[00:00:00] Ellington Brown: Welcome to SpeakUP! International with Rita Burke and Elton Brown!

[00:00:14] Rita Burke: We travel the world to find people we consider to be community builders, and today is no exception. We're speaking with Moy Fung, who is an award winning entrepreneur, not for profit founder and coach. She's dedicated to fostering empathy, inclusion and social change. Moy has a passion for transformative leadership and empowers individuals and communities to thrive.

Moy Fung. And as we say on SpeakUP!! International, we prefer for our guests to tell their own stories and so, Moy, I welcome you to SpeakUP!! International so that you can tell your story. 

[00:00:57] Moy Fung: Rita, thank you so much for having me. It's an absolute honour to be here with yourself and Elton and thank you so much for the work that you've been doing over the years.

So thank you for having me. 

[00:01:09] Ellington Brown: Well, it's certainly a pleasure doing what we do. As Rita said earlier, we certainly meet fascinating individuals such as yourself that adds to the collection of community builders that we have the privilege of talking to. So what inspired you to pursue a career in leadership development and coaching?

[00:01:36] Moy Fung: Great question, Elton Brown! So what inspired me? I think you know what I have from a very early age. I realized that I had been a leader. I became a mother at 19 years old. And so, I'm sure many of you know that once you become a parent that automatically propels you to become a leader, right? And so becoming a mother at 19 sort of allowed me to really, I just had to pull my big girl socks up and you know, it's been a journey of becoming the woman that I am today, but I certainly intentionally dedicated my life to just be the best example that I could be to my children.

[00:02:18] Rita Burke: I'm sure there are, they are very appreciative for what you have taught them and for being the leader that you are for them particularly. I, I always remember a story that I've told to people that my daughter taught me how to become a parent. Really taught me how to become a parent. You are an entrepreneur. Talk to us about how that title fits Moy Fung. 

[00:02:47] Moy Fung: Absolutely! And you know what? I don't know, Elton, if I, if I actually completed my, my, my answer and answering, because you said what propelled me, what inspired me to get into a career of leadership development. So, Rita, just to your point, and I think maybe hopefully I can sort of interchangeably speak to both of your, your, your questions. So I did become an entrepreneur. So I talked about being a young mother that helped me to really pull my socks up as I had mentioned before, because what happens is when you're a young mother, especially if you're a black mother you Society looks at you differently, you know, you're maybe walking down the street or at the time I was taking the bus.

And I remember having, you know, a young child with me with my stroller, whatever the case is. And oftentimes people, you see how they look at you, you know, like, look at how young she is and she has a baby type of thing. And so being conscious of that. Allowed me to truly, truly, truly develop myself in such a way where even though I might look young.

I mean, I still look young. I think I still I try to ensure that when I show up to school meetings to speak with the teachers when I show up in any environment that I'm representing as someone who's responsible and who's capable of taking care and leading a child. And so that is where my journey began.

But then shortly after. Again, being a young, unmarried mother, what happens is we have difficulties and challenges as, as it pertains to finances and really just living that life that we, we aim to live and achieving our goals. And so entrepreneurship, just to your question, Rita, really for me was a call to action.

It was a call for me to take my own personal economy into my own hands. And so when I first started, my children were very young. I was on maternity leave from the job that I was at at the time and basically what happened was the money that was coming in, it wasn't enough for me. And so, with that being said, I remember being at home taking care of my children, and naturally, as a creative person, I said, well, I'm already taking, I'm already sitting at home taking care of my children.

What can I do to make some extra income? And that's how my entrepreneurship journey really started, or my entrepreneurial journey started, was I was living in a building at the time. I had, now we have Canva and all these really wonderful platforms that we can use to design our own flyers. But at the time, I was using Microsoft Word.

And so I will insert images into Microsoft Word. I'll use a text box to place it wherever I want it. And I created my own flyers and I just put a flyer up in the laundry room of the building where I was living. And that's how my journey truly began. I started taking in other kids, babysitting other children and and from there.

My journey did evolve my entrepreneurial journey because I'm a person who I don't like stagnancy. And I think that's why entrepreneurship works for me. I don't like to be in the same place for a very long time. So as I'm taking care of these children, I felt, you know what, I think they need more. I don't want to just take them in and have them watch TV or feed them lunch.

Or I wanted to take them outdoors for fun time to play outside. I wanted to teach them things like academically. I wanted. You know to, to help to broaden their horizons, you know, in, in whatever way that I could at the time. And so eventually I developed this program called Stars Youth and Stars is acronym for Setting The Attitude Right From The Start.

And it was really taking in children. I started running summer programs and stuff like that, taking in children who we can help to broaden their horizons and some households. We don't discuss. Education per se, right? Because parents sometimes aren't academic, so they haven't gone to college or university.

And so I would take them to trips to the university the university campuses. We would do different things just to help to broaden their horizons and really help them to see the world in a different place. So that's where my entrepreneurial journey started. And I would say that I've taken on a lot of projects since then.

I've built a lot of brand sales then and everything. Every single thing that I've done as an entrepreneur, it's all biographical. And what that means is my own personal experiences. Again, has propelled me to really be the change that I want to see in this world through my entrepreneur, through my, through my businesses and my brands that I've developed 

[00:07:22] Ellington Brown: well, it really appears, at least to me that what you've been doing has really empowered individuals.

And now in your role as the, certified Coach Practitioner. How does that role help you empower individuals and businesses? 

