Raw and Real at Work: An Experiment to Find Authenticity and Connection

In this episode of Raw and Real at Work, Sean sits down with Adam for a deeply human conversation about parenting, identity, legacy, and how our personal histories quietly shape how we show up at work. Adam, a chemist and father of a 2-year-old and 6-year-old, shares the unfiltered reality of modern parenting: relentless, exhausting, and profoundly transformative. Their conversation expands beyond...

Jamie Moore, now a Gilead executive, gave birth during grad school and kept going. She was propelled by teachers who spotted her spark, a boss who saved a leadership role for her when she felt ready, and a spouse who took on caregiving so she could step into the lab and the boardroom. Her reflections echo across our series: how early champions, stretch assignments, and shared family responsibility...

In this episode, my colleague grapples with finding connection and belonging in the U.S.—alone, without family. He longs for Guatemala, especially the loved ones he left behind, and begins to regret his decision to come. As the saying goes, ‘You are the company you keep,’ and when he falls in with the wrong crowd, one mistake nearly costs him his life. But in that moment of crisis, he finds a turn...

In this episode, my colleague shares his journey of attempting to enter the U.S. at just 18 years old—guided by a coyote. He recounts, in vivid detail, the many failed attempts and the risks he faced at the border. But crossing was only the beginning. After finally making it to the U.S., he reunites with his mother for the first time in 13 years—only to find that their long-awaited moment is not w...

This deeply personal and difficult story captures my colleague’s journey from growing up in a Guatemalan junkyard to building a new life in the U.S. After hearing his story, I understand why he works so hard and fights for every inch in life. His resilience, determination, and unbreakable spirit are a testament to the power of perseverance.

Damai was only ten years old when his mother died. His father was overwhelmed caring for his two younger siblings, so Damai left his childhood home—a mud hut with a straw roof in the hills of Nepal. He set off alone in search of work, shelter, and food. Alone. Hungry. Without guidance or comfort, he became a dishwasher in a tea house for five cents a month, sleeping where strangers let him, surviv...

In this deeply personal and thought-provoking episode, Sean sits down with Rankin, a Filipino-American biotech professional and former entomologist, to explore what it means to belong, connect, and follow your gut—both inside and outside the workplace. From growing up between cultures, to studying invasive ants in Australia, to navigating disconnection in post-COVID America, Rankin shares how iden...

In this honest and powerful conversation, Sean—a process chemist at Gilead—shares her experience growing up as the child of Taiwanese immigrants. From a young age, she felt unseen in her own home: a tomboy who loved skateboarding and climbing, but who was handed frilly, feminine clothes by a mother trying to mold her into the “ideal” Chinese daughter. Through therapy with her mom as an adult, Sean...

In this powerful interview, a Salvadoran immigrant shares his extraordinary journey—growing up amid a brutal civil war and rebuilding his life after arriving in the U.S. alone at age 18 in 1989. Taken by the government twice as a teenager, he describes living in a constant state of alert. Soldiers patrolled every corner. Guerrilla fighters disguised themselves as civilians. At one point, he was he...

In this episode, my colleague Ken—an SVP who has been at Gilead for 37-years—opens up about his personal and professional journey. Some might feel intimidated by people in leadership but this episode highlights that many of us, independent of our job title, grapple with similar struggles, dreams, and motivations. Ken shares his story which includes losing three father figures over the course of hi...

Prior to this interview, my colleague said he’d never participate in the podcast. But something shifted. In this episode, he shares what pulled him toward the mic—and the powerful story he’s rarely told: growing up without a father, and the quiet strength that shaped him. His vulnerability caught me off guard. I teared up, had to pause, and found myself wondering why this conversation hit me so de...

My colleague Nick describes his childhood in England as deeply intertwined with his church community—his father was the pastor, and he played the organ. That tight-knit community felt like family. But when he moved to the U.S. to broaden his career in chemistry, he missed his childhood connections. This emotional distance grew heavier when his mother was diagnosed with cancer. Feeling helpless fro...

In this episode, my colleague describes growing up in the Ivory Coast in a STEM-oriented family who deeply valued education and achievement. She describes being raised with a strong sense of pride, possibility- what could be referred to as ‘Black excellence.’  In this episode, she shares her journey of coming to America for college and reflects on the cultural differences she experienced between A...

Astrid’s journey highlights the complexities of achieving the American Dream—while she has found academic and professional success, her relationship with her mother remains shaped by cultural expectations and generational differences. Her story underscores the tension between assimilation and tradition, the sacrifices made by immigrant families, and the deep desire for connection despite differing...

This is the story of a boy growing up under the weight of shame for being gay—constantly battling the natural urge to embrace his true self. Societal expectations, enforced by the rigid hand of the church, only deepened his internal struggle, making the burden of secrecy even heavier. Coming out was not easy. It was filled with fear and uncertainty, especially when meeting new people or facing fam...

Why I'm Doing This Experiment and Why It Matters to Me Starting a podcast has been a journey full of self-doubt and questioning. I’ve spent so much time wondering if I should even take this step. There's this constant internal battle: What if no one listens? What if my voice doesn’t resonate? I’ve struggled with the fear of putting myself out there, and the vulnerability that comes with it. But I’...