so I have a confession to make while I firmly believe it’s my formal
while I firmly believe it’s my formal
while I firmly believe it’s my formal education and work experiences that have
education and work experiences that have
education and work experiences that have helped shape the health professional
helped shape the health professional
helped shape the health professional that I am today at Nemours Children’s
that I am today at Nemours Children’s
that I am today at Nemours Children’s Health System I actually think I learned
Health System I actually think I learned
Health System I actually think I learned those key business lessons very early on
those key business lessons very early on
those key business lessons very early on by age five you see like many children
by age five you see like many children
by age five you see like many children growing up I never had an appreciation
growing up I never had an appreciation
growing up I never had an appreciation for what my parents had instilled in me
for what my parents had instilled in me
for what my parents had instilled in me to shape my values and my beliefs my
to shape my values and my beliefs my
to shape my values and my beliefs my parents immigrated here from China
parents immigrated here from China
parents immigrated here from China barely spoke English worked multiple
barely spoke English worked multiple
barely spoke English worked multiple jobs to give my brother and me
jobs to give my brother and me
jobs to give my brother and me everything that they could it was
everything that they could it was
everything that they could it was through those trials tribulations and
through those trials tribulations and
through those trials tribulations and actions that I gleaned these business
actions that I gleaned these business
actions that I gleaned these business lessons while they thought it was the
lessons while they thought it was the
lessons while they thought it was the pair of Chuck Taylors at the rock and
pair of Chuck Taylors at the rock and
pair of Chuck Taylors at the rock and roll Barbie or even the new New Kids on
roll Barbie or even the new New Kids on
roll Barbie or even the new New Kids on the Block cassette tape that I so begged
the Block cassette tape that I so begged
the Block cassette tape that I so begged for because my cousin’s Emily and when
for because my cousin’s Emily and when
for because my cousin’s Emily and when he had it already it was much simpler
he had it already it was much simpler
he had it already it was much simpler than that unbeknownst to them the gift
than that unbeknownst to them the gift
than that unbeknownst to them the gift of key lessons in life was what I
of key lessons in life was what I
of key lessons in life was what I cherished the most here’s a picture of
cherished the most here’s a picture of
cherished the most here’s a picture of my mom and dad and me sitting in a New
my mom and dad and me sitting in a New
my mom and dad and me sitting in a New York City park bench and I was age five
York City park bench and I was age five
York City park bench and I was age five I bring this picture up because it’s a
I bring this picture up because it’s a
I bring this picture up because it’s a reminder of who the protagonists are in
reminder of who the protagonists are in
reminder of who the protagonists are in the next couple of minutes through life
the next couple of minutes through life
the next couple of minutes through life we go through education systems
we go through education systems
we go through education systems attaining knowledge high school college
attaining knowledge high school college
attaining knowledge high school college graduate school I remember sitting in
graduate school I remember sitting in
graduate school I remember sitting in graduate school taking classes like
graduate school taking classes like
graduate school taking classes like leadership power and influence and
leadership power and influence and
leadership power and influence and negotiations and then I realized there
negotiations and then I realized there
negotiations and then I realized there was a resonating theme to all of these
was a resonating theme to all of these
was a resonating theme to all of these courses and that resonated with what we
courses and that resonated with what we
courses and that resonated with what we call quote unquote
call quote unquote
call quote unquote the immigrant hustle now for those of
the immigrant hustle now for those of
the immigrant hustle now for those of you who don’t know the immigrant how so
you who don’t know the immigrant how so
you who don’t know the immigrant how so means growing up in an immigrant
means growing up in an immigrant
means growing up in an immigrant household doing whatever you could to
household doing whatever you could to
household doing whatever you could to make it in the most ethical manner while
make it in the most ethical manner while
make it in the most ethical manner while still trying to fit into this new
still trying to fit into this new
still trying to fit into this new country the ironic thing is that my
country the ironic thing is that my
country the ironic thing is that my parents were not business professionals
parents were not business professionals
parents were not business professionals they were not entrepreneurs my dad was
they were not entrepreneurs my dad was
they were not entrepreneurs my dad was away
away
away a Chinese restaurant and my mom was an
a Chinese restaurant and my mom was an
a Chinese restaurant and my mom was an office clerk managing supplies
office clerk managing supplies
office clerk managing supplies neither of them graduated from high
neither of them graduated from high
neither of them graduated from high school but both of them worked hard to
school but both of them worked hard to
school but both of them worked hard to achieve what many immigrants in that day