[00:07:44] Moy Fung: Absolutely. Thanks for that question. And so again, going back to my shortcomings in life let me first say this. I do believe God has given me a really big heart. And he's given me and allowed me to have radical empathy for individuals.

And so whatever it is that I faced in my own journey, I can almost guarantee by inference that many others. I have or will be in some at some point in their lives, experience the same things or similar struggles that I have faced. And so when I became a coach practitioner, at that point, I had already been doing my entrepreneurial thing.

I was doing business networking events, specifically geared towards women. I have a brand called UNC. And I would do business networking events quarterly where individuals would come. I mean, men would come to for sure, but individuals would come. I would have professionals like accountants, business advisors that would come to help to educate women.

Because I remember when I first started in business, I didn't have that education. So I created this platform where individuals could come. They can become educated, but what they can also do is that they can network with other business owners. I also allowed. Individuals who had, like, a product based business or even service based business to get vendor tables.

So I had vendor tables available for them at very cost effective rates, and they would display their stuff. They had the opportunity to really raise awareness around their brands and stuff like that. But again, as a person who likes to progress, as a person that doesn't like stagnancy, after a while, I asked myself, well, you know, how successful are some of these individuals?

Because that did go on for a while. And many people that know me within the Toronto, Toronto region, they know me based on the business networking events that I used to do. Right? And so after a while, I asked myself, because I'm very reflective and I'm always looking to grow and to develop and just to become everything that God wants me to be.

And to serve and to serve and just to serve the world in such a beautiful way where people are truly being enriched. And so at some point I asked myself the question, are people really getting from this, you know, getting the most of what they can get from these networking events because once they leave with that information, what are they doing with it?

You know, are they, are they applying it when they leave with the business cards before we used to have? I don't really use business cards anymore, but before we, the business cards was a big thing. The business cards, the flyers and all of that stuff. And you know, when they leave with the business cards, are they utilizing those cards?

Are they taking the time to send an email or to pick up the phone and to follow up and build their database and all of that stuff? Stuff. And so it really, I reflected, asked myself those questions and I thought, you know, and even based on what I was seeing around me, that that wasn't enough. While the networking events were great, because at the time, not many people, I think, I don't remember anybody doing networking events at that time.

And so when I started that, it was great, but then after a while, other people started to do networking events. And then I started to ask the question, well, are they really getting the most out of this? And so with much reflection and speaking with other individuals, I realized that people needed more of a hand holding.

Sort of situation, because you can leave with the information you can leave with the business cards, but then sometimes we need motivation to even get going. Sometimes we need to know what to do. You know, how do we use those business cards? How do we set up a database? You know, what's the most cost effective way that we can implement, you know, certain strategies, right?

And so, and how do we really get going. Thank you. You know keep that sales process going and the follow up process and all of that stuff and that was what really inspired me to become certified coach is I wanted to give women the people that I was serving at the time that opportunity where I can literally hold their hands through the process when I first started I paid double to register a business.

Right, because I just didn't know any better. There was a third party company. I looked online, wanted to register. I realized I paid 120 for to register a little, you know, provincial business license when I could have paid 60. Right. And so making those errors made me realize that there's just some things that we just don't know, especially when we're just starting out.

And so whatever wisdom that I had gleaned from my entrepreneurial experience, I wanted to share that with other people. I wanted to enrich their lives and really hold their hands and take them through that process because business in itself can be very daunting. And so I wanted to, and many of the women, believe it or not, some of them, some of them were very confident.

Some of them lacked confidence. And so holding their hand will help to give them that confidence to take their businesses to that next level. And so that was how my, my certified, that's how I become a certified coach. 

[00:12:42] Rita Burke: So as a certified coach, you teach character development, am I correct? How does one teach, how does one teach character development?

What do you say to people, what do you show them? Tell me, teach me please. 

[00:13:00] Moy Fung: I appreciate that question because You know, as much as I love business, I love all the thrills of what business brings, you know, meaning, you know, like selling a product and earning an income from it. I do believe the most important person or thing or aspect of a business is the entrepreneur.

And so again, being a certified coach, character development is, is, is quite important. It's something that I recognized, even going back to being a parent at an early age, you teach these things to your children, right? And so it's not a sought, it's not like a highly sought after thing, like people are not always looking to be developed in character.

Sometimes it just sort of comes through life experiences, you develop it and you kind of just leave it there. But in all of my journey, and with all the interactions that I've had, I've realized is that many people did lack good character skills. You know, and and also interpersonal skills and otherwise, right?

And so when it comes to developing character development because it's such a nuanced thing, it really comes through self analysis, you know, like, you know, one of the things that I, that I always do with the clients that I'm coaching or mentoring is I provide them a customized self analysis workbook.

Right. And so that helps them to truly extract or truly, you know, reflect on on who they are, you know, as a person, as it pertains to even their skill sets, as it pertains to their confidence level, as it pertains to how they interact with others, how they view the world and all of that stuff. So with this self analysis sort of workbook that I offer which is in my book, by the way, I am an author.

My book is called Success is a Journey. And so This does help them to sort of reflect, like do deep reflection of who they are and help them to uncover some of those things that might be within them that would be worthy of, I would say, transformation, right, change. And we're always on that path of transformation.

