
Bonnie Wan: Blueprint for No Regrets- Reinventing What Success in Work and Life Means
04/03/24 • 36 min
- Host: Dr. Stephanie J. Wong
- Guest: Bonnie Wan, Partner and Head of Brand Strategy at Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, celebrated as Ad Age's Leading Woman for 2023 and 2022's Chief Strategy Officer of the Year, and author of "The Life Brief: A Playbook for No Regrets Living."
In this inspiring episode of the Color of Success Podcast, Dr. Stephanie J. Wong invites the illustrious Bonnie Wan to share her transformative journey from a life that looked perfect on paper to one of genuine fulfillment and no regrets living. Through a candid discussion, they explore the intersection of professional success, personal growth, and the critical importance of reevaluating one's relationship with time. Listeners will be treated to valuable insights on creating a life brief, advocating for social equity, and embracing vulnerability in the quest for a meaningful life.
Episode Highlights:- Bonnie Wan's Career and Insights:
- Bonnie shares her journey from feeling unfulfilled despite having a seemingly perfect life to reevaluating her relationship with time and making significant life changes to achieve no regrets living.
- The Concept of "The Life Brief":
- Bonnie introduces "The Life Brief" as a strategic tool for individuals to clarify and pursue what matters most in their lives, inspired by her expertise in brand strategy.
- Career and Life Transformation:
- Through the life brief, Bonnie narrates how she and her husband made brave choices that led to a more fulfilling lifestyle, including moving to Portland, Oregon, and achieving professional growth while maintaining family priorities.
- Advocacy and Addressing Racism:
- Bonnie discusses her experiences with racism and how she utilizes her leadership and communication skills to promote inclusivity and address social equity issues in the workplace and beyond.
- The Power of Vulnerability:
- Both Bonnie and Dr. Wong advocate for more authenticity and openness about the challenges and messiness of life, especially for women in professional spaces, to foster a supportive and realistic environment.
- Engaging with Bonnie Wan's Work:
- Listeners are encouraged to check out Bonnie Wan's book, "The Life Brief," available on various platforms, and to connect with her through her website and social media.
- Dr. Stephanie J Wong wraps up the episode by inviting listeners to subscribe to the Color of Success Podcast and join the community at colorofsuccesspodcast.com, check out her memoir "Cancel the Filter: Realities of a Psychologist, Podcaster, and Working Mother of Color," and share their own "cancel the filter" moments. https://www.amazon.com/dp/1960299239
- Munn Avenue Press: munnavenuepress.com
- Color of Success Podcast: colorofsuccesspodcast.com
- Bonnie Wan's Book, "The Life Brief": Available on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1982195509) , Bookshop.org, and wherever books are sold.
- Bonnie Wan Official on Instagram: @bonniewanofficial
- Host: Dr. Stephanie J. Wong
- Guest: Bonnie Wan, Partner and Head of Brand Strategy at Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, celebrated as Ad Age's Leading Woman for 2023 and 2022's Chief Strategy Officer of the Year, and author of "The Life Brief: A Playbook for No Regrets Living."
In this inspiring episode of the Color of Success Podcast, Dr. Stephanie J. Wong invites the illustrious Bonnie Wan to share her transformative journey from a life that looked perfect on paper to one of genuine fulfillment and no regrets living. Through a candid discussion, they explore the intersection of professional success, personal growth, and the critical importance of reevaluating one's relationship with time. Listeners will be treated to valuable insights on creating a life brief, advocating for social equity, and embracing vulnerability in the quest for a meaningful life.
Episode Highlights:- Bonnie Wan's Career and Insights:
- Bonnie shares her journey from feeling unfulfilled despite having a seemingly perfect life to reevaluating her relationship with time and making significant life changes to achieve no regrets living.
- The Concept of "The Life Brief":
- Bonnie introduces "The Life Brief" as a strategic tool for individuals to clarify and pursue what matters most in their lives, inspired by her expertise in brand strategy.
- Career and Life Transformation:
- Through the life brief, Bonnie narrates how she and her husband made brave choices that led to a more fulfilling lifestyle, including moving to Portland, Oregon, and achieving professional growth while maintaining family priorities.
- Advocacy and Addressing Racism:
- Bonnie discusses her experiences with racism and how she utilizes her leadership and communication skills to promote inclusivity and address social equity issues in the workplace and beyond.
- The Power of Vulnerability:
- Both Bonnie and Dr. Wong advocate for more authenticity and openness about the challenges and messiness of life, especially for women in professional spaces, to foster a supportive and realistic environment.
- Engaging with Bonnie Wan's Work:
- Listeners are encouraged to check out Bonnie Wan's book, "The Life Brief," available on various platforms, and to connect with her through her website and social media.
- Dr. Stephanie J Wong wraps up the episode by inviting listeners to subscribe to the Color of Success Podcast and join the community at colorofsuccesspodcast.com, check out her memoir "Cancel the Filter: Realities of a Psychologist, Podcaster, and Working Mother of Color," and share their own "cancel the filter" moments. https://www.amazon.com/dp/1960299239
- Munn Avenue Press: munnavenuepress.com
- Color of Success Podcast: colorofsuccesspodcast.com
- Bonnie Wan's Book, "The Life Brief": Available on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1982195509) , Bookshop.org, and wherever books are sold.
