We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tina Kiaosouvath. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tina below.
Tina, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?
When I moved out to Arizona 5 years ago, I didn’t have a plan other than moving to be closer to my family. I was a stay at home mom with a 1 year old son and a newborn daughter. A few months later Covid surprised the world.
This was during the time when a lot of businesses shut down, but I was fortunate to be hired at a pharmaceutical manufacturing company. 6 months passed and I’ve always been a person to have the urge to learn and grow. Many have told me I would be absolutely crazy to leave a stable job for an offer I had at a start up company with possible endless knowledge I could gain. Even due to the circumstances of the world being in a crisis, I still decided to leave.
The company I joined was a start up biotech in development of a method to detect early stage cancer. The knowledge and skills I was able to gain from this opportunity was a blessing. I’ve worked closely with scientists and researchers. It was very interesting to listen to all they hope to achieve while being there to be a part of it. I did not stay at the company for too long until I found a better opportunity at a large medical device company.
The medical device company I worked for gave me so much exposure to many experiences. I was part of a research and development team to develop a drug coated medical device. The exciting part about this was that I got to work closely with engineers to see all the work that goes into developing a drug and medical device for clinal trials.
From all of my past experiences, it lead me to accept an engineering position at a clinical lab. Never in a million years would I be proudly able to say that I did become an engineer without a degree. In a timeframe of 3 years, I gained so much skills and experiences that I reached a great career in a short amount of time.
I want to really emphasize and tell others that time does not mean anything. You don’t need to stay in one spot to prove to others the knowledge and skills you have. I took the risk of exploring without having a specific goal in mind. I just wanted to learn and grow. I knew I had that drive and fire inside of me even though I didn’t know what it was yet. Risk it if you believe it. You’ll learn a lot about yourself and find something you never could imagine!
Tina, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I’ve been vulnerable on social media not too long ago in hopes to be an influencer and work with brands. I have no clue what I’m doing, what’s trendy, and what’s the next big thing. I’m just being myself by broadcasting my life of starting over.
I didn’t realize the bravery and courage it takes to pretty much let people know, yes, I am starting my whole life over. I am absolutely rebuilding my life back up from nothing. From a new home, financial struggles, career change, and my mental health. I lost myself.
Now that I look back these past few years – I am so proud of how much I have achieved. I did whatever it took to make sure I was present with raising my children. My kids come first before anything. I just finished beauty school, which was a huge achievement due to the fact I worked a graveyard shift job while being a full time mom during the day. I’m proud that I have a stronger mindset of what I want in life.
I want my fans/followers to know that it’s okay if you don’t have it all together. I want to share my life with others in an organic way that just because someone carries it well, doesn’t mean they have it all together. I want to inspire the youth, my peers, and elders. I want to reach the world as much as I can so that others know they are not alone. I’ve been through so much since I was little, and now that I am a mother – I see the world so differently.
I’m just being a role model in hopes to make a change in a positive way. Bring back being real and being selfless. Because we’re only human.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
If I’m being really honest – I want to be the face of brands. I have what it takes, and I’ve experienced so much that I could impact so many in such a positive way if given opportunities. I never liked being in the spotlight as long as I could remember. Now that I found my bubbly personality again, and I truly love the way I am, I’m not scared to put myself out there for the world to find me. I love this version of me and I hope others will to.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
I think people need to be supportive and not think all of this as competition. We all need to show kindness and be respectful with opinions. Just follow someone because you like them and their content. Not because it’s gaining you more followers to look “famous” or “popular.”
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