Rising ICON #63: Catherine Tran
What name do you prefer to be called?
Cat or Catherine
What are your pronouns?
She/her or they/them is fine
Where did you grow up?
Chicagoland area
What city are you currently based in?
Iowa City, IA
How do you typically introduce yourself to new people?
I usually let them know about my work and things I’m involved in.
What’s one thing you wish more people knew about you?
That would probably depend more on the person. I’m generally a pretty reserved person, but am interested in getting to know just about anybody.
Who do you help?
Anybody who needs it! But my work focuses primarily on helping immigrant and minority populations, helping them navigate resources so they can succeed
What are you building now?
We’re working on building greater networks for immigrant communities. This is throughout the Midwest, but also looking into potential other places in the US (Texas, Tennessee)
What were you building ten years ago today?
10 years ago, I was living across the country in CA, and working for a nonprofit organization that focuses on homeless communities in Central CA (focusing on fundraising, communications, and volunteer engagement).
What do you predict of yourself 10 years from now?
I think I will likely still be working in the nonprofit space. I hope to do this work elsewhere, and possibly even oversees. But I usually end up where the needs call me.
What’s a fact or statistic you wish everyone knew about your industry?
I think it is not surprising to the people in the immigrant and entrepreneurship space, but the number of new small businesses formed by immigrants are astounding and disproportionate compared to non-immigrants. They’re really pushing small businesses ahead, which affect the economy, employ people, and have a positive impact on their local communities.
Why do you believe the work you do matters?
Empowering people to follow their passions is always rewarding. They’re typically already self-motivated and capable. And I get to walk alongside them in their journey.
Who is your mentor and what is the best advice they’ve given you?
Ying Sa, Community CPA. She’s given me a lot of advice, and but more than words, I think she’s instilled in me a sense that you can do business and care for others deeply at the same time. And to be a business owner, you really need to have both the technical skills and the people skills.
What piece of content about you or your company are you most proud of?
WOW Magazine Aug.Sept 2022.pdf - Google Drive
What publication do you hope to appear in next?
I’m not sure!
Who would you love to be interviewed by?
Any of those!
If you had to give a TEDTalk tomorrow, what would the title be?
Community engagement, Finding your Third Place
What award would mean the most to win?
Probably some sort of community impact award or leadership award
What makes zero sense to you?
Probably a lot of things don’t make sense to me, but generally, I’d say it’s most frustrating when people follow their own tradition without a lot of regard for others.
What’s the next thing you’re a part of that you want to invite more people to participate in?
Immigrant Entrepreneurs Summit MInnesota Regional - Fri, May 31st
Where can we follow you online?
https://www.linkedin.com/in/catktran/
What’s one thing that makes every leader better?
Willingness to learn from others
__________________
We’re grateful to each Rising ICON for their transformative work. Thank you, Catherine, for sharing your story!
LAUREL is a media relations partner for bold leadership. For nearly a decade, we’ve helped leaders build effective strategies for scale and growth specializing in digital executive presence and go-to-market strategy for emerging brands. To follow along with the RISING ICONS series, nominate a leader or subscribe to our weekly email newsletter. To accelerate your own rise, get our free guide to visibility, FIT(lite).
“The number of new small businesses formed by immigrants are astounding and disproportionate compared to non-immigrants. They’re really pushing small businesses ahead, which affect the economy, employ people, and have a positive impact on their local communities. ”
Notice: It’s important for our readers to understand the origin of the interview content. The featured ICON contributed responses that were not edited from the original submission. All claims are made solely by the contributor and do not reflect the views of LAUREL or its partners. Thank you for supporting innovation leaders. We’re convinced, the future is bold.
