*** CN: Life-altering difficulties and personal sufferings at childhood (a direct precursor to Melissa's philanthropic motivations for parent-child abduction).
Melissa Dewar is currently a final year Master of Architecture Student at the University of Cambridge studying part-time. Her academic studies are related to the field of technology and finance in relation to our built environment. Her thesis examines the architecture of financial institutions in the face of digitalisation. Whilst studying she also has 3 + years of work experience as an Architectural Designer in London.
Outside of her studies and work, she was involved with the Cambridge TEDx Society and CURIS (Real-Estate Investment Society). She has also worked on a number of start-up projects and businesses. One of which includes Majestigal, an Online Platform and Print Magazine dedicated to empowering your modern individual through sharing the stories of inspiring individuals, entrepreneurs, and creators. Melissa herself was featured in Vogue, Elle, and New York Times. In 2022, she competed and lead a team in the HINES Student Real-Estate competition where her team explored the urban significance of the Centre Pompidou.
In 2021 she was selected as one of twenty women to compete in the finals of Miss Universe GB, where she used her voice to raise awareness for parent-child abduction.
"David Quan was a wonderful Podcast host with a great skill to bring the best out of people!" - Melissa Dewar
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WHY? COFFEE'S ON ME, DAVID QUAN 权丁文
TL;DR: To process my emotions after a grueling campaign for President of The Cambridge Union, I reflected upon the influences of my late Grandfather and wrote him a letter: https://linktr.ee/DavidQuan . Drawing inspiration from him, I hope to learn more from others through genuine discussions – giving listeners heartfelt conversations filled with authentic insights, and giving guests legacy-worthy interviews to treasure.
To converse with someone without a strict time limit or structure – meticulously engaging in a curious process of clarifications or elaborations – is not only a rare privilege. This longer format also allows the sharing of otherwise unshared or unappreciated anecdotes. There are appeals to sound-bite media, of course, but the metrics that matter most to me are more about the uniqueness of contribution than measures of virality. Over time, I hope to be able to better deconstruct guests' fascinating experiences – to seamlessly tease out the insights for listeners to enjoy and learn from while cooking, commuting, relaxing, or walking their pet.
But this personal project is fundamentally as much about what we can learn from the guests as it is to give them (current) legacy-worthy interviews. My top priority is for guests to enjoy a unique opportunity to challenge, learn about, and be themselves; hopefully, they will be able to keep recordings of in-depth, heartfelt conversations to reflect on in years’ time.
And the best part for guests? Coffee’s on Me, David Quan 权丁文
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NOMINATE A GUEST
Please contact me to nominate someone. This would really help identify the anonymous extraordinaries!
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CONTACT ME
Having grown up in Xi'an, China, and Adelaide, Australia, I am a 3rd year undergraduate student at Clare College, University of Cambridge, UK.
Please do have the courage to say hello!
LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/DavidQuan
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dingwen-david-quan/
Instagram: @DavidQuan32
Facebook: David Quan
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-_zEeiF5n5ZTArvMcXpMlQ