me you know, I'm sorry,
you feel this way, I feel it.
You know.
He was in the room when heheard it and he said you have
all the reasons to give up, butyou have no reasons to give up.
You cannot give up and you haveto understand because those of
you who will listen to thispodcast and one day will do a
PhD and you'll have the time afull time PhD student.

(35:59):
You are the luckiest person anddo it, and it's amazing.
But I had a full time job in aforeign country and all the
bills to pay and everything, andI had zero scholarship.
So I had to work hard and dowhat I needed to do.
So I had this determination.
I guess it's doubled.
So I think that moment helpedme to be honest and that's when

(36:19):
you know we say a lot.
Oh, failure helps you too.
It actually does, because I hadthe reasons perhaps to say you
know what?
This is it.
I tried but it's not working.
I'm so tired and I don't haveany money to continue this or
what.
This is too much for me, I willgive up.
But then it really let you knowwhat I'm going to go back to
that professor.

(36:40):
He said you have to just thinkabout hundreds of pages that you
wrote.
And he said you have to do allover again.
You know what?
I'll do it because I believe inthat ultimate goal to get that
diploma, fulfill that dream thatI had since I was little and
tell the world that you can makeit no matter what, and you will
be able to succeed despite ofall the obstacles.

(37:01):
So I think that led me to moveon In the bachelor's was this
idea okay, I'll finish and dosomething else.
Right, with the PhD, I kind ofstarted to realize it's not
going to change my life, butjust the idea that will
potentially open so many otherdoors.
And I have to say those threeletters added to my name that I

(37:22):
paid so much with my money, butalso suffering or personal
struggles added to my name.
Every time I see it for allthese years now, 11 years later,
I feel, wow, how did thathappen?
I managed to move on with allthose horrible moments
throughout the program.

(37:43):
So, anyways, what I'm trying tosay is that I think once you
failed, or somebody told youthat you failed, it's the moment
that you have to say you knowwhat, okay, so I will make sure
that I will move on and I willdo it better next time.
So I guess that's what happenedin my case.

Daniel Koo (37:59):
The insight I'm getting from this is that, I
mean, I don't know if all PhDswould be like this, but I'm sure
a lot of them will be right.
There's a lot of professors,it's way worse than that.

Soleiman Dias (38:08):
It's way worse than that.
What I believe?
If the statistics are still,it's about 60% that you actually
complete the program.

Daniel Koo (38:16):
Wow, that's surprisingly low, more than half
give up In my program.

Soleiman Dias (38:20):
Let's just give an example.
You know we're about seven oreight people.
One got a heart attack andactually passed away, Two got
divorced, one got in veryserious depression the mom had
to come all the way fromoverseas to be with.
So we had so many differentcases in my own program so I
experienced that.
So probably it's more than 60%that could not finish.
Very few people finished.

(38:41):
So I was lucky to have a verysupportive advisor who
unfortunately didn't defend meon that moment but later on told
me you have to move on, don'tgive up.
In a way it kind of supportedme to move on.

Daniel Koo (38:55):
I guess it kind of ties in with the theme of growth
, even though this time around Ithink it's a more painful kind
of growth.
Would you say there's anyregrets there?
Or would you say for you, itmade you who you are right now.

Soleiman Dias (39:06):
No, at the moment of course you don't realize
that.
So, looking back, I don'tregret.
I think at the time, of coursethat day, that month, that year
was really hard.
But I really don't.
I think I was again very luckyto have supportive advisor and
financially I could pay.
I think I had theinfrastructure to just keep

(39:26):
going and not give up.
But I think a feeling of regretin anything in life is probably
one of the worst things.
When you say, oh, I wasted mytime, oh, why did I do this?
It's so bad because you can'tgo back in time, you can't
recover what's gone can't goback in time.

Daniel Koo (39:46):
You can't recover what's gone.
So after your PhD, I think afew of your major career
highlights would be all theassociations that you've created
and the impact thatassociations have had in Korea.
So I know a couple would be theBrazil-Korea Association, the
Honorary Citizen Council, theForeign Advisory Board just to
name a few.
I guess the question would bewhat pushed you to create those
things?
Because, unlike a PhD or a job,nothing really compels you to

(40:08):
do it.
It's not really something thatis very common to create.
It's not something that you justdo and it's not an idea that we
typically have.
So what gave you the idea andhow did you push through and
have that motivation to createsomething?

