Curiosity at Work

In this episode of the Curiosity at Work podcast, Dr. Julie Pham speaks with Ariel Gomez-Bradler, managing director of The 5th Avenue Theater. They explore the importance of curiosity in the theater arts, the structure and roles within the theater, and the challenges faced by the industry, especially post-pandemic. Ariel shares personal stories of how curiosity has influenced his work and the sign...

In this episode of the Curiosity at Work podcast, Dr. Julie Pham speaks with Monica Matthews, CEO and founder of Queen Care and Life Enrichment Group. They discuss the importance of curiosity in entrepreneurship, the evolution of Queen Care from a nonprofit initiative, and the challenges of leading a diverse workforce. Monica shares her journey of personal growth and the significance of self-care...

In this episode of the Curiosity at Work podcast, Dr. Julie Pham speaks with Viggo Forde, the Chief Information Officer for Snohomish County. They discuss the role of curiosity in the IT sector, particularly within government operations. Viggo shares his experiences from the private sector to public service, emphasizing the importance of fostering curiosity among employees, the evolution of IT in...

In this conversation, Dr. Julie Pham speaks with Rebecca Hoogs, the executive director of Seattle Arts and Lectures, about the importance of curiosity in leadership and community engagement. They discuss Rebecca's journey in the nonprofit sector, the mission of Seattle Arts and Lectures, and how curiosity is a core value that shapes their programming. Rebecca shares insights on the challenges of p...

In this episode of the Curiosity at Work podcast, Julie Pham speaks with Bradd Busick, Senior Vice President and CIO at MultiCare Health. They discuss the importance of curiosity in both personal and professional contexts, the role of technology in healthcare, and how the COVID-19 pandemic has transformed patient care. Brad shares insights on fostering a culture of curiosity within healthcare orga...

In this episode of the Curiosity at Work podcast, Dr. Julie Pham interviews Janice Deguchi, the executive director of Neighborhood House, a community action organization. They discuss the importance of curiosity in the social service sector, the structure and services of Neighborhood House, and the challenges of practicing curiosity as a leader. Janice shares insights on the diverse workforce at N...

In this episode of Curiosity at Work, Dr. Julie Pham interviews Dr. Andrew Robertson, VP and Head of Global Regulatory Policy and Innovation at Takeda Pharmaceuticals, about how curiosity drives innovation in drug development and health policy. Andrew shares how he built a global team to tackle near- and long-term regulatory challenges using cloud-based tools, AI, and patient-centered strategies....

In this episode of Curiosity at Work, Dr. Julie Pham sits down with Ed Ewing, Executive Director of Bike Works, to explore how curiosity drives social justice, leadership, and community impact. Ed shares how Bike Works, a nonprofit bike shop in Seattle, reinvests all its revenue into empowering youth and underserved communities. From launching a mobile bike shop during the pandemic to investing in...

In this episode of Curiosity at Work, Dr. Julie Pham interviews Melodie Reynolds, founder and CEO of Elate Beauty, about how curiosity fuels innovation in the beauty industry. Melodie shares her journey from making lipstick in her basement to leading a globally recognized sustainable beauty brand. She discusses the challenges of scaling a business, transitioning to a remote team, and fostering a w...

In this episode of Curiosity at Work, Dr. Julie Pham interviews Michael Byun, Executive Director of Asian Counseling and Referral Service (ACRS), about how curiosity fuels leadership, social justice, and community advocacy. With over 25 years of experience, Michael shares insights on managing a diverse, multilingual team, balancing urgent community needs with long-term policy work, and fostering a...

In this episode of Curiosity at Work, Dr. Julie Pham interviews Tom Fay, Executive Director and Chief Librarian of The Seattle Public Library. With over 42 years in the field, Tom shares how libraries have evolved into essential community hubs, offering much more than books—including social services, small business support, and digital access. He discusses leading through challenges like book bans...

In this episode of Curiosity at Work, Dr. Julie Pham interviews Jerry Waldron, Interim Construction Management Director at Seattle Public Utilities (SPU). With over 35 years of experience in engineering, infrastructure, and public service, Jerry shares insights on leading large-scale utility projects that impact daily life in Seattle. He discusses the challenges of fostering curiosity in a policy-...

