Curiosity at Work

In this episode of Curiosity at Work, Dr. Julie Pham interviews Melodie Reynolds, founder and CEO of Elate Beauty, about how curiosity fuels innovation in the beauty industry. Melodie shares her journey from making lipstick in her basement to leading a globally recognized sustainable beauty brand. She discusses the challenges of scaling a business, transitioning to a remote team, and fostering a workplace culture where curiosity drives innovation. Tune in to learn how Melodie is redefining beauty with sustainability, conscious capitalism, and fearless leadership.

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#MelodieReynolds #ElateBeauty #CuriosityAtWork #SustainableBeauty #CleanBeauty #ConsciousCapitalism #Leadership #Innovation #WomenInBusiness #Bcorp #EcoFriendlyPackaging #FearlessLeadership

In this episode of Curiosity at Work, Dr. Julie Pham interviews Michael Byun, Executive Director of Asian Counseling and Referral Service (ACRS), about how curiosity fuels leadership, social justice, and community advocacy. With over 25 years of experience, Michael shares insights on managing a diverse, multilingual team, balancing urgent community needs with long-term policy work, and fostering a culture of learning in nonprofit organizations. Tune in to learn how curiosity helps drive meaningful change and create inclusive, impactful solutions for immigrant and refugee communities.

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#MichaelByun #ACRS #CuriosityAtWork #Leadership #SocialJustice #CommunityAdvocacy #NonprofitLeadership #PublicPolicy #MentalHealth #DiversityAndInclusion #WorkforceDevelopment #HybridWork

In this episode of Curiosity at Work, Dr. Julie Pham interviews Tom Fay, Executive Director and Chief Librarian of The Seattle Public Library. With over 42 years in the field, Tom shares how libraries have evolved into essential community hubs, offering much more than books—including social services, small business support, and digital access. He discusses leading through challenges like book bans and cybersecurity threats while fostering a workplace culture of continuous learning and innovation. Tune in to discover how curiosity shapes the future of public libraries and community engagement.

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#TomFay #SeattlePublicLibrary #CuriosityAtWork #LibraryLeadership #PublicLibraries #CommunityEngagement #Innovation #BannedBooks #PublicService #DigitalAccess

In this episode of Curiosity at Work, Dr. Julie Pham interviews Jerry Waldron, Interim Construction Management Director at Seattle Public Utilities (SPU). With over 35 years of experience in engineering, infrastructure, and public service, Jerry shares insights on leading large-scale utility projects that impact daily life in Seattle. He discusses the challenges of fostering curiosity in a policy-driven environment, the importance of continuous improvement, and how SPU’s Skills and Knowledge Transfer (SKT) program helps employees grow. Tune in to learn how Jerry empowers his team, drives collaboration, and ensures Seattle’s essential services run smoothly.

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#JerryWaldron #SeattlePublicUtilities #CuriosityAtWork #Leadership #ConstructionManagement #PublicService #Infrastructure #ContinuousImprovement #Collaboration #WorkforceTraining

In this episode of Curiosity at Work, Dr. Julie Pham interviews Dr. Amy Morrison, President of Lake Washington Institute of Technology (LWTech), to explore how curiosity shapes leadership in higher education. A first-generation college graduate and passionate advocate for workforce education, Dr. Morrison shares insights on fostering collaboration, navigating generational diversity, and building a learner-focused culture. She discusses how LWTech has prioritized equity, innovation, and well-being to meet the evolving needs of students and employees. Tune in to learn how curiosity drives growth and connection in education and leadership.

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#AmyMorrison #LWTech #CuriosityAtWork #HigherEducation #Leadership #WorkforceEducation #GenerationalDiversity #EquityInEducation #ContinuousLearning #StudentSuccess

In this episode of Curiosity at Work, Dr. Julie Pham interviews Cynthia Tee, SVP of Engineering at Smartsheet, to explore how curiosity drives leadership and innovation. Cynthia shares her journey from Microsoft to Smartsheet, leading a global, remote-first engineering team of over 530 people. She discusses fostering alignment, navigating mergers, and cultivating curiosity to tackle challenges and build cohesive teams. Tune in to learn how curiosity shapes decision-making, teamwork, and growth in the tech industry.

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#CynthiaTee #Smartsheet #CuriosityAtWork #EngineeringLeadership #RemoteWork #Innovation #TeamCollaboration #Leadership #ContinuousLearning

In this episode of Curiosity at Work, Dr. Julie Pham interviews Shannon Drotning, Market President for the West Coast at Providence Health Plan. Shannon shares her inspiring journey from customer service representative to senior leader, emphasizing how curiosity drives her approach to leadership and customer-centered innovation. She discusses how Providence Health Plan delivers on its promise to "Know Me, Care for Me, Ease My Way," while fostering a culture of learning and empathy. Discover how small changes and a curious mindset can transform customer experiences and workplace culture in the healthcare industry.

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#ShannonDrotning #ProvidenceHealthPlan #CuriosityAtWork #HealthcareLeadership #CustomerService #Medicare #Innovation #Leadership #FeedbackCulture

In this episode of Curiosity at Work, Dr. Julie Pham speaks with Harold D. Scoggins, Chief of the Seattle Fire Department, about leading with curiosity in emergency services. With over 35 years of experience, Chief Scoggins shares insights on fostering innovation, managing change in a tradition-rich field, and driving life-saving advancements like overdose response programs. Discover how the Seattle Fire Department balances legacy with progress to serve the community and inspire the next generation of firefighters.

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#HaroldScoggins #SeattleFireDepartment #CuriosityAtWork #Leadership #EmergencyServices #Firefighters #Innovation #PublicSafety #CommunityImpact #ContinuousLearning

In this episode of Curiosity at Work, Dr. Julie Pham interviews Rachel Suman, Chief Experience Officer at the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP). Rachel shares her journey from administrative professional to executive leader and offers insights on empowering administrative professionals to become strategic partners in their organizations. She highlights the power of curiosity in leadership, fostering feedback-driven growth, and the importance of creating safe spaces for learning and self-reflection. Tune in for practical tips on cultivating leadership, continuous learning, and growth for administrative professionals.

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#RachelSuman #IAAP #CuriosityAtWork #AdministrativeProfessionals #Leadership #FeedbackCulture #ContinuousLearning #WorkplaceCulture #CareerGrowth #EmployeeEmpowerment

In this episode of Curiosity at Work, Dr. Julie Pham chats with Diem Ly, Division Director at the City of Seattle’s Office of Economic Development. Diem shares her journey from community journalism to public service leadership, emphasizing how curiosity drives inclusive economic growth. She discusses balancing diverse stakeholder needs, creating a feedback culture, and adapting to a post-pandemic landscape. Learn how Diem fosters collaboration and innovation to build stronger communities and a more equitable future.

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#DiemLy #EconomicDevelopment #CuriosityAtWork #Leadership #InclusiveGrowth #CommunityDevelopment #PublicService