Soleiman Dias (40:22):
Okay, so for those of you who don't know, you
know this here in Korea it's acountry that very few people
stay for a very long time, soretention of expats in Korea
it's one of the lowest in theworld.
So the average is less than twoyears.
But I guess when I came here Isaid this is a long term thing.
I'm not planning to leave soon.
And I always felt kind ofuncomfortable to be in a place,

(40:47):
in a situation where thingsdidn't exist or would not be.
For example, you know, when Icame here and I visited my
embassy which is kind of rare asan expat or a foreigner to go
and meet the diplomats I knowit's not something very common,
but I did so I went to theembassy and I met and I said,
okay, so where's the Brazilianshere?
You know how many Braziliansand where are they?
Do they have an association?

(41:07):
They have a club, they have aFacebook page?
I said no, we don't haveanything like that.
So I said, ok, wonderful, can Istart something?

Daniel Koo (41:17):
And of course, the ambassador was yeah, sure, thank
you, because no one else, noone's going to stop you.

Soleiman Dias (41:21):
No one else will think about or do it, because
you have zero obligation in yourlife to do it.
But I always felt I thinkorganized institutions are very
important.
I just thought of people thatwent through what I had to go
through when I first got hereand I said maybe some ways to
help those individuals.
So that's how I started.

(41:42):
Maybe it was one of the firstthings I did and again, of
course, the World Cup washappening in 2002 and all this.
So there was a very excitingmoment for Brazilians to be here
and I felt the need to organizethe community.
So that was the first one, andthen all these other
organizations that you mentionedcame through, because I felt
there is a need to help others,to get organized as a community

(42:07):
and give my contribution.

Daniel Koo (42:09):
Now, did you have any experience creating
something like this before, orwas it completely new?

Soleiman Dias (42:13):
That's a good question.
In the US, in my universityback in Texas, we didn't have
anything in the Latin Americanclub or anything that was, you
know, an organized group of uswho were studying there.
So I remember.
I tried to get the LatinAmerican club, but it was a very
small college club, right.
It was nothing like anassociation or something that

(42:35):
was big and serious with adultsand all that that end up being
all these associations that youmentioned here.
And then there's oneassociation, for example, that
you did not mention, which isthe International School Council
.
That existed before and as soonas I joined, I felt I because
okay, in life, you have allthese options, right, and I

(42:57):
truly understand.
I think leadership is not foreveryone.
I think leadership is for,again, few people, but you can
be wonderful supporters of theleaders, right, and still do
Like.
When we interview people,interview students, we always
ask you know, what are yourleadership experiences?
Want to be a leader or what?
And when they say, no, I don'twant to be a leader, but I want
to support the leader, that forme is an incredible answer,

(43:17):
because you have your ownstrategies to be successful
supporting the leaders.
For me, I truly enjoy being theleader.
I think I was born to do thosethings.
So, with the InternationalSchool Council as an example, it
existed a long time 40 yearsbut they needed some revamping,

(43:38):
they needed a new kind of yeah.
And I'm never satisfied withjust being a member.
I have to be the president.

Daniel Koo (43:45):
So I have to initiate something.

Soleiman Dias (43:46):
I have so many titles that they don't mean
anything, but it indicates mylevel of commitment to those
things.
So the honorary citizenship isthe same thing.
I got the title.
I could just go home and haveand celebrate right with my
friends.
Well, I had to come up with thecouncil of honorary citizens so
that the city hall would beconsulting and all that.
So that kind of thing here inSongdo with the foreign advisory

(44:08):
board, is the same thing.
But you know, I think foranybody and it applies to anyone
in anything, even if you don'thave a job is what is the legacy
you live in when you go andmove on to another life.
Have you done somethinginteresting that maybe people?
Oh, you know, let's do it andmake sure that somebody else is
going to carry on this flag.
But for me it's always askingwhat are some of the things that

(44:29):
maybe I have contributed thathopefully someone else will do
it in the future, because I'mnot going to be here forever.
And that's another thing youhave always to think of how we
can train others to do some ofthe things that you started.

