I first met Katherine Chong when she was helping our School build Canada’s first academic program in Product Management. I was struck by her fearless curiosity and the way she turned a sabbatical into a masterclass in human connection. In this episode, I sit down with Katherine—product manager, startup coach, instructor, and cultural consultant for Pixar’s Turning Red—to talk about how 300 conversations with strangers reshaped her career, her mindset, and her sense of purpose.

We dive into how she navigated burnout, embraced “funemployment,” and discovered the power of asking without an agenda. Katherine’s story is a reminder that sometimes the best opportunities come when we stop chasing titles and start following our curiosity. From cold emails to consulting for an Oscar-nominated film, her journey is anything but traditional—and that’s exactly why it’s so powerful.

Tune in to hear how Katherine:

• Used curiosity as a compass to reinvent her career
• Built a network from scratch during a global pandemic
• Helped shape the cultural authenticity of Turning Red
• Coaches others to find their own path in product management and entrepreneurship

This conversation is personal for me—not just because of Katherine’s incredible story, but because it reflects the kind of bold, human-centered thinking we need more of in today’s workforce.

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