Curious Monica

Happy 2024! We are thrilled to return with new stories to inspire and empower you. We hope you have been well. Subscribe today to Curious Monica by InnovatorsBox, hosted by the Founder & CEO of InnovatorsBox, Monica H. Kang. The first episode will start in February 2024. Send us your questions and people you'd like us to interview at info@innovatorsbox.com. Learn more at curiousmonica.com .

In the final episode of Curious Monica Season 2, I reflect on all the conversations I've had this season to create a special advice column for innovators. The past few months have been about transition - transitioning into new workplace norms, new careers, and new ways of innovating. And my guests continued to remind me that greater purpose and intention are the heart of what we do. But what exact...

I'm curious. What are you curious about lately? How can we transform what we're curious about into actionable intention? In this very special edition of Curious Monica, I invite you to pause and be mindful with me as I lead you through an interactive reflection on curiosity. Yes! Instead of the usual guest interviews, I'm going to share various resources we developed to create an immersive experie...

Good writing and speeches inspire you, motivate you, and make you feel heard. That's powerful and a skill to hone! So, I was always curious. What would it be like to do this full time, and how does one decide to want to become a speaker or a writer? I mean do you start wanting to become a speaker to have a career as a speaker and writer? No, not necessarily. Having deep curiosity and drive to lear...

The pandemic gave us all a taste of what it's like when health challenges derail our business models and careers. Some people have already had to overcome health challenges in order to succeed, and for the guests on this podcast today, we were able to transform their pain into inspiration for their lives and career changes. Being able to overcome challenges, especially health challenges, takes an...

Is it possible to do business and do good for society? At first, I wasn't sure but now as a social entrepreneur, and working with other friends who are also doing business for good, I know my answer will be, yes all the time! Still, how does one do it and what is their journey like doing business and doing something good for society? In this episode, I speak with social entrepreneurs Amy Malin and...

Education is highly appreciated and respected yet a lot of teachers in school are underappreciated, underpaid, and very overworked. Why are the people who play such a key role in our lives and future are overworked and underpaid? And why do teachers start their career even if the work is demanding? It's because they deeply care. They care about the students, their journey, and the future they will...

We've talked about the profession of coaching before, but what really makes a coach a great leader? Why is coaching an important skill for everyone? And what are some of the key characteristics of a good coach, no matter what field or location? As a coach myself I know that behind every great coach is someone who believed in them, a leader who held them accountable. In this episode I talk with thr...

When was the last time you consumed something that was translated? Maybe it was a business report or Squid Game or even a video game! The translation industry makes things accessible, but it also helps businesses grow, reach new markets - and more! In this episode I speak with Marina Illari and Colleen Beres  of Terra Translations, a company who has been solving problems in this industry for over...

Have you found yourself watching more films than usual these past few years? I know I have! Good movies make me cry, reflect, celebrate, laugh, and remind me how beautiful and meaningful life is. In this episode I dive into all the aspects of working in the film industry, especially for those whose voices are often underrepresented. Meet David Masami Moriya and Kelly Li who share their stories abo...

As a long-time children's books fan, I've always wondered, how does a children's book come together? How is it different from other books and why do authors write what they write? Whether you are looking to write your children's book, or a fan of children's books you're in for a treat. In this episode, I caught up with three friends who took different paths to bring their children's books to life....

Is it too late to start my dream career? No! In the next few weeks, I'm excited to visit friends in different industries to learn how they fell in love with their jobs and industries. Whether you are already in your dream job or not, you can have a career that you love and enjoy growing in. Welcome back to Curious Monica where we learn how different innovators thrive at different jobs. Subscribe t...

Why do you do what you do? What do you live for? In today's episode, we went back through our 90+ conversations with innovators in Season 1 to learn more about why they live with intention and purpose. 'What is your legacy?' is a good question to ask. Watch the full video at our InnovatorsBox YouTube channel.

What do you really want in your career and life? As we wrap up Season 1 and look back at our interviews with over 90 guests, it reminded me of the lesson professor Randy Pausch shared in his Last Lecture - never stop dreaming and working for it. What dream are you dreaming today, innovators? Learn more about us at curiousmonica.com . Sign up to InnovatorsBox's monthly newsletter here to get resour...

How do community builders become who they are? What motivates them to build communities, and how do they find the courage to continue to speak up in the face of disagreements? In this episode, we speak with Maggie Chui and Bryan Pham from Asian Hustle Network, Derrin Slack from ProActIndy, and Avani Parekh from Facebook. Learn more about us at curiousmonica.com and sign up to our monthly newslette...

Great music moves people. But what does it take to be a musician and build a career in music? Today we caught up with Serin Oh and Luke Helder to learn about their music careers and why at the end of the day, how you invest in yourself as a person really matters. From the music they make at InnovatorsBox Studios, to the music they make together as a team, you'll find a new charm and want to rethin...

Can you love your day job and your part-time business? Yes! In today's conversation I'm interviewing friends who love their day job, as well as their side businesses. How do they make time for what they do and how does working two jobs help them be who they want to be? When you hear their stories, you'll come to view part-time entrepreneurs with more respect and appreciation. Thank you to Ashley S...

What is it like to run your business full time? With high risk and high reward, despite the never-ending challenges every day, there are always new businesses opening somewhere in the world. Why do people start their businesses, and what helps them be a good entrepreneur? In this episode, we visit all your questions on being a full-time founder. Thank you to Kevin Felix Chan , Nish Parikh , Hetal...

From TacoBell's kiosk to design thinking workshops, innovation experts play a key role in finding new paths in familiar places. But how do they build a career in innovation, and what does it really mean to be creative in what they do? In this episode, I caught up with six friends who shared why they fell in love with innovation, honing their expertise, and empowering others to unleash their creati...

Diversity and inclusion jobs have been on the rise as the world seeks a more inclusive workplace for all. But what do you do in this career? How do you become good at it? From understanding differences in diversity to being more inclusive to learning how to build psychological safety, we untangle all your questions about D&I and workplace belonging jobs in this episode. Thank you, Ashley T. Brunda...

While some would not describe a career in law to be fun or creative, many who love this profession beg to differ. In this episode, I spoke with three friends who love being a lawyer to learn more about why they love what they do, how they started their careers, and how they stay creative. Whether it was learning how to practice law, writing a children's book or a novel, or building a niche in cryp...

What is therapy and what does it mean to be a therapist? - from the rise of mental wellbeing awareness to society's misconceptions of therapy. In this episode, I speak with Jeanie Chang and Ivy Kwong to share their journey of becoming therapists and why other leaders like Tiffany Gray and Minji Chang advocate for therapy. There will also be some great tips for your mind and body, aka free therapy...

From acting to filmmaking, what is it really like to work in entertainment? I had so many questions. How do you handle all the rejections? How do you develop a film? Why is representation hard to find? Luckily, a few friends were able to share their perspectives and wisdom including a voice actor, filmmaker, comedian, creative producer, and founder. Learn more at curiousmonica.com . Thank you, Min...

Writing your story is a vulnerable and humbling process. I wanted to learn more. How do authors decide what to write? How does the publication process work? Where do they get inspiration? In this episode, we speak with friends who write books, publish books, and help others write books. Tune in to learn how you'll tell your stories. I spoke with some friends - Jenn T. Grace , Ashley T. Brundage ,...

Politics is a field in which everyone is watching you and everyone is impacted by what you do. As I look back at how diverse this field is, I'm also intrigued at how we still see a lack of diversity. In this episode, I spoke with two friends who shared why they love public policy and how they find opportunities for more women to see this as a possible career path. Thank you Jane Kim Coloseus and N...