A Coffee with Mandy Quon, Dean of Students Office at the University of Alberta

Join us for a coffee and an insightful chat with Mandy Quon, Assistant Dean for the Faculty of Native Studies and the Dean of Students Office at the University of Alberta!

Mandy shares her truly unique upbringing, born in Edmonton on Father's Day and during "Bay Days," as part of the family behind The Lingnan, the city's beloved and oldest Chinese restaurant, now celebrating 78 years! She'll recount what it was like growing up "Quon" and working within the iconic restaurant.

Beyond the family business, Mandy's first official job was as a student page in a library. She then pursued her higher education at the University of Alberta, where she impressively completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in just 3.5 years, majoring in Sociology with a minor in East Asian Studies.

A few years ago, driven by a desire to do more, Mandy returned to academia to earn her Masters of Philanthropy and Not-For-Profit Leadership from Carleton University. With over a decade of experience in fundraising, she is currently making a significant impact in her dual roles at the University of Alberta.

Get ready to hear fascinating stories, including insights from her family's TV show, The Quon Dynasty. Mandy will also delve into important themes like the vital role of women in leadership, the power of empowering others, and the enduring importance of building strong relationships and family bonds.

Let us know your thoughts in the comments and leave us a review!

Follow the ABA on our social medias

Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abacoffeeintheparkpodcast/

ABA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/achesonbusiness/

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@achesonbusinessassociation

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/achesonbusiness

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/acheson-business-association/

