In Episode 17, we welcome Sam Ushio, Founder of Ikigai Lab, where he leads the social enterprise’s commitment to human sustainability and societal impact. Sam designs purpose-driven ecosystems for individuals and organizations around the world. Prior to founding Ikigai Lab, Sam was Director, Practice Management at Russell Investments, where he led the team that coached approximately 1,000 financial advisors per year. He has an MBA from the Foster School of Business at the University of Washington, and holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Nebraska in marketing and finance with an emphasis in psychology. 

We discuss Sam's upbringing in Nebraska, including the close-knit community he grew up in; his family history, including his dynamic great-grandparents who came from Japan, and a recent reunion where 36 family members visited Fukuoka; his career in finance and how he decided to found his own business; the meaning of ikigai and qualities of a good leader; and the importance of leaving our comfort zone. Many will likely find Sam's 18-month journey of self-exploration prior to founding Ikigai Lab--including many lessons learned--very inspiring.

For more information on Sam, please see photos (and the episode transcript) here: https://crossworld-puzzles.com/episode17-sam/.

CrossWorld Puzzles is a podcast that explores how multicultural individuals consider life’s big questions, such as where to be based, how to build their career, who to spend their life with, etc.