And so, you know, In doing all of that, we come together in one on one sessions. We kind of discuss certain just regular day to day issues that they're faced with their interpersonal relationships. I do, you know, challenge them to look inwardly a little bit differently. Sometimes people don't like to do that.

And so I think, you know, your question is a great one. I think that is where it all starts. You know, that is, that is where it all starts, is really teaching people how to become reflective, number one, through these self analysis workbooks. And then within our one on one sessions and sometimes group sessions, I do facilitate a lot of group sessions as well, I give case studies.

And a lot of those case studies are actually very, they're real case studies that I myself have experienced. And I give case studies for them to really look into a certain issue or circumstance or an instance where two people are relating to each other. And one person says one thing and how it's interpreted and, and how do we really flesh those things out, you know, and how do we react?

And, you know, so. There it's so it's so vast. I don't know if I'm even answering your question. I hope I am Rita, but it's quite vast. But I think self reflection is one of those things that I always point people to 1st and then we do the one on one or the group sessions that help us to really flesh things out.

And a lot of the what I do encourage is I encourage. You know, constructive criticism and I encourage it in such a way that we can't really change if we have the same people around us all the time. Like, if if Rita, if you went Elton went to the same school, let's say, you're about the same age.

You went to the same school, like, you went to all the same schools. You grew up in the same neighborhood more more than likely you and Elton hold the same position as it pertains to your perspectives in life. And the way you view the world based on your environment, right? Based on your upbringing, right?

And your back to your educational backgrounds. Now, if Elton is your only friend that you've had for many years. And he's the only person that you talk to Rita, and there are things inside of Rita that still need to be developed. Elton may not be that best person because Elton shares the exact same point of views and exact same sort of mindset as you have.

But then you might meet someone like, let's say, Moy. I'm from a totally different town. My upbringing is different. I'm from a different generation, just hypothetically speaking. And so we begin to have these really beautiful Interpersonal sort of interactions and so Moy in speaking with you, because I love to connect with individuals love to get get out and have tea or lunch and so forth.

And you might say something Rita. I'm not putting you on the spot. I'm not saying this is just an example. You might say something that. It, it, it. It's not necessarily a trigger, but because of where I'm coming from, because of the line of work that I do, because of the education that I have, because of my own unique experiences and the way I view the world, you might say something that may come across to me as, let's say, let me use the word self centered.

I'm just going to use that one word. I'm not saying that you are. I'm just using this as an example. And Rita might say, well, my goodness, you think, and I mean, I wouldn't tell you in a way to say, well, Rita, you know, you're self centered. But, you know, in our conversations and me being honest, I might say, you know, Rita, I, I, you're a wonderful person.

But, you know, I, I do believe that there might be some self centeredness within you and, and, and maybe that's something that you can look into something like that, you know, and you might be offended with that. And the reason why you're offended because no one's ever told you that before because I get along with all my friends, even if all your friends is only Elton Brown, you know, Elton has never we talk all the time we have a great relationship we get along well and all is well.

I don't have. And then so you're now thinking, well, maybe something's wrong with you. Like, you know, why are you viewing me in this way? And so I'm saying, I don't want to be long winded, but I'm saying all of this to say, if we share the same viewpoints all the time with the people that are around us that grew up with us that know only what we know, it's difficult for people to point out things in us because we share the same viewpoints.

But if someone else comes in, And they have a different background, a different experience altogether, culturally and otherwise, they might be able to point out things in you that you didn't even know was there. And so it's not a bad thing. And so what I, what I, what I tell people is embrace new relationships, embrace people who are different from you, like literally intentionally engage, like try to build new interactions where you're engaging with people who are much different from you.

Who can. Share things with you so that because we're all on this journey to learn and to grow and to be developed and to become our best selves. And it just so might happen that wherever your journey might take you, it might need you or require you to develop those things that had been dormant or had not been pointed out to you in the past.

It may be so that you need to be developed in those areas so that you can function at your full capacity. Being effective in your new role or your new relationships successfully. Right? And so, I hope I got the point across, right? So in short, that's kind of where I start. I hope that helps and I hope it answers your question.

[00:20:40] Rita Burke: It certainly does! There's no question about it. I really appreciate the story that you told about the importance of feedback. Thank you so much. 

[00:20:53] Ellington Brown: There was something that you said earlier. That caught my attention and that was radical empathy I can't seem to get, get past , those two words, that combination of radical empathy.

I'd like for you to explain what that means to you. And then secondly. Can you give us success stories? Maybe an individual that came in that came to ask for your help, and they were sitting at one level, but lo and behold, nine months later, they have been transformed. 

[00:21:38] Moy Fung: Thank you for that question.

And thank you for listening. Yes, radical empathy is definitely words that I use all the time, because I think that truly exemplifies and It really exemplifies who I really am from the heart. I actually shared this yesterday when I spoke with I spoke about, I spoke with about 900 students at a middle school yesterday for Black History Month.

And I did share with them about the radical empathy. I did share with them about the reason why I have radical empathy. Number one, it's because I am a mother. When you're a mother you know, people can do something to you. And you can overlook it, you know, like be mean to you or whatever. But then when things happen to your children, it's like, and so what happens is the, the way any parent would, I think it's fair to say that I love my children so much in such a way that when I do see things, and it's not so. And so, looking at. People in general, and even younger people. I'm always asking what like if something is happening like unjustly if it's a, you know, social injustice or otherwise, it's what if that was my son. I have three sons, by the way, three incredible sons. And I always ask myself that question, what if that was my son?