Transcript

0:13

Well, good morning, everybody, and welcome to another edition of the ABA Coffee In The Park. My name is Cam Milliken, and I am here with my co-host extraordinaire, Jennifer Herrick, the Executive Director of the Acheson Business Association. Hello, Jennifer. Hello, Cam. How was your May long weekend? It was awesome. I was out at the farm. I bought flowers. I planted flowers. I did all that kind of stuff. Can I just say that it was a little chilly, though. Yesterday was so cold! I wore shorts on Saturday. And the hair on my legs was like standing straight up. It was like frozen. It was like unbelievable. I think my tomato plants froze a little bit. Do you think? But you know what my problem is? I'm the gardener that does not listen. I don't plant on the May long weekend. I do it before. It's my own fault. Well, I got my marigolds. Oh good! Yeah. Yeah. No. Yeah. I got I got I got orange and yellow marigolds and we planted them and I put them out. And last night I was laying in bed going, are they going to live? No, they will. They'll live? Yeah. They are hearty. Okay, that's all I need to know. I feel good now. But yeah, that was it. So yeah, yeah, it was a good long weekend. You know, it's like your typical May long weekend. One May long weekend. I would like to be like 30 degrees. Right? Has it ever been? Never in the history of mankind. It has never been 30 degrees on a May long. Now somebody's going to email and go, I remember back in 1947, it was like 34. And I'm not going to feel dumb, but I'm just saying. Recently it has not. No, it has. No. So what else? Anything new you need to tell us or talk about or? Well, we had a fabulous Women in Leadership event last week. You did. We did. Yeah. It was great. It was sold out. The energy in the room, the panelists were wonderful. Were they? It was such a great event. I wouldn't know because I wasn't allowed to be there. But anyway, yeah, that's great. Yeah. Good. Awesome. I'm glad. Me too. And it's exciting. And I know you had a great group of women. So we did. It's fantastic. So tell us a few things that we need to know. Well, first, I think you need to tell our listeners where we're coming from. This is what happens when you come off a long weekend. Yes, we are coming to you live from the Wall Coffee Roasters in the heart of beautiful downtown Acheson. That's right. So if you hear a little bit of noise in the background, some coffee-whirring machines, some children screaming. No, not really any children in here today. Well there are children but they're older. I don't think they'll scream. People talking, it's because we're live at the coffee shop. We are. And if you haven't been to the coffee shop, like we always say, you need to come to the Wall Coffee Roasters. You're trying a new tea today. African Nectar. It's delicious. African Nectar. Yes. Wow. I never had that. Highly recommend. Okay, highly recommend the African Nectar, but really the coffee. The coffee is what we recommend. Anyhow, tell us about some very important people. We would like to thank our gold corporate sponsors, which include the Myshak Group of Companies, Genics, Parkland County, and Bow Valley Credit Union. That's right. Without them, we would not be able to do what we do. So thank you very much for supporting us. We are coming up. What's the date today? The date today is May the 20th. Did you know that? No. Do you know what we're coming up to? I sure do. I'm so excited. We're coming up. I can't believe it. To our one year podcast anniversary. Do you believe it's almost been a year? That's like 52 episodes, maybe more, 53. Probably more. From like zero listeners. Zero. To now 8,000 listeners worldwide. I know. The other day, we got a listener in New York City. Incredible. New York and Vietnam and... It's everywhere. And Edmonton and everywhere. It's unbelievable. So wow. I'm excited about that. So hey, that's great. That's coming up. We'll talk more about that at another time. But today, I'm so excited about our guest. Oh, Cam, this guest today, we got to know this individual and she is fabulous. We know her mom and her dad. In fact, her mom was a podcast guest. That's right. So if you can guess who it is, we'll give you a free cup of coffee. Anyway, yeah. So anyway. Our guest today is Mandy Quon. Welcome, Mandy. Welcome, Mandy. So good to have you. Thank you so much, Cam and Jennifer. I'm loving it here. Coffee is really good. Thank you. You like coffee? Oh Yeah. Amazing It's good. It's smooth. It's fresh. Smooth. I like that. I'm drinking it black. Okay, yeah. I can really taste the aroma. You're a purist. That will make Michael happy. She's a coffee purist. Yeah, Michael gets a little... If you put like cream in it or something. No, I want to taste it black. He gets all worked up. Anyway, I put like buckets of cream in it, but that's just me. But anyway, so good to have you. Thank you. This is awesome. Thank you for taking time out today to do this. Because I know you're taking time off work and stuff. No worries. So I appreciate it. It's great. So let's kick it off. Let's kick it off. Mandy, tell us a little bit about where you were born and where you grew up. And this will come out with who the guest was on our podcast. But anyway, yeah. Where were you born? I'm born locally here, in Edmonton at the Royal Alex Hospital on Father's Day. No! Father's Day! On exactly Father's Day! How does that go? Yeah. What a gift for your dad. What a beautiful gift. It was also the Bay surprise. I think back then Bay had like surprise sales. Yes. Bay Days. Right. Bay Days. Yes. I was born on Bay Day at a surpise sale. So, okay. I don't want to go down that road. So like some family was off at Bay Day with the exception of your mom at the Royal Alex, getting deals while you're being born. No. Well, the story is that my mom was pushing me in the stroller. Oh, no. Not me. I guess someone else. Like my brother. Yeah. Not you. Miles, My older brother. And then she had to go to the hospital. She's at the Bay? Shopping at the Bay. She's shopping for Bay Day. Shopping at Bay Day. Probably Kingsway Mall. Yeah. And then had to go to the Royal Alex. Come on. But because the restaurant was very busy, my dad never came to watch me get born or watch the delivery. Because he was at the restaurant. He was at the restaurant. Yeah. Unbelievable. So that's why my mom tells me clearly. You're a Bay Day baby. I'm a Bay Day baby and Father's Day because my dad couldn't come. Right. Wow. What a story. That's incredible. I know. So what high school did you go to? I went to Archbishop MscDonald's. Come on. Yes. What was your high school mascot? Do you remember? I wasn't athletic. Maybe a bear. What's that? A bear. No, a titan. A who? I don't know. A titan? I don't know. Do you know? I went to Ross Shep. Oh, I know your mascot. Yeah, we were the Thunderbirds. So yeah. Okay. All right. So obviously you didn't care about your mascot. Didn't care. Yeah. Awesome. Okay. Cool. So. So, Mandy, tell us a little bit about growing up because your parents were both in the restaurant industry. Tell us a little bit about your family and growing up Quon. You're a restaurant... Growing up Quon. Growing up Quon, you kind of grow up alone. Your parents are always working. Yeah.