- Bonnie Wan Official on Instagram: @bonniewanofficial
Previous Episode

Eleanor Tomczyk: Finding Resilience and Identity Beyond Borders
Welcome to a special episode of the Color of Success Podcast! Today, we had the pleasure of hosting the incredible Eleanor Tomczyk, a memoirist, blogger, and speaker whose journey takes us through the realms of identity, resilience, and the search for belonging in a complex world. Here's a brief overview of what we discussed:
About Our Guest: Eleanor Tomczyk is an African American baby boomer, an ex-evangelical conservative Christian turned memoirist, and humorous blogger. She has published three impactful books - "Monster's Throwdown," "Fleeing Oz," and "The Fetus Chronicles," with her fourth, "House of Oz, Undone," set to release in the fall of 2024. Eleanor's work uniquely captures the essence of her life's trials and triumphs, offering profound insights into love, grace, hope, and joy amidst adversity.
Host: Dr. Stephanie J. Wong Guest: Eleanor Tomczyk
In This Episode:
- Eleanor's Journey: From being born in a unfortunate circumstances to becoming a celebrated author, Eleanor's story is one of overcoming the odds through love, grace, and resilience.
- The Impact of Mental Health: Eleanor discusses the profound impact her mother's mental health had on her upbringing and her path to forgiveness and understanding.
- Finding Love and Community: She shares how meeting her husband in a community that initially offered belonging and support played a crucial role in her healing process.
- Navigating Religion and Spirituality: Eleanor reflects on her experiences with religion, from finding solace in faith to confronting the challenges and eventual disillusionment with institutionalized religion.
- Advocacy for Mental Health: The conversation highlights the importance of mental health awareness and support, contrasting Eleanor's generational perspective with the more open attitudes of younger generations.
- Eleanor's Work and Upcoming Book: Details on where to find Eleanor's published works and anticipation for her next book, "House of Oz, Undone," which explores the intersection of faith and political ideology.
Final Thoughts: Eleanor's journey is a testament to the power of storytelling in navigating life's complexities and finding one's voice amidst adversity. Her work not only entertains but also enlightens, offering a beacon of hope and resilience for those traversing their paths to self-discovery and healing.
Stay Connected:
- To learn more about Eleanor Tomczyk and her work, visit EleanorTomczyk.com.
- Check out her blog, "How the Hell Did I End Up Here?" at howthehelldidIenduphere.wordpress.com for more of her insightful musings.
- Eleanor's books are available on Amazon and other major book retailers. Be sure to check out her upcoming release, "House of Oz, Undone."
Thank You for Listening! If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe to the Color of Success Podcast on your favorite platform and leave us a review. Your support helps us grow our community and continue bringing you inspiring stories and valuable insights from our guests.
- Sponsor Highlight: Munn Avenue Press - Empowering aspiring authors to publish and market their books. Visit munnavenuepress.com to start your publishing journey.
- Host Announcement: Dr. Stephanie J. Wong's new book, Cancel the Filter: Realities of a Psychologist, Podcaster, and Working Mother of Color, focuses on mental health experiences professionally and personally. You can pick up a copy here: https://a.co/d/8ezSFrh
Next Episode

Lucy Liu: Living an Epic Life Through Tiny "Aha" Moments
Join us for an inspiring episode of the Color of Success Podcast as Dr. Stephanie J. Wong sits down with master life coach Lucy Liu. Dive into Lucy's journey from overcoming the shadow of a famous name to embracing personal development and helping others achieve their most epic lives. Don't miss this deep dive into the challenges and triumphs of personal growth and empowerment.
Show Notes:
- Introduction to Lucy Liu Lucy Liu, is a master life coach, motivational speaker, and international bestselling author. Lucy specializes in helping women overcome overwhelm, gain confidence, and achieve their life goals through personal development.
- The Name Game Lucy discusses the personal challenges she faced sharing her name with a famous actress. She explains how this led to feelings of inadequacy and disappointment, which she eventually turned into a stepping stone for personal growth and identity building.
- Journey into Personal Development Lucy shares that her transformation was not triggered by a single moment but by a series of "tiny aha moments." These insights came through her deep dive into personal development, which shifted her from feeling unfulfilled and stressed to living a confident and thriving life.
- Impact of Guidance and Mentorship Highlighting the importance of mentorship, Lucy credits her mentor for instilling a mindset that "anything is possible" and emphasizes how guidance can expedite personal growth and help navigate life's challenges.
- Turning Lemons into Lemonade Discussing resilience and proactive living, Lucy advocates for taking action despite difficulties. She uses the metaphor of life throwing lemons to discuss how individuals can either complain or create opportunities like a lemonade stand.
- From Hindrance to Strength Lucy concludes by describing how she transformed her name—from a source of embarrassment into one of her greatest strengths—through decisive action and confidence-building. She also touches on the role of social media in shaping perceptions and the importance of aligning personal decisions with one’s desired path in life.
Closing Thoughts: Dr. Stephanie J Wong wraps up the episode by inviting listeners to subscribe to the podcast and check out her book, "Cancel the Filter: Realities of a Psychologist, Podcaster, and Working Mother of Color." Grab it here!: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1960299239?
Resources:
- Connect with Lucy Liu via email at [email protected] or follow her on social media at @mslucyliu.
- For more insights and inspiration, tune into the Lucy Liu Show available on all major podcast platforms.
Join us next time on Color of Success Podcast for more enriching conversations aimed at empowering our community through shared stories and expert insights.
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