Linh Huynh (BA, '19, Education, Communities and Organizations (ECO)), a 2nd-generation Vietnamese-Chinese American and proud Husky, has built a career around cultivating curiosity and connection. After earning her B.A. in Psychology and ECO and her Master’s in Social Work at UW, she helped launch CuriosityBased, where she now serves as Learning and Development Manager. 

Guided by mentors like Dr. Julie Pham, Dr. Jondou Chen, teaching professor in Education, Communities and Organizations and Learning Sciences & Human Development, and Kimberly Mitchell, teaching associate in the College of Education, Linh has shaped a role that blends her love of teaching, facilitation and research. 

Today, she’s committed to creating learning experiences that invite people in, spark curiosity and honor diverse perspectives, all while staying grounded in the lessons she first explored at the College of Education.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your background?

I’m a 2nd-generation Vietnamese-Chinese American, born and raised in South Seattle. I went to UW for my undergrad and earned my B.A. in Psychology and Education, Communities, and Organizations (ECO). I then immediately went into grad school at UW and got my Master’s in Social Work.

Likewise, I currently work as the Learning and Development Manager at CuriosityBased, a professional training firm that fosters curiosity in the world, starting in the workplace—because that’s where we spend most of our waking hours. My role is managing and overseeing all our workshop materials. On top of that, I facilitate, manage some of our client work, and take part in the research process for our workshops.

What inspired your path into education and led you to your current role at CuriosityBased?

I would say my path to finding my current role at CuriosityBased is a bit unique.

After graduating from undergrad, I thought I was going to become a therapist, which is why I went straight into doing my Master’s in Social Work. Once I entered the program, I realized that I didn’t want to go that route and was trying to figure out what I wanted to do from there. That’s when I found an internship with Dr. Julie Pham. When I joined her, she told me she was leaving the organization to start her own company. She asked if I wanted to follow her, and I said, “Sure, why not?” That’s how I ended up being one of the founding members of her company and creating the role that I’m currently in today.

When the company was founded, everyone was just trying to figure out what to do and what their roles were. Because of that, Julie was really flexible with me, and I got to explore the workshops she was creating and her creative process. I also wanted to push myself to facilitate because I knew that would be a good skill to have for the future.

As I started to explore, I learned what I enjoyed was the iteration process when creating workshops. With Julie’s support and mentorship, plus researching what learning and development meant, I was able to create this role for myself based on my interests and strengths.

What this journey made me rediscover was my love of teaching people, especially the part where the learning moment clicks with someone and they become more curious about a topic. I also love having conversations and learning new perspectives to figure out the best pedagogy for each individual and for communities. Through all of this, I’ve committed to shaping learning experiences that invite people in and meet them where they are in order to spark conversation and curiosity.

At CuriosityBased, you're helping to spark curiosity and connection in the workplace. Could you share a bit about what you've learned through this work and what you’re working on currently? Has anything surprised you?

Of course! I’ve learned so much from this work. Here are a few big things I’ve taken away from my time so far at CuriosityBased:

1. Curiosity is something we all have. It just depends on the situation or the person you’re talking to that can influence how curious you can be. My boss, Dr. Julie Pham even has a TedxTalk about curiosity as a practice if you want to learn more about it!
2. Communication takes constant practice. It’s a muscle that has to be used regularly. It doesn’t always come naturally. Even working here, I sometimes make mistakes, but each time I learn how to get better.
3. Discovering my strength in reframing concepts and conversations. A big part of my role is observing participants in workshops and adjusting on the fly as a facilitator to make sure they’re getting the most out of the experience. I’ve learned that I’m good at listening to what people are trying to say, clarifying their meaning, and reflecting it back in a way that makes sense to them and me.

One thing that really surprised me was how much weight my words carry at the start of my career. When I first started, I felt a lot of imposter syndrome. Many of our clients are managers or leaders, and I often doubted whether I really knew what I was talking about. But over time, and with Dr. Pham’s mentorship and advocacy, I started to see my own growth and realize that I actually do have something valuable to contribute. As to what we’re currently working on, we are trying to make or work more accessible to individuals and the general public. Here’s what we’re doing to do that:

1. Our Curiosity in Practice (CiP) Series. We’ve opened up our workshops to the public! Every month we host a mini-workshop on a rotating topic, giving individuals the chance to experience what we usually only do with teams and organizations.
2. An AI Feedback Companion. We’re developing a tool to help people practice giving feedback through the lens of curiosity. This framework is something we usually teach over 4–6 weeks with clients, but we wanted to create a resource for anyone who wants to learn more or wants to get better at giving feedback.
3. Exploring Respect Beyond Work. One of our most popular workshop topics is the “7 Forms of Respect®,” a framework Dr. Julie Pham created to explore how people think about and prioritize respect at work. We’re now researching how respect shows up outside of work, and how it compares to workplace experiences.

How did your experiences at the UW College of Education shape or influence your professional journey?

It showed me different ways of what education and teaching could look like. It opened my mind to what I can do with my teaching skills outside of school systems. I also learned more about meeting people where they are through conversations. The more I learn about somebody, the more I can understand how they view the world and how their brain works when it comes to learning.

My experiences really grew my love for teaching. I actually took a graduate-level course in the UW College of Education while I was in my Master’s in Social Work, and it was really awesome!

The professors also helped shape my professional journey. They mentored me, helped me grow my potential, and gave me more confidence in what I did and could do. Shoutout to Dr. Jondou Chen and Kimberly Mitchell, who were big supporters and mentors while I was in the UW College of Education!

What advice would you share with current students or recent graduates interested in careers in education, nonprofits, or organizational development?

1. Be flexible with what you’re doing. It’s okay to pivot, even if it feels like it’s too late.
2. Reach out to people with genuine curiosity. People love talking about themselves and their passions!
3. Find a great mentor not only to support your growth, but also to help guide you through your mistakes. It’s one thing to learn from experience; it’s another when someone takes the time to guide you and give you constructive feedback to help you grow your potential. A huge thanks and shoutout to Dr. Julie Pham for being such a great mentor and boss!

Outside of work, what do you enjoy doing for fun or relaxation?

I recently moved to NYC with my husband, so it’s been a lot of fun to explore the city, especially the food! Other things I really enjoy: training in Muay Thai, making and drinking tea drinks, and playing video games (my current obsession is Stardew Valley on the Nintendo Switch!).