So because my dad's schedule at the restaurant started at 3: 7:09

30 p.m. to about 10 p.m. Right. After school, we wouldn't see him. Okay. I think we should just right here, tell everybody what restaurant it is. Because people are like, wow, is it McDonald's? Is it Burger King? No, it's The Lingnan. The oldest Chinese restaurant in the city of Edmonton. Yes. We are celebrating how many years, Cam? You know this better than I do. I was at the 75th. So 78 now? Yeah. 78, I think. 78 years. 78 years. 78 years, and folks, I'm just going to stop her here, of the best Chinese food in the whole city. It's amazing. Unbelievable. It's the best. I've been there, like, for, like, literally probably like for, for like 55 years of my life. I've been going to Lingnan. Then when I moved away, every time I came back to the city, first place I went, Lingnan. Okay. So your parents own the Lingnan. You grew up in the Lingnan. Yes, absolutely. In the back of the Lingnan. In the back. Because we're not allowed to be in the front. No. Of the Lingnan. So really you had to hang out in the back. It was very, back in the day it was very strict. My father was very strict, and not in terms of like just the way the restaurant was ran. Right. And back in the day only men were allowed to serve and host in the front. How many siblings do you have? I have two other brothers. I'm the middle child. You're the middle child. Okay. I have an older brother and a younger brother. Right. And we're all exactly 18 months apart. Oh, really? Yeah, my mom did it fast. Good timing. Yeah, good planning. Yeah. So you all three of you hung out in the back. Oh, not all three of us. So I was the first one to get a job at the Lingnan. Really? Peeling pea pods. Peeling pea pods? Answering phones. Really? So about 12 or 13 years old, we were answering phones already. Wow. In the back. Is that right? So you spent all your time school and the Lingnan? Kind of. I think after school, I remember walking home, minus 30. Yeah. We would walk home. Sometimes my mom would have something or we would make Kraft dinner or instant noodles. But I remember there were times where I haven't seen my dad for like four nights. Is that right? Because he would work at 3.30 and come home at 10. So that's like the time we're home. Yeah. Wow. And how was that? What was that like growing up in the restaurant? It was kind of crazy. Yeah. But I think it taught us a lot of independence. How to not get beat up by your brothers. Okay. My brothers were huge wrestling fans. Were they? Yeah. And did you have to wrestle with them? No. I was the person they would try moves on. Oh. When The Rock would do a new move, like they would try on me. Really? Yeah. Like Hulk Hogan had a move, they would try it on me. Okay. So I'm not going to say you were an abused child, but did you fight back? Well, I would just call my mom sometimes. I would call my mom. I love it. I would call my mom. I mean, they were physically stronger than me. Yeah. But I was stronger in every other way. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Wow. I was smarter, for sure. Well, that's a given, I think. Yeah, for sure. Yeah, for sure. Okay. So. So after you graduated high school, what did you do? Where did you go? After I graduated high school, we all went to university, but we actually started working very young. Like my first job was 13 years old at The Lingnan. Yeah. And then by 15, I think grade 10, I got my first real job at the library. I was a student page. Are you kidding? I was a page too at Woodcroft, well, Westmount, at Westmount library, Woodcroft library. I was a page in high school. I was a page in high school. Were you really? The rate was $5.95. That's right. Maybe you were at $3 if I was at five. I was probably at $2. I was like when you just did it for free. No, I didn't do it for free. It was volunterring. But I did learn the Dewey Decimal System. I do too. I was a very good student page. I cleaned the books really well. I ran the summer reading program. Oh, I'm glad I didn't work with you. You'd have just shown me up. Like I'm going to confess right here today. There were times I would just put the books wherever. Because I was just, I know, I was just, I know. I was just, anyway. Librarians everywhere are just gasping in horror. I know, cringing right now. The old older lady, well, they're probably passed on that I worked with. But yeah, sometimes I just did. Yeah, it was a great job. It was a good job, wasn't it? Yeah I loved it! Yeah, it was fun. It was fun. I liked it, yeah. Okay, so you were a page in the library. Page in the library, I think it was like 10 to 12 hours a week. Yeah. And then I would still work at The Lingnan on the weekends to answer phones. So sometimes on a Saturday, it would be a double shift. Right. Work library from, you know, remember 10 to 6, or 10 to 4, and then I would get a ride or drive. I drove really early, to a drive probably to The Lingnan to answer phones. Really? Yeah. Wow. How is that growing up? You worked a lot. Did you have a lot of friends? Did you have a big social life? I had enough friends. I wouldn't say I had a huge social life. Obviously, you heard earlier I