Women's History Month: Meet Six Community Leaders in Downtown Bellevue

Women's History Month:
Meet Six Community Leaders in Downtown Bellevue

Throughout history, we've seen the grand changes women have made in society through their vital contribution and innovation. This Women's History Month, we're spotlighting six phenomenal community leaders in Downtown Bellevue.  Hear what crucial lessons they’ve learned throughout their career, how they maintain good mental health, and what advice they’re giving to the next generation.

Van Choe
Owner of Vanity Pham Salon

What are some lessons you've learned as a woman in your field? How has that insight helped you throughout your career?

A client, who is a leader in high tech, once shared with me: Don’t worry about not being the best in the room, worry about hiring and working with the best people so that they want to be in your room. I don’t have to be everywhere all at once trying to do everything, that is not sustainable.  I work with people whom I trust and like. I seek out differing perspectives so that I am not in an echo chamber.

What has been your most memorable moment in your career?

During the start of the pandemic we were mandated to close, which meant there was no incoming money but all the rent and bills still needed to be paid. On top of that, we laid off our entire staff until we could open again, which at the time we did not know how long it would be. I was so surprised and touched by clients who reached out to check on how we were and even sent hundreds of dollars to help hold us over, which we split up and distributed as tips to all our stylists. And then eventually our landlord reach out to us to offer rent deferment and then we started applying for small business grants from many companies.

A big question I asked myself before opening this salon was, “Would I be okay if I failed? If not a single client walked through the door, could I survive?” And unfortunately, this scenario played out in 2020. What I didn’t expect was the generosity of our clients, the understanding of my staff, the kindness of our landlord, and the sense of community that came through for all small business owners.

Any advice or words of wisdom you would pass along to the next generation of women?

Try to look at your business journey as a whole, you want to generally be moving in a forward direction but don’t let the struggles and failures define your journey. If you have an idea, try it! If it fails, fix the parts that fail and try it again or abandon that idea and try a new one.

Linda Hoffner
Senior Property Manager at Wright Runstad & Company

What are some lessons you've learned as a woman in your field? How has that insight helped you throughout your career?

Commercial real estate, or real estate in general, is very male-dominated. My husband is in the same industry as me, so I have a good gauge of how much I should be making in my position. Watching his career path, I saw he was getting promoted at an accelerated rate than I was. It took me a long time to realize that I needed to put a lot of effort into making sure I learned how to self-advocate and find allies.

Lead with gratitude.  Being thankful for the people who show up every day to work alongside you creates an environment of trust and goodwill. I have the most incredible team and having their support helps elevate me to be my best.

What has been the most memorable moment of your career?

This year has been so spectacular. Some of my favorite memorable moments were getting on Puget Sound Business Journal's 40 Under 40 list and receiving the Economic and Community Improvement Impact Award from CREW Network. While I'm honored to be part of those moments, the one thing that made me feel like I finally made it was hosting our first event at The Spring District. Watching the impact it had on the community and seeing the power of public-private partnership at the first Bellevue Beats Music Series and Bellevue Farmer's Market collaboration in 2021 is something I’ll never forget.

Any advice or words of wisdom you would pass along to the next generation of enterprising women?

I suggest getting involved in as many different facets of your own company as well as the communities surrounding the projects you're working on. For example, if you're in commercial real estate in Downtown Bellevue, get involved in the district, and don't just come into work, do your thing, and leave. Embed yourself in the community, get to know the issues, and think of ways you can help those in need. 

I also recommend finding allies within your organization and external mentors. External mentors can provide a perspective that doesn’t include biases within your company. Use them as a resource and ask for guidance.

Angie Nuevacamina
Financial Service Professional at a mutual insurance company

What are some lessons you've learned as a woman in your field? How has that insight helped you throughout your career?

Most of the jobs I've entered have been male-dominated in my career lifetime because I saw something lacking and wanted to make a difference for others. As a woman, I have a different perspective than my male counterparts, which allows me to fill in the gaps needed. This has taught me to look for problems and make an effort to change the system.

What has been the most memorable moment in your career?

I hope I have yet to have the most memorable career moment. I want to meet a new goal whenever I reach one.

Any advice or words of wisdom you would pass along to the next generation of women?

Love yourself enough to have a great relationship with yourself. Be in a place where you're not constantly looking for external validation from others, and just be brilliantly you. People will criticize you no matter what, so take the opportunity to be fully self-expressed and take up as much space as you need.

Sabra Schneider
Chief Information Officer at the City of Bellevue

What has been your most memorable moment in your career?

The most memorable moments in my career all generally have the same ingredients: a terrific team of diverse thinkers; working on problems not easily solved; while driving creative and innovative solutions. Those moments are my happy place and coincidently also when I’ve worked the hardest.

We know that you’re extremely busy, how do you take care of yourself and maintain a good mental health?

With longer days and warmer weather, I love getting outside and walking, hiking and cycling in Bellevue and regional parks. Doing anything outside always renews my spirit, even in the northwest winters. A colleague recently reminded me that you do have to care for yourself to be able to care for others, a reminder that I think many, women in particular, need after the past several years.

Any advice or words of wisdom you would pass along to the next generation of women?

Look for roles, projects, and organizations that will help you grow and evolve your skills. Cultivate diversity in your professional networks, different backgrounds, and perspectives will also help you grow, and achieve better outcomes when challenging issues arise.

Chantal Rolling
Owner of Total Looks by Chantal Boutique and Spa

What has been your most memorable moment in your career?

I have so many great memories. I love to serve, share and help someone with their styling and hair issues. I love seeing how grateful they are for me and in return, I’m equally as grateful for them because they trusted me enough to help them find their confidence.  

We know you’re extremely busy, how do you take care of yourself and maintain good mental health?

My health and well-being are extremely important to me. I continue to my faith, spend time with family and friends, and practice mindfulness and gratitude.

Any advice or words of wisdom you would pass along to the next generation of women?

The future is yours. Make sure you continue to trust who you are and your values, stay true to what you believe in, and always remember to listen to those around you.

Zhiqin Zhang
Owner of Yuan Spa

What are some lessons you've learned as a woman in your field? How has that insight helped you throughout your career?

As a woman in the spa industry for over two decades, I’ve learned the importance of uplifting and inspiring other women. The massage therapy industry is a small and tight-knit community. Throughout my time working as a massage therapist, I got to meet many other women who were in the same circumstance as I was. We all recognized that to achieve a better future, we must band together and help each other in times of need.

We know you’re extremely busy, how do you take care of yourself and maintain good mental health?

The best way to take care of myself is through meditation. I set aside an hour every morning to empty my thoughts and start with a clean slate. I then reflect on my experiences from the previous day and assess what I need to do for the day. We are constantly bombarded with information in our work and private lives. We need to let our brains rest to obtain the mental clarity needed for optimum productivity.

Any advice or words of wisdom you would pass along to the next generation of women?

My number one advice to the next generation of women is to stay strong when faced with adversity.  Often, young women are pressured by traditional gender roles and taught to be timid and subservient. As a result, they miss out on opportunities to display their true capabilities and develop into the person they are meant to become. Young women must be proud of their identity and show the world that they are as strong and gifted as everyone else.

This blog is part of the Heart of Bellevue: our campaign to showcase local businesses while connecting you with stories of activity, creativity and recovery. Find out about our campaign and explore more of what’s happening around Downtown.