well there was a little girl I used to love to sit for hours and play beneath
love to sit for hours and play beneath
love to sit for hours and play beneath the table something like this typically
the table something like this typically
the table something like this typically I play dolls or stuffed animals but one
I play dolls or stuffed animals but one
I play dolls or stuffed animals but one day I decided that I needed to decorate
day I decided that I needed to decorate
day I decided that I needed to decorate this table
as children do
as children do luckily my father happened to be walking
luckily my father happened to be walking
luckily my father happened to be walking through and he said Ellen no no please
through and he said Ellen no no please
through and he said Ellen no no please don’t do that table is very special to
don’t do that table is very special to
don’t do that table is very special to our family now I bet you’re wondering
our family now I bet you’re wondering
our family now I bet you’re wondering why that table was special to my family
why that table was special to my family
why that table was special to my family one of the reasons why I came to Sujal
one of the reasons why I came to Sujal
one of the reasons why I came to Sujal to China and to Suzhou in particular
to China and to Suzhou in particular
to China and to Suzhou in particular five years ago is because 100 years ago
five years ago is because 100 years ago
five years ago is because 100 years ago in 1917 my grandfather carry touchstone
in 1917 my grandfather carry touchstone
in 1917 my grandfather carry touchstone came from the u.s. state of Texas to
came from the u.s. state of Texas to
came from the u.s. state of Texas to work as an administrator at damu – web
work as an administrator at damu – web
work as an administrator at damu – web which became Suja University while he
which became Suja University while he
which became Suja University while he was here he met a lovely young American
was here he met a lovely young American
was here he met a lovely young American woman my grandmother
woman my grandmother
woman my grandmother Mabel Ellen Thomas who was the fiery
Mabel Ellen Thomas who was the fiery
Mabel Ellen Thomas who was the fiery nurse from Pennsylvania she was here
nurse from Pennsylvania she was here
nurse from Pennsylvania she was here working as the superintendent of
working as the superintendent of
working as the superintendent of sis or as you would call it the nurse
sis or as you would call it the nurse
sis or as you would call it the nurse leader at the studio University
leader at the studio University
leader at the studio University affiliated hospital which has now become
affiliated hospital which has now become
affiliated hospital which has now become student Hospital de Ken of course two
student Hospital de Ken of course two
student Hospital de Ken of course two young Americans in the romantic city of
young Americans in the romantic city of
young Americans in the romantic city of Stu Joe living out their passions what’s
Stu Joe living out their passions what’s
Stu Joe living out their passions what’s going to happen will they fell in love
going to happen will they fell in love
going to happen will they fell in love and they got married in 1919 they had
and they got married in 1919 they had
and they got married in 1919 they had two children my Aunt Mary and Uncle Joe
two children my Aunt Mary and Uncle Joe
two children my Aunt Mary and Uncle Joe and you know what they got they want
and you know what they got they want
and you know what they got they want that table that table that I was
that table that table that I was
that table that table that I was referring to they bought that table and
referring to they bought that table and
referring to they bought that table and when they went back to the United States
when they went back to the United States
when they went back to the United States in 1922 they took that table with them
in 1922 they took that table with them
in 1922 they took that table with them and it’s been passed down in the family
and it’s been passed down in the family
and it’s been passed down in the family to my father
to my father
to my father their youngest child and then taught to
their youngest child and then taught to
their youngest child and then taught to me besides my grandmother my grandfather
me besides my grandmother my grandfather
me besides my grandmother my grandfather my aunt and my uncle there is another
my aunt and my uncle there is another
my aunt and my uncle there is another really important person in our household
really important person in our household
really important person in our household in that there soo-jung household that
in that there soo-jung household that
in that there soo-jung household that was the woman who helped them to take
was the woman who helped them to take
was the woman who helped them to take care of my aunt and uncle now in fact
care of my aunt and uncle now in fact
care of my aunt and uncle now in fact she was so significant that my aunt and
she was so significant that my aunt and
she was so significant that my aunt and uncle little American children growing