was not part of any sports team. Right. Probably because I didn't have time. Yeah. Well, yeah. I was going to say, how would you have time to do any of that? Yeah. That's incredible. Okay. So you worked at the library. Yeah. And then what? Then I had a bunch of other smaller jobs in between. Okay. While going through university. U of A? Yes. So you went to U of A. What were you taking? I was taking Chinese history combined with sociology. Really? Yeah. That's interesting. Yeah. East Asian. It was an East Asian minor and a sociology major. Incredible. Yeah. Okay. And I did it in three and a half years. Wow. So you are the smarter child. No. I was just, I don't know why. I mean, this would, this is not the advice I would give to my younger self, but I took every single spring and summer starting in high school. So if you start in high school and then you start in the summer, then you're actually done in three and a half years. Okay. Okay. But for what? No reason. Yeah. Just to get through. Just to say you graduated. Yeah. So you graduated with a... A Bachelor of Arts. A Bachelor of Arts with a minor in Sociology and Asian Studies. Yes. Okay. Exactly. And what were you going to do with that? Not sure. You weren't sure? I was going to do nothing actually. It was really unclear. What were you doing? Obviously a person of direction. Yeah. Were you going to like work in the restaurant? Use your Asian Studies at the Lingnan? Or how are you going to... So my parents, I know a lot of people think, you know, Asian parents are Tiger parents, you know, they want their kids typically to be lawyers, doctors, surgeons, specialists, accountants and pharmacists for their daughters. Right. But my parents weren't like that. My parents were really like, do what makes you happy. Yeah. You know, they were strict in a lot of ways and put it together really good values like kind, be kind, be generous, be honest, work hard. But they never actually said to be successful, you have to have a certain degree or designation. So they just let you do whatever you wanted. Okay. So you graduated from U of A, did whatever you want, now what? And then a couple years ago, I actually went back to school. Really? And I finished the Masters of Philanthropy and Not-For-Profit Leadership from Carleton University. From Carleton? Yes. I decided to go back to school in my 40s, because I thought the first time around, I didn't try hard enough. So I thought I would try again. Somebody who finishes school in three and a half years, I think you tried pretty hard. Yeah, no, yeah, no, yeah. Should have done it in two years. Yeah. Wow. So you went to Carleton and you got a degree in Philanthropy. Yes. Why? So great. Well, so at the same time, my current position, I'm the Assistant Dean for the Faculty of Native Studies and the Dean of Students Office, which is a fundraising role. Okay. So I've been fundraising for about 10 years and I want to just do more. Yeah. And understanding Philanthropy and how the not-for-profit world works is a big part of it. Sure. So that's interesting because both Jennifer and I, we come out of the non-profit world. We do. That's where we came from. And sort of what was your, like- Your why. Yeah, your why. What was your driving force behind- Because we know fundraising is not an easy job. Yeah. People think it's not an easy job. Well, I kind of just, I think like most people, they fall into it. Yeah. They don't know and I didn't know. And so I was hired at the university to be responsible for their key accounts for corporations. Right. And for my previous role, I worked at Fairmont Hotels and Resorts for a long time. Okay. For about 10 years. Yeah. And my role there was Key Account Holder Director for accounts as well. Right. So skills were transferable. Right. But this time, it came with an ask for funding. Right. And slowly, I honed in on my skill set. And now I can say after 10 years, I really enjoy it. Yeah. But it took a long time. Sure. Yeah. The first few years was really, really a grind. Yeah. There is an art and a skill to it. There sure is. Yeah. And then you just have to get used to it. But I think most importantly, for people in the fundraising world is, instead of chasing the goal or the number or dollar signs, you continue to chase your activity every day. Right. Which is, you know, reaching out to people, talking about your cause, being kind and being genuine, and getting to know the other person and where they lie and where their values are. Exactly. Yeah. 100%. It's all about relationships. We know that. It's all about relationships. So yeah. Wow. That's incredible. That's really amazing. Now, I creeped you a little bit, so I'm just going to be straight up on Facebook and Instagram. I dont have Facebook. Well, I was creeping you somewhere. Oh, I just Googled you. Oh, okay. I have a Wikipedia page. I saw. It's crazy. And I also saw that you were featured in some magazines. Front page. What? Yeah. Okay. Tell us about that. Yeah. So the Edify magazine now, a dozen years ago, used to be Avenue magazine. Yes, it did. So I was featured on there. And actually a couple months ago, my mom was featured. Yeah, she was. So I said to