Best Selling Author and Digital Program Manager, Long Beach CA
Nancy Luong’s Journey of Healing and Authenticity: Empowering Others to Thrive
Please introduce yourself and describe your career. What do you do for a living?
I’m a woman of many hats! My day job is at Salesforce, where I work in tech, helping customers understand how to use Marketing Cloud—our tool that helps them run and manage their marketing campaigns. On the side, I’m all about following my passions! As an AAPI Advocate and Keynote Speaker, I’m dedicated to creating spaces where diverse voices can be heard and celebrated. I am also an author and wrote, How We Got Here Journal, which became a #1 Bestseller on Amazon, diving into family dynamics and breaking generational patterns. I also JUST launched my 2nd book, We Are All Weirdos, which encourages others to embrace their uniqueness, celebrate individuality, and find success by living authentically which has hit Top 10 Best New Releases!
Being a DEIB & Mental Health Advocate is a huge part of my life, I focus on promoting well-being and belonging. I’m also very involved at California State University, Long Beach. I mentor students and often guest lecture, helping them build confidence and figure out their career paths. It’s incredibly rewarding to see them grow and realize their potential. Giving back means the world to me. My parents came to America with nothing, and their journey taught me the importance of giving back. Now that I have the privilege to do so, I’m all about making a difference and helping others find their way. Whether it's through community work or mentorship, it's about lifting others up and paying it forward.
What tools/resources do you frequently use? (Books, podcasts, mentors, wellness habits, software, etc.)
Investing in yourself is ABSOLUTELY the best investment you can make, especially when it comes to mental health. I have a Wellness Life Coach who helps me stay grounded and keep my mindset in check. I also see a therapist who guides me through the highs and lows of life. For me, wellness is all about building habits that support mental and emotional health. Our minds can be our biggest challenge, with around 80% of our thoughts being negative, so I focus a lot on re-framing those thoughts into something more positive.
I make it a point to surround myself with uplifting people who cheer me on!! Setting healthy boundaries is so important too—I’ve learned to put limits in areas that don’t serve me. I also read a LOT! I love self-growth books, from The Four Agreements to The Power of Your Subconscious Mind. I’m also spiritual and I LOVE Louise Hay’s work; her insights have been a huge inspiration to me.
Staying active is another big part of my wellness routine. I love walking, running, strength training and just keeping my body moving. I used to yo-yo diet all the time, but I've learned about intuitive eating and the importance of listening to my body. I’ve also stopped drinking, which has helped me mentally so much.
Rest is a huge part of wellness for me, too. It’s knowing that it’s okay to take breaks and just be. That’s something I’ve had to learn over time!!
What is something you do when things get difficult? How do you handle stress/ challenges?
When things get difficult, I've learned to see every challenge as a lesson. This mindset has helped me so much. Now, whenever an obstacle comes my way, I immediately think, "Okay, all good, this is just another challenge in life. I got this and will get through it." I focus on processing what's happening instead of letting it overwhelm me.
I used to get in my head and start spiraling with stress. Now, I’ve reframed my thoughts and beliefs to see challenges as part of the journey and I've been able to handle stress so much better. I hardly get stressed anymore, and very rarely will I let my energy go in that direction. If I need to, I will talk it out to someone and I think that’s so important. Getting outside perspective from someone you trust helps so much.
It all comes down to self-awareness and understanding that life is full of ups and downs. It's about accepting that reality and going through it one step at a time. Being kind to yourself is so important—knowing that you'll get through it, just like you have every other time. Letting yourself feel and process what's going on is key. This mindset has helped me handle tough moments with a lot more peace and resilience.
Do you have any mentors or key pieces of career advice that helped you get to where you are today?
"BE YOURSELF!!!" This is the BEST advice I’ve ever gotten. In the past, I felt this pressure to fit into certain molds, to be ‘normal’ or what I thought everyone expected. I’ve always felt so WEIRD in so many spaces, but over time, I realized that what makes me different is what makes me amazing—it's what makes me, ME!
One mentor, in particular, told me to be myself because that's where the magic happens.
These mentors have reminded me time and time again that it's about showing up as your true self, whether that's in a board meeting, a classroom or wherever!! So if there's one piece of advice I swear by, it's this: BE YOU!!! Own your uniqueness, your quirks, all of it. That’s what sets you apart and makes you extraordinary.
Where can readers find/connect with you if they have questions?
Yes please connect with me I’d love that!
My Website: Nancyluong.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nancyluong17/