Sep 19, 2021
The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by;
The Curtains and Soft Furnishings Resource Library
National Upholstery Association
Lea Tran is an ethnic Chinese, former "Boat People" refugee from
Vietnam. A Villanova University graduate with a Bachelor's degree
in Chemistry, a female scientist turned successful entrepreneur and
business owner in the Greater Philadelphia Region, where she called
home for thirty-five years.
She has morphed from carrying the stigma of the "refugee" label to
a chemist who synthesized the compound that became a cocktail drug
to treat HIV-AIDS in 1998. A successful business owner who created
luxury custom drapery for countless homes in the Mainline area from
2005-2015.
In 2019, Lea brought her story to the TEDx stage and then published
her harrowing boat journey during the pandemic in 2020 "I Did Not
Miss the Boat- Memoir of a Vietnam Hoa Refugee." where she
depicts the struggles of an adolescent girl who was being tugged on
one side by a culture of duty & tradition and on the other by a new
land of personal opportunity & freedom.
She delivers her powerful message of courage and hope during
challenging times in her keynote speeches to inspire her audience
to find opportunities in the midst of adversity.
As a transformation coach, Lea works with her clients to build
their confidence, help them get out of their comfort zone,
rediscover their brilliance, and proactively creating opportunities
that will propel them forward.
Lea believes in kindness and giving back to help the
underprivileged to rebuild their second chance in life. Her
aspiration is to help people overcome the trauma of war, poverty,
and social isolation.
Lea and her husband reside in Florida. Currently, she serves as a
board member of Refugee Film School (a non-profit branch of MSRI-
Malaysia Social Institute Research). She is also an avid
Toastmaster and an active member of the South Lake Chamber of
Commerce in Central Florida.
Links and Resources;
The Glass Castle: A Memoir Jeannette Walls
Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones James Clear
Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover
Attitude Is Everything: Change Your Attitude... Change Your Life! by Jeff Keller
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Lea is on Facebook, Instagram and Linkedin
Lea will be speaking at the Custom Workroom Conference in October of 2022