Daniel Koo (44:41):
I want to go into what specific skills or talents
have been crucial to yoursuccess in this field, like the
current one that you have rightnow working at a school as
alumni relations and perhapsadmissions as well.

Soleiman Dias (44:53):
Yeah, so since my job doesn't exist out there,
I'm the only one with this titlewith this business card.
So perhaps I'm not saying thatI'm the best model for either
one.
I'm very passionate about both,but I learn every day a new
thing about what I do.
So my advice is always to be upto date to what is happening
out there.
So, for example, alumnirelations, since the sky is the

(45:16):
limit in international relationsas well, you always have to
look at what others do Forinternational relations at a
school.
Since it doesn't exist, I haveto create.
So I kind of think I have theskills to be the creator of
something.
So it's a skill set that it'sjust.
It is who I am so like to starta new thing completely out of
nothing.
For alumni relations, forexample, you have already a

(45:38):
tradition, a series of thingsthat people have done very
successfully in the past, andyou can look at those things and
say, okay, let's try to do afew of those initiatives and
maybe improve and adapt, adjust.
I don't believe that inanything, in any field, you can
just copy and paste, and youalways have to look at your own
context and adjust and adapt andmake it better.

(46:00):
So the skill set that areneeded is you've got to really
be passionate about dealing withpeople right.
You need to be somehow open tolearn new things from all sorts
of people right, to be reallyopen-minded and that kind of
thing.
I think you have to be alsoready to, I would say, carry

(46:20):
boxes around, right, so veryheavy boxes, because you have to
move around, you have to be incharge of events and do that
kind of thing.
So I think it requires somephysical energy that you need to
put into what you do to fulfillyour job, but also, in any job,
be part of a larger group, alarger network of people that

(46:42):
are doing the same job orsimilar, and you can learn from
them and share.
So that's why, you know, I lovethe concept of associations,
because going to a conference orlearning or sharing or
presenting or just listening,it's a place where all these
people are just trying to dowhat you do and they're working
hard to come up with somethingthat works and you finally meet

(47:06):
them and share your thoughts andyou're able to say you know
what?
I can maybe try that new thing,so that kind of thing.
So I think for me it's alwaysthose three things, so always
being up to date to things, opento change in a way and adjust
depending on the circumstances,but also keep your network of
professionals in, whatever fieldthat is, but make sure that you

(47:28):
are somehow connected, becauseyou end up learning a lot and
sharing with them.

Daniel Koo (47:34):
Seems to me, you need to be kind of a natural
extrovert as well.
So my next question is do youbelieve that these skills are
somewhat innate, or did you feellike you developed them over
time?

Soleiman Dias (47:45):
You have very tough questions.
To be honest, I always thoughtthat being a bit more outgoing
and extrovert, you have moreoptions.
I think there's a differencebetween being extrovert and
easygoing or kind of willing tolearn, Because I have so many
friends who are very, very shyand, of course, you know, here

(48:07):
in Korea the tendency of mostpeople is to be I come from the
other extreme of culture, liketoo much open and we kiss
everyone and hug everyone.
So it's a bit too much, but thisculture is very different and I
learned a lot when I first gothere.
So I have so many very, very,very shy friends but they are
incredible speakers and amazingexperts in their field and when

(48:29):
we meet in small group or youknow one-to-one and I realized
how amazing they are and socapable and wonderful
professionals.
So throughout time in my lifehere I think it taught me that
you don't have to be thatoutgoing to be successful at all
, but I think it helps.
I think it really helps if youtry.