achieve what many immigrants in that day
achieve what many immigrants in that day tried to achieve which is the American
tried to achieve which is the American
tried to achieve which is the American dream the American dream allowed them to
dream the American dream allowed them to
dream the American dream allowed them to live with political freedom access equal
live with political freedom access equal
live with political freedom access equal rights and have a better and safe life
rights and have a better and safe life
rights and have a better and safe life for themselves and for their families
for themselves and for their families
for themselves and for their families really it’s not that different from the
really it’s not that different from the
really it’s not that different from the American dream today it’s through that
American dream today it’s through that
American dream today it’s through that resolve that I gained lessons from them
resolve that I gained lessons from them
resolve that I gained lessons from them that helped shape me to Who I am today
that helped shape me to Who I am today
that helped shape me to Who I am today simple as they are they bring us back to
simple as they are they bring us back to
simple as they are they bring us back to basics and serve as reminders as to who
basics and serve as reminders as to who
basics and serve as reminders as to who we can be the lessons are as follows
we can be the lessons are as follows
we can be the lessons are as follows number one huh so for what you want to
number one huh so for what you want to
number one huh so for what you want to achieve secondly be humble always third
achieve secondly be humble always third
achieve secondly be humble always third honor diversity fourth embrace
honor diversity fourth embrace
honor diversity fourth embrace challenging the positive change and last
challenging the positive change and last
challenging the positive change and last but not least always anticipate the
but not least always anticipate the
but not least always anticipate the needs of others please allow me the next
needs of others please allow me the next
needs of others please allow me the next couple of minutes to share some of these
couple of minutes to share some of these
couple of minutes to share some of these lessons in the context of their stories
lessons in the context of their stories
lessons in the context of their stories the first one is hustle for what you
the first one is hustle for what you
the first one is hustle for what you want to achieve so my mother always
want to achieve so my mother always
want to achieve so my mother always taught me never take anything for
taught me never take anything for
taught me never take anything for granted
granted
granted always achieve the goals by looking at
always achieve the goals by looking at
always achieve the goals by looking at every single opportunity with integrity
every single opportunity with integrity
every single opportunity with integrity discipline and accountability leaders
discipline and accountability leaders
discipline and accountability leaders know that every time we see an
know that every time we see an
know that every time we see an opportunity we seize it we own it we are
opportunity we seize it we own it we are
opportunity we seize it we own it we are accountable to it they came to the
accountable to it they came to the
accountable to it they came to the United States with a hard work and
United States with a hard work and
United States with a hard work and dedication mindset they knew that
dedication mindset they knew that
dedication mindset they knew that deviation from this work ethic would be
deviation from this work ethic would be
deviation from this work ethic would be crippling and devastating they knew that
crippling and devastating they knew that
crippling and devastating they knew that with this determination they had to work
with this determination they had to work
with this determination they had to work hard why because it was much more than
hard why because it was much more than
hard why because it was much more than just a paycheck and it’s that lesson
just a paycheck and it’s that lesson
just a paycheck and it’s that lesson that they had taught me that steely
that they had taught me that steely
that they had taught me that steely resolve that continues to resonate in me
resolve that continues to resonate in me
resolve that continues to resonate in me today
today
today I challenge my teams myself included to
I challenge my teams myself included to
I challenge my teams myself included to be able to have the hustle factor to
be able to have the hustle factor to
be able to have the hustle factor to achieve what we want to achieve every
achieve what we want to achieve every
achieve what we want to achieve every day
day
day I see this the hospital when I walk into
I see this the hospital when I walk into
I see this the hospital when I walk into work I see our Nemours is so
work I see our Nemours is so
work I see our Nemours is so having that same steely resolve that my
having that same steely resolve that my
having that same steely resolve that my parents did as they carry out the
parents did as they carry out the
parents did as they carry out the hospital’s mission to be able to provide
hospital’s mission to be able to provide
hospital’s mission to be able to provide the best care possible for patients and
the best care possible for patients and
the best care possible for patients and families secondly be humble always my
families secondly be humble always my
families secondly be humble always my parents faced discrimination when they
parents faced discrimination when they
parents faced discrimination when they first came here at the hands of select
first came here at the hands of select
first came here at the hands of select Americans who were fearful and
Americans who were fearful and
