Today we’d like to introduce you to Lia Bai.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Lia. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My love for my miracle daughter Janet inspired my dream to become a professional speaker. At the peak of my career in corporate America in 2008, I had a working mother’s impossible dream when Janet was a toddler: “Be home for her at 3:00 pm when she starts elementary school.”
How? I thought naively that if I became a rich famous professional speaker, I would earn the flexibility to stay home with my girl. Little did I know, speaking professionally would be the most challenging, lonely, and rewarding journey.
Ten plus years flew by, Janet is now 14. She is a happy and smart teenager. Though I’m not a rich famous speaker, I have fulfilled a past due dream: “I’m home for Janet at 3:00 pm when she returns from middle school.” I enjoy traveling with her for her volleyball tournaments and growing with her.
As an expert at Leadership Communication and Diversity, I speak to women, professionals, business leaders, and entrepreneurs in the U.S. and China. Most recently, I self-published my first book “LAMPS: Communication Strategies for Global Leaders.” Both paperback and ebook are available on amazon.com. The audiobook will be completed this fall. As the author, I will read the book as a voice-over artist. This is a very exciting and challenging project!
At this stage of my life, speaking is no longer a profession to make a living but a mission to make a difference in the world. As a woman, wife, mother, and speaker, I’m living the dream of my life.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The road to success is always bumpy. There are many struggles during my journey of speaking professionally in the past ten plus years. One of the challenges I have to overcome is my accent.
I came to the U.S. as a foreign student who spoke broken English. It has taken me more than twenty years to love my accent by accepting who I am with my uniqueness and imperfections.
I grew up in Chengdu, the capital city of Sichuan Province in southern China. I naturally had a strong accent when I spoke English during my early years in the United States. My speaking voice was choppy and unnatural. I dropped consonants, missed long vowels, and failed to link the words properly. My audience had a hard time comprehending what I was saying because of my accent.
As a speaker, I lost my self-confidence because of my accent. More than once I wanted to abandon my dream to become a professional speaker, a road less traveled for a 1st generation immigrant who spoke English as a 2nd language. Through trial and error, I kept going because I believe it was my calling to find my voice so that I can help others to find their voice.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I’m a communication strategist, keynote speaker, and author. I have a passion for working with non-native English speaking professionals, leaders, and executives. I ignite effective communication in cultural diversity and helps my clients improve productivity, diversity, and profitability.
As the founder and coach of Speech Fun, a yearlong public speaking workshop for children, I build communication competence for tomorrow’s leaders.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I consider myself a lucky person. Though I have experienced many obstacles in my life and career, I was lucky to make lemons into lemonade. I believe that I do the best and God will do the rest.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.liabaispeaks.com
- Phone: 469-795-1518
- Email: liabai@liabaispeaks.com
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/Liabaispeaks
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