International Women’s Day
- Aug 1
- 2 min read
On International Women’s Day,
I find myself reflecting on a turning point in my life.
When I was 21, I was going through a period filled with questions about my future and my purpose.
In search of answers, I made a bold decision to step away from my comfortable life, my job, friends, and daily routine, and went to work at a healing therapy center deep in the mountains.
The organization was run by a team that included psychologists, healthcare professionals, and program leaders. I joined as a secretary and designer, and for two years I lived there, somewhat removed from the outside world. I worked on my inner growth.
Each week, about 50 participants came to the center seeking healing. Through records and conversations, and sometimes by participating in the programs myself, I listened to their stories.
People came with many kinds of struggles such as experiences of sexual violence, disabilities, family conflicts, domestic abuse, loss of motivation, and many other personal hardships. Observing and learning from these experiences gave me a much deeper understanding of people and life.
Two leaders there deeply influenced me, the CEO and a female director who became a lasting source of inspiration.
Even though it was a therapy organization, they had remarkable knowledge and experience across many fields such as business, technology, architecture, music, design, accounting, food, landscaping, and art. Their curiosity and broad thinking shaped how they built and led the organization.
During that time, I grew tremendously. I learned about food therapy, art therapy, and dance therapy, and etc. how to present food as an art form and intention, how to communicate with people more thoughtfully, and how to see nature and the environment from a new perspective.
Whenever I needed to report something to the CEO, I first had to pass through his personal library before entering his study on the top floor of the building. Books surrounded the path to every conversation.
I remember visiting the female director’s home as well. Her living room was filled wall to wall with books and felt like a library. She read constantly and applied what she learned directly to her work.
One piece of advice she shared with me has stayed with me ever since.
“If you want to assign work to others, you need to understand it yourself. Without knowledge, how can you guide anyone?”
On this International Women’s Day, I am especially reminded of her and the impact she had on my life.
I am deeply grateful to the woman who helped me grow and expand my perspective on the world. Her warmth and kindness left a lasting impression on me. Her wisdom was inspired by the CEO, and reflecting now, I realize how profoundly she influenced me.
Linkedin Post Date: March 8, 2026