From Refugee to Chief Equity Officer: Thymai Dong-Sheehan on Identity, Faith & Courageous Leaps

In this powerful episode of the Ladies Who Leap Podcast, host Lisa Andria sits down with author, educator, and consultant Thymai Dong-Sheehan to explore a life shaped by courage, faith, identity, and transformation. Thymai’s memoir, The Beauties of My So-Called Asian Life, tells the story of fleeing Saigon as a Vietnamese refugee in 1975, growing up as an Asian American navigating belonging, rising to become a Chief Equity Officer in public education, and ultimately stepping away from her executive role to prioritize family and faith.  And then leaping back into her consulting business. In this deeply honest conversation, we explore: ✨ What it means to live “in the hyphen” as a Vietnamese-American ✨ Overcoming discrimination and reclaiming identity ✨ Faith, spirituality, and leadership in public education ✨ Navigating DEI work in today’s climate ✨ Caregiving, resilience, and redefining purpose ✨ The healing power of vulnerability and memoir writing ✨ Why forgiving yourself is often the hardest leap of all Thymai shares how leaving a prestigious leadership role became her greatest leap of faith — choosing family over title, purpose over prestige, and inner transformation over external validation. We also discuss her consulting company, Innervate 2 Educate, and why real transformation in education begins from the inside out. If you care about: Immigrant stories Asian American identity Diversity, equity & inclusion Faith and spirituality Personal growth and resilience Caregiving and family transitions Writing a memoir Leadership with heart This episode is for you. 👉 Be sure to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and SHARE to support courageous stories that inspire women to leap.   Connect with Thymai Dong-Sheehan 📘 Book: The Beauties of My So-Called Asian Life 🌐 Innervate to Educate Consulting: innervate2educate.com Connect with Lisa Andria (Host | Ladies Who Leap) 🌐 Website & offerings: ladieswholeap.com 📩 Email: ladieswholeap.podbean.com ▶️ YouTube: youtube.com/@ladieswholeap