In this episode, we are joined by Celine Teoh– Unicorn CEO coach, team coach, and Stanford lecturer on Leading Effective Teams. Born and raised in Malaysia and shaped by global experiences across the U.K., Singapore, and the U.S., Teoh reflects on her early career in banking and consulting, where she honed the ability to navigate various industries, adapt quickly, and present to senior executives. From here, she realized that the “people side of things” was equally as important as the intellectual pursuit- it “wasn't just about the head, it was also about the heart.” Teoh discusses how, despite cultural tendencies to value technical ability, success and leadership often hinges on the ability to show up boldly, stand out, and cultivate meaningful connections. Founders and entrepreneurs, she notes, “are a particular breed. They're really passionate about what it is they're doing. And so sometimes it's a surprise to them that the folks around them don't, aren't as excited.” Her mentorship emphasizes listening to what the person across the table wants and believing in them. On the other hand, coaching is about helping leaders learn how to fish. It requires teaching them to come to realizations themselves, which requires meeting them in a way they understand. The discussion concludes with three pieces of advice: 1)Trust yourself deeply that you are capable 2) There are so many future successful you’s 3) Pay attention to what you’re good at that gives you joy. Let that be your compass and your North Star and just keep following the North Star- an internal one.

0:00 Welcome and Introduction

3:00 Experience at McKinsey and Goldman Sachs

4:20 The Importance of Soft Skills

8:45 Teaching Leaders to Bring Everyone Along 

10:50 Consulting vs. Coaching: Meeting them where they’re at 

11:35 Coaching with Adaptability

12:30 Finding Confidence to Guide Executives

14:35 Hustle Culture and the Youth Mindset

17:30 Balancing Work and Personal Life

In this episode of Her Way Climate, we interview Lila Preston, Head of Growth Equity at Generation Investment Management, a Sustainable Management firm co-founded by Al Gore and David Blood. Lila shares her unconventional career trajectory from grassroots conservation work in Chile to leading sustainable investments. She explains Generation’s philosophy of integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors into traditional investment processes to achieve long-term financial returns. Preston discusses how the firm measures sustainability impact through KPIs, addresses the challenges of greenwashing, and emphasizes the importance of holistic, long-term investment strategies. We end the episode by discussing the rapidly changing political climate and she shares her projections for promising spaces in sustainability.

00:06 Introducing Lila and Generation Investment Management

02:06 Lila's Career Journey: From Grassroots to Corporate

04:41 Generation's Philosophy on Sustainability and Financial Value

07:17 Tracking Sustainability KPIs and Measuring Impact

12:36 The Evolution of Sustainable Investing

15:04 Addressing Political Challenges and Carbon Pricing

18:30 Preventing Greenwashing and Promoting Genuine Sustainability

20:51 Exciting Areas in Sustainability and Advice for Young Listeners

24:19 Conclusion and Farewell

In this next episode of Her Way AAPI, we welcome Krystal Ka’ai, the former Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders under the Biden Administration. The first Native Hawaiian to lead this Initiative, Ka’ai also worked on Capitol Hill for nearly 15 years, where she was the Executive Director of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC). Raised in Hawaii, Ka’ai recalls not only seeing a lack of diversity, but greater visibility for the AANHPI community in Washington’s critical decision making spaces. She worked to ensure federal accessibility for all Americans, including helping small businesses and entrepreneurs to connect with federal entities. Under Ka’ai’s leadership, the Initiative focused on three core pillars: combating anti-Asian hate, advocating for disaggregated data collection, and expanding language access and preservation. Ka’ai discusses balancing these priorities with current events, such as the need to quickly pivot in response to the Maui wildfires and shootings in Monterey Park. Overseeing a diverse demographic, Ka’ai highlights the need to find both commonalities and distinct needs of each group. Lastly, as she reflects on her shift from journalism to advocacy, she underscores the value of trusting yourself and being open to anything and everything.

0:00 Introduction and Early Life

2:23 Hawaii, Lehigh and D.C.

5:25 Federal Accessibility for all Americans

6:05 Leading a Broad Coalition

9:34 Three Main Pillars of the Initiative

14:25 The Importance of Adaptability 

17:06 Leaving Home, a New Perspective 

20:02 Capitol Hill and the Executive Branch

23:16 COVID 19 Hate Crimes Act

25:05 Concluding Advice

In today’s episode, we are joined by Karen Polle, an equestrian athlete representing the Japanese National Team, a 2024 Paris Olympics Alternate, and an Asian Partner Rider at Hermés. Polle shares her exposure to this sport growing up in New York City and dives into the mental rigors of training, emphasizing how the psychological preparation is more difficult than the physical aspect at times, especially in a sport “where my partner is a 1200 pound animal who has it's our own thoughts, opinions, moods. It's like you're constantly getting presented with things that you cannot prepare for and you can't foresee.” As a partner rider of Hermes, a Kinoshita Group Sports athlete, and an ambassador for Mikimoto, Polle discusses the responsibilities and qualities that define a great ambassador of global brands. She shares her perspective competing in a gender neutral sport, carrying a mindset of “equal footing” during competition while also noting how she may be perceived differently than her male counterparts in both athletic and workplace settings.  

