Meet Our Speakers
Inspiring Hmong women leaders, experts, and changemakers sharing their knowledge, experiences, and insights with our community.
Showing 18 speakers
Dani Thao
Personal Development & Beauty Coach
Dani Thao is a Personal Development and Beauty Coach and bold Hmong contender for Miss Minnesota USA 2024. Through her journey in beauty pageants, Dani learned that true beauty comes from embracing all aspects of ourselves—the strengths, the flaws, and the journey of personal growth. She focuses on challenging global beauty standards while honoring the Hmong community's unique beauty ideals, helping women build confidence, self-acceptance, and mental wellness.
Lynda Yang-Gungsing
Enneagram Coach
Lynda Yang Gungsing is a lifelong learner and educator who brings awareness, information, and knowledge to support growth and process. Her healing journey began with therapy and the Enneagram, co-healing with like-minded friends and a circle of Hmong sisters. She encourages identity work, living fully in a bicultural world, mental health wellness, boundary setting, and breaking generational/cultural trauma. Lynda has over 10 years of working with families as an educator and now focuses on conscious parenting, restorative justice, and relationship resilience.
Annie Lee
Co-Founder of Seeds4Hope Nonprofit
Annie Lee is a visionary co-creator and lifelong learner, dedicated to empowering women globally. As the Co-founder of Seeds4Hope, she champions collaboration and community-building, impacting over 90+ young rising leaders, a team of 15 and 45 mentors. With 20 years of counseling experience and certification as a women's circle facilitator, Annie embodies resilience and compassion in her advocacy work. Through initiatives like Hmong Women Today, she fosters solidarity and empowerment. Annie's belief in collective strength and purposeful living drives her to inspire positive change wherever she goes.
Kim Yang
Founder of Life of KPH
Kim Yang is an entrepreneur and salon suite owner (nail technician) for 6 years. She started actively doing content creating and music in 2022 which led to Life of KPH. Her content is based on relatable experiences and generational trauma that people can relate to, making it comedic by shining light and dark humor for viewers to enjoy. Happily married for 11 years with one child.
Dee Thao
Singer/Songwriter
Deeda Thao is a famous Hmong American singer in the Hmong community. Born to first generation refugee Hmong American parents, Dee spent most of her life in Fresno, CA. Driven with a love for the performing arts, she refused to let her dream fade away. She started her singing career by the artist name 'Dib Xwb' in 2016 with her hit song 'Luag Leej Tub.' In 2021, she changed her stage name to Deeda. Despite her challenges, she serves as an inspiration to many Hmong women and girls. Her goal is to spread positivity, courage, kindness, love, and her experience through the performing arts.
Kazoua Xiong
Founder of SoulaYa Yoga
Ka Zoua is the heart and soul behind Soul Ya Yoga. Her yoga journey began after an existential awakening in 2018 that led her on a quest to deepen her spirituality. Through yoga, Ka Zoua fell in love with meditation, breathwork, and Thai Yoga Bodywork with the mission to help good people rest for a greater impact. She brings a unique blend of cultural authenticity and nurturing support to her sessions, believing in the power of community, connection, and self-responsibility as essential elements of holistic wellness.
Xai Lor
Martial Arts School Owner & Taekwondo Instructor
Xai is an embodiment of resilience, courage, and compassion. As a two time survivor of metastatic breast and colon cancer, she has faced life's most daunting challenges with unwavering strength and determination. She is a devoted single mother to three remarkable children. In Sacramento, California, Xai is renowned for her leadership at a popular martial arts school, where she teaches Taekwondo. She is the first Hmong Woman to establish and operate a popular martial art school in the United States. Her commitment extends beyond the dojang; she is deeply involved in serving the homeless, uplifting the youth, and offering support to fellow cancer warriors globally.
Pa Nhia Vue
Energy Healing Practitioner, Ria Healing
Pa Nhia Vue is dedicated to facilitating healing and personal transformation through Ria Energy Healing and intuitive guidance. She is committed to creating a nurturing and supportive environment where individuals can release energetic blockages and find inner harmony, leading to a life of balance, joy, and empowerment. Energy healing is a holistic practice that addresses imbalances in the body's energy systems.
Nancy Xiong
Reiki Master, Energy & Sound Healing Practitioner
Nancy Xiong is a first-generation cisgender Hmong American female born to Hmong war refugee parents from Laos. She graduated from UW-Madison with degrees in International Studies and East Asian Studies. She spent the majority of her professional life in the DC/Northern Virginia area working in student affairs, teaching, and advocating for underserved students and victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. As a Reiki Master and energy and sound healing practitioner through Hono Bono Healing LLC, she infuses Hmong Shamanic healing practices with her services to ensure a heartwarming experience for her clients.
