How Identity Has Influenced a CEO at Ivy Flip's Career
Charles's experiences growing up in predominantly white neighborhoods in Pennsylvania instilled a feeling of "not fitting into the prevailing culture," but a trip to Cambodia at age 23 dramatically shifted their perspective. Seeing widespread poverty firsthand, Charles realized the immense privilege of being an American and focused on seizing opportunities, concluding that "the opportunity is different," but abundant for those willing to work hard.
Executive/Leadership, Overcoming Challenges, Motivational Stories, Global Perspective, Resilience
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Charles Chy
CEO
Ivy Flip
University of Pittsburgh
n/a
Philosophy
Technology
Business Strategy
Pell Grant Recipient, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Charles' experience with bullying as an Asian-American male in predominantly white environments, and how he overcame these challenges.
2. His perspective on opportunity in America, shaped by his travels and experiences in developing countries, highlighting that the concept of the 'American Dream' may need to be redefined.
3. His advice on making a good life for oneself and one's family, emphasizing the importance of self-application, ingenuity, and charisma, particularly for immigrants, but also relevant to anyone seeking success in America
Transcript
As an Asian-American male, how has that impacted the way you navigate your career?
When I was growing up in Pennsylvania, I mostly lived in white neighborhoods. If I looked around my classroom, there was no one who looked like me. As a result, I was subjected to some bullying, but it wasn't anything too bad.
I don't think that's unique to America; kids are kids wherever you go, and you'll likely encounter similar situations. It just felt amplified, not fitting into the prevailing culture. I carried some baggage about that until my early twenties, when I started traveling.
My dad is a refugee from Cambodia. When I was 23, I had the chance to visit Cambodia with him for the first time. We were there for a month. I remember landing in Phnom Penh, and they announced our arrival. I looked out the window and asked, "Where?"
We were exiting onto a dirt tarmac. Then, we got into a van and started driving into the city. The van stopped, and they said, "We're here." I asked, "Where? Where is the city? Where is the capitol?" This was around 2015.
There was very little development. There were literal huts in the dirt. I saw children around five years old who weren't in school, who were malnourished, begging for food and money. That has always stuck with me.
Since then, I've traveled to a new country every year and have spent about two years living abroad, including during the pandemic. I've been through various parts of Central and South America. This is why I believe that in America, it's not that there isn't opportunity, but rather that the opportunity is different.
The idea of the American dream with a white picket fence doesn't really exist anymore. But ask any immigrant who comes to this country about opportunity, and they'll tell you they see it everywhere. Relative to where they come from, there is opportunity here.
If you come here, apply yourself, and have some wit, ingenuity, and charisma, you can build a good life for yourself and your family. Given that perspective, I stopped feeling sorry for myself or saying I had it rough in America because I didn't fit in. Ultimately, I realized none of that mattered. As an American, especially one fortunate enough to attend college globally, you are part of the top 1% of privilege.