my mom all the time, you're also on the cover, but 12 years after me. That's right. You came first. I came first for the first time. Yeah. So were you one of the top 40 under 40? No, it was actually for a TV show that our family did. So The Quon Dynasty, and I think it was something like reality TV show East Meets West. Okay, let's talk about that. Because you don't meet many people who have been on a reality TV show. And your family was, Quon Dynasty, is that correct? Tell us about that. What was it like having a camera? In your face all the time? You know, I have to say that reality TV show is actually real. Like it's really reality? It's really reality. We don't get scripted. We just kind of do what we want. We do have a plan, because they just can't film for nothing. But the plan is that they discuss together. And they say, hey, what are you doing this May long weekend, for example? And you tell them. And they're like, okay, well, can we come with you? And how was that? You know, it was a really, really fantastic opportunity. Yeah, because as you heard earlier, we didn't spend a lot of time together as a family. Sure. But now with the TV show, we had to spend time together. Yeah. Yes. But it was so I really enjoyed the time spent together with the family. Well, that's good. Yeah. I thought that was really good. What I love seeing is my dad's personality shifted a bit. He came out of his shell. Yeah. I mean, Cam, I know you know him well. Yeah. Yeah. He's quite quiet now. But he was even more quiet before the TV show. Is that right, wow. Yeah. Well, that's good. That's amazing. Well, I want to because I just want to go back to it a little bit because I think I think your education and what you're doing. Do you view yourself as a woman in a leadership role? Like, do you see yourself as a mentor to other women? Do you see yourself as somebody who leads other women and encourages other women to pursue their dreams? Because you've obviously pursued some of your dreams. You know, I probably wouldn't use the word leadership. Right. Because I think leadership gives a more of a hierarchical like position, but there's a lot of young females I'm learning a lot from as well. Right. So what I think I like to use the term is, how are we using our privilege today in our network and what we know to help others? Right. More of a helping hand. Yeah. Yeah. That's amazing. It is amazing. What have been the toughest parts of being a woman in, I guess, leadership? Let's just use that word. What have been some of the toughest avenues of that? Toughest avenues, I think, for being in a woman leadership role is sometimes being younger, you're not taken as seriously. Right. Yeah. And I think that, you know, as younger women, they're just a little bit unsure where or where they fit in. I remember going to my first golf tournament and I didn't even show up with the right clubs. And I was paired up with a law firm of lawyers, white male lawyers who were buddies with each other. And I just didn't know how to fit in. But then you finally read the room a little bit and you finally try to fit in. And you know, you engage in conversation. And I think the longer you do these sort of uncomfortable things in your life, it gets a lot easier. Yeah, for sure. Do you still golf? I pretend to golf. You should go. You want to come to our golf tournament? I got a spot. You want to come? I'm putting you on the spot. On our podcast. I can only come if my ball doesn't count. Oh, no, no, no, no. Your ball doesn't count at all. Okay, I'm putting you on our team. I'll give you the date. We'll figure it out. Yeah, no, I think that'd be great to have you there. I think it'd be great for you to represent the university. So I have another question. So Mandy, tell us about what it's like because you are working for the Indigenous faculty, but you're not Indigenous. Tell us about that. So I love, so I'm still the Assistant Dean for the Faculty of Native Studies. I've been there for five years. And I absolutely love my job. What is it like? I think a lot of the values that we grew up with being Chinese is the same, you know, in a cultural setting, like the reciprocation, respecting our elders and just being kind and knowing each other deeply. Right. You know, when we say we know each other or build relationships, we don't mean just go for coffee and all of a sudden, yeah, all of a sudden you have one coffee, you can ask for a bunch of things. Right. Not in our culture and not obviously not in the First Nations, like Metis, Inuit culture. It is, you know, being there to really support people and listen to their stories. Yeah. I think that's phenomenal. I do too. Yeah, I think that's really cool because people, and I know people a lot of times when they think of philanthropy or raising money, they think it's easy to just phone up people and ask for, you know, can you help us? Do you want to help us? Little do people realize in the philanthropy world there are, I don't even want to put a number to it, but so many people asking for money. Yes. And you're not, I don't know if competing is the right word, but a lot of them, yeah, kind of, just ask for money and they're