Americans who were fearful and intolerant of their presence through it
intolerant of their presence through it
intolerant of their presence through it all they continue to uphold ideals and
all they continue to uphold ideals and
all they continue to uphold ideals and freedoms that this great nation had to
freedoms that this great nation had to
freedoms that this great nation had to offer we never took for granted anything
offer we never took for granted anything
offer we never took for granted anything always appreciated everything we had the
always appreciated everything we had the
always appreciated everything we had the meal on the table the door that opened
meal on the table the door that opened
meal on the table the door that opened for us and that unscathed humility is
for us and that unscathed humility is
for us and that unscathed humility is ingrained in me at work we see this as
ingrained in me at work we see this as
ingrained in me at work we see this as well we see that humility we see that
well we see that humility we see that
well we see that humility we see that humility in the providers that save our
humility in the providers that save our
humility in the providers that save our children’s lives to the frontline staff
children’s lives to the frontline staff
children’s lives to the frontline staff who help us execute and succeed on a
who help us execute and succeed on a
who help us execute and succeed on a project to the janitorial technician who
project to the janitorial technician who
project to the janitorial technician who keeps our building safe and clean they
keeps our building safe and clean they
keeps our building safe and clean they have everything to offer and nothing to
have everything to offer and nothing to
have everything to offer and nothing to prove and that’s how my parents taught
prove and that’s how my parents taught
prove and that’s how my parents taught me and it’s that humility and that
me and it’s that humility and that
me and it’s that humility and that recognition and respect for others that
recognition and respect for others that
recognition and respect for others that create a drive for continuous
create a drive for continuous
create a drive for continuous improvement that makes us better global
improvement that makes us better global
improvement that makes us better global citizens and human beings every single
citizens and human beings every single
citizens and human beings every single day third honor diversity so at a young
day third honor diversity so at a young
day third honor diversity so at a young age I was taught that there’s
age I was taught that there’s
age I was taught that there’s differences in this world first physical
differences in this world first physical
differences in this world first physical that’s visible social and cultural and
that’s visible social and cultural and
that’s visible social and cultural and it’s through those differences that I’ve
it’s through those differences that I’ve
it’s through those differences that I’ve learned that have to keep an open mind
learned that have to keep an open mind
learned that have to keep an open mind because by keeping an open mind
because by keeping an open mind
because by keeping an open mind I’m able to understand others I’m able
I’m able to understand others I’m able
I’m able to understand others I’m able to break down barriers what is that
to break down barriers what is that
to break down barriers what is that really
really
really compassion my parents had taught me to
compassion my parents had taught me to
compassion my parents had taught me to listen to respect to accept people from
listen to respect to accept people from
listen to respect to accept people from all walks of life regardless of creed
all walks of life regardless of creed
all walks of life regardless of creed religion ethnicity language gender you
religion ethnicity language gender you
religion ethnicity language gender you see I was a very very lucky girl I grew
see I was a very very lucky girl I grew
see I was a very very lucky girl I grew up in the Lower East Side of Manhattan
up in the Lower East Side of Manhattan
up in the Lower East Side of Manhattan New York City where I was able to hang
New York City where I was able to hang
New York City where I was able to hang out with go to school cohabit
out with go to school cohabit
out with go to school cohabit with people from all around the globe
with people from all around the globe
with people from all around the globe now for those of you who don’t know the
now for those of you who don’t know the
now for those of you who don’t know the Lower East Side in Manhattan New York
Lower East Side in Manhattan New York
Lower East Side in Manhattan New York City it’s a beacon for immigrants Jewish
City it’s a beacon for immigrants Jewish
City it’s a beacon for immigrants Jewish Italian Germans Chinese they all decided
Italian Germans Chinese they all decided
Italian Germans Chinese they all decided to build communities there and it’s that
to build communities there and it’s that
to build communities there and it’s that fabric of different cultures that makes
fabric of different cultures that makes
fabric of different cultures that makes this country so special at work we also
this country so special at work we also
this country so special at work we also honor diversity and inclusion we do not
honor diversity and inclusion we do not
honor diversity and inclusion we do not form biases or judgments we listen and
form biases or judgments we listen and
form biases or judgments we listen and we dialogue without judgment ever we
we dialogue without judgment ever we
we dialogue without judgment ever we celebrate our differences because after
celebrate our differences because after
celebrate our differences because after all that’s what makes us so unique and
all that’s what makes us so unique and