So that's where that's partly why I have radical empathy. And I'm going to get into the meaning of what I mean by that. The other aspect of the radical empathy is when I was in relation with their, their father I went through a very tumultuous relationship. Right. And so he was very, is verbally abusive.

He had abandoned me in pregnancy you know, and, and, and even growing up and growing up in certain spheres. And even within the church environment, I experienced rejection, you know, without going into too much details, but, you know, it's a real thing. And even within the church, pastor's wife, for no good reason would not, would overlook you would.

You know, in those environments, like, you know, you're being rejected, you know, you know, right? And so in many spaces throughout my life, I've experienced rejection. I've experienced abandonment. I've experienced emotional despair in my tumultuous relationships. I've experienced hardships financially and otherwise, and those things.

Believe it or not, has developed me into a woman who says that if I have experienced those things, then I can never judge and, and believe me, I can go outside looking exactly the way that I'm looking right now, and still be experiencing those things. So what I'm, what I'm saying to you is that you can't always judge a book by its cover.

And just because you don't see emotional despair on my face doesn't mean that I'm not. In that position, just because you don't see that I'm being emotionally abused on my face because I show up in the world as as who I am. I do have that the love of God inside of me. Right. And so whatever is going on around me does not necessarily affect my disposition.

Not always anyways. Right. At least as I'm as you know, when I was going through my process and developing, of course, it was a much different, you know, you're getting to growing and evolving and stuff. What I'm ultimately trying to say is. It is my own unique challenges, right? It is, it is knowing what it's like to be rejected, knowing what it's like to be abandoned, knowing what it's like to go through all those different things that has allowed me to number one, not judge people.

And when I interact with individuals, I show up with a heart of empathy, understanding that, you know, taking myself Like literally did not like taking myself out of my own shoes and putting it in their own shoes so that I can under, you know, feel what where they're coming from. And so I use the world.

I mean, many people have empathy, which is great. I use radical. And I don't think I've ever said this before, but. I do think I don't know if it's a gift, but there's nothing Elton and Rita, there's nothing that I will not do for another human being. I mean, as long as it's not, you know, disobeying the law or, you know, going against God's laws or something like that.

There's nothing that I would not do. I don't care who you are. I don't care what you do. I don't care where you came from. I don't care what your color of your skin is. I'm the person who will sacrifice whatever it is that I need to do to help you in the moment that you need help to make your life a better place.

To make your life better than it was. And so and, and there's nothing that, and it's never too much. So some people, what I find is they will love you to a certain point. They will support you to a certain point, but there comes a time when they're like, well, I've, I've done my job. I've, I've helped you enough.

Right? Like I've done this and this and that for you. That's all I can do. It's not that way with me. It's not conditional. It is very unconditional. It doesn't matter how many times. And of course, like I'm not saying that there are people in life that will take advantage. I'm not talking about people in life that you use your discernment to know that they're taking advantage.

I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about people who genuinely need help, who genuinely need love, who genuinely need an ear to listen to. It's never enough. It's never too much for me to do for a person. And it's unconditional. And for me, I, that's radical empathy for me. It takes a lot for me to get tired of helping, and I don't think that will ever happen.

[00:27:21] Rita Burke: We're having a very transparent and authentic conversation with Moy Fung. Now, on SpeakUP!! International, we seek to inform, to inspire, and to educate. And I know that that is happening through this conversation today. Well, Moy, you said earlier that yesterday, you spoke to 900 students because of Black History Month. Share that experience with us, please. 

[00:27:56] Moy Fung: Oh, it was incredible. So it's, it's a school with about 900 children. So we had two assemblies because of the size of the school for sure. And so I did go in and do a leadership talk on the with them. And, and of course, you know, like many young people, they don't, I'm not a, Bye bye.

Many young people, they don't like to be dictated to, and I'm not someone who dictates. I'm not someone who you know, who tells you what to do. I like to sort of interact with them. So the session was quite it was quite interactive and engaging, so it was a lot of, you know, me sharing my insights based on my experiences, but it was also getting answers from, from them as well as we talked about leadership, but it was quite exhilarating.

It was definitely fulfilling. These young people were living in a different time right now. And so as someone who likes to serve, I understand sometimes better to get them while they're young. And so whatever it is that I can share with them, you know, based on my 46 years of experience, whatever it is that I can share with them.

I will share with them and hopefully a seed has been sown, you know, in some of those young people, you know, so but overall it was a wonderful, incredible experience. Thanks for asking!

[00:29:10] Ellington Brown: Okay, so you are a mother, you are a coach, you are a your are a participant within your church. And God knows what else you're doing, but just for me knowing you from, from afar, you, you, your hands are everywhere, you're, you're, you're all over the place.

All good. But how do you handle all of these? Things that you're doing multiple business ventures while, you know, maintaining a strong personal mission. 

[00:29:47] Moy Fung: That that's that's a very good question. And I think you made a statement from afar, from afar, and you use the words, my hands are all over the place.

And one of the things that I said to these young people, as I shared the different roles that I do, because I am, I'm a social justice advocate. I'm a youth advocate. I'm a community developer. I'm an entrepreneur. I have a not for profit and a for profit organization. I'm an author. I'm a certified coach.

