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Here’s the story behind a multi-Emmy-winning journalist whose roots run deep in the San Gabriel Valley. Raised by a family that fled Vietnam, she grew up in local neighborhoods, went to San Gabriel High, and learned early how community shapes character. Those SGV years—family hustle, public schools, and a love for Dodgers and Lakers seasons—set the tone for a life built on curiosity, resilience, and service.

Her career started the old-school way: entry-level newsroom roles, odd hours, and saying yes to every assignment. From California to a pit stop in Texas and eventually New York, she worked in some of the country’s top markets—writing, producing, and learning the daily news grind while chasing long-form investigations. Along the way, she developed a reporter’s instinct for people stories and a producer’s discipline for facts, timelines, and accountability.

That path led to national leadership, guiding a consumer/business/technology team that turns complex topics into clear, useful coverage. The through-line is personal: growing up SGV taught her to translate big systems into everyday impact—how inflation hits families, how scams target the vulnerable, how tech and privacy shape real life. Service journalism isn’t a buzzword here; it’s a mission.

This episode traces the journey from SGV kid to national newsroom leader—the early jobs that opened doors, the mentors who mattered, the pivots that stuck, and the values that never changed. Watch to learn how local roots can power a national career, and drop a comment with a San Gabriel Valley memory or the consumer/tech question you want answered next. Keywords: San Gabriel Valley, SGV, immigrant family, AAPI, journalism career path, newsroom producer, consumer news, tech news, CBS News, service journalism, UC San Diego, Los Angeles.

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Music Credits
Intro
Euphoria in the San Gabriel Valley, Yone OG
Stinger
Scarlet Fire (Sting), Otis McDonald, YouTube Audio Library
Outro
Euphoria in the San Gabriel Valley, Yone OG

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My SGV Podcast:
Website: www.mysgv.net
Newsletter: Beyond the Mic
Patreon: MySGV Podcast
[email protected]