About Cathy.
— Me in a nutshell. Latest news. Resources.
"Change cannot happen overnight. It has to be carefully planned and diligently executed." — unknown
— MY DICHOTOMOUS LIFE
I am first generation Vietnamese American born and raised in Seattle, WA. Now, I hang my hat in sunny Los Angeles, CA.
I HAVE A DICHOTOMY that collaborates my right-brain creativity with left-brain engineering. At the University of Washington, I studied pre-medical sciences while working as a genetic researcher at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. After I graduated with a degree in psychology, I began modeling and acting as I wasn’t seeing someone like me in mainstream media. I later transitioned into medical device; working for a start-up that developed a technology to dynamically track cancer tumors during radiation therapy.
MY SCIENCE BACKGROUND and inherent creativity proved to be a harmonious combination when I transferred into high-tech. I got my second degree in Graphic Design & Illustration and worked my way through various design specialties at some amazing Fortune 500 companies. I found my sweet spot as an e-commerce User Experience (UX) designer at Nordstrom.
NOW IN LOS ANGELES, I’m a UX gun-for-hire for tech start-ups by day. I relentlessly create through acting, hosting, modeling, writing and producing as I continue to work and change the media landscape.
AS MY PERSONAL CALL TO ACTION, I founded Maverick Features and wrote a pilot for a series I developed called “Bootstrap”. I also created another series, LoftStyle; a DIY series shot on my iPhone that I write, produce, direct, host and edit. I work in so many lanes because there are girls and women like me searching for herself on-screen and not seeing it even with the industry’s current diversity standards. She deserves rich characters with strong cultural storylines; not quick appearances of people of color to check off some list so the powers that be can say, “We’re all good.” She deserves more. I’m committed to using my emphatic voice, lessons from my adversities and using my creativity to deliver work she can relate to.
— All things social
IMDB
LINKEDIN
LOFTSTYLE SERIES
IG @miss.cathyvu
TW @cathynvu
Latest News!
SHOOTING NOW: Series for Netflix (shhh…secret)
Recurring Guest Star. Yeehaw!
CSI Vegas (CBS)
Details under wraps to avoid spoilers.
Starring William Petersen, Jorja Fox, Wallace Langham, Paula Newsome, Matt Lauria, Mel Rodriguez + Mandeep Dhillon.
I Heart Arlo (Netflix)
I voice the character THAO.
Starring Michael J. Woodard, Mary Lambert, Jonathan Van Ness, Tony Hale, Vincent Rodriguez III, Jennifer Coolidge, Santigold.
General Hospital (ABC)
2 episodes as Dr. Kathleen Woo.
Solve: The Podcast (iHeart Media)
Family Feud: Season 1, Episode 4 as voice of Sound Bath Guide.
Broken Vessels (film)
In post-production.
Bootstrap: My Episodic Series
My concept + pilot of an Asian female tech entrepreneur called "Bootstrap" advanced to ROUND 2 for The Macro Episodic Lab + The Black List competition. This is an initiative spearheaded by Emmy winner LENA WAITHE, EVA LONGORIA, MACRO Founder/CEO CHARLES D. KING + The Black List founder FRANKLIN LEONARD.
Game + Animation VO Demo
I collaborated with a talented producer to create a Game + Animation VO demo. My new demo is now up on my VOICE OVER page!
Bookings + Press
Aka, my BADASS TEAM. For booking + press inquiries, click/tap CONTACTS.
Learning. Reading. Watching.
Psychology + Mental Health
The Burnout Red Flags I Didn’t Notice Until I Took a Month Off Work
How Psychological Safety Actually Works
Enough Already: How The Pandemic Is Breaking Women
There’s a Name for the Blah You’re Feeling: It’s Called Languishing
The Other Side of Languishing Is Flourishing. Here’s How to Get There.
Brené with Emily and Amelia Nagoski on Burnout and How to Complete the Stress Cycle
Finance
— ARTICLES
Are Young Men and Women Getting the Same Financial Start?
Carrie Schwab-Pomerantz (yes, of Charles Schwab)
Charles Schwab’s daughter focuses on financial literacy
Charles Schwab’s daughter on the ‘most disturbing’ trend in people’s finances
Is Your Mother, Sister, Daughter Investing? Are You?
Women and Money: Why It's Important to Take Control of Your Finances
— YOUTUBE CHANNELS
TWO CENTS | TWO CENTS is an educational show about personal finance. The show is created and written by Philip Olson, Julia Lorenz-Olson, Andrew Matthews, and Katie Graham.
CNBC Make It. | At CNBC Make It, we want to help you get smarter about how you earn, save and spend your money. With a focus on success, money, work and life, we provide information and inspiration to navigate your big financial firsts: from landing your dream job, to starting a business, to investing in your future and leading a rich life.
The Financial Diet | The Financial Diet talks about personal finance in a way that doesn't make you want to curl up in a ball and cry. Everything you wanted to know about money + living better, even for the total beginner.
The Financial Confessions Highlights | The best clips from The Financial Diet's original podcast series, The Financial Confessions. For full episodes, go to The Financial Diet's main channel at youtube.com/thefinancialdiet.
— RESOURCES
Actors Fund: Finances & Managing Money
Amanda Holden: The Dumpster Dog Blog
Carrie Schwab-Pomerantz (yes, of Charles Schwab)
— INSTAGRAM ACCOUNTS
Femme Financial Coaching (Haley)
INSTAGRAM @Miss.CathyVu
