Theodora Chan - RAW AND BRAVE

“Nurture that voice inside that says,"You know what? I'm damn good at what I do and I deserve to be happy". - Theodora

Theodora Chan, a digital marketer who worked for small publishing agencies, large corporate magazines and an international agency, braved up in the face of adversity to start up a content marketing and production agency called Pen and Pixel.  

Her story is raw and brave, and a reminder to all of us that while one’s life may look shiny on the outside, that’s not always the case beneath the surface.  

“I'm not ashamed to say I’ve experienced sexual assault and physical abuse.  It’s been difficult, and while there are still days I cry myself to sleep, scream into a pillow and get so anxious I throw up, I know it doesn’t define who I am and what’s possible. 

“In some way, those struggles have made me the resilient and compassionate person I am today.

“I’ve grappled with some extremely dark thoughts; being sexually harassed by a manager, bullied by another, and denied a promotion I was promised by a third; and there were days I couldn't get out of bed, much less get dressed and head into the office. And yet, I did. 

“I didn't want to disappoint my co-workers, so day after day, I'd go into work pretending it was all okay, smiling because I wanted to prove I wasn't going to let anyone and anything hold me back, not even myself.

“I don’t deny it’s been rough and there’s no magic spell that makes everything better, but that's ok.  

“Since becoming a business owner, I've noticed we all have bad days. It’s ok to struggle and feel defeated. That doesn't make us weak, it just makes us human.  

“We just need to keep nurturing that voice inside that says, "You know what? I'm damn good at what I do and I deserve to be happy".

Turning adversity into strength, Theodora believes in the power of owning and sharing her story.

“Everybody, and every business, has a story to tell. It's my goal to help them achieve that.”

Connect with Theodora on Twitter or Instagram or view her website at https://www.penandpixel.org/