We recently had the chance to connect with Leanna Truong and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Leanna, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
I start my day with Seed Synbiotic pills and a cup of mushroom coffee while stretching at home and listening to The Morning Brew Daily and WSJ Money Briefing to catch up on news and finance. If I’m skipping coffee, it’s usually pre-workout before a lift. I like waking up early to have that personal time before diving into work.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Leanna — a digital strategist who’s worked across agency, brand, and as a creator myself. I basically live and breathe social — helping brands and creators connect in ways that actually feel human and relevant. I’m big on storytelling that blends culture, strategy, and a bit of hustle. Right now, I’m focused on helping brands build smarter creator strategies and standout moments that spark conversation.
What makes my work unique is how I’ve blended my skills into different lanes — from running a side hustle creating UGC content with my husband (who’s a photographer) to using my certified travel advisor background to find and book unique destinations, while earning commission on my own trips. Creating content, meeting people, and saying yes to new experiences keep me inspired — you never know who you’ll meet or what the next adventure will be.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who taught you the most about work?
Without a doubt, my mom — and my grandma. They’re the definition of hard-working women who never let circumstances define them. Both came from Vietnam, where life wasn’t about chasing big dreams at first — it was about survival, building stability, and doing whatever it took to create something better for your family. Watching them work with that kind of purpose and grit shaped how I approach everything.
My mom is the reason I have such a strong sense of drive. She’s a hustler in every sense of the word — not just in career, but in life. I grew up seeing her make things happen from nothing, whether it was figuring out how to stretch a dollar, juggle multiple responsibilities, or take care of everyone around her while still chasing her own goals. She never complained. She just did. That energy — that quiet determination — stuck with me. It’s what taught me that success doesn’t come from luck; it comes from consistency, resilience, and a willingness to show up even when it’s uncomfortable.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Growing up, I was one of the few Asian kids in a mostly white private school. My family wasn’t wealthy — my parents just worked incredibly hard to give us a good education and keep us in a safe environment. What we didn’t realize was that being in that world came with its own challenges. I was bullied, made fun of for being different, and for a long time, I was embarrassed to be Asian. I wanted to blend in, to be like everyone else.
It took years — really up until my mid-20s — to unlearn that. Those years, from being a teenager to figuring out adulthood, are when you start to understand who you are. I had to rebuild my confidence from the ground up, learning to embrace where I came from and what makes me different. Getting cut off financially at 18 forced me to figure out how to support myself, pay for my lifestyle, and make decisions completely on my own. It wasn’t easy, but it made me resilient.
Through those experiences, I realized that suffering teaches you things success never can — like empathy, humility, and self-awareness. It strips you down and forces you to see what really matters. You start to value the people who support you for who you are, not what you have. You learn to appreciate the quiet wins — the ones no one claps for — and you stop comparing your journey to anyone else’s.
My suffering isn’t special. Everyone has their own version of it. But it’s not a competition — we’re all just trying to grow through what we go through. For me, the lesson has been that success means peace — being confident and happy with who I am and knowing I built this life myself.
I’m proud of where I came from, proud of my culture, and proud that I turned all those moments of pain and doubt into something meaningful. The privilege now is being able to look back and say: I made my life into what I want — and that, to me, is real success.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
100%. What you see is what you get. The way I talk, show up online, and connect with people in person — it’s all me. I’ve learned to feel comfortable in my own skin and not filter my personality to fit in. I’m proud of being authentic and honest about my thoughts, without shame or a need to hide any part of who I am. That said, I’m still selective with my trust — it takes time for me to fully let people in — but that’s just part of my personality to protect myself, not a mask.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace when I’m at home with my husband, doing absolutely nothing — no plans, no agenda, just relaxing. Most days we’re working on our side hustle, creating content, or planning our next trip to explore new cultures and cuisines. But I’ve learned there’s an art to slowing down and simply being. Whether that’s staying home or traveling somewhere new and just living like a local, that’s when I feel grounded.
I also find peace in my friendships. My friends are like family — they understand me, and I show up for them whenever I can. Having those relationships where you can fully be yourself is something I don’t take for granted. That combination — my home, my husband, my chosen family (blood and not), and those quiet, unplanned moments — that’s my version of peace.
Contact Info:
- Website: www,leannatruong.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/feedleanna
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leannatruong/
Image Credits
Adam Ye Photography
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