Catalyzing Grief into Self-Care and Entrepreneurship
LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE:
When things start to feel like they are falling apart in life, any chance you find self care near impossible to prioritize? Today’s guest, Ada Chen, talks about how surviving a whirlwind of events in 2019 and 2020 – the pandemic, leaving a toxic workplace that caused burnout, abruptly moving to a new state on the last plane out as lockdowns tighten, unexpectedly caretaking and losing a parent – led to her completely changing her life and career path to embrace her unique leadership destiny. Ada is the founder and CEO of Chuan’s Promise, a natural skincare line focused on sustainability, accessibility, and inclusivity. Nikki and Ada discuss Ada's grief and healing journeys and the impact they have had on her personally and professionally, how her experiences of finding belonging in her younger years helped ground her in adulthood and on her relationship to self-care. Ada also shares the story of how the 2021 spa shootings in Atlanta inspired her to build a hub for AAPI social justice advocacy in an unexpected place, her sewing community, through a podcast that aims to foster healing, conversation, and amplify AAPI voices and issues.
TOPICS
[2:30] episode introduction
[4:46] Ada’s journey in her own words
[6:10] Ada’s “other” story
[10:00] lunchbox moments
[14:50] Ada’s story of feeling seen
[18:45] teaching English in Taiwan
[22:40] 2019 and 2020 reflections
[31:30] alchemizing life’s experiences + creating her skincare line
[42:00] creating a sustainable, inclusive, and accessible product
[51:30] sewing podcast and issues within the sewing community
[1:02:00] keep in touch with Ada
[1:05:00] closing thoughts
RELEVANT LINKS
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Social media:
Podcasts:
Documentary: Love Boat: Taiwan
Checkbox Other episode: The Magic of Being Truly Seen with Andrea Forsht
QUOTES
“There are so many themes that are coming through and the one that just like, especially coming outta the last couple weeks of coaching with my clients lately, so much of the conversation has been around this dance between how do I show up in the way that I'm successful and also how do I deal with the people pleasing muscle that I have been groomed to build so strong?” –Nikki
“The majority of the money that we give them [beauty brands] is on marketing back to us. They're not spending it on the product itself.” –Ada
“Yes, it's not all on consumers to fix all the problems. Big companies cause the majority of the pollution and the waste. But if we can show them that the demand is there and that we wanna see products that look like mine, that are packaged in biodegradable, compostable materials, then they'll actually start to listen and start doing things.” –Ada
“Hey, this clay mask isn't gonna solve all your problems and world peace and climate change and all that, but if it gives you that five minutes once a week to just stop and like turn off your phone or just look at cat videos for five minutes, cause that's your outlet, go for it. Because spending that five minutes on it will actually make the rest of your day and the rest of your week. It will help you, like keep you grounded in something at least.” –Ada
“If we get together and form one voice and we address why cultural appropriation leads to the massacre of women who look like my mom and other people's moms in Atlanta, then we can actually start having a dialogue.” –Ada
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MEET THE HOST: NIKKI INNOCENT
I’ve never been one to be put in a category or fit under one label so here are a few descriptors I identify with: Connector. Empath. Inclusion Advocate. Creator of Safe Spaces in the Gray Area. Women’s Leadership Coach. Hype Woman. Story Fiend. Lover of Conversation. Former Corporate Marketer.