CuriosityBased

About Us

Why CuriosityBased?

Why CuriosityBased?

At CuriosityBased, we think of curiosity as a practice, not as a trait. We liken it to meditation— it looks easy, yet it can be really hard to practice curiosity.We do not pretend that we are always practicing curiosity. We appreciate the pains and frustrations of our clients because we’ve been there too. We also know how it can feel to be with colleagues who encourage us to ask questions when we don’t know the answer or understand something. It makes us feel safe to take risks, try new things, and persist in finding a solution.

That’s why we care so much about helping others practice curiosity too. 

We’ve witnessed how in any given group, if there are a greater number of people who practice curiosity regularly, their attitude can uplift the overall morale. The inverse is also true. Those who are more often singularly focused on achieving a fixed outcome can hurt morale and harm relationships.

Want to learn more about the state of curiosity in the workplace?

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What we can do for you

We design professional development experiences, based on original content, that foster belonging and inclusion. We can help teams quickly build trust through creating small group sessions that allow for open discussion and mutual accountability. We guide our clients in the practice of curiosity through virtual and in-person learning experiences, workshops, and retreat facilitations. 

If you need strategic planning or program evaluation combined with team building, we have partners who can help.

Who we serve

We work with organizations who believe change and progress moves at the speed of trust and they need to invest time and resources into building relationships. Our clients appreciate our high touch approach and bring us in for multiple small-group sessions across their organizations, usually starting with their leadership team. They understand there is no single right answer, there is always more to learn, and the journey is more valuable than the destination.

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How we approach learning

We push people to stretch and get uncomfortable because that is when the learning starts. Through working with us, you’ll deepen your individual and team capacity for collaboration, inclusion, trust, and, of course, curiosity.

Training Versus Learning

CuriosityBased prioritizes learning over training. When CuriosityBased facilitators guide  teams and organizations through our learning experiences, we ask a lot of questions to stimulate critical thinking and invite people to share what they learned.

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Mission

Empower people in the workplace to become more self-aware, build relationships, and communicate clearly.

Vision

Help the world practice curiosity and build empathy.

Values

  1. Curiosity
  2. Growth
  3. Connection
  4. Clarity 
  5. Difference
  6. Adaptability 

Who we are

We represent a diversity of disciplines, including history, social work, engineering, international relations,  and business administration, as well as cultural backgrounds, which is reflected in our native languages: Spanish, Burmese, Vietnamese, and English. This diversity influences our approach to our work. We are also a certified Minority and Women’s Business Enterprise.

Julie Pham, PhD

Founder and CEO

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Hnin Johnson, MSW, MPA

Project Manager

Meet Me

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Julie Pham, PhD

Founder and CEO

I’m always looking for the question behind the question. I decided to take my 15+ years of community-organizing, including building a cross-sector collaboration fellowship for the tech industry, founding an ethnic media coalition, running a Vietnamese-language newspaper, and mobilizing small business owners in South Seattle, combined with my 8 years of academic research, to start this consulting practice focused on fostering curiosity, collaboration, and inclusion in the workplace. My approach to belonging and inclusion has been informed by having lived as an expatriate in Asia and Europe and having grown up as a refugee in the US. Though I don’t consider myself a DEI expert, I have deep experience in motivating people from diverse personal and professional backgrounds to connect and collaborate. I developed some of the content used in our workshops when I created the Ion Collaborators Program at Washington Technology Industry Association. I have designed and led workshops, lectures, and conferences, ranging from 6 to 350 people and have been invited to speak to audiences from diverse industries around the world, from Yangon, Myanmar to Bratterboro, Vermont. As a writer and speaker, I’m known for my willingness to get vulnerable, to reframe the way we look at common assumptions, and to offer practical advice combined with a thought-provoking call to action. I love hosting dinner parties (even virtual ones), reading fiction and nonfiction, and talking to friends while walking.

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Hnin Johnson, MSW, MPA

Project Manager

I am always the one in the group asking, “Why?” I joined the team first as a Masters of Social Work practicum student in 2018. There were people who doubted me when I shared my dream years ago of getting a master’s degree. I completed my second master’s degree in public administration in 2021. I’m the project manager for the team. I ensure things run smoothly behind the scenes by creating timelines, Gantt and flowcharts, and checking in on people. I appreciate a good problem to solve. I am passionate about being as inclusive as possible, so don’t be surprised if I ask you about your accessibility needs. I came to Seattle from Myanmar via Utah and Singapore, though I haven’t lived in my home country since I left for college. My first real job was in semiconductors and I still love playing with tech gadgets of all kinds. I make desserts, meditate, and do yoga with Jessica Skye on the iPad Fitness app in my spare time.

Linh Huynh, MSW

Senior Learning and Development Specialist

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Mikaila Culverson, MSW

Digital Content Manager

Meet Me

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Linh Huynh, MSW

Learning and Development Specialist

I like to explore the surrounding information of a thought. As a naturally curious person, I enjoy talking and learning from others as it provides me an opportunity to learn about their stories and for me to gather a more holistic understanding of their thinking processes. Not only that, I continue to learn more about myself through these conversations as I reflect on my own thought processes and views of this world. Within the CuriosityBased Team, I serve as the learning and development specialist I bring insights to the iterative process of workshop, assessment, and meeting design development as well as facilitate workshops. Before CuriosityBased, I’ve worked mostly with youth within nonprofits and educational settings. I was born and raised in Seattle: I attended Garfield High School and then attended the University of Washington for my undergraduate and graduate studies. Now, I currently reside within the Bay Area. It has been great to explore and learn about a new city along with the people and culture there. In my spare time, I enjoy watching anime, practicing my Vietnamese, and making tea drinks.