And I'm also an MC. I absolutely love to MC events. And one of the things that I've been saying for quite some time, because people have used this phrase with me many times, one of the things that they say is that you wear many hats. And I tell them, no, that is not true. And so I don't wear many hats because my singular focus is serving others and I praise God for gifting me with the skill sets of being able to want to serve.

And I do that through different means. I do that through the not for profit that I own called Solid Rock Family Services, where I work with young people who are dealing with mental health challenges, drug addiction challenges and homelessness. It's a real need and a real issue within our society. And so I am still building that's a fairly new organization.

I had a transitional home out in Hamilton, and that transitional program has been put on pause because of lack of funding. And so, with that being said, that's an issue that I personally felt inclined to handle. And the reason why I felt inclined to handle that, it goes back to the radical empathy. Many individuals, including society and the government, they don't care about those people.

They don't care about the people who have mental, and I'm not saying everybody, there are those people that are doing the work. And they truly care about this. There are people that are doing work right now in mental health and addictions and homelessness and all of that. I'm not saying everybody, but many people, including the government.

They're not doing anything, because what tells me that you care is not simply just giving a band aid solution to something, right? And so there's no real sustainable solution to what is happening where that is concerned. And so I believe, yes, I am only one person, but as I can't remember her name now.

She was a lady that was blind. I, because I'm doing this is why I can't remember. Helen Keller, she says, I'm only one person, but still I am one person. So I will not do, I will not fail to do what I can do. Right. And so if that is something that I can do, it's no skin off my back. It doesn't take away from my, my well being and my livelihood.

100%. I will do it and I will sacrifice for that. And I have a for profit organization because the not for profit is not necessarily for profit. Right. And so I got to live. I got to eat. So. With my for profit organization, that's where I do leadership development. I do financial solutions. I do coaching. I have a I'm an author, right?

And and then I do have my side gigs where I might do an emceeing and events. So again, it sounds like I'm wearing many hats. But I believe God has gifted me with the gift of loving humanity, and he's gifted me with the gift of being able to speak and to facilitate and do all these things. And so I'm, I'm one person wearing one hat, and I'm serving in these different areas.

So it doesn't become overwhelming for me. In fact, it adds variety. It was great to be at that school yesterday talking to young people. It's great to be talking to the individuals that I'm, I'm, you know, working with, with mental health and addictions and trying to help them to find homes now because the transitional home is, is no more.

Right? It's, it's great to be able to go into an organization and teach people how to lead teams. It's great to do that, but it's all coming from just that one gift of, of wanting to serve humanity.

[00:33:58] Rita Burke: Well, you are obviously. Speaker, you are obviously very confident in your skin. Where did you learn to be a presenter? Where did you learn, learn to be confident Moy Fung?

[00:34:19] Moy Fung: That is such a good question. I don't think anybody has ever asked me that. But I will tell you this. I think my journey has made me confident. I think my journey, my journey has made me confident. And one of my biggest fuel for confidence is my belief in, in God, specifically Christ. And what I mean by that is it is evident that God has created me to be a leader.

That's evident. I mean, the things that I do, I would never do it without I couldn't have that confidence on my own to go out and do the things that I do, put it that way. And so even when I started with in business and doing all of that, I come across so many individuals who lack confidence. So while they have the skill sets, they've gone to school, they've earned the degrees.

There's this imposter syndrome thing that impacts them in such a huge way. That it really stagnates them. They become stagnant. They, they, they hold back. They don't take the necessary steps to move forward. And it's so interesting because that wasn't the case for me when I started in business.

There was nothing that told me. That I couldn't do it, you know what I mean? I never thought to myself, well, who's going to listen to me when I started hosting those events and people were showing up. I never thought to myself, well, who's going to listen to me? Did I have events in the beginning where maybe just a few people showed up to a workshop or something like that?

Yes. But did I just get discouraged in the process? Maybe in within a moment, but shortly after I said, it's okay. It's, it's, it's, it's okay. I just need to keep moving forward. I need to keep raising awareness. So I do believe there's this innate. I believe confidence can be taught and can be developed because my confidence has certainly developed even more.

So, over the years, but in taking the step to do the things that I've done, I believe that was. A God given thing. I think God just really placed that level of confidence in me without, it's like a childlike confidence where you don't even, we're not even thinking of what the consequences might be. You just go out and do it.

And so I hope I answered your question where that comes from. It's really my confidence in all of what I do and being comfortable in my skin. I'm not saying that I was always confidence in the way that you see confidence on me now. But I was confident to step out. I was understanding that perfection was never really the aim for me.

It was getting started and maybe somewhere there's something that I teach about growth mindset. That where you are now is not where you ought to stay or where you have to stay that your brain actually has the ability and the capacity to grow. Right? We talk about neuroplasticity. So your brain actually has the ability to grow.

And so if you give yourself to a certain thing, even if you don't know. That thing you can actually become really good at it if you put in the work. And so I think all of that had been it. It's all God. I'm not taking any credit. It's not through education. It's not through any kind of formal training.

It's not because any special person in my life that had really brought me under their wings and taught me how to be confident. No, Not saying I hadn't been blessed with individuals in my life who would help to, you know, provide platforms and opportunities for work and to speak and stuff like that. But I think ultimately God had given me that innate level of confidence to step out where most people would be fearful and in just continuing that journey, being a self motivator that no matter how difficult life gets, I never give up because I can't, there's no, like, that's not an option for me.

And as I keep going and I keep going, I keep developing and building on that confidence. That I started with, but it is all God, all God. 