gone. But I love what you're saying about building relationships. It's all about building relationships, but also build it in a way where that person really resonates. Just because you have a hundred cups of coffee with that person, you take them out to events or dinners, it doesn't mean that person will give you the money. So one of the key aspects, I've been doing this, is I only hang out with donors or cultivate the relationship. We like to call it, if I like the person. Okay. If I don't like the person, it doesn't matter if this person has a billion of dollars. If it is, it would just end up being a transaction. And I don't want a transaction. I want a relationship. So I don't chase the dollars. I only chase if I like that person, because if the money doesn't come in, at least I'm having a great time. Yeah, I love it. And you're always learning from each other. I think that's great. I wish I would have known that sometimes, because I hung out with a few people I didn't like. Especially early on. Yeah, early on, because you just think I need the dollars type of thing. And at the end of the day, you didn't walk away with anything or walk away. Or if you did, there was always. Or it's one time and it's never coming back. Or megastrings attached, which that I didn't like at all. Megastrings attached, that will cost the organization work, and they want everything for their amount of donation, which is not a donation anymore. No, it's not. Yeah, I can, one thing I love about you and that I see in you is you take after your mom. And I believe your mom has that same philosophy. And we've had your mom on the podcast. She just believes in building relationships. Yes, absolutely. She does. Yeah, The Lingnan, in my opinion, and you can tell me if I'm wrong, but I think a big part of its success is she just, she builds relationships with people. And you followed in those footsteps in your career, but also I believe as a person. Yes. So I think that's pretty incredible. My mom always taught us really early on is to build that relationship first and to give more and never expect. Yeah. And things, good things will come back to you in other ways. So same with my, same with the fundraising role. You know, you can call and call, meet and meet and it may not be that person. But one day you'll get a call and someone wants to donate that you've never met. Yeah. So I feel that activity, you do so much activity, eventually it comes, it rewards you in different ways. Right. It's cool. So tell us a little bit about your own family because you're married, you have children. Well, yeah, I love to chat. They are so cute. I love to chat about my family. Yeah. So very interesting. I was actually divorced. So my new little family is very new. Right. And I, Victoria and Lincoln, they're not my biological kids. Ah, okay. Yeah. Something that I don't think a lot of people know. Yeah. So I was divorced probably seven years ago, let's say. Yeah. And my husband at that time was very, actually a good, he's still a very good person. He's a good guy. Yeah. And I remember going back home, telling my parents that I was getting a divorce. I was so scared because they always said he was a great guy. They loved him like a son. Yeah. That best man ever. Right. And I remember walking to my mom's house on a Saturday morning and I was scared to tell her because of what she would think. Right. And I think in our Chinese community, we're still more traditional. Right. And there's still some shame with getting a divorce. Yeah. So I walked in there and told them flat out, I moved out for five days, now I'm getting a divorce. Right. And my dad was very special. My dad says, you know what? He didn't, he doesn't say much. He's like, I'm really proud of you. I'm like, oh, proud of a divorce? He's like, no, I'm proud that I've raised a daughter that can walk away when she knows it's not right for her. I love it. Yeah. That's, that's incredible. So then it shifted, my mom, because I know my mom's a bit more traditional. Yeah, yeah, yeah. My mom shifted and says, you know what, Mandy? I have a jewel full, I have a crown full of jewels and I'll give you my entire crown. You do what you want in your life. Wow. And I was like shocked. Yeah. Because I thought I would have to justify myself. Yeah. Of why? I wanted a divorce. Wow. But they didn't ask me to justify. Unconditional love. Amazing. Yeah, I love it. And during the divorce, the process is never clean. Yeah, never easy. And when I would complain to my parents, my dad would be like, well, tell me what it is. I'll solve it. If it's money, we'll get rid of it with money. What do you need to get rid of this person that's causing you stress? Oh, Kinman, I just love him. The guy is the best. So I think for me, I didn't realize this until way early on in my late 30s. Wow, my parents are really quite, what does that word, quite progressive in their thinking and not as old fashioned as I thought. Right. Well, I mean, I think they are progressive from a business perspective for sure. I think they're very, but to hear this, it gives me not only a deeper respect for you, but also for them as well. And you know I love them and I