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Mikaila Culverson, MSW

Digital Content Manager

How do we blend different ideas and perspectives to create outcomes that are uplifting, inclusive, and functional in this world? That process is where my curiosity is. I believe that social difference inspires personal and communal growth. Each individual has their own story that produces unique ideas, perspectives, and motivations. It is through connection and engagement that we can begin to understand each others’ stories. I joined the CuriosityBased team in 2022 as the Digital Content Manager, following a year-long internship with the team. I curate, edit, and deliver CuriosityBased’s original content through our various communication channels. I lead the team through our digital course creation process, leadership booklist series, and everything else CB content-related. I completed my Masters of Social Work degree at University of Washington, Seattle in 2022. I enjoy travel, reading, creative writing, friend & family time, and being in the sun!

Lourdes Tsukada

Business Development Manager

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Brittany Danyelle

Design & Communications Consultant

Meet Me

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Lourdes Tsukada

Business Development Manager

I am always the one who asks or researches the whos, hows, whys, or what-ifs. I’m motivated to learn, share, and help others succeed. I joined the CuriosityBased team as a consultant in 2022 while working as an interpreter. As the Business Development Manager, I love the multifaceted “hats” I don as a researcher, opener of doors, and provider of new business opportunities. I search for identifying characteristics in industries and how I can contribute my diverse experience of working in different industries to these. I am passionate about making a difference. I believe in looking at yesterday as a learning experience, today as a new beginning, and tomorrow as future opportunities to come. I was born in Havana, Cuba. I lived in Venezuela, France, Italy, Argentina, and now in Washington state. I speak Spanish, Italian, and English. I love to travel, barter, cook, and hike.

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Brittany Danyelle

Design & Communications Consultant

How can we create a better and more equitable world for everyone? I believe that curiosity breeds empathy. If we’re curious about how others think, believe, and became who they are today, we can create a community of caring. With over 12 years of marketing and design experience, Dr. Julie Pham encouraged me to start my own business and became the first client for Brittany Danyelle, LLC in early 2021. I started my business with the vision to help empower BIPOC- led businesses and nonprofits with connecting their heart and their message with design and the digital landscape to establish a powerful brand. I am energized by seeing people do what they’re passionate about and I hope to be a small piece in helping celebrate them. For CuriosityBased, my business is in charge of ensuring brand consistency and assisting with communications. I design the workbooks, flyers, social media graphics, blog banners, emails, etc. We also assist with social media scheduling and the weekly newsletter! I love to travel with my husband, read, check out new foodie spots, & listen to true crime podcasts.

What People Appreciate About CuriosityBased

“Julie has created a framework to help one learn about their workmates and where your personal internal dialogue stems from. The CuriosityBased team took our 18-person department through a four-hour session on the 7 Forms of Respect. The breakout sessions with prompts gave us an opportunity to explore our thoughts in a shared space and learn from our workmates. The four hours went by quickly but were filled with internal and external insights. I encourage other teams to share this experience of learning the 7 forms of respect framework. It can help gain that extra layer of connection with themselves and others.”
Tisha Held
Philanthropy and BECU Foundation Manager
“At first I thought 2.5 hours was going to be too long to keep our team’s interest. However, the time flew by because the content was very engaging. It wasn’t like other DEI training I’ve participated in, where we focused on key concepts. Instead, we shared stories around race and were encouraged to learn from one another. The surprising bonus was how connected my team felt to one another by the end of the session, which is especially important now that we’re working remotely.”
Elizabeth Scallon
GTM/Operations for Alexa Fund & Startups, Amazon
“Julie’s trainings are so important to improving foundational effective communication! Her workshops at CuriosityBased improved our team building and they helped our team practice more curiosity with one another. She and her team are a joy to work with.”
Peter Bloch Garcia
Nonprofit Leader and co-host of the Adelante Leadership Podcast
“I had my whole company go through the 7 Forms of Respect digital course. The conversations it prompted provided a deeper level of understanding about people’s backgrounds and personalities. It improved our ability to collaborate as a team. We still use the exercises to guide our conversations. The content is very accessible and lends itself to both person and professional growth.”
Lizzie Mintus
CEO and Founder, Here’s Waldo Recruiting
“Working with CuriosityBased gave a group of staff some valuable tools and learnings for them to take to their teams. Julie Pham was a pleasure to work with, giving us guidance on how to structure the workshop given the complexities of our group. Since the initial workshops on the 7 Forms of Respect, we have had Dr. Pham and her team back to present and run workshops with other teams in our large, highly matrixed organization. Each group and team that experiences the Curiosity Based workshops has appreciated the new insight and reframing on Respect. As a DEI professional, I find that the theory Dr. Pham and her team workshop with lends itself to creating a culture of belonging and more quality relationships between colleagues and stakeholders.”
Leilani Lewis
Director Of Diversity, Equity And Inclusion, University of Washington Advancement
“At the beginning of the year, I asked Julie to help us overcome a challenge many mid-size organizations like ours are facing: how do we recreate a collaborative, productive, engaging, and meaningful work environment for our staff–all within the context of hybrid work schedules, virtual and in-person meetings, and new protocols for health and safety. Julie and her team, through a series of retreats, have helped to facilitate connection and trust among our senior leaders as we emerge from the pandemic. In evaluations after each retreat, participants were glowing in their praise for Julie’s facilitation and for the outcomes we achieved in less than a day. I can recommend Julie and CuriosityBased without reservation.”
Ryan Calkins
Commissioner, Port of Seattle

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7 forms of respect

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