[00:38:18] Ellington Brown: So what motivated you to establish, your not for profit organization? And again, what is its primary 

[00:38:27] Moy Fung: mission? Okay, so I'll answer the first question first.

And so my not for profit organization that specifically deals with young people who are dealing with mental health and drugs, drug addictions and homelessness. I had, prior to that, I had been working as a mental health support worker, if you want to call it that, with an agency. Providing one on one support for individuals who had transitioned out of government care.

So these are individuals who grew up within the child welfare system and they've aged out of the system. So they've become 18. What happens with the government is as let's okay. So what happens is within from birth to 18, once you're in the system, there's government funding that pays out to foster parents.

Who have these children, right? We're taking care of these children, but when they turn 18, they're officially they've aged out of the system. So they're kind of left on their own there. They're they're they're kind of pushed out to find their own place. And it depends on sort of, you know, it depends oftentimes on their mental capacity as well.

Some of them have developmental, so they'll still place them in group homes. But for the most part, if you're able to, like you're high functioning and you're able to live on your own, they push them out on their own. And they might give them sort of a subsidy or like a, I don't know, some sort of financial payment every month until they're 25.

That's about it. There's no real support for them after they leave. The child, the government system. And so as I started to do this work and really become immersed in it. We go back to radical empathy, seeing the need of these young people who had no parents to begin with and hearing their stories about being in foster care where many of them were abused, by the way.

And many of those foster parents, they were in it, not because they truly cared to give a life to these young people, but because they were in it for the money. And so now they age out with a whole bunch of different things going on. They have mental health challenges. They're taking a whole bunch of medication because the system does that.

There's a whole bunch of medication and they, you know, and so once they age out, they're left on their own to try to figure things out on their own. And so, you know, when I, when I interact with these individuals and hear their stories and to the level that it touches my heart, you know, I always say that you can't unknow what you now know, right?

And so now that I know the injustice. That is done to these people within these young people within the child welfare system. And now that I know that they are not having any kind of support, I wanted to do something to help them. So there's this overarching or under like, so it's a child welfare. It's sort of we care about child welfare and seniors.

So that's our main focus. We focus on child welfare and, you know, we ultimately really wanted to speak to the, the, the, the, the black population because there's definitely a big need for that, but it's open to everyone. It's open to anyone who has need. And so that is where this Solid Rock Family Services started from understanding that there are individuals who don't have families who are forced to live on their own.

And it could be the young person who went through the child welfare system or, or maybe not. Or it could be a senior person who sort of left on their own to sort of Live out the rest of their days, you know, and so this is how Solid Rock Family Services started. And one of the things that I teach these young people is that, and I think someone else says this, but the quote is that you might not have, well, it's a, it's kind of placed differently, but you might not have come out of a good family, but a good family could come out of you.

Right. But they use the word rich that they say you might have come out of a poor family, but a poor family doesn't have to come out of you. So I say the same thing to them. Similarly, is that even though. You may not come out of a rich family legacy because some of them don't even know who their parents, their real biological parents are that you can create your own family legacy by making the right choices now, by doing the best you can to develop yourself now.

You know, by ultimately, eventually finding a life partner that, you know, you can have children with and really create that legacy that can live on. So that's one of the things. So one of our motto is, oh my gosh, I don't remember it right now, but it's really you know, it's, it has to do with family legacy.

I haven't looked at it in a long time, but it's building lasting building. It's building families and creating lasting legacies or something like that. 

[00:43:16] Rita Burke: Sounds to me as if you're, offering these people who pass through Solid Rock, and what else could we offer people but hope? I certainly like that. But Moy, as a person who prides herself in connecting people to books and books to people, guess what I'm going to ask you now?

Tell us about your books. 

[00:43:44] Moy Fung: Oh, sure. And so thank you for asking that. And so again, everything being biographical and as I shared with the young people yesterday that I do believe that we have a human responsibility. To share the wisdom that we've gleaned from our own experiences so that other people going through this journey going through this life journey who might be despondent feeling rejected and dejected and hopeless that it inspires them, you know, along their journey.

So it is our responsibility to share that wisdom that we've gleaned from our challenges to share it so that others can be inspired and empowered to take that journey. And so my first book, which was published in, oh, my goodness, I think it was 2015. The 1st edition was published in 2015, and the 2nd was published in 2016 was really based on what I thought I needed to share with the world that Success Is a Journey.

It's the Entrepreneur's Handbook. Is what the book is called and Success Is a Journey, meaning that it doesn't matter where you find yourself or where you are now on your life's journey. It's never too late for you to change that trajectory. And that within that book, there are inspirational stories. I talk about, you know, using your negative experiences to propel you forward.

Right. And to become better from them, I talk about money and the importance of budgeting. I have a self analysis workbook within that book. I also have a I talked about the budgeting the budgeting workbook. I also have yeah, the inspirational stories, I've, oh, a business, business plan template that you can actually you can actually fill in, you can fill in with You know, pencil or pen, you can fill it in as you go along and you read.

So some people have come back to me and said, you know, this is my entrepreneurship Bible, you know, because as they're just getting started, it's something that they can use to start to build on their business you know, and then eventually they can, you know, You know, elevate themselves through that, right? 

[00:45:45] Ellington Brown: You work with women and some of your organizations, what are some of the biggest barriers that women face in business today? And how can they overcome them? 