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

01:00 Early Life and NYC

3:22  Exposure to Riding

04:26 Mentors and Athletes

05:02 Mental Preparation 

10:05 Being a Good Ambassador

11:46 Competing in a Gender Neutral Sport

15:46 Pursuing Economics and Business

17:56 Staying in the Present

In today’s episode, we are joined by Cari Pang Chen, Director of Innovation, Strategy & Planning at the Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program (FFRP). At FFRP, she plays a crucial role in helping formerly incarcerated individuals transition into firefighting careers through comprehensive training, certifications, and mentorship. We discuss the significant barriers these individuals face, including low wages—just over a dollar an hour—and the struggle to transfer the valuable skills gained during incarceration to post-release employment. Nonetheless, Chen highlights this unique and transformative opportunity to shift from incarceration to public service, a stark contrast to a system that so often perpetuates the reverse. She reflects on the adaptability required to tackle emergencies like the LA fires and underscores how this program offers a vital sense of possibility for many marginalized (zero to hero). Chen finds the greatest reward of mentorship witnessing the growth of confidence in each individual and the positive impact on their families as they continue to graduate. 

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

01:40 Early Life and Hawaii

05:00 FFRP’s Mission 

07:03 Training and Employment Challenges

10:40 California’s Fire Camps 

15:50 Community Impact and Partnerships

22: 56 Transition from College Education to Career Journey 

25:11 Rewards: Personal Relationships Built 

In this episode we welcome Claudia Polsky, the founding director and a clinical instructor at Berkeley Law's Environmental Law Clinic. Prior to the clinic, Claudia worked as the Deputy Attorney General for the Environment Section of the California DOJ for fourteen years. In our conversation, Claudia delves into the clinic's work in training law students to bridge the gap between theory and practice. She shares how the clinic's multi-tool approach equips students with skills beyond litigation, preparing them to tackle environmental matters through legislation, advocacy, and agency practice. Moreover, Claudia discusses notable successes in legislative and litigation efforts, including the pioneering fragrance disclosure law and EPA regulation challenges. Claudia also discusses the ways in which climate changes and human rights grow increasingly entangled, reflecting on the social impact her litigation has. Finally, she offers advice to young individuals to follow their passions and navigate their paths with curiosity and commitment.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:09 Overview of Berkeley Law's Environmental Law Clinic

01:41 Impact and Achievements of the Clinic

09:44 Student Experiences and Career Paths

16:56 Environmental Justice and Inequality

27:00 Comparing Roles: Deputy Attorney General vs. Nonprofit Work

30:04 Advice for Aspiring Environmental Lawyers

32:35 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode of Her Way Climate, we speak with Professor Sommer, a clinical instructor at Harvard's Emmett Environmental Law and Policy Clinic. Professor Sommer shares her journey from litigator at the DOJ to Deputy General Counsel at the White House Council on Environmental Quality and now an educator. She discusses the similarities and differences between these roles, her passion for working with students, and the various impactful projects at the law clinic, including amicus briefs and comment letters. Sommer also delves into the influence of political polarization on environmental litigation, the importance of federal agencies like the EPA, and strategies for combating climate change through legal frameworks. Professor Sommer emphasizes the critical role of resilience and public engagement in environmental law and shares hopeful perspectives on the future of climate action.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

00:20 Career Journey and Roles

02:20 Teaching and Mentorship at Harvard

04:11 Impact of Amicus Briefs and Legal Work

07:06 Political Influence on Environmental Law

09:46 Future of Environmental Legislation

12:23 Role of Federal Employees and EPA

18:09 Challenges and Rewards in Environmental Law

23:05 Advice for Aspiring Lawyers

24:04 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode, we delve into the journey of Mauria Finley, Vice President of Google Store and Google Fi Wireless, Founder and CEO of multi million companies Allume and Citrus Lane, and adjunct lecturer at Stanford University. Finley shares her experiences of overcoming educational disparities, the impact of her work on major tech products like Netscape and Gmail, and her transition from startups to big tech. Finley also discusses her role at Google, blending technical and managerial skills, and offers valuable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs and those looking to enter male-dominated fields. She emphasizes the importance of empathy in leadership and gives insights into her teaching approach at Stanford. Concluding with advice for high school students, she reminds listeners to lead with radical empathy in the workplace.

00:00 Introduction and Early Life

00:35 Discovering Computer Science at Stanford

02:09 Career Highlights in Tech

03:42 Role as VP at Google

05:31 Startups vs. Big Companies

07:20 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

13:58 Teaching at Stanford

17:09 Human-Centered Computer Science

19:38 Future of Computer Science

22:06 Advice for Women in Tech

23:19 Advice for High School Students

In this episode, we welcome Christine Luong, the sustainability manager of Palo Alto. She shares her transition from pre-med to environmental policy, sparked by volunteering at an environmental justice organization. Christine discusses the development of Palo Alto's Climate Action Plan and the increasing governmental effort she has led to reduce emissions by 80 percent by 2030. She discusses leading diverse initiatives, developing Palo Alto's Climate Action Plan, and the crucial role of local government in sustainable development. For aspiring climate advocates, Christine highlights the impact of voting and actionable climate-friendly practices.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

00:15 Christine's Journey to Sustainability

02:37 Education and Career Insights

04:23 Leading Successful Initiatives

06:22 Developing Climate Action Plans

08:42 Government and Community Collaboration

15:40 Leadership and Motivation

19:29 Advice for Aspiring Climate Advocates

25:53 Final Thoughts and Farewell

In the next episode of the series Her Way AAPI, Her Way spotlights Wendy Nguyen, co-founder of Stand with Asian Americans and Asian Americans Rise, two movements dedicated to amplifying Asian American political voices. As the daughter of Vietnamese refugees, Nguyen reflects on how being a beneficiary of the American system fueled her commitment to advocacy and equity. In the wake of the Atlanta spa shootings, she co-authored a pivotal open letter in the WSJ. She then established two nonprofits focused on the legal and civic responses to anti-AAPI hate. Nguyen also discusses her current initiative to mobilize over 300,000 young AAPI voters through a “moneyball” approach that maximizes impact and cost by targeting specific demographics. She asks “What is the cost per vote or registration?” Nguyen reminds us to pursue the path that is also congruent with our values.