Joan Van De Griek
Licensed CPA, Founder of Fetch Your Wealth
Joan is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in Colorado and New York who owns her own peer-reviewed accounting firm. She holds a Master's degree in Executive Business Administration. With extensive experience in many industries including insurance, agriculture, technology, and healthcare, Joan has the skills and resources to help families retire with guaranteed income and benefits. She is not just an officer's wife, but an advocate that has worked tirelessly to ensure her family and other police families are financially secure despite an officer's disability.
Monica Wang
Business Development Director at Amentum
Monica Wang serves as Business Development Director with Amentum. With close to 20 years of experience, holding an MBA and a Master of Science in Civil Engineering, Monica leverages her professional background to drive growth and innovation. She serves as the President of ACEL (Asian Corporate & Entrepreneur Leaders) Denver Chapter, dedicated to developing Asian business leaders and fostering leadership growth. She also serves as 2nd Vice President at SAME (Society of America Military Engineers) Denver Metro Post. Beyond her professional endeavors, Monica is a certified yoga instructor, ultramarathon runner, outdoor adventure and yoga retreat leader, world traveler, and devoted mother of two.
Khamsone Sirimanivong
President of Arizona Costume Institute
Khamsone Sirimanivong immigrated to Arizona from Laos in 1981. She studied architecture at Syracuse and Arizona State University, and fashion design at FIDM. Professionally she has worked in marketing and public relations in various industries including finance, land conservation, government, tourism, media & film, community healthcare, real estate, and technology. She was appointed Film Commissioner for Flagstaff and Northern Arizona by the Governor's Office. She serves on the Board of Legacies of War and Skykids, Inc. She is passionate about community service, vintage-shopping, collecting books, and art.
Barbara Vo Koldos
Vice President of Business Development, New North Inc.
Barbara Vo Koldos is the Vice President of Business Development of New North, Inc. Using her gifts of communication, connectivity, and collaboration to help better Northeast Wisconsin, Barbara is a firm believer in being a part of a community versus simply living in it. She serves in varying capacities for the De Pere Area Chamber, Mid-America Economic Development Council, and the Governor's Task Force on Broadband. Named one of Wisconsin's Most Influential Asian American Leaders and currently President of ACEL Northeast Wisconsin Chapter.
Brittany Xiong
Public Health Analyst, Board Member Secretary at NC HWA
Brittany Vang was born in Wisconsin, raised in Georgia, and now resides in North Carolina. As a 2nd generation Hmong/Lao/Chinese American, she identifies new challenges that 2nd generation Hmong Americans face. Her passion for equity resulted in co-founding her college's first Hmong student organization. She holds a Masters in Public Health and is a full-time public health analyst and Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) student. She co-founded her college's first Hmong student organization and became NC HWA's first intern, later joining as a Board Member and secretary.
Linda Yang
Interim Director at NC Hmong Women Association
Currently serving as the Interim Director of Information & Services with NC Hmong Women Association, Linda Yang is also a mentor, speaker, podcast host, and author. She has 16 years of professional experience with many healthcare organizations including Novant, Premiere, Duke, and OrthoCarolina. In her current role as an executive at Southern New Jersey Perinatal, Linda oversees Information Infrastructure and Data Strategy. She holds a Master of Health Administration in Healthcare Informatics, various EHR certifications, and executive certifications. She is an advocate for encouraging women to explore careers in information technology.
Lisa Khang
Physician Assistant
Lisa Khang is a physician assistant certified by National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) and licensed with the North Carolina Medical Board (NCMB). She graduated from the Duke University Physician Assistant Program in August of 2023. Driven by her passion to help others, she plans to provide patient centered care to address the physical and emotional needs of underserved populations including the Hmong community. Through her involvement with local organizations and community events, she seeks to raise awareness about healthcare disparities and promote access to vital resources and services.
Kalia Yang
Hmong Summer Language Program Lead
Kalia Yang is a visionary educator with a background in early education who has a deep understanding of the importance of nurturing young minds. Her innate creativity, spiritual connection, and love for adventure led her to pivot towards new horizons. With a passion for travel and new experiences, she brings a unique global perspective to her work. As a skilled networker, she has built a community of like-minded individuals who share her vision for a more creative and compassionate world.
Mindy Heu
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW LLP)
Mindy is a Hmong American Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Colorado. She is passionate about social justice and serving her clients, family, and community at large. She has over ten years of experience working with families and professionals in the field of mental health and child welfare. For the past six years she has provided independent child protection case consultations to a diverse array of professionals and organizations. She provides clinical expertise support from a trauma-informed and social justice lens. Mindy currently investigates abuse on a national level in the arena of sport and specializes in sexual and emotional misconduct.