uncle little American children growing
uncle little American children growing up in China they ended up speaking Sioux
up in China they ended up speaking Sioux
up in China they ended up speaking Sioux Joanie’s before they spoke English
Joanie’s before they spoke English
Joanie’s before they spoke English the woman was that significant in their
the woman was that significant in their
the woman was that significant in their lives unfortunately my family members
lives unfortunately my family members
lives unfortunately my family members passed away before I could ask them for
passed away before I could ask them for
passed away before I could ask them for the name of the Olly so I’ve spent the
the name of the Olly so I’ve spent the
the name of the Olly so I’ve spent the past five years doing research about my
past five years doing research about my
past five years doing research about my family
family
family and about trying to find out who this is
and about trying to find out who this is
and about trying to find out who this is because I would really like to meet her
because I would really like to meet her
because I would really like to meet her descendants I’d like to meet her
descendants I’d like to meet her
descendants I’d like to meet her grandchildren they would be like my
grandchildren they would be like my
grandchildren they would be like my pseudo family you know this project
pseudo family you know this project
pseudo family you know this project looking into my heritage has become
looking into my heritage has become
looking into my heritage has become almost like a second career for me so
almost like a second career for me so
almost like a second career for me so I’m going to I’m going to start calling
I’m going to I’m going to start calling
I’m going to I’m going to start calling myself a splash of right back in 2007
myself a splash of right back in 2007
myself a splash of right back in 2007 Marcy a lava hair released this book in
Marcy a lava hair released this book in
Marcy a lava hair released this book in which she defines slashers as people who
which she defines slashers as people who
which she defines slashers as people who can’t define themselves with just one
can’t define themselves with just one
can’t define themselves with just one word they have maybe a made career and
word they have maybe a made career and
word they have maybe a made career and then / another career during the nights
then / another career during the nights
then / another career during the nights or possibly on weekends an example might
or possibly on weekends an example might
or possibly on weekends an example might be a writer / photographer / artist I
be a writer / photographer / artist I
be a writer / photographer / artist I have always I think been a splasher even
have always I think been a splasher even
have always I think been a splasher even before it was cool before it had a name
before it was cool before it had a name
before it was cool before it had a name when I was in undergraduate getting my
when I was in undergraduate getting my
when I was in undergraduate getting my bachelor’s degree at the University of
bachelor’s degree at the University of
bachelor’s degree at the University of Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska I had three majors French / psychology /
I had three majors French / psychology /
I had three majors French / psychology / linguistics and also later when I was
linguistics and also later when I was
linguistics and also later when I was getting my graduate degrees I was
getting my graduate degrees I was
getting my graduate degrees I was pursuing my PhD in applied linguistics
pursuing my PhD in applied linguistics
pursuing my PhD in applied linguistics at the same time that I was getting my
at the same time that I was getting my
at the same time that I was getting my MBA in international business during the
MBA in international business during the
MBA in international business during the summers so yeah I think I’m a slasher in
summers so yeah I think I’m a slasher in
summers so yeah I think I’m a slasher in fact what do you think do you think I
fact what do you think do you think I
fact what do you think do you think I should change my business card do you
should change my business card do you
should change my business card do you think I should say it should say
think I should say it should say
think I should say it should say marketing professor / historian or maybe
marketing professor / historian or maybe
marketing professor / historian or maybe a filmmaker
a filmmaker
a filmmaker my family heritage baby I’ll think I’ll
my family heritage baby I’ll think I’ll
my family heritage baby I’ll think I’ll think about it okay
think about it okay
think about it okay so I promised you that I would talk to
so I promised you that I would talk to
so I promised you that I would talk to you about what passion can do for you
you about what passion can do for you
you about what passion can do for you and there are three main benefits to
and there are three main benefits to
and there are three main benefits to passion
passion
passion the first one is you’ll find your people
