Trang Nova calls out racism in the personal development industry in TEDx Talk.
International keynote speaker and business mentor Trang Nova disrupted the self-development world with her eye-opening TEDx Talk “Is The Personal Development Industry Racist?”
Have you noticed that the self-development industry has a major problem with diversity?
According to Google’s list of Top 25 Personal Development Coaches in 2023, there were only three Black or brown male coaches to make the list. No Black or brown women, and not one Eastern Asian man or woman. For an industry whose practices and theories originated in the East by such philosophers as Laozi, Confucious, and Buddha, it is confusing how the industry is currently lacking in racial diversity. According to Trang Nova, it should never have gotten to this point.
On Saturday, March 16, 2024, international keynote speaker and life and business coach Trang Nova shone a light on the self-development industry’s lack of Asian representation at TEDxCecilStreet’s “Rebels and Renegades” in her talk “Is The Personal Development Industry Racist?” She opened the eyes of everyone in the sold-out audience to how the industry to which she belongs is nowhere near as diverse as it should be and explained that the reason behind this is the fear of the different.
Born to parents who immigrated to Australia from Vietnam, Trang grew up with the same mentality as many children in her position- she was destined to be a doctor, a lawyer or a disappointment. These were occupations that guaranteed success and financial security and weren’t considered risky. While Trang followed the path of least resistance for a while and became a physiotherapist, she had a quarter-life crisis and realised she was destined for more.
Since this awakening, she has dedicated her life to those who know they’re made for more and are hungry to build their dream businesses of impact so that they can live out their potential and purpose with freedom and fulfillment. It’s a career that makes her family still question “What exactly is it you do again?”
Working in personal development is not something her parents envisioned for their daughter. Not because they had anything against the profession, but because it was something they were not familiar with and did not see many people doing. Different can sometimes be scary. She believes that the fear of letting their parents down is one of the reasons there is a lack of Asian representation in the self-development industry but is not the only reason.
In her inspiring TEDx Talk, Trang appeals to society to create more space for diverse representation in the industry.
“I believe we can shift the industry so Black, Brown, Indigenous, Asian, and people of colour are not only clearly seen but are hired and upheld with just as much power as their white counterparts,” says Trang. “We all have a role to play, it is not challenging to make the effort to buy a self-help book written by an Asian author. Follow Black coaches on social media then PAY to work with them. Go to Middle-Eastern lead seminars. Attend experiences run by Indigenous leaders.”
Trang is thrilled that she was able to share her message as a part of this year’s TEDxCecilStreet program with ten other unique voices who are experts in their field. She knows that when her talk is released on YouTube later this year it will help drive change in the industry by reaching people all around the world.
“Completing my TEDx Talk has been a long-time dream come true,” says Trang. “A pursuit that I initially thought was going to be all about ‘becoming a TEDx speaker,’ ended up being about who I would become through the journey itself. I was stretched beyond what I’d expected and met parts of me that I’d never met before, and so it ultimately ended up being about the journey of character development that I am most grateful and proud about.”
To find out more about Trang Nova, please visit:
Website: https://trangnova.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trang_nova/
Interviews with Trang Nova are available on request. For media inquiries, please contact Nicki Price nicki@pricelessmedia.com.au
ABOUT TRANG NOVA
Trang Nova is a mentor and speaker for those who know they’re made for more and are hungry to build their dream businesses of impact, so that they can live out their potential and purpose with freedom and fulfilment.
In her mid-20s, Trang experienced a quarter-life crisis that led her to leave the sports industry so she could help people not just as athletes, but as human beings.
Now, Trang is determined to help others step into their greatest power and thrive in their lives of impact. Because ultimately, she believes that when enough individuals are thriving, then humanity will thrive. And when humanity thrives, then the world can thrive for all forms of life and future generations.
