S3 Ep1: "You Can't Make a Living With That" --Negotiating Family Expectations While Following Your Passion

12/08/23 • 44 min

Sometimes, the field we are passionate about can seem too risky to pursue, especially when we have people in our lives cautioning us to be pragmatic and cautious. But what about happiness and personal fulfillment? Aren’t these also measures of success? Artist, designer and small-business owner Stacy Nguyen discusses what it was like for her to make a bunch of ‘bad’ career decisions.

Stacy Nguyen is a Seattle area-based Vietnamese American illustrator, visual designer and writer whose work explores the ways race, Vietnameseness and gender intersect within the lens of popular culture. Her work strongly features themes revolving around women and femininity. Stacy owns and runs Stacy Nguyen Creative, a branding and communications consulting business with a client roster that is primarily BIPOC-led community-based organizations and nonprofits whose work centers around equity, racial justice and economic justice.

Nidhi Kumar (she/her) is a proud alum of the University of Washington, graduating in 2021 from the UW School of Law with her master’s in jurisprudence. She earned her B.A. in political science (prelaw and criminal justice) at Michigan State University and is a current J.D. Candidate in Seattle University School of Law’s evening program, while serving full-time on the seconded Amazon legal team at Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker, LLP, continuously building and exploring her passion for the law.

Nidhi serves as a member of the UWAA GOLD (Graduates of the Last Decade) Council, a mentor through the Huskies@Work program and a District Dawg in the 43rd Legislative District, empowered by the mission of giving back to the UW community – providing opportunity, comradery and a voice to current students.

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S2 EP6: Managing your Work/Life Environment (part 2)

Managing Your Work/Life Environment
with Rosemary Simmons

Feeling overwhelmed and dissatisfied with your work may be a symptom of an imbalance between your work and your self. Psychologist Rosemary E. Simmons shares helpful tips of taking care of your priorities, being true to your values, and juggling competing demands.

Rosemary E. Simmons, Ph.D. (she/her) is a first-generation, Pell recipient college student who had the privilege of being employed as a licensed psychologist in higher education for over 30 years. She specializes in providing mentoring, training and psychotherapy for young adults and early career professionals. She is honored that she was hired as the inaugural counseling center director for UW Bothell. During her tenure at UW Bothell, she worked closely with the students to assist in the development and opening of the Student Diversity Center, Violence Prevention & Advocacy Program, Health and Wellness Resource Center, and United Way Benefits Hub focused on one-stop services for low-income college students. She worked at UW Bothell for more than seven years before transitioning to semi-retirement at the end of 2021. Rosemary is currently a resident of Kitsap County and provides psychotherapy at Front Street Clinic in Silverdale and consultation and training to university staff, faculty and administrators across the country. She spends her time hiking Kitsap and Olympic Peninsulas, kayaking, reading, cooking, baking and laughing with friends and family, a laugh that startles babies. After all, toddlers should not be the only ones who have belly laughs!

Music by Lesfm from Pixabay

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S3 Ep2: Honoring Your Heritage While Pursuing Entrepreneurship

with Salomé Valencia-Bohné and Karla Ciccia

Traditional corporate culture can foster spaces where BIPOC professionals don’t feel as if they can authentically be themselves. Social justice advocate and business owner Salomé Valencia-Bohné, MA, MSW, LSWAIC (she/her/ella) partners with you to explore how social entrepreneurship is a career move that can support you in honoring your cultural heritage and values while also increasing your wallet size.

Salomé Valencia-Bohné, MA, MSW, LSWAIC (she/her/ella) was born and raised in Yakima, WA. In 2019. She graduated from the University of Washington’s MSW program with a concentration in health and mental health. Dedicated to investing in the clinical social work field, Salomé is a member of many clinical social work and Latino societies, provides psychotherapy through an anti-oppression lens and is a strong activist within her community. She is the owner of The Rivers Wellness & Advocacy Foundation, host of the Clinically Growing Together podcast and owner of the Financial Peace & Prosperity program.

Originally from Peru, Karla Ciccia moved to the states as a kid but since then has lived in two other continents before returning to WA and setting down roots. Karla is a passionate traveler and community advocate. She was previously working at a local philanthropy where she led local and international teams to rapidly deliver functional prototypes across a wide spectrum of tech and conservation products. Currently, Karla is working as a product manager delivering quality donor tissue to those in need. Karla is a graduate from the UW and in her spare time loves to explore the PNW with her family, friends, and soon, first child.