the first one is you’ll find your people
the first one is you’ll find your people looking for example my grandparents are
looking for example my grandparents are
looking for example my grandparents are great are an excellent example of this
great are an excellent example of this
great are an excellent example of this right they came over from the u.s. to
right they came over from the u.s. to
right they came over from the u.s. to China when it was very difficult to do
China when it was very difficult to do
China when it was very difficult to do that when I came five years ago I just
that when I came five years ago I just
that when I came five years ago I just got on the plane right they had to get
got on the plane right they had to get
got on the plane right they had to get on a boat and spend the money to come
on a boat and spend the money to come
on a boat and spend the money to come here it was very different at that time
here it was very different at that time
here it was very different at that time but they came here they were passionate
but they came here they were passionate
but they came here they were passionate about helping people
about helping people
about helping people my grandfather is Tito University my
my grandfather is Tito University my
my grandfather is Tito University my grandmother and a hospital passionate
grandmother and a hospital passionate
grandmother and a hospital passionate passionate people and they found with
passionate people and they found with
passionate people and they found with each other here is too generous so
each other here is too generous so
each other here is too generous so they’re a great example of people
they’re a great example of people
they’re a great example of people finding their tribe as I call it were
finding their tribe as I call it were
finding their tribe as I call it were their people I’m another example of that
their people I’m another example of that
their people I’m another example of that with this project with this project I’ve
with this project with this project I’ve
with this project with this project I’ve been working on it for five years I have
been working on it for five years I have
been working on it for five years I have talked to hundreds of people I have told
talked to hundreds of people I have told
talked to hundreds of people I have told this story hundreds thousands of times
this story hundreds thousands of times
this story hundreds thousands of times and as I move through those five years
what do you find out more information
what do you find out more information about my grandparents and hopefully to
about my grandparents and hopefully to
about my grandparents and hopefully to find out who the audio was I found my
find out who the audio was I found my
find out who the audio was I found my tribe the second benefit that passion
tribe the second benefit that passion
tribe the second benefit that passion can bring into your life is giving you
can bring into your life is giving you
can bring into your life is giving you innovative ideas so I told you earlier
innovative ideas so I told you earlier
innovative ideas so I told you earlier that I have a PhD in applied linguistics
that I have a PhD in applied linguistics
that I have a PhD in applied linguistics and an MBA in international business
and an MBA in international business
and an MBA in international business well last March I had a really amazing
well last March I had a really amazing
well last March I had a really amazing career success finally finally finally
career success finally finally finally
career success finally finally finally after many years of trying to get a
after many years of trying to get a
after many years of trying to get a particular article on the linguistic
particular article on the linguistic
particular article on the linguistic service scape published I found a home
service scape published I found a home
service scape published I found a home for it I found a home in a very
for it I found a home in a very
for it I found a home in a very prestigious Journal and so I feel like
prestigious Journal and so I feel like
prestigious Journal and so I feel like I’m back baby I’m back as a thought
I’m back baby I’m back as a thought
I’m back baby I’m back as a thought leader in services marketing but you
leader in services marketing but you
leader in services marketing but you know I told you I’ve been a slasher for
know I told you I’ve been a slasher for
know I told you I’ve been a slasher for a long time right it hasn’t been easy it
a long time right it hasn’t been easy it
a long time right it hasn’t been easy it hasn’t been easy being an applied
hasn’t been easy being an applied
hasn’t been easy being an applied linguist in a business school or a
linguist in a business school or a
linguist in a business school or a marketer in a linguistics department
marketer in a linguistics department
marketer in a linguistics department right but I am so glad that I didn’t
right but I am so glad that I didn’t
right but I am so glad that I didn’t give up either of my passions in figure
give up either of my passions in figure
give up either of my passions in figure of the other because with this
