“When I was young, I met many famous people without ever knowing how important a role they would play in my life later on.”

Life in Omaha gave me the chance to meet many well-known local figures as well as special guests who visited the city. I met Warren Buffett many times, back when he had not yet become the influential figure he is today. I was even a recipient of a scholarship from his fund. One memory I’ve always carried with me is the time Nancy Reagan, the First Lady of the United States, came to my elementary school to read to the students.

My parents always valued education and worked hard to give me learning opportunities that went beyond the classroom. I had the chance to visit the White House to study constitutional law, attend biology summer camps on Catalina Island, and travel to Houston to learn about astronomy with NASA. Those experiences nurtured in me, from a very early age, a spirit of learning, curiosity, and a love of exploring new fields.

I spent my formative years in Nebraska before my family moved to Orange County, and later to the San Francisco Bay Area. I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from UCLA. After that, I went on to earn an MBA from Pepperdine Graziadio Business School. I also completed a PhD and postdoctoral research in biomedical engineering at Northwestern University.

Throughout my life, I have always carried an entrepreneurial spirit inspired by my mother, along with a passion for exploring new places and cultures. My ability to debate and argue persuasively, combined with a direct communication style and a strong commitment to core values, helped me launch my career in the biotech industry.

I quickly built a reputation as a negotiator and someone who could bring deals to successful completion. Over the course of my career, I ran laboratories as well as various departments — from manufacturing and marketing to business development and R&D — across the United States and international markets.

“I was fortunate to have wonderful mentors who created opportunities for me to work in environments that helped me grow.”

At age 30, after getting married and having a daughter, I began to rediscover and reawaken my Catholic faith in my life. This also marked a turning point that opened up an entirely new journey, one where career, family, faith and a spirit of service gradually became intertwined.

In 2016, I joined the community of the Shrine of Our Lady of La Vang at Christ Cathedral. I was later given the official role of project manager by the Diocese, overseeing key areas related to fundraising, architecture and construction. The more deeply I became involved in the project, the more time I spent on the Christ Cathedral campus, and the more attached I became to the journey of building a space for the Vietnamese Catholic community.

2023 became an especially meaningful milestone in my journey, as I was recognized and honored by three different organizations. The Catholic Charities Auxiliary honored me on its list of Inspiring Catholic Women. The Orange Catholic Foundation presented me with the Bishop’s Award for Exemplary Integrity in Business. I was also recognized by a Vietnamese community organization for my contributions.

In April 2023, Bishop Kevin Vann offered special praise and recognition when he presented me with the Bishop’s Award. To me, these honors are not only milestones in a personal journey, but also a reminder of the value of education, mentors, family, faith, and the opportunities to use one’s abilities in service of the community.