We had the good fortune of connecting with Quyenzi Pham and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Quyenzi, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
Understanding and realizing that success is a continuum and not an actual objective. It’s not an end goal or an accolade but steps that lead to infinite possibilities and pathways.

As a Vietnamese refugee, I came from very humble beginnings. My family came to America when I was one year old and I grew up in a small town called Perry, in Iowa. We moved to SoCal in my tweens; and while I excelled academically in school, I was bullied and pulled into gang fights in my youth. There was a time that I was a single mother struggling to make ends meet. I pivoted many times in my career. From Public Service, traveling to Vietnam and starting a clothing line, Advertising Sales at Hearst Corporation, Communications for The Art Institutes, working at Ad Agencies, then finally owning my own company now – all of these different experiences led to the most incredible journey of lessons learned, attributing to my success now. Being tenacious and choosing to have an abundance mindset over that of a scarcity one was key in achieving all of my business and life goals.

What should our readers know about your business?
I founded QR8 Group (Q-R-8, or Curate, or Create) by way of necessity, after a series of personal and professional journeys presented the opportunity for me to create a boutique ad agency that focused on championing cultural diversity without the restraints of having to fit into the mainstream content and messaging that so many bigger ad agencies adhere to.

The challenges I faced as a Southeast Asian American woman both prevented me from breaking that glass ceiling in corporate, getting that seat at the male dominated table, having that share of voice; but also inspired me to create my own table and pull up seats for others, while changing my mindset from one of scarcity to one of abundance.

I’ve learned so many lessons that I often share on a podcast I host with two other women, Jessie and Nicki, about overcoming Imposter Syndrome, being a Model Minority, and empowering other women and underserved communities but the two things I cannot stress enough are: 1) Know Your Worth (whatever you are negotiating ask for what you deserve AND add 20%) and 2) Be that mentor or inspiration that you may not have had at the most challenging times in your career or life. The returns will be more than you ever expected.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I live in Hollywood, in a unique pocket of LA, called Los Feliz where we have the best authentic food from so many cultures including Thai Town, Little Armenia, Korea Town, and 10 minutes away in Downtown LA are the best Mexican, French, Mediterranean and Japanese spots. But if you’re going to roll deep with me, I recommend having cocktails poolside in a cabana at Petit Ermitage in West Hollywood (and staying another evening for the burlesque/cocktail hour outside), having dinner at Pizzeria da Michele in Hollywood, going to a concert at The Hollywood Bowl, getting drinks at Cafe Stella in Silverlake, going to Jumbo’s Clown Room (If you know you know) or heading to K-Town for Karaoke and bottle service at Intercrew.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My mother, Kim Hoa Pham is why I am here (literally) and why I strive to be the best version of myself each and every day. She came to America as a young mother to 4 girls (there are now 6 of us) and did whatever it took to give her children a chance at the American Dream. I strive to live my life to the very fullest, embracing challenges and opportunities in her honor. Here is an excerpt from a tribute I wrote to her that was published on several media platforms, called Letter to the Lotus Flower:

Full letter read and captured on video here:

Website: MessySexyMe.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quyenzi_dang/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/quyenzipham/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/home.php

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