of the other because with this
of the other because with this particular publication
particular publication
particular publication I was bringing those together and it’s
I was bringing those together and it’s
I was bringing those together and it’s really important as the world becomes
really important as the world becomes
really important as the world becomes more complicated complicated problems
more complicated complicated problems
more complicated complicated problems deserve complicated answers from people
deserve complicated answers from people
deserve complicated answers from people who have passions maybe in multiple
who have passions maybe in multiple
who have passions maybe in multiple fields are working with people who have
fields are working with people who have
fields are working with people who have passions in multiple fields so I’m
passions in multiple fields so I’m
passions in multiple fields so I’m really a
really a
really a believer in collaborating and using your
believer in collaborating and using your
believer in collaborating and using your passion to to solve the world’s problems
passion to to solve the world’s problems
passion to to solve the world’s problems okay so I have another ring I have a
okay so I have another ring I have a
okay so I have another ring I have a story related to this a few weeks ago I
story related to this a few weeks ago I
story related to this a few weeks ago I was in Shanghai catching up with one of
was in Shanghai catching up with one of
was in Shanghai catching up with one of my American friends who happened to be
my American friends who happened to be
my American friends who happened to be there for business she was with some
there for business she was with some
there for business she was with some colleagues from singularity University
colleagues from singularity University
colleagues from singularity University singularity University is a think-tank
singularity University is a think-tank
singularity University is a think-tank in Silicon Valley so she introduced me
in Silicon Valley so she introduced me
in Silicon Valley so she introduced me to Aaron Frank the famous journalist
to Aaron Frank the famous journalist
to Aaron Frank the famous journalist expert power user influencer in virtual
expert power user influencer in virtual
expert power user influencer in virtual reality and augmented reality so we go
reality and augmented reality so we go
reality and augmented reality so we go to lunch she introduced me to him as her
to lunch she introduced me to him as her
to lunch she introduced me to him as her friend Ellen who has an MBA in
friend Ellen who has an MBA in
friend Ellen who has an MBA in international business and he was a
international business and he was a
international business and he was a marketing professor that’s what he knew
marketing professor that’s what he knew
marketing professor that’s what he knew about me Frank said we’re sitting there
about me Frank said we’re sitting there
about me Frank said we’re sitting there at lunch
at lunch
at lunch he’s pretty jet-lagged so he’s not
he’s pretty jet-lagged so he’s not
he’s pretty jet-lagged so he’s not really participating much in the
really participating much in the
really participating much in the conversation he’s living his ketchup uh
conversation he’s living his ketchup uh
conversation he’s living his ketchup uh and I mentioned that I also have a PhD
and I mentioned that I also have a PhD
and I mentioned that I also have a PhD in applied linguistics and then I’m a
in applied linguistics and then I’m a
in applied linguistics and then I’m a language planner and at that point he
language planner and at that point he
language planner and at that point he almost jumped up over the table at me
almost jumped up over the table at me
almost jumped up over the table at me and said thanks thanks Nene and I looked
and said thanks thanks Nene and I looked
and said thanks thanks Nene and I looked around because there must be someone
around because there must be someone
around because there must be someone else here right I never had such a
else here right I never had such a
else here right I never had such a positive reaction to telling someone
positive reaction to telling someone
positive reaction to telling someone that I’m an applied linguist typically I
that I’m an applied linguist typically I
that I’m an applied linguist typically I get the reaction so what does one do
get the reaction so what does one do
get the reaction so what does one do with a PhD in applied linguistics or
with a PhD in applied linguistics or
with a PhD in applied linguistics or what is an applied linguist but he was
what is an applied linguist but he was
what is an applied linguist but he was so energized by the fact that I had
so energized by the fact that I had
so energized by the fact that I had applied linguistics to marketing in my
applied linguistics to marketing in my
applied linguistics to marketing in my research on the link
research on the link
research on the link escaped that we spent the rest of the
escaped that we spent the rest of the
escaped that we spent the rest of the afternoon talking about possible
