Children of immigrants often have a mindset learned from parents who navigated the roadblocks on their journey to freedom. This talk explores that mindset, and how it could apply to those who are generations away from the immigrant experience.


Colleen and her siblings, including four lost before her family’s immigration, are first generation Hmong in the United States. After her father’s nine years of military service for the US side during the Vietnam war, her family was forced to flee Laos to save their lives. Upon reaching Thailand after trekking for weeks through dense jungle, Colleen’s family made the decision to immigrate to the United States.

Her parents knew the US could offer better and more prosperous lives for them and their children. While as a young person Colleen was embarrassed by her mother’s innovative creation of small businesses rather than a "typical" nine to five job, today, as an entrepreneur herself, she couldn't be more proud of her mother blazing her own path despite knowing very little English. Colleen hopes to inspire people to innovate, create, and take control of their lives. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx