In this episode of School of Self-Worth, I had the pleasure of interviewing Samantha Le, an inspiring Vietnamese American refugee, and CEO of the Seattle Southside Chamber of Commerce. Our conversation dives deep into grit, resilience, and what it truly means to own your journey, especially while navigating cultural barriers and building self-worth from the ground up.

We also explore Samantha’s rapid professional ascent, from customer service to VP to CEO, and the mindset that fueled her success. She credits her fast growth to determination, a desire to prove her worth in the face of bullying and discrimination, a willingness to learn from others, and a commitment to giving back by teaching what she learned.

Whether you’re navigating cultural expectations, stepping into leadership, or seeking ways to positively impact your community, this episode is filled with actionable insights, empowering stories, and heartfelt wisdom to inspire your next breakthrough.

THE TOP LEARNINGS IN THIS EPISODE:

The power of mentorship and access to resources for growth

Overcoming internal barriers and embracing self-worth

Handling criticism and envy when stepping into your power

The importance of evolving relationships and letting go

Navigating cultural expectations as an Asian American woman

Giving back to the community through supporting local businesses

GUEST BIO:

Samantha Le is a passionate community leader and proud Vietnamese American refugee rooted in South King County. As President and CEO of the Seattle Southside Chamber of Commerce and Executive Director of the Success Foundation, she champions equitable economic and workforce development.

A fierce advocate for BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and women entrepreneurs, she works to ensure access and representation across industries. Her efforts have earned her regional acclaim, including recognition as a 2025 Puget Sound Business Journal 40 Under 40 honoree.

If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device, post it to your Instagram stories, and tag @nicoletsong and @thesamanthastyle so we can give you a shout-out and thank you for your support!

Want to permanently reverse cultural conditioning and step into a life where you feel purposeful and thrive? Grab the Asian Visibility System: go.nicoletsong.com/visible.

Do you struggle with boundaries? Discover the blind spots holding you back and take the Boundary Tendencies Quiz: nicoletsong.com/quiz

Want to build morning habits that last so you jump out of bed with energy and clarity every morning? Join Nicole’s 5-Day Morning Challenge: go.nicoletsong.com/morning-habits

Haven’t left a review yet? We’d love for you to at: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/school-of-self-worth/id1678655504

For full show notes, transcript, and links, visit nicoletsong.com/podcast.

Have a question or topic you’d like Nicole to touch on in a future episode? Email podcast@nicoletsong.com to share any thoughts or feedback.

Learn More About Samantha Le :

• Seattle Southside Chamber
• @thesamanthastyle
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-l-5045a828/

Catch up with Nicole:

• Website:

Have you ever asked yourself what it would feel like to live a life without guilt?

I mean, would that be a gamechanger or what?

But guilt, especially Asian guilt, is something that might be haunting you wherever you go.

In today’s episode, I’m going to share a two-step process for how to give up the guilt! I also go over what caused it in the first place, and how to permanently reverse it.

If you’re ready to live a life without guilt holding you back, this episode is for you!

THE TOP LEARNINGS IN THIS EPISODE:

• Understanding how guilt drives decision-making and limits self-worth
• Recognizing cultural conditioning and guilt tripping in family dynamics
• Identifying when you're being guilt tripped versus self-imposed guilt
• Gaining clarity on your desired relationships to combat guilt tripping
• Learn the two-step process to release guilt
• How to reclaim power and self-worth by practicing non-attachment in work and life

If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device, post it to your Instagram stories, and tag @nicoletsong so we can give you a shout-out and thank you for your support!

ASIAN VISIBILITY SYSTEM: Want to permanently reverse cultural conditioning and step into a life where you feel purposeful and thrive? Grab the Asian Visibility System: go.nicoletsong.com/visible.

Do you struggle with boundaries? Discover the blind spots holding you back and take the Boundary Tendencies Quiz: nicoletsong.com/quiz

Want to build morning habits that last so you jump out of bed with energy and clarity every morning? Join Nicole’s 5-Day Morning Challenge: go.nicoletsong.com/morning-habits

Haven’t left a review yet? We’d love for you to at: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/school-of-self-worth/id1678655504

For full show notes, transcript, and links, visit nicoletsong.com/podcast.

Have a question or topic you’d like Nicole to touch on in a future episode? Email podcast@nicoletsong.com to share any thoughts or feedback.

Catch up with Nicole:

• Website: nicoletsong.com
• Subscribe to her newsletter
• Instagram: nicoletsong
• Tiktok: @nicoletsong_
• Facebook community: Balance + Boundaries
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-tsong/

I’m bringing back one of the most downloaded episodes of the podcast because it’s that relevant right now.

In this replay, I break down the three biggest causes of overwhelm for Asian-American women — and share one powerful, yet simple tool you can start using today to shift out of survival mode so you can thrive again.

Inside the episode, you'll learn:

• Why overwhelm isn’t just emotional — it’s cultural
• How the Asian Pressure Cycle keeps you stuck and exhausted
• The deep connection between worthiness and burnout
• How to reprogram the way you think about your own needs and desires

If you’ve been putting everyone else first (again), this episode is your permission to come back to yourself.

ASIAN VISIBILITY SYSTEM: Want to permanently reverse cultural conditioning and step into a life where you feel purposeful and thrive? Grab the Asian Visibility System: go.nicoletsong.com/visible.

Do you struggle with boundaries? Discover the blind spots holding you back and take the Boundary Tendencies Quiz: nicoletsong.com/quiz

Want to build morning habits that last so you jump out of bed with energy and clarity every morning? Join Nicole’s 5-Day Morning Challenge: go.nicoletsong.com/morning-habits

Haven’t left a review yet? We’d love for you to at: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/school-of-self-worth/id1678655504

For full show notes, transcript, and links, visit nicoletsong.com/podcast.

Have a question or topic you’d like Nicole to touch on in a future episode? Email podcast@nicoletsong.com to share any thoughts or feedback.

Catch up with Nicole:

• Website: nicoletsong.com
• Subscribe to her newsletter
• Instagram: nicoletsong
• Tiktok: @nicoletsong_
• Facebook community: Balance + Boundaries
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-tsong/