afternoon talking about possible
afternoon talking about possible collaborations in terms of language
collaborations in terms of language
collaborations in terms of language planning and virtual reality or
planning and virtual reality or
planning and virtual reality or augmented reality so what do you think
augmented reality so what do you think
augmented reality so what do you think Ellen touched on marketing professor /
Ellen touched on marketing professor /
Ellen touched on marketing professor / historian / virtual reality augmented
historian / virtual reality augmented
historian / virtual reality augmented reality consultant what do you think
reality consultant what do you think
reality consultant what do you think many people we will see ok um now I have
many people we will see ok um now I have
many people we will see ok um now I have been passionate about languages
been passionate about languages
been passionate about languages linguistics business for over 30 years
linguistics business for over 30 years
linguistics business for over 30 years now I’m not telling you that all of your
now I’m not telling you that all of your
now I’m not telling you that all of your passions have to be long term maybe you
passions have to be long term maybe you
passions have to be long term maybe you should try out some passions try them on
should try out some passions try them on
should try out some passions try them on see how they fit ok this is this is an
see how they fit ok this is this is an
see how they fit ok this is this is an example from my life back when I was 13
example from my life back when I was 13
example from my life back when I was 13 years old I announced to my parents that
years old I announced to my parents that
years old I announced to my parents that I wanted to be an archaeologist now my
I wanted to be an archaeologist now my
I wanted to be an archaeologist now my friends are in the audience I see a few
friends are in the audience I see a few
friends are in the audience I see a few of them they’re probably thinking ooh
of them they’re probably thinking ooh
of them they’re probably thinking ooh that doesn’t sound like something that L
that doesn’t sound like something that L
that doesn’t sound like something that L would really like l does not like
would really like l does not like
would really like l does not like getting dirty or sleeping in tents or
getting dirty or sleeping in tents or
getting dirty or sleeping in tents or hiking and you’re right ok but my
hiking and you’re right ok but my
hiking and you’re right ok but my parents didn’t tell me that they let me
parents didn’t tell me that they let me
parents didn’t tell me that they let me discover it on my own so the first thing
discover it on my own so the first thing
discover it on my own so the first thing they were very supportive of my passion
they were very supportive of my passion
they were very supportive of my passion the first thing they did is they took me
the first thing they did is they took me
the first thing they did is they took me to Chicago to the King Tut exhibit at
to Chicago to the King Tut exhibit at
to Chicago to the King Tut exhibit at the Field Museum and I’m like that was
the Field Museum and I’m like that was
the Field Museum and I’m like that was very interesting
very interesting
very interesting ok and they continue to support and
ok and they continue to support and
ok and they continue to support and maybe later on a few years later we were
maybe later on a few years later we were
maybe later on a few years later we were going on a family vacation to the
going on a family vacation to the
going on a family vacation to the American Southwest and my father is also
American Southwest and my father is also
American Southwest and my father is also a universe
a universe
a universe professor he had a contact who was an
professor he had a contact who was an
professor he had a contact who was an archaeologist in New Mexico so my father
archaeologist in New Mexico so my father
archaeologist in New Mexico so my father arranged for me to have a little mini
arranged for me to have a little mini
arranged for me to have a little mini internship of three days as an
internship of three days as an
internship of three days as an archaeologist okay so the first day we
archaeologist okay so the first day we
archaeologist okay so the first day we the first day I went out with two
the first day I went out with two
the first day I went out with two archeologists walking in the Hot Desert
archeologists walking in the Hot Desert
archeologists walking in the Hot Desert Sun in the summer of New Mexico and I
Sun in the summer of New Mexico and I
Sun in the summer of New Mexico and I don’t know if you know what
don’t know if you know what
don’t know if you know what archaeologists typically do but they
archaeologists typically do but they
archaeologists typically do but they they walk around and they look at the
they walk around and they look at the
they walk around and they look at the ground to see if there’s a particular
ground to see if there’s a particular
ground to see if there’s a particular type of plant life that indicates a
