Boldly You: A Story about Discovering What You're Capable of When You Show Up for Yourself

by Janet T. Phan

Overview

Boldly You: A Story about Discovering What You’re Capable of When You Show Up for Yourself is a close-up look at the hardships, life lessons, and stories of resilience of author Janet T. Phan. In this honest, insightful, heartfelt account of Janet’s experience as a young woman struggling to overcome the obstacles in her life, readers will find wisdom and advice to help them rise above their own circumstances, recognize their limitless potential, and achieve their goals. This book is about what’s possible in a person’s life when they recognize that they have the power to define their future.

​As a young woman, Janet faced countless realities that made her path to success difficult. Her family relied on government subsidies, such as housing and free meals at school. Her first-generation Vietnamese parents, in a culture so different from their own, didn’t always understand how to support her curiosity, ambitions, and goals. But she believed in herself and had the courage to act on those beliefs, so she found a way to build a community around her and develop the skills she needed to make top grades throughout her education while working multiple jobs and pursuing her dreams. In her book, Janet shares the key takeaways from her experiences that led to her success today as a driving force impacting the STEM field and as the Founder and Executive Director of Thriving Elements, a nonprofit dedicated to providing access and opportunities for underserved, underrepresented girls through STEM mentorship. Boldly You is a self-help book that reads like a charged and poignant memoir.

Written for high school and college students, young professionals, and all those who are dreaming of their future or figuring out their paths in life, this book will inspire and guide. Every chapter concludes with Thriving Elements, critical learnings from the author’s journey that will help readers show up for themselves, be open-minded, build their confidence, be situationally aware, and be biased for action. Janet’s story is proof that you can be your own person and create the life you want.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781735424590
Publisher:	Fast Company Press
Publication date:	05/17/2022
Pages:	296
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

Janet T. Phan began her career in technology as an IT intern at Weyerhaeuser in Seattle, Washington, while attending the University of Washington (UW). After graduating from UW with a Bachelor of Arts in Finance and Information Systems, she accepted an IT position with The Boeing Company. In 2013, she graduated with a Master of Science in Information Systems from UW and shortly thereafter, joined PwC as a technology consultant. Today, she works for Amazon’s Project Kuiper to help launch a constellation of low Earth orbit satellites that will provide low-latency, high-speed broadband connectivity to unserved and underserved communities around the world.

Mentorships loomed large in Janet’s early life, and she credits her mentors with contributing to her success as a woman in technology, a field dominated by men. As a result, she is a strong advocate for mentorship and bridging the gender disparity in the STEM (Science, Technology, Mathematics, and Engineering) fields. For this reason, she became the founder and executive director of Thriving Elements, a nonprofit dedicated to creating access and opportunities for underserved, underrepresented girls through long-term, one-on-one mentoring in STEM. With Thriving Elements, Janet's vision is to develop and empower young women in STEM to make a sustainable impact in their communities and inspire the next generation of women leaders.

In her personal life, Janet maintains an active lifestyle, freeing her mind and recharging her energy through spending time with incredibly big-hearted friends, traveling, cross-training, cycling, surfing, volleyball, hot yoga, American football, hiking, and snowboarding.

Table of Contents

Foreword From Julie Averill, Lululemon EVP, CTO ix

Introduction 1

Chapter 1 Where Do I Belong? 5

Chapter 2 The Dynamic Duo 37

Chapter 3 Caught at KFC 67

Chapter 4 Moving On 85

Chapter 5 Fundraising for College 107

Chapter 6 Finding My Place 123

Chapter 7 Finding a Way 145

Chapter 8 A Different Path 173

Chapter 9 The Power of a Mentor 199

Chapter 10 Showing Up for Myself 221

Chapter 11 Let's Thrive 233

Epilogue Dear Reader 245

Acknowledgments 251

Thriving Elements by Chapter 253

Notes 279

Q&A with the Author 281

About the Author 285

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“Janet’s story is proof that your future is yours to create. She uses lessons from her life and her insights about them to offer you the practical advice you need to become your own driving force in the world. Boldly You is about what you can achieve when you challenge the hardships, stereotypes, and rules around you to cut your own path.”
—JULIE AVERILL, Executive Vice President and CTO, lululemon

“Janet’s personal story will inspire others to overcome obstacles to reach their full potential. Her experiences—both heartfelt and humble—provide hope and encouragement, and are a guiding light for young girls and women who aspire for greatness in STEM fields.”
—TED COLBERT, President and CEO, Boeing Global Services

“I am impressed with Janet’s ability to provide practical advice that’s woven into real life examples. As a woman in technology, I share her passion and strong belief in developing the next generation of girls in STEM. Boldly You will motivate you to take action, and I’m excited to see the impact this book will make!”
—FUMBI CHIMA, CIO, Boeing Employee Credit Union

“Janet Phan exemplifies what it takes to make it against all odds in this world. From working in fast food restaurants to becoming a global leader in technology, she shows how to go from surviving to thriving, walking you through her journey and the people and processes it took to overcome the obstacles along the way. Every young woman should read Boldly You to benefit from the five Thriving Elements she has identified and learn how to make these actionable in their own lives.”
—GARY RUBENS, Founder, Start it Labs, LLC, and Rubens Family Foundation

“I have had the pleasure of watching Janet captivate an audience of high school students with her story of courage and survival. When Janet speaks to students, including refugees and immigrants, and to young women with backgrounds similar to her own, you see hope come alive in their faces and a sense of wonder. Janet shows students what opportunities in STEM, coupled with mentoring and internships, can do for someone. Boldly You captures all this. It’s what every school principal would want for their students, and it’s a must-read for anyone needing inspiration and courage.”
—PAT LARSON, retired Principal, Foster High School

“I had the honor and privilege of serving as Janet Phan’s high school principal at the world-famous Stadium High School in Tacoma, Washington. Janet was a tremendous student and bright star in our school, and students were drawn to her because of her innate leadership skills and abilities. What is amazing to me is that I had no idea, until learning about this book, what she overcame to be a winner in everything she did. This is an amazing account from a person who has risen to become a highly successful woman. Read this true-to-life story of a woman who had the mindset of a champion, despite the hurdles she encountered and overcame. Boldly You will inspire thousands and change the trajectory of their lives to become world changers, just like Janet.”
—JONATHAN R. KELLETT, Principal, 2007 Washington State High School Principal of the Year

“Boldly You is a must-read. Janet’s personal journey of overcoming challenges in her life is an inspiration to all. Her poignant story of resiliency and drive to achieve a better life provides insights into the reality many people face and how, with determination, they can succeed. Janet’s story serves as a reminder of why it is important for leaders in companies to create opportunities and access for underrepresented and underserved communities through mentorship and internships.”
—REBECCA STRAKA, Chief Information Officer (and former intern), Weyerhaeuser Company