Career Unicorns - Spark Your Joy

I’m Samorn Selim.

I’m a lawyer turned career coach on a mission for us to take our careers from dread to joy. As the daughter of poor Lao refugees, I was told to pay my dues.

After coaching over 1,000 clients, I now realize that the idea that you have to pay your dues and work in a toxic place is a myth.

We can face our challenges head on, do work we are passionate about, and work with good people with kind hearts to make a big impact. So even as we struggle, we can find a sense of belonging.

Ep. 80: Finding your voice, working with allies, building your dream career, and creating a culture of inclusion with Mita Mallick (Chief Diversity Officer at Carta and Co-host of The Brown Table Talk Podcast)

May 30, 2023

What do you do with the trauma of being bullied and othered? In this episode with Mita Mallick, we discuss:

- The vivid memories of her hair being burned by White boys in high school, and what she’s done to heal that trauma.

- How having one person who is an ally can make a huge difference when you’re...

Ep. 79: Knowing your value, managing imposter syndrome, setting boundaries, and making big career changes with Christine Pham (Family Law Attorney at Hoover Krepelka)

May 23, 2023

There’s a stereotype that Asian American women are supposed to be quiet and submissive. But that doesn’t have to be the case, and you can set boundaries and live a good life.

In this episode with Christine, we discuss:

- How imposter syndrome is real for Asian Americans and women, and what you can do to let...

Ep. 78: Managing our mental health, taking a career break, and starting a new career with Ny Derry (Founder of Lao Helping Lao)

May 16, 2023

Did you grow up feeling like you didn’t belong? And you want to find a sense of community?

In this episode with Ny Derry, we discuss:

- What it means to feel like a “throwaway” because our families are refugees from Laos.

- How our cultural backgrounds make us “workaholics” and how managing so many...

Ep. 77: Embracing the intersectionality of our identities, building our dream careers, and creating a culture of inclusion with Jaya Saxena (Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Spencer Stuart)

May 9, 2023

Ep. 77: Embracing the intersectionality of our identities, building our dream careers, and creating a culture of inclusion with Jaya Saxena (Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Spencer Stuart)

Did you grow up with multiple identities? And you wondered where you fit in and belonged?

In this episode...

Ep. 76: Dreaming big, believing in yourself, and shooting your shot even when the odds are stacked against you with Lily Chan (CEO of AndMakers)

May 2, 2023

Did you grow up with the odds stacked against you? But you didn’t let that stop you from trying to achieve your wildest dreams? In this episode with Lily Chan, we discuss:

- How growing up with refugee parents from Vietnam and Cambodia while being ethnic Chinese in the tenderloin impacts our life and career...