type of plant life that indicates a
type of plant life that indicates a civilization have been there at one time
civilization have been there at one time
civilization have been there at one time okay kind of boring in my opinion right
okay kind of boring in my opinion right
okay kind of boring in my opinion right loved hiking in the hot New Mexico Sun
loved hiking in the hot New Mexico Sun
loved hiking in the hot New Mexico Sun the second day we went to a famous
the second day we went to a famous
the second day we went to a famous National Park or national monument in
National Park or national monument in
National Park or national monument in the United States Chaco Canyon and this
the United States Chaco Canyon and this
the United States Chaco Canyon and this is where the the Anasazi civilization
is where the the Anasazi civilization
is where the the Anasazi civilization lived until they mysteriously
lived until they mysteriously
lived until they mysteriously disappeared many years ago so we went
disappeared many years ago so we went
disappeared many years ago so we went there and yes it’s ruins okay the
there and yes it’s ruins okay the
there and yes it’s ruins okay the civilization is no more and I did not
civilization is no more and I did not
civilization is no more and I did not find it particularly inspiring the third
find it particularly inspiring the third
find it particularly inspiring the third day of my internship right I’m not
day of my internship right I’m not
day of my internship right I’m not giving it a good a good try the third
giving it a good a good try the third
giving it a good a good try the third day of my internship I was working at
day of my internship I was working at
day of my internship I was working at the local museum at the County Museum
the local museum at the County Museum
the local museum at the County Museum and they had me in the back room sorting
and they had me in the back room sorting
and they had me in the back room sorting artifacts from an archaeological dig and
artifacts from an archaeological dig and
artifacts from an archaeological dig and everything was okay until I pulled out a
everything was okay until I pulled out a
everything was okay until I pulled out a dog’s paw my dog’s paw and I screamed
dog’s paw my dog’s paw and I screamed
dog’s paw my dog’s paw and I screamed and I said no archaeology is not for me
and I said no archaeology is not for me
and I said no archaeology is not for me okay so so I hope I did not become an
okay so so I hope I did not become an
okay so so I hope I did not become an irk
irk
irk just but my parents let me make that
just but my parents let me make that
just but my parents let me make that decision myself
decision myself
decision myself okay so the third thing that that
okay so the third thing that that
okay so the third thing that that passion will give you is energy right I
passion will give you is energy right I
passion will give you is energy right I think you can see I’m pretty energetic
think you can see I’m pretty energetic
think you can see I’m pretty energetic passionate person right so last year I
passionate person right so last year I
passionate person right so last year I ended up breaking my foot don’t worry it
ended up breaking my foot don’t worry it
ended up breaking my foot don’t worry it was not anything traumatic or anything
was not anything traumatic or anything
was not anything traumatic or anything like that just me walking I broke my
like that just me walking I broke my
like that just me walking I broke my foot but because I’m so passionate about
foot but because I’m so passionate about
foot but because I’m so passionate about teaching and dedicated to helping my
teaching and dedicated to helping my
teaching and dedicated to helping my students learn about international
students learn about international
students learn about international business I didn’t miss a single day of
business I didn’t miss a single day of
business I didn’t miss a single day of teaching there I am on my Walker when
teaching there I am on my Walker when
teaching there I am on my Walker when finally Walker okay so in conclusion I’m
finally Walker okay so in conclusion I’m
finally Walker okay so in conclusion I’m a man I’m a marketer slash applied
a man I’m a marketer slash applied
a man I’m a marketer slash applied linguists slash historian slash
linguists slash historian slash
linguists slash historian slash filmmaker I’m a proud Suja Rena I hope
filmmaker I’m a proud Suja Rena I hope
filmmaker I’m a proud Suja Rena I hope you’re okay with me calling myself that
you’re okay with me calling myself that
you’re okay with me calling myself that since my family started here at that
since my family started here at that
since my family started here at that time no kidding I’m a proud splasher
time no kidding I’m a proud splasher
time no kidding I’m a proud splasher also and who knows what my next passion
also and who knows what my next passion
also and who knows what my next passion is going to be thank you
is going to be thank you
is going to be thank you [Applause]
”
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