(48:50):
That's why the beauty of, forexample, public speaking
programs, theater, drama, thatkind of thing because you learn
how to communicate.
That's why, you know, when Iwas very little I thought
languages would really open somany doors and it really did.
I have to say.
Going to my very firstinternational event, I was still
in college and it was aninternational thing, and I saw

(49:13):
all these people speakingSpanish and Italian and French
and all that and I was like wow,and I would talk to my friends
and they don't speak thoselanguages and it was kind of the
most fascinating thing becauseI could talk to them.
But it takes an extra effort.
So I don't necessarilyassociate being outgoing to
success.
I just think it helps to do afew things Like I believe

(49:36):
yourself.
Daniel, I think perhaps you'renot the most extrovert, I'm not
the loudest person in the roombut the connections you make,
everyone that meets you becauseI know from all different places
people that had a chance tomeet you they will say, wow,
what an amazing person becauseof the things you did and do and
things you share and yourexperiences and you play these

(49:59):
things and you know a little bitabout, you know everything
about everything.

Daniel Koo (50:01):
Thank you so much.

Soleiman Dias (50:02):
Different things so again, you're not the loudest
, but you don't have to be,because I guess it comes
naturally with thoseinteractions.

Daniel Koo (50:09):
What advice would you give to someone looking to
develop these skills?
If let's say, if they didn'thave them innately, but they
still are interested in thisalumni relations or
international relations.
What would you say to them?

Soleiman Dias (50:28):
So international relations, because of course, it
was my also focus of study, soI have the academia side and the
practical side, right.
So I think you really need tobe, of course, open-minded but
also passionate about the world.
You know, it's like when yousee the world right now it is
what it is and so complicated.
And international relations isperhaps an art, right.
So we learn in internationalrelations that diplomacy and
dealing with the way peoplethink you have to be an artist.

(50:48):
So it requires this artisticmindset because you have to know
how to talk.
In all the conversations youhave, you have to be extremely
careful.
I say when you are talkingabout the world, you have to be
extremely careful because youmay affect, you may harm
someone's feelings, right.
So you have to be carefulbecause that might not be very

(51:09):
appropriate.
So you know, being politicallycorrect for me at least, it
means to be careful with thewords you use, because it may
affect someone's feelings.
And if it's a conversation at abar with a friend, it's one
thing, but if you're talking tosomeone who has some
responsibility, some power, someauthority, you always have to
be very careful.
So I think that you really needthis mindset of you want to

(51:31):
build bridges, not destroy them.
Yeah, that's how I see it.

Daniel Koo (51:35):
Having experienced this career, to what group of
people would you recommend thiscareer?
And to what group of peoplewould you not recommend this
career?

Soleiman Dias (51:42):
recommend this career and to what group?

Daniel Koo (51:44):
of people.
Would you not recommend this?

Soleiman Dias (51:45):
career it's easier to not recommend.
So, for example, if you loveanything scientific, you're not
really into humanities.
Definitely not, because it'sall about humanity.
It's all about human beings andthe way they interact.
So if you don't like that,definitely not for you.
If you don't like communicationor if the news are not relevant
to you, definitely not, this isnot for you.
If you don't like communicationor if the news are not relevant
to you, definitely not.

(52:06):
This is not a field For thoseof us who love getting to know
what's happening out there andyou hear something and you get
very frustrated if you don'tknow what that person is talking
about.
So for those people who lovegetting to know what's happening
beyond your walls and learningnew things, enjoying
communication and the world,traveling and exploring new

(52:29):
horizons I guess that's the mostpassionate people I found in
international relations arethose piece of advice you would
get to someone that is juststarting out and maybe
interested in like a role in aschool or in admissions or in
alumni relations or somethinglike that.
So I think you have to look atpeople that have gone through

(52:52):
this, talk to them, learn fromthem and I guess that applies to
any job, I guess but just tohear from them.
And I have to say, as everybodyknows, there's no perfect job,
there's not such a thing.
So you may find a good school,a good company, a good factory,
very good paycheck and ahorrible boss in a good location
, but in a horrible workingenvironment.

(53:15):
You know you will never findthe good company, good school,
good boss, good money, good this, good that and everything is
perfect.
There's no perfection.
So you have to always be ready.
But if you're going to a placeor entering a field, I think the
most important thing is to findout from people that had that
experience in that specificcompany in that specific city
and find out how much theyenjoyed.

