Hi, I’m Pei. I’m from Taiwan, and my name, 蓓, means “blossoming flower.” My mom chose it to reflect the season I was born and to keep me “rooted on land.” Yet here I am now, living by the Pacific Ocean in San Diego—proof that life works in mysterious ways.

Growing up in southern Taiwan, my world felt small but structured. Decisions were often made for me. I spoke Taiwanese at home, learned Mandarin and English at school, and picked up Japanese to communicate with my grandmother. She would tell me stories of her youth during Taiwan’s Japanese occupation. They left me fascinated and made me wonder how history shaped the present.

My parents sacrificed much to give me the best education. Still, I struggled with feelings of inadequacy. I still remember the day I brought home my high school entrance results. My mom looks at me, exhausted from a long day at the salon, and says, ‘Pei, I paid so much for your education, and this is where you ended up?’. Those words stung like cold air against a fresh wound.

For the first time, I truly understood the weight of their sacrifices—and the responsibility I carried to honor them. But how could I rise to that challenge?

In high school, I started working harder—not just for them, but for me. Small wins along the way, like placing second in a TOEIC exam or winning an English acting competition, hinted at what I was capable of. But when the time came to choose a field of study, I faltered. Hospitality was practical, safe—but uninspiring. It felt like settling.

I knew I wanted more than just a practical path, but I wasn’t sure where to begin. It wasn’t until my internship at Cathay Pacific that I realized how different roles created meaningful impact opened my eyes to what was possible. I decided to reach further, applying for graduate school abroad. Against all odds, I was accepted. It was a leap into the unknown, and it took me to the UK to study Service Design Management—a world where I could blend creativity with real impact.

But the challenges were far from over. After graduation, I faced a choice: take a secure job at a telecom giant in China or move to the U.S. to chase a more uncertain path. I chose uncertainty. What followed was a humbling year of unemployment. My degree didn’t translate. My skills didn’t match the roles I wanted. Bills didn’t wait. I stood behind the counter at the boba shop, the smell of tapioca pearls and sweet tea swirling around me, wondering how I’d ever get back on track.

Something had to change.

That year taught me resilience. It taught me gratitude. Most importantly, it taught me to take ownership of my journey. I spent months teaching myself human-centered design, piecing together a career path from scratch. My first design job wasn’t glamorous. But it was a start.

Each role since has been a step forward—building on what came before, creating products that simplify complex problems, and designing experiences that resonate emotionally. Today, as a Product Design Manager, I lead teams to solve tough problems and turn ideas into intuitive solutions.

Looking back, every leap into the unknown—from Taiwan to the UK to the U.S.—forced me to adapt, grow, and find strength I didn’t know I had. Each challenge tested me, and each time, I came out stronger.

Ownership and adaptability have been my compass. They’ve guided me through detours, missteps, and breakthroughs. And they remind me that life’s best lessons often come when the path ahead feels the least certain.

Now, I’m ready for the next challenge—one that lets me keep building, learning, and creating meaningful impact, whether through the people I collaborate with or my craft. My passion for growth design fuels my love for data and experimentation, where small wins and failures become valuable opportunities to learn and fail fast, much like my own journey. Life is unpredictable—sometimes your work succeeds, other times it fails, but as long as you keep moving forward, you learn. It’s in these uncertain moments that we experience the greatest growth.

As I look ahead, I’m excited to continue building, learning, and leading, confident that each uncertain step will bring new opportunities for growth.