In this inspiring episode of "asian, like me...", Dr. Sohee Jun sits down with Clarissa Reformina, a dynamic Filipina creative executive in the music industry. Through their authentic conversation, they explore how Clarissa Reformina's immigrant experience, cultural heritage, and passion for music guided her remarkable journey from freshman intern to industry powerhouse.

Clarissa Reformina shares her story of moving from the Philippines to America at age three, navigating the complexities of assimilation while maintaining her cultural identity. She reveals how her early passion for music led her to pursue a career in the industry, despite traditional family expectations to follow a more conventional path. Through unpacking her experiences with disruption—from Napster to streaming to AI—Clarissa Reformina offers powerful insights on resilience, opportunity-seeking, and maintaining curiosity in an ever-changing landscape.

The conversation dives deep into the importance of self-care practices during challenging times, overcoming fear, and the dangers of perfectionism ingrained in many Asian cultures. A journey that you can definitely relate to as it offers valuable lessons on courage, resilience, and finding joy in the process rather than just focusing on outcomes.

Inspirational Quotes from this episode:

"Comparison is the thief of joy. When you compare yourself to another person, you're questioning yourself really at the end of the day." – Clarissa Reformina

"If you don't process through by feeling it, acknowledging it, and then identifying how you move forward, it really will come back to bite you in different ways." – Dr. Sohee Jun

"Being able to see through the chaos, ground yourself, and find opportunity in those moments, that's really what's exciting for me." – Clarissa Reformina

"I love the process. Let me just loosen my grip on those things a little bit and be in the now and enjoy what is happening in the process, less focus on the outcome." – Dr. Sohee Jun

"If you find something you're passionate about and you work really hard—I'm not saying it's easy, it's never going to be easy—but if you're willing to figure it out, the opportunities do come to you. You just need to be resilient." – Clarissa Reformina

"Even if you are in a creative field, know how the business makes money. Be savvy about what's going on outside of the company in the industry." – Dr. Sohee Jun

Whether you're navigating career transitions, seeking to balance cultural expectations with personal ambitions, or simply looking for inspiration, this conversation provides actionable wisdom on thriving through life's inevitable disruptions while staying true to yourself.

#AsianLikeMe #FilipinaPower #MusicIndustry #Resilience #CulturalIdentity #CareerGrowth #SelfCare #AsianWomen