(53:37):
Of course, everyone will have adifferent experience, that's
for sure.
But you can learn things bytalking to people and kind of
getting to know for thatspecific context.
You know if it would work ornot for you based on that
experience.
Also, whatever job that is, orwhatever school you're going to,
or a country, that really hurtswhen I hear people saying that,
oh, I'm going there just for,you know, two years and then

(53:59):
I'll move on to somewhere else.
I think that it's a very badbeginning of a place to work,
because then you're not reallyfully committed.
I know that things may change.
I know that after a year yourealize it's not for you.
But unless it's an internship,if you're going to get a job at
a place and you say, oh, it'sjust for a short time, then I'll

(54:19):
do something else.
I think that's wrong.
I think you end up getting veryfrustrated because you should
be there for a long term andyou're more committed.
You can enjoy more, but youhave to do your homework right.
You have to talk to people,study about that company, read
as much as possible about who'sleading it, get the feeling from
people that already wentthrough the experience and

(54:40):
people may have a very positive,positive experience.
Maybe not necessarily, but youheard those stories.

Daniel Koo (54:47):
So summarize a little bit about what we talked
about today.
I think we went over yourdecisions on coming out of
Brazil, making the decision topivot during your bachelor's and
deciding to do somethingtotally different.
Also, we went over yourstruggles during PhD and
eventually overcoming it, and Ithink some things that I'm
learning today is you reallyfocus on growth and also being

(55:10):
different at the same time, andI really enjoyed that, because
you know we can't forget to beourselves.
One quote that I reallyresonate with is be yourself,
because everyone else hasalready taken right, so there's
only very unique version of youthat only you can become.
So today that's been veryinspirational, so thank you so
much for joining today.
I think for someone who'slooking to have this very unique

(55:33):
role in the future, maybe thiswill be very helpful.
So I really appreciateeverything that you shared today
.

Soleiman Dias (55:38):
Yeah, I really appreciate too.
I think in life we have veryfew opportunities to share
things about life, and yourquestions were so precise, were
so touching in most importantaspects, and I believe that
every single one was really wellthought, well planned and led
to the conclusion that you made.
You know, I always remember myfather, who talks a lot too.

(55:59):
I talk a lot, as you can see,but my father talks even more
because he's an intellectualphilosopher and we always stop
him because he can talk forever,but we always had to cut the
mic because he talks too much.

Daniel Koo (56:11):
So here at school.

Soleiman Dias (56:12):
I have someone who does that for me, An
assigned person that will tellme Sully, that's it, you have to
stop.
So I guess you didn't do that.
Actually didn't do that.
Actually the opposite, youprovoke the questions.
But I think if you have a chanceto talk to someone, maybe not
in a podcast format, but whenyou talk to someone, do as much
as you can to enter thatperson's reality.

(56:32):
It's a mutual thing, right?
So it's not just a monologuebecause it's an interview, so I
kind of have to answer thequestions.
But when you talk to someonethat has perhaps a bit more of
experience than you or adifferent experience, doesn't
matter what that is you talk tosomeone that has perhaps a bit
more of experience than you or adifferent experience, doesn't
matter what that is try to givethat person a chance to talk,
because very few moments in lifewe actually get a chance to
share things, and no matter what, no matter job, no matter as a

(56:54):
college kid, in high school orwhat, you always have something
to share.
So give that chance and toconclude perhaps saying you know
, the life is too short, theworld is so vast, that's my
motor in life and that everymoment is so precious and I
think we can really make it themost we can, by every single
second.

Daniel Koo (57:12):
Yeah, I really resonate with that.
I think that's something thatI'm set out to do with this
podcast as well, you know,trying to search for those
stories that people don't reallyget to share but can be very
important to those key peoplethat are listening.
Yeah, absolutely, thank you somuch.

Soleiman Dias (57:26):
Thank you, it's been a pleasure, a wonderful
conversation.

Daniel Koo (57:29):
Appreciate it.

Soleiman Dias (57:30):
Bye, bye-bye.

Daniel Koo (57:36):
Bye, thank you.