[00:45:59] Moy Fung: Yes, so I will thank you for that question, Elton. Okay, so I do work in women, work with women, and I'll sort of explain to you. So I'll explain to you so that when you leave Elton, that you will have a better understanding of who I am.

So I'm a holistic person. My whole drive is human beings in general. I love people, male, female, child, youth, whatever it might be, right? And so because of who I am, and because of being a holistic person, I have developed brands that are very unique to the various individuals that I focus on. So there's Solid Rock Family Services that focuses on families.

Right? And then there are special needs, of course, the addictions, drug addictions and all of that and mental health and all of that. But then I have You Inspire Me Women who deals with entrepreneurial women. And that was where I used to do all the events where women are concerned. So there are nuance because as individuals were very nuanced.

Right. So how I can help you, Rita, is not necessarily how I can help Elton because I don't, I can't, I don't identify as a man. I don't have the male experience. And so do I have something that can offer you as a male? Certainly, but it will look a little bit different than what I have for Rita. So I think I've been also given the gift of brand development.

So my brands are very nuanced that deals with there's women. I do have a pray for the men global Mind Your Business Brother that deals with. Black men and their mental health challenges or an empowerment and so forth. And, and so the women and the entrepreneurship and all of that stuff. So I hope that makes it clear that I'm holistic.

I deal with the family unit, but I also deal with individuals on a unique basis because I know that they're different. And so I'm not running all of these brands on a full time basis. They're set up in such a way that people can access my support and the resources that I offer even online. And so your question, I know that was long-winded, but I think it's important for you, and this is based on the two questions that you asked that I feel as though maybe there's, 'cause you're doing all these things, but what do you do type of thing.

'cause I've, I've sort of heard that before. And so your question of. I'm going to have you ask the question again. I spent so much time explaining that that I 

[00:48:25] Ellington Brown: that's okay. You were doing you were doing just you were doing just fine, you know, just just fine. And basically, the question was the barriers that women face in business today and how can we can they overcome them?

That was the actual question and and in your own way. You did answer part one. You did. You did get to talk about that because of the fact that you said you're holistic. So as soon as you said that I went, ah, so, you know, this means that, you know, it just depends on who's in front of her and then that she's able, you're able to provide what's what's necessary to help that person or support that person.

And now I'll step out and let you continue. And you continue, it's all yours. 

[00:49:12] Moy Fung: Yes. And so one of the things that we've been hearing for many years that women face, the barriers that women face would be financing. And so especially when we talk about the racialized or the marginalized women, where they did not have a start, like they did not have an inheritance.

They don't have money sitting down just, you know, Oh, let me, Oh, I don't have anything to do with that, with that money. Let me use it to start a business. No, many of these individuals like myself started a business out of their own personal basically need to take control of their own economy. And so oftentimes women are starting businesses from a place that where they're already at a disadvantage.

Right? So they're coming in with no money, little or no money. Right. And they're expecting to build this business or service that's going to bring them in money. And so. That in itself is a challenge because what happens is you're now dependent on, I'm not saying it's impossible for you to be successful, like to really be driven and be hungry to achieve your financial goals within the entrepreneurial sphere.

But what I do know firsthand is that it's very challenging where you're coming in with little to no money. And you're creating this business or brand on the faith that this business or, or, or product that's product or service is going to bring money in right away. And it's going to cover all my expenses.

And so what happens is women now come to a place of, well, cash flow isn't there. There's no money coming in and there's no money that can go out to pay my bills and the bills are persisting, but the money just isn't coming in. Right as fast as it needs to come in. And so capital becomes this thing where, because oftentimes not because you need a lot of money to get started, but sometimes it's just it's to have the money to keep going.

The cash flow isn't there. And so how do you continue to build a brand? With no cash flow, no capital, no sort of financial cushion, and that can become very difficult. So what what I'm seeing is the lack of finances and sometimes that is education and sometimes it's actually having the actual capital to help to scale the business or move the business forward.

That is the biggest thing. And of course, there are some other, you know, like nuanced personal things that women face, like the lack of confidence to charge what they deserve to be charged or deserve to get paid, right? You know, that sort of thing, or sometimes education and skill sets and stuff and stuff like that.

So that is but the biggest would be money.

[00:51:54] Rita Burke: I agree, but they have to keep on trucking on, in spite of the challenges. Most of them keep on trucking on, and ultimately, they reach their North Star. There's no question about that. Now, suppose you were addressing a group of women who were graduating from a business program. What three nuggets would you want to leave with them?

You're talking to a group, Of women who are graduating from a business program and as an entrepreneur, as a successful woman in your own right as a holistic person, the person who approaches life from a holistic perspective, what three gems would you want to leave with them? 

[00:52:40] Moy Fung: Certainly. Thank you so much for that question.

And that's a, that's a very good one, by the way. So graduating from a business program, these are women that are just school age. Coming out of a business program. I think first and foremost, what I would say is, is to know who you are and the way you know who you are is basically by your core values.

What are the things that are most important to me in this life? Is it making a lot of money? Is it for, is my, is, is it to serve humanity? Is it to you know, be ethical and all that, that, that wonderful stuff to, you know, so what is your core values? What is most important to you? What are the things, the tenants, the principles that you've placed in your life?

Or that you've uncovered that means the most to you. Know that, that as you step out into business, you need to know exactly what that is because you may very well get opportunities out there and they may not align with your core values. So you may learn to say no to some things. Right. And so, you know that you're not driven by the money, but you know that you have a mission and you have core values that you need to uphold.

