Meet Mary Tan

We were lucky to catch up with Mary Tan recently and have shared our conversation below.

Mary , so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?

As an Asian American growing up in Northern Wisconsin, there were very few people who looked like me. My family were immigrants from Indonesia but had always desired to live and work in the United States in the 1960’s. Since they were children, my parents had studied everything about life and culture in the US. They both learned English as well as many other languages, so once they completed their education they were ready to make the move.

My dad landed a job as a college professor at Northland College in Ashland, Wisconsin. My mother got a job in finance first at the college and then at a local bank. My parents were very aware of American cultural values so they worked hard at assimilating into our small town. My sister and I did all things American children did, and they were cognizant of everything from the way we dressed to the way people kept up their lawns. My mother, who had a thick Indonesian accent, was active in our small town of 9,000 people and was active in our church and school board. Our town was and still is predominately Caucasian, but that didn’t stop people from accepting and welcoming my family to the area. People often asked me if I faced racism growing up, I would say I didn’t feel any racism until I went to college in a much larger city. Still, I never harbored any resentment because I grew up in an all white community where my friends and neighbors were wonderful. I dismissed my incidents as limited to those individual people.

Coming from an immigrant family, I think it is critical to be able to adapt to whatever culture you live in. It is a necessity that you learn the language and assimilate. When you travel to other countries, Americans are expected to adapt to whatever country they are in. When I went to the Middle East I went to a mosque, I had to wear a head scarf in respect of their culture, but I also did not have a choice. In the United States, people are more tolerant about others who hail from another country or culture. When talking to new immigrants, I tell them it is imperative you understand American values and culture for your success. Don’t just stay in your cultural or ethnic circles.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

As an animal advocate who works to stop pet overpopulation, I wanted to marry my career with my passions. I love animals and I love strategic communications where I can help shape public policy and reputations when it comes to nonprofits and for profit pet companies. I love helping manage reputations while helping animals so the creation of my company, Whisker Media, is a dream come true.

I had many people tell me that I was too “niched” and that it would not be wise to focus solely on pets. Since I started my business I have been working at capacity and have had to turn clients away. The pet industry is growing, and is growing fast! I believe you can do whatever you want if you do it strategically and are aware of your strengths and weaknesses.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

The three personality traits that I think have really helped my business are:

Knowing what my strengths and weaknesses are: I now know when I need outsource or delegate when it comes to things I am not good at.

Grit: I never give up on my dreams. Whatever you dream of, you can do, provided you have the discipline and skills to accomplish your dream.

Healthy Competitiveness: I want my business to be the best it can be. I want to give my clients the best return on investment and deliver more than my competitors would deliver.

My advice to those starting out is to never give up and listen more than you speak.

Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?

I have two small business owner mentors who are extremely experienced and have always helped guide me through running a business. I go to them when I have issues I don’t know how to resolve. Everyone needs a mentor to succeed and that mentor should be able to be honest with you when you screw things up! And trust me, we all screw things up!

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