Ming-Ming Tung-Edelman is the executive director of Seattle-based nonprofit, Refugee Artisan Initiative. Refugee Artisan Initiative partners with refugee and immigrant women through skill training and microbusiness development. Learn about Ming-Ming Tung-Edelman…
Hometown: Taiwan
First job: Driving a shuttle around the University of California San Diego campus as a student driver. UCSD trained me to get my commercial driver’s license. I had it for over 25 years in case I ever need to fall back on being a commercial driver.
Favorite ways to spend your free time in WA: Hiking as many mountains as I can.
Your biggest accomplishment and why: Started Refugee Artisan Initiative from scratch without any previous experience in nonprofit.
The biggest obstacle you overcame: Career switch from being a pharmacist for over 20 years to start and run my nonprofit full-time.
Someone who inspires you and why: My grandma “Ama” who was a single mom and able to put food on the table raising three kids by being a home-based seamstress sewing clothes for ladies in her neighborhood. Ama inspires me that if you give someone tools and skills, they can become self reliant. She is the reason I started the Refugee Artisan Initiative.
Advice to someone pursuing a career path in what you do: Have mentors who can advise and nurture you along the way. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Favorite quote: “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.”
Something someone would be surprised to learn about you: I used to live in Saudi Arabia as a teenager.
What makes someone fabulous: When they show care in an authentic way.