A brief Coffee Table Chat: STIRRING PASSIONS: EXPLORING LIFE BEYOND WORK

One-on-One with Julieta Chan

In this discussion, we explore how a lifelong passion for sports has shapeda commitment to personal and professional growth. From running as achild to playing basketball on a scholarship, the love for physical activitycontinues today with a disciplined gym routine. Paired with a deepinterest in empathic communication, this journey shows how physicalwellness and thoughtful connection can foster authentic leadership andteamwork in all areas of life.

1. WHAT PERSONAL INTERESTS DO YOU HAVE?

I have always had a lot of interests in life, and they have changed depending on where I am, what I am doing, and what opportunities come my way.

However, one thing that has been a constant in my life is my love for sports and exercise. Growing up in the 80s and 90s as a hyperactive kid, my mom’s strategy for managing my energy was to send me running whenever I started to “misbehave” in class or elsewhere. So, running became my first love. Later in school and high school, I developed a passion for volleyball, and for 20 years, my main sport was basketball. This passion allowed me to receive a scholarship in business, make lifelong friends, and develop discipline and teamwork ethic.

While I no longer play basketball, I go to the gym five times a week to lift weights, and it has been my primary interest for almost four years.

2. WHAT ELSE DO YOU ENJOY DOING?

I enjoy continuous learning, and at the moment, I am focused on empathic communication.

I am taking a course to thoroughly understand the methodology of nonviolent communication. My goal is to become proficient in facilitating and managing groups using this approach, both professionally and personally.

3. HOW DO YOUR PERSONAL INTERESTS INFLUENCE YOUR PROFESSIONAL LIFE?

I believe that sports and communication are key to creating authentic relationships, fostering mutual growth, and developing genuine leadership. Engaging in sports allows me to be more in tune with my body, understand how it feels and reacts to external stimuli, and be more compassionate towards myself and others. It also helps me learn from my mistakes and work towards common goals.