think they're amazing. Wow. And you know, I think as a child, and I think we can both attest to this as can you, you never want to disappoint your parents. Yeah, you don't. Yeah. That's always the fear. You're going to walk in and tell them something and you're going to disappoint them. It's not even anger. It's that disappointment. And what a beautiful response from your parents. Could have gone the other way and it didn't. I was really worried. Yeah.'Cause we spent a lot of money on this wedding. Yeah. I know, eh? It's like, I don't know. So I married East Indian and we had a four day, 600 people wedding that my parents and my ex's parents paid for. Yeah. So very kind family, very generous. And I just felt horribly ashamed that this was happening. Right. And fast forward, you know, that's gone. Yeah. And then I reacquainted with my current partner, Andy, and we dated back in high school. Oh, high school sweethearts. Come on now. He had, he has two little kids, and at that point, very little, like maybe two and four, two and three, really small. Yeah. And again, I was worried, like now I'm getting myself into another relationship with, with little kids. Insta mom. And, you know, my mom's old fashioned again. And my mom probably thinks like, you know, Cinderella, Snow White, like in her brain, like evil stepmother. Yes. And you know what? My mom and my dad are so welcoming to Andy and his kids that we're like one big happy family. Well, you, I've watched you. So, so I've, I've, I've observed you at the restaurant when you're there with your family. And first of all, I'm going to say this. You are an amazing mom. Thank you. And your kids are amazing. They come over to the table and they, they are smarter than all, they're smarter than me. This is what, they're, they're brilliant. They're just, your daughters are brilliant. And, but I've also watched your mom. And the best part is, is when you walk away to go wherever, what you're going to do and they're there, I've watched your mom like reach into her pocket and pull out money and just like, like peel off bills to them. And then she comes over to our table and says, don't tell anybody. So, oops, I guess I told what I wasn't supposed to, but I just say she's the greatest. My mom gives all the kids $20 every time she sees them, every single time. Wow. And then $50 if it's a special occasion. Can you adopt us? We'd like to be adopted. And then the other day, she showed up at the house and she gave us each $100. And I said, for what? She's like, long weekend, long weekend. And here's the thing, with your mom, I know it's not about the money. It isn't. It's about the love and it's about the giving. And the generosity. Yeah, and it's so awesome to watch. And it's awesome to watch you as a family. And now that you've told us this, your story, part of which we didn't know, I'm in awe of you. I really am. I think you're amazing. And we're almost out of time, but we have one more question. Mandy, what is the best piece of advice you've been given, either personally or professionally that you carry with you to this day? The best piece of advice is to always be kind and transparent and not be someone that you're unable to follow through with. Right. And keep that. I know a lot of people say, you know, be authentic, but I think even more so being authentic as the way you feel outward, but being true to what really speaks to you. Yeah. Because it doesn't last long if you're trying to be someone that you're not. Yeah. True. And that's everything. I think for women, looks is one thing. Trying to keep up with fashion, trying to, you know, chase a dream. Yeah. Which you should continue to chase, but only chase it if it truly makes you happy and not for anyone else. Yeah. Amazing. She's just... I could sit here and talk to her for hours. We could go on for another hour for sure. I know we could. And again, Mandy, you're successful. You're brilliant. I just love listening to you. I love when we're together because you're just so full of life and wonderful. I love your family. And now that I know a little bit more of the story, we know a little bit more of the story. I just have to say, for me, I'm just so happy you're in my life. I just think it's awesome. Yeah. This has been great. Like new friends, old friends, long lasting friendships right here. That's it. Thank you. Thank you so much. We appreciate it. Thanks so much. Thank you. And both of them. Absolutely. And wonderful people, wonderful people. And Mandy is just an amazing person. And I think she's just incredible in life, in academics, in leadership, all of those things. I'm already thinking my women leadership panel next year. Thinking for next year. Yeah. Yeah. So yeah, that was really great. Well, thanks everybody for listening. We really appreciate it. And hey, make sure that you tell people about the podcast. Tell your friends, tell your neighbors, tell your co-workers. If you don't have any friends, make one. You can even tell your enemies about our podcast. And subscribe. Subscribe, subscribe, subscribe. And you won't miss an episode. Absolutely. So thanks everybody. Thanks everyone. See you next week. See you next time.