Dr. Elysabeth: 14 Years of Perseverance Spreading Values Beyond Personal Success
From a volunteer to the head of a large-scale nonprofit organization, Dr. Elysabeth’s journey has been a long and inspiring one.
For years, the Our Lady of La Vang Foundation has been known not only for its fundraising efforts to build the Shrine of Our Lady of La Vang at Christ Cathedral, but also for becoming a hub bringing together numerous cultural, educational and community projects for Vietnamese people in the United States. Behind that journey is Dr. Elysabeth, a multi-disciplinary businesswoman who has brought a corporate management mindset into the nonprofit world to build lasting value. Her position today did not come from rapid rises, but was built through a persistent 14-year journey filled with experiences, perseverance, and pivotal choices.
About 14 years before becoming CEO of the OLLV Foundation, she made the decision to pause her career to spend more time with her family. She moved to Orange County to be closer to her parents. During that period, she began participating in parish activities simply as an ordinary volunteer. It was her dedication and the experience she had accumulated in the corporate world that gradually earned her trust, and she was later invited to take part in larger projects.
From a volunteer to the head of a large-scale nonprofit organization, that journey reflects not only professional competence but also adaptability and a lasting spirit of service. According to Dr. Elysabeth, the most important skill that brought her to her current position was not leadership or management ability, but knowing how to listen. That is the foundation for building consensus, establishing trust, and connecting people who share the same ideals.
Dr. Elysabeth’s leadership style is also shaped by very clear values. She firmly believes that a team can only grow when everyone understands and works toward a shared mission. Members do not always agree with one another, but as long as they listen to and respect each other’s viewpoints, differences can become a driving force for growth.
That perspective has been shaped by her education as well as by the mentors who have guided her over the years. Dr. Elysabeth has taken part in numerous postgraduate business programs, including one at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. From an early age, she had the opportunity to learn from experienced leaders and absorb people-centered management principles. To this day, she continues to apply those values across every field she is involved in.
Beyond her community work, Dr. Elysabeth also serves as Executive Producer of the documentary Our Lady At The Center. For her, film is not just an art of storytelling but also a powerful medium for spreading humanistic values, connecting people who share the same ideals, and creating a positive impact on society.
Alongside her nonprofit and film work, she continues to invest across several business sectors. Her current focus includes emerging technologies, artificial intelligence, and cross-border medical technology transfer projects. Despite working across such varied fields, Dr. Elysabeth believes all of her work shares a common thread: creating value, generating impact, and bringing hope to more people. That is why she does not see balancing business, the arts and community work as an especially difficult task. Instead, she focuses on the most important priorities of each day.
As a Vietnamese-American businesswoman operating on the international stage, Dr. Elysabeth has also faced no shortage of biases toward women in leadership roles. However, she has not let those biases become a barrier.
“I understand the expectations society often places on women leaders. However, I overcome that by always being myself and not letting those biases affect me. My responsibility is to keep moving forward and to lead through real results,” Dr. Elysabeth shared.
In business, the greatest challenge she has faced has been securing capital and building trust with clients. In the nonprofit world, the challenge instead comes from inspiring people to be willing to contribute to the community. For her, both fields require perseverance, clear communication, and unwavering belief in the values she is pursuing.
When it comes to personal branding, Dr. Elysabeth always emphasizes that people work with people. To get others to invest in you, you must first build trust. Sincerity and authenticity are always the most important foundation. She also has great appreciation for the potential of the overseas Vietnamese business community, who hold the advantage of understanding both Vietnamese culture and international professional standards, allowing them to create connections and collaboration opportunities on a global scale.
Looking ahead, Dr. Elysabeth hopes to expand her influence by partnering with educational organizations to train the next generation of leaders, particularly women and communities that continue to face significant hardship. For her, investing in people is always the most valuable long-term investment.
If she had to sum up her life philosophy in a single sentence, Dr. Elysabeth would not talk about money, status or fame. She believes success is only truly meaningful when, each day, we become a better version of who we were yesterday. That simple philosophy is what has carried her through a 14-year journey from an ordinary volunteer to the leader of an influential nonprofit organization, all while continuing to inspire others through perseverance, sincerity, and an unwavering desire to serve.