In this episode of Curiosity at Work, Dr. Julie Pham interviews Dr. Amy Morrison, President of Lake Washington Institute of Technology (LWTech), to explore how curiosity shapes leadership in higher education. A first-generation college graduate and passionate advocate for workforce education, Dr. Morrison shares insights on fostering collaboration, navigating generational diversity, and building a...

In this episode of Curiosity at Work, Dr. Julie Pham interviews Cynthia Tee, SVP of Engineering at Smartsheet, to explore how curiosity drives leadership and innovation. Cynthia shares her journey from Microsoft to Smartsheet, leading a global, remote-first engineering team of over 530 people. She discusses fostering alignment, navigating mergers, and cultivating curiosity to tackle challenges and...

In this episode of Curiosity at Work, Dr. Julie Pham interviews Shannon Drotning, Market President for the West Coast at Providence Health Plan. Shannon shares her inspiring journey from customer service representative to senior leader, emphasizing how curiosity drives her approach to leadership and customer-centered innovation. She discusses how Providence Health Plan delivers on its promise to "...

In this episode of Curiosity at Work, Dr. Julie Pham speaks with Harold D. Scoggins, Chief of the Seattle Fire Department, about leading with curiosity in emergency services. With over 35 years of experience, Chief Scoggins shares insights on fostering innovation, managing change in a tradition-rich field, and driving life-saving advancements like overdose response programs. Discover how the Seatt...

In this episode of Curiosity at Work, Dr. Julie Pham interviews Rachel Suman, Chief Experience Officer at the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP). Rachel shares her journey from administrative professional to executive leader and offers insights on empowering administrative professionals to become strategic partners in their organizations. She highlights the power of c...

In this episode of Curiosity at Work, Dr. Julie Pham chats with Diem Ly, Division Director at the City of Seattle’s Office of Economic Development. Diem shares her journey from community journalism to public service leadership, emphasizing how curiosity drives inclusive economic growth. She discusses balancing diverse stakeholder needs, creating a feedback culture, and adapting to a post-pandemic...

In this episode of Curiosity at Work, Dr. Julie Pham interviews Ryan Calkins, Port of Seattle Commissioner and advisor at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Ryan shares how curiosity drives his leadership in public service, from fostering innovation through skunkworks programs  and connecting scientists with industries at PNNL. He reflects on navigating challenges as an elected official like p...

In this episode of Curiosity at Work, Dr. Julie Pham chats with Phoebe Sade, Executive Officer of BrightSpark Early Learning Services, about how to apply curiosity to a rapidly growing nonprofit that relies primarily on government funding. Phoebe shares insights from leading BrightSpark through adapting communication for a younger, diverse workforce and rethinking coaching models to serve communit...

Michael Greer, CEO of ArtsFund, joins Dr. Julie Pham on the Curiosity at Work podcast to explore how curiosity drives leadership in the arts sector. In his role at ArtsFund, Michael oversees grant-making, capacity building, and advocacy to support over 800 arts organizations across Washington State. He shares how curiosity helps him navigate the challenges of managing a hybrid team, balancing supp...

In this episode of Curiosity at Work, host Dr. Julie Pham chats with Britt Provost, a seasoned people and talent executive with over 20 years of experience in global tech. Currently serving as the Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) at Siteimprove, Britt is committed to creating progressive career experiences through the efforts of her HR team. Having previously held executive roles at Accolade,...

Lauren Flemister, Assistant Director of Planning and Public Works at Pierce County, brings over 17 years of experience across community and regional planning, architecture, and public affairs. Her impressive career includes leadership roles in the City of Tacoma's Planning and Development Services Department and the City of Seattle’s Office of Planning and Community Development. In the Curiosity a...

In this episode of the Curiosity at Work podcast, Dr. Julie Pham sits down with Michael Jacobson, an award-winning national leader in organizational performance management and the Deputy Director at King County’s Office of Performance, Strategy, and Budget. During the conversation, Michael shares insights into his extensive work establishing King County’s performance management systems, including...

In the latest episode of Curiosity at Work, host Dr. Julie Pham welcomes Rico Quirindongo, the Director of the Office of Planning and Community Development (OPCD) for the City of Seattle. Together, they dive into how curiosity shapes the workplace and the dynamic role it plays in city planning. Rico shares insights into the structure of his office, which comprises 50 people, including planners and...