And so, when you have core values, it makes your life easier to say no to things. And it also keeps you focused because you know what you don't want and you know exactly what it is that you're aiming for. So, number one would be to know your core values. And number two would be, as you step out into business, be Steadfast to serve more than anything that your product or service may very well be an answer to a solution or a gap that is within the marketplace.

But don't let money be the driving force of why you do what you do that. Your ultimate aim is to serve. There's a quote that says that. People won't care for something like this. I'm paraphrasing that people won't care until you. People doesn't care about they don't care about what you have to offer.

Until you show that you care about them, something like that, that I just butchered that, that thing, but ultimately people will want to know that you care about them. That you're not merely just interested in selling a product or service that you have to offer. You have to truly see the value that you offer to these individuals through the products and service that you offer.

So your whole thing in life should be to serve. And it doesn't mean that you can't make money. Obviously, you, we need to live and survive. But what I'm suggesting is that serving, if you look at your business in a way that you're serving. I think that's that that that is the most effective way to grab or to attract people to your product.

Does that make sense? 

[00:55:31] Rita Burke: Makes more than sense. And it was Maya, Maya Angelou, I think you were quoting a minute ago. Well, people, people will forget what you said, but they'll never forget how you made him feel. 

[00:55:43] Moy Fung: That was one that, that's another one. It's a di Yeah, that's one of the ones that I use as well.

There's another one that I also, that, that I was, I was alluding to, but the last one the last of what I would say number three. So core values, you know, I'm going to business to serve. Of course, we're filling a gap in the marketplace, but you're ultimately looking to serve. And the last one would be, don't be afraid to pursue the things that you're not passionate about.

And I'll tell you what I mean by that oftentimes as women, especially because we're so emotional and wonderful, but we're sometimes very emotional. And so what we do is. Whatever makes us feel good. Oh, we're passionate about this. We're passionate about sewing. We're passionate about cooking. We're passionate about makeup.

We're passionate about all these things. And we're really good at these things, right? We liked, we were great at the things that we're passionate about, but it takes more than passion to build a business. And so my whole thing in my point number three is be willing to learn the things that you don't know, right?

Because the things that will move your business forward more often than not. It's, it's, it's more than passion. Right. And so there's a book that I read called So Good They Can't Ignore You: Why Skills Trump Passion in the Quest for Work You Love or something like that. And with book, it talks about it challenges the passion mindset because passion does.

It's great because I was the person when I first started in coaching and doing all these women inspirational events is I used to say, just follow your passion and let it lead you. And of course my passion has led me to where I am today, but it's not the be all and end all, because what I've also found in the journey is that what keeps you stagnant is the inability to understand that the things that will help to move my business forward.

Is the inability to embrace those things to learn those things, right? And so we need to be multifaceted within our business. It doesn't mean that you have to wear many hats. Some people will say, well, just focus on the things and I agree to some regard, focus on the things that you're really good at and hire people.

Right. Hire people to do your marketing, hire people to run your finances as a business owner. You should know how your finances are going. You know what I'm saying? I watched the movie. Oh, my gosh, George Foreman movie just recently on Netflix. And he handed over over all of his finances to someone you know, this gentleman that end up, he had a drinking problem and he ended up losing all his money.

At one point, he had to go back in the ring. At like four in his forties. Because he needed to have he had a family to feed. And so there are things that you should, you definitely should know about when it comes to your business. Right. And so it really transcends just the passion that you have for the thing that you do.

And those are the three things that I would say, and I hope that has been valuable to you. 

[00:58:49] Ellington Brown: Absolutely. I want to thank you, Ms. Fung, for providing us a window to get to know you better this afternoon. It has certainly been a pleasure. We learned a little bit about your leadership and your coaching style, entrepreneur ing versus business consulting.

Thank you. Nonprofit and social impact and how those two pieces play to play together women's empowerment. social injustice, all of these things we kind of tapped on, which I have to admit is a whole lot to get to talk about in the short amount of time that we've allotted. But we definitely appreciate it every second of it.

And when you decide to write another book, I guess this will be your third book? Please come back to us and let's have a conversation about that book. I'm sure it will be fascinating. Thank you. Oh, Rita, would you, would you like to add something to that? 

[01:00:05] Rita Burke: I just would like to say how much I appreciated having this conversation with you.

And as I said at the top of the show, we banter back and forth. And that's exactly what I've, what I've experienced. And We have these podcasts and we have these interviews and guess what? I guess to some degree it's self serving because what you say and how you say it feeds me and enriches my life and I want to say how much I appreciate that.

Thank you so much. Thank you. 

[01:00:37] Moy Fung: Well, Elton and Rita, I'd like to thank you as well just for having me. Thank you for even, you know, really reaching out to me and seeing me as someone who is worthy of your platform and worthy of getting to know and sharing. So I don't take these instances for granted. So I truly appreciate it's an honor.

So thank you so much for having me! Thank you for the opportunity!

[01:00:57] Ellington Brown: Thank you for listening to SpeakUP! International. If you wish to contact Ms. Moy Fung, please be prepared to submit your name, your email address, and the reason why you wish to contact Ms. Fong at https://ca.linkedin.com/in/moyfung. Ms. Fong has other social media accounts you can use to connect to her that will be listed in the description section on Spotify and other social media platforms.

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