In this deeply moving episode of Tradition Breakers, host, Mary Moses, sits down with Alice Kao — an Asian American woman who went from being a 12-year-old "parachute kid" raising herself in the U.S. to becoming the CEO of one of Southern California's largest indoor climbing gyms, Sender One.

Alice opens up about the raw, often unseen journey behind her success. She shares how being sent to the U.S. alone as a child forged a resilience and independence that later became essential in building a multi-location climbing gym and leading through crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Her entrepreneurial story began with heartbreak. After a devastating breakup left her in depression, Alice discovered rock climbing — a sport that grounded her, healed her, and connected her to a community that would eventually inspire her to build something far bigger than she ever imagined.

As one of the few Asian women CEOs in the climbing industry, Alice talks candidly about the weight of cultural expectations, what she calls her "Asian woman backpack," and her lifelong dance with imposter syndrome. She shares why emotional vulnerability is core to her leadership, how asking for help became her superpower, and why community — not strategy — is truly what sustains entrepreneurs.

This conversation is for anyone who has ever felt like an outsider, carried the pressure of immigrant-family expectations, or built something while healing themselves at the same time.

• How being a "parachute kid" shaped Alice's survival instincts and leadership style

• Why rock climbing became the gateway to her emotional healing

• How a passion project grew into one of SoCal's largest climbing gym companies

• What it means to lead as a vulnerable, emotionally honest Asian American woman

• The truth about imposter syndrome and the "Asian woman backpack"

• How asking for help became Alice's defining leadership strength

• The loneliness of entrepreneurship and the power of community

• The lifelong work of self-acceptance, breaking traditions, and redefining identity

Links:

• Schedule a call with Fractional CMO, Mary Moses: https://tastydirectives.com/contact
• Follow Tradition Breakers on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/traditionbreakers
• Follow Mary on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/traditionbreakers
• Visit Sender One's website: https://www.senderoneclimbing.com/
• Connect with Alice on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alice-kao-ca

In this powerful episode of Tradition Breakers, host Mary Moses sits down with Ingrid Hu Dahl, leadership coach, consultant, and author of the memoir, Sun Shining on Morning Snow, for an intimate conversation on identity, grief, belonging, and the evolution of "humane leadership."

Born into an interracial household and navigating life as a mixed-race, queer Asian woman, Ingrid grew up straddling cultures, expectations, and the feeling of being "othered." After the loss of her mother to cancer, she felt an urgent calling to preserve her family's stories and confront the deeper layers of identity she'd long carried.

In this episode, Ingrid shares:

• How grief cracked her open and transformed her relationship with purpose

• What it means to "become" when you've grown up mixed, underrepresented, or invisible

• Why she walked away from big tech to create more human-centered leadership spaces

• Her critique of cortisol-driven hustle culture and how leaders can detox from burnout

• The truth about authenticity, belonging, and choosing your own bold path

• Why mixed-race representation is one of the fastest-growing cultural needs today

Listen in for a story that reminds us: we get one life. Choose boldly. Choose yourself. Choose humanity.

Links:

• Sign up for the Growth Reset Audit (only 5 spots): https://tastydirectives.com/
• Follow Tradition Breakers on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/traditionbreakers
• Follow Mary on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/traditionbreakers
• Visit Ingrid Hu Dahl's website: https://www.ingridhudahl.com/
• Order Ingrid's book, Sun Shining on Morning Snow: https://www.sunshiningonmorningsnow.com/
• Catch Ingrid on stage in 2026: https://criticalmixedracestudies.com/cmrs2026-conference-theme/

Every founder feels the pressure this time of year. Ads everywhere. Deep discounts. Competing voices shouting "Do more! Sell more!"

But does your brand really have to follow the same playbook?

In this solo episode of Tradition Breakers, host Mary Moses — Fractional CMO for growing brands — shares how to approach Black Friday and Cyber Monday differently. You'll learn how to turn short-term sales into long-term brand growth without losing your margins, your focus, or your values.

Mary breaks down:

• Why most DTC brands over-discount — and what to do instead

• How authentic customer nurturing can boost profits by up to 95%

• The real secret to using BFCM momentum to fuel year-round sales

• How to stay grounded in your brand integrity while still driving results

If you're a DTC founder, creative entrepreneur, or purpose-driven brand owner, this episode will help you close out the year strong — with clarity, confidence, and a growth strategy that actually lasts.

Tradition Breakers is a podcast that highlights the stories of AAPI individuals who broke from tradition to follow their own artistic, creative, and entrepreneurial paths. It's hosted by Mary Vallarta and produced by Tasty Directives, an integrated marketing agency based in Venice, CA.

Links:

• Sign up for the Growth Reset Audit (only 5 spots): https://tastydirectives.com/
• Follow Tradition Breakers on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/traditionbreakers
• Follow Mary on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/traditionbreakers