all that’s what makes us so unique and we always offer dissenting opinions
we always offer dissenting opinions
we always offer dissenting opinions because we know cognitive diversity is
because we know cognitive diversity is
because we know cognitive diversity is also valued basically we leverage our
also valued basically we leverage our
also valued basically we leverage our separate realities to optimize the
separate realities to optimize the
separate realities to optimize the differences that we have and we all know
differences that we have and we all know
differences that we have and we all know that that respect for diversity and
that that respect for diversity and
that that respect for diversity and inclusion makes the best teams the best
inclusion makes the best teams the best
inclusion makes the best teams the best people and the most successful
people and the most successful
people and the most successful organizations next embrace challenging
organizations next embrace challenging
organizations next embrace challenging the positive change so change is
the positive change so change is
the positive change so change is inevitable change is a constant I’ve
inevitable change is a constant I’ve
inevitable change is a constant I’ve learned that from my parents what I’ve
learned that from my parents what I’ve
learned that from my parents what I’ve also learned is to be able to embrace
also learned is to be able to embrace
also learned is to be able to embrace change to adapt to change and also
change to adapt to change and also
change to adapt to change and also prepare for change my parents came in
prepare for change my parents came in
prepare for change my parents came in 1963 to the US with nothing but a dream
1963 to the US with nothing but a dream
1963 to the US with nothing but a dream they had a no place to call home they
they had a no place to call home they
they had a no place to call home they barely had any money they didn’t speak
barely had any money they didn’t speak
barely had any money they didn’t speak the language and because of that their
the language and because of that their
the language and because of that their employment opportunities were limited in
employment opportunities were limited in
employment opportunities were limited in fact many of the employers at the time
fact many of the employers at the time
fact many of the employers at the time hire immigrants at low wages menial jobs
hire immigrants at low wages menial jobs
hire immigrants at low wages menial jobs through each twist and turn my parents
through each twist and turn my parents
through each twist and turn my parents fought through that and they were always
fought through that and they were always
fought through that and they were always grateful and fulfilled at work we see
grateful and fulfilled at work we see
grateful and fulfilled at work we see change all the time whether it’s a
change all the time whether it’s a
change all the time whether it’s a competitor building a Children’s
competitor building a Children’s
competitor building a Children’s Hospital in the backyard to an economic
Hospital in the backyard to an economic
Hospital in the backyard to an economic downturn that causes a reduction in
downturn that causes a reduction in
downturn that causes a reduction in force we as leaders need to embrace
force we as leaders need to embrace
force we as leaders need to embrace change with thoughtfulness and care
change with thoughtfulness and care
change with thoughtfulness and care especially for those who are impacted
especially for those who are impacted
especially for those who are impacted again taking the lesson that my parents
again taking the lesson that my parents
again taking the lesson that my parents had taught me embrace change adapt to
had taught me embrace change adapt to
had taught me embrace change adapt to change and prepare for change and that
change and prepare for change and that
change and prepare for change and that preparation leads me to my last and
preparation leads me to my last and
preparation leads me to my last and final lesson
final lesson
final lesson anticipating the needs of others you see
anticipating the needs of others you see
anticipating the needs of others you see when I was a little girl I remember my
when I was a little girl I remember my
when I was a little girl I remember my father coming home after a long day
father coming home after a long day
father coming home after a long day working in a Chinese restaurant and he
working in a Chinese restaurant and he
working in a Chinese restaurant and he would tell me that he we should always
would tell me that he we should always
would tell me that he we should always anticipate the needs of others and help
anticipate the needs of others and help
anticipate the needs of others and help them in his case it was loose change
them in his case it was loose change
them in his case it was loose change from his tip jar while I was really
from his tip jar while I was really
from his tip jar while I was really excited to be able to use that change
excited to be able to use that change
excited to be able to use that change and contribute to my Barbie fund or my
and contribute to my Barbie fund or my
and contribute to my Barbie fund or my Chuck Taylor fund or it was not bad
Chuck Taylor fund or it was not bad
Chuck Taylor fund or it was not bad he said Cindy you must be able to use
he said Cindy you must be able to use
he said Cindy you must be able to use that change to see if somebody else
that change to see if somebody else
that change to see if somebody else needed it more he shared that extra cup
needed it more he shared that extra cup
needed it more he shared that extra cup of coffee that a neighbor couldn’t
of coffee that a neighbor couldn’t
of coffee that a neighbor couldn’t afford or the extra loaf of bread that a
afford or the extra loaf of bread that a
