In this episode, we sit down with Quang X. Pham — a Vietnamese American leader whose life story reveals stories of resilience, service, and reinvention. Born in Saigon and arriving in the United States as a refugee at just ten years old, Quang’s early years were shaped by language barriers, new cultures, and the emotional burden of a father left behind in post-war Vietnam.

From there, he charted an extraordinary path: earning an economics degree from UCLA, answering the call to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps, and becoming the first Vietnamese American Marine Corps aviator, flying CH-46 helicopters in the Gulf War and Somalia.

After military service, Quang didn’t slow down, he entered into the business world, becoming a pharmaceutical sales leader before founding multiple companies. As an entrepreneur he raised millions, launched and sold successful ventures, and eventually founded Cadrenal Therapeutics, a Nasdaq-listed biotech company developing life-changing therapies. Along the way he became the first American of Vietnamese heritage to lead a biotech IPO on Nasdaq and earned prestigious recognition such as the BioFlorida Executive of the Year Award.

His philosophy on duty, effort, and resilience, themes he explores deeply in his books, including his memoir A Sense of Duty and his latest leadership guide Underdog Nation.

This episode is a textured look at how one man’s journey bridges cultures, battles, boardrooms, and breakthroughs. Whether you’re chasing dreams or redefining them, this is a story that will stay with you.

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Many of you still have the chance to record and preserve the legacies of your own families. I’ve sat with families now for interview sessions to record the rich histories of parents and explore the lives of the generations that preceded them. Don’t let your family stories go untold! Take a moment to reach out and together we will bring out your family’s story on a recorded journey. - Kenneth Nguyen

Visit https://www.vietnamstorybank.com/ today for more information!