Curious Monica

Sandy Lacey 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 acro...

When Kevin H. Yoo 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-appe...

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 Xian Horn, 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...

You can't do anything about an opportunity you do not take. This is the mantra that gave Erica Vogel 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...

Find your tribe and surround yourself with positive, supportive people. Growing up gay in a traditional Catholic, Asian household, Trung T. Tieu 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 an...

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 f...

Jenn T. Grace 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 overni...

Fashion designer Kimberly (Kim) Wong 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 t...

The lack of a traditional background in business did not stop young Scott Sassa 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, Scott is renowned for disrupting numerous industries as an intrapreneur, estab...

From the outset, Jean H. Lee harbored a clear passion for journalism. Yet, breaking into a field devoid of faces resembling her own posed challenges. Undeterred by the lack of representation, Jean persevered, eventually emerging as one of the foremost journalists of her time. Over her 20-year tenure with the Associated Press, she not only achieved remarkable success but also secured unparalleled access to North Korea—a feat few cou...

Geronimo Carlos Ramos III believes that the most rewarding journey is returning to your passion, regardless of the twists and turns along the way. Today, his culinary adventure is enriched by collaborations with Michelin-star chefs and prestigious events, such as the Tiger Woods Hero Golf tournament in the Bahamas. While food and people have always been central to Geronimo's story, the full picture of the chef and content creator h...

Sheena Yap Chan is dedicated to amplifying the voices of Asian female leaders in the workplace. Through her role as author and podcast host of "The Tao of Self-Confidence," she has engaged with over 900 Asian female leaders, reshaping our understanding of leadership and self-confidence in professional settings.

Her journey began with a simple yet powerful question: why aren't people who look like me speaking up? Motivated by a desi...

Not knowing what lies beyond can lead to thrilling adventures if you remain curious and open-minded, as Jeff Kirschner discovered firsthand.

After college, Jeff explored various paths driven by his love for learning. From bartending in San Francisco (SF) to embarking on a year-long backpacking journey worldwide, his diverse experiences shaped his journey. Upon returning to SF, Jeff's curiosity and broad perspective guided him to me...

When did you last pause to notice a bird soaring in the sky? Our conversation with Monica Iglecia will encourage you to take a closer look.

Meet Monica, a passionate bird scientist and conservation biologist dedicated to preserving bird habitats. As the U.S. Coordinator for the Pacific Birds Habitat Joint Venture in Portland, Oregon, she leads large-scale conservation efforts, fostering collaboration and innovation to protect our E...

Zach Johnson, a fifth generation family farmer from West Central Minnesota, saw a gap in awareness about farming and agriculture. In 2016, he launched his idea of documenting and sharing his farming journey online. Today, his YouTube channel, "Millennial Farmer," boasts over a million subscribers, where he showcases daily life on the family farm and promotes positive farming practices.

I first discovered Zach's work at a Google off...

Dr. Aubrey R. Paris grew up loving science and science fairs. Curiosity drove her to identify problems and approach them with innovative thinking, a hallmark of scientific problem-solving. While exploring various avenues in science and innovation, she recognized an opportunity to merge her interests and pursue a career in science diplomacy. What exactly is science diplomacy? Aubrey is eager to delve deeper into this topic and share...

If you truly believe in something, don't ever let go of it. Don't let not having a playbook stop you. Rahama Wright is here to tell you to go pursue your dreams because the best paths will not have a playbook given to you.

When young Rahama first noticed a problem in the shea market, she wanted to do something about it. Volunteering in the Peace Corps and working in Mali, West Africa inspired her to create a businsss with a social ...

Sometimes, it seems like the universe throws obstacles in our path, but how we respond is ultimately up to us. Growing up in a hotel wasn't abnormal for Sadhna Bokhiria when she immigrated to Connecticut. Her parents owned the hotel, so it was normal for her to clean the rooms and live there. Her classmates didn't think so, and made sure she knew about it. Despite facing injustice and discouragement, such as a professor dismissing ...

How do you define success? For Nina Vaca, it was starting a business at 25 to connect people to opportunities.

Born in Ecuador, Nina moved to the U.S. with her family in search of more opportunities. Watching her parents work multiple jobs, she learned the values of diligence, determination, and authenticity. Discovering her passion for serving others at 17, Nina pursued her entrepreneurial dreams wholeheartedly.

Today, in 2024, Ni...