afford or the extra loaf of bread that a family could probably use and that has
family could probably use and that has
family could probably use and that has taught me a very very key lesson in life
taught me a very very key lesson in life
taught me a very very key lesson in life it’s one thing to be able to answer and
it’s one thing to be able to answer and
it’s one thing to be able to answer and ask it’s another to be able to
ask it’s another to be able to
ask it’s another to be able to anticipate the need before someone else
anticipate the need before someone else
anticipate the need before someone else even vocalizes it and at work that
even vocalizes it and at work that
even vocalizes it and at work that translates into so many different forms
translates into so many different forms
translates into so many different forms whether it’s helping a colleague who may
whether it’s helping a colleague who may
whether it’s helping a colleague who may be not feeling well or just doesn’t have
be not feeling well or just doesn’t have
be not feeling well or just doesn’t have the bandwidth to walking down the
the bandwidth to walking down the
the bandwidth to walking down the hospital corridors and seeing a family
hospital corridors and seeing a family
hospital corridors and seeing a family with complex children and helping them
with complex children and helping them
with complex children and helping them with wayfinding because that way they
with wayfinding because that way they
with wayfinding because that way they can get to their appointments on time
can get to their appointments on time
can get to their appointments on time and have a much pleasant experience
and have a much pleasant experience
and have a much pleasant experience practically when you think about it
practically when you think about it
practically when you think about it anticipating the needs is really core to
anticipating the needs is really core to
anticipating the needs is really core to some of the business disciplines that we
some of the business disciplines that we
some of the business disciplines that we all practice whether it’s strategy
all practice whether it’s strategy
all practice whether it’s strategy business development growth marketing
business development growth marketing
business development growth marketing and communication it’s all about
and communication it’s all about
and communication it’s all about anticipating the needs of others it’s
anticipating the needs of others it’s
anticipating the needs of others it’s with that anticipation that we provide
with that anticipation that we provide
with that anticipation that we provide the best products and services to meet
the best products and services to meet
the best products and services to meet their demands so my mom retired a couple
their demands so my mom retired a couple
their demands so my mom retired a couple of years ago my dad retired last year
of years ago my dad retired last year
of years ago my dad retired last year and during this transitional phase we
and during this transitional phase we
and during this transitional phase we had a conversation about what would
had a conversation about what would
had a conversation about what would happen when they transition from this
happen when they transition from this
happen when they transition from this world and they said to me there’s no
world and they said to me there’s no
world and they said to me there’s no trust fund or will with any material
trust fund or will with any material
trust fund or will with any material objects that just car a home money but
objects that just car a home money but
objects that just car a home money but we all agreed on one thing
we all agreed on one thing
we all agreed on one thing and that is the best gift of all the key
and that is the best gift of all the key
and that is the best gift of all the key lessons the values they’ve already been
lessons the values they’ve already been
lessons the values they’ve already been given to us and they’re invaluable today
given to us and they’re invaluable today
given to us and they’re invaluable today I got to share some of those lessons
I got to share some of those lessons
I got to share some of those lessons with you it was my opportunity to thank
with you it was my opportunity to thank
with you it was my opportunity to thank them for the very first time in public
them for the very first time in public
them for the very first time in public for building that bridge from the past
for building that bridge from the past
for building that bridge from the past to the present and it has allowed me to
to the present and it has allowed me to
to the present and it has allowed me to build my bridge from the present into
build my bridge from the present into
build my bridge from the present into the future by sharing some of those
the future by sharing some of those
the future by sharing some of those lessons with you and imparting them on
lessons with you and imparting them on
lessons with you and imparting them on my own to children after all we are all
my own to children after all we are all
my own to children after all we are all teachers at heart and with the simplest
teachers at heart and with the simplest
teachers at heart and with the simplest concepts that are worth spreading we do
concepts that are worth spreading we do
concepts that are worth spreading we do so we create a profound impact on others
so we create a profound impact on others
so we create a profound impact on others whether they be our children our
whether they be our children our
whether they be our children our families our colleagues and our friends
families our colleagues and our friends
families our colleagues and our friends for many years to come thank you
for many years to come thank you
for many years to come thank you [Applause]
”
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