Today we’d like to introduce you to Thao Tran
Hi Thao, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
From Passion to Profession: My Journey through Marketing, Mindset and The Arts
Beginnings: A Spark of Interest
My journey began in 2015 when I was inspired by a Supreme Court Judge to write my first song. It all started when QC & Supreme Court Judge Peter Vickery gifted a poem to my ex-partner as a token of his appreciation for working with him. This poem sparked my creativity to write my own poem (which was later turned into a song). This further ignited a curiosity and a drive within me to delve into The Arts.
Early Steps: Education and Experimentation
I had never worked in The Arts. For over 15 years, I have been working as a Digital Marketer for corporate enterprises and small-to-medium businesses in Melbourne, Sydney and Qatar. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, I created a community called Ditox, to support people who are addicted to their phones and social media. And when I arrived home to live on Australian soil again, I started to expand my creativity and work on myself. I started looking after myself more and experimented with more exercise, pilates, meditation, breathwork, qi gong, hypnotherapy and discovered neuro-linguistic programming. As a person with lived experience, I started merging my love for mental strength (not just health), technology, the arts and community. I then realised I needed to revive the Ditox community.
Overcoming Challenges: Persistence & Changing Perspectives
Like any journey, mine was not without its challenges. I faced mental health issues, toxic relationship trauma and even hospitalization. However, these experiences taught me the resilience and adaptability to bounce back and bounce forward. Each setback became a learning opportunity, pushing me to improve and innovate. I knew the reviving the Ditox community to help paint technology in a positive light was one of my missions.
Breakthrough: The Turning Point
The real turning point came when I attended an online seminar called ‘Unleash The Power Within’ with Tony Robbins, one of the world’s leading self-development gurus. It was in this seminar, during the transformative neuro-linguistic programming session, that I had my biggest breakthrough yet. I transformed my negative limiting beliefs into positive beliefs about myself and the world around me. This breakthrough empowered my efforts to unleash my power and open up new life opportunities. As I always somehow knew I belonged to the arts, I resurfaced my love for poetry and journaling and discovered my newfound love for songwriting. I started listening to and learning about songwriting and making music. I began getting out of my comfort zone to take on new challenges and transform myself. Although I was in a girl band, and school choirs and rock singing groups in school, this all seemed new to me. Transforming my self-talk and beliefs about myself certainly unleashed my power within significantly contributing to my evolution and personal growth.
Growth and Evolution: Expanding Horizons
With each trial and success, my confidence and capabilities grew as I explored the arts. I became more social, creative and I wrote over 40 songs and performed them on social media and at live events. I also expanded my horizons and my comfort zone and performed at the South Asian Festival, Melbourne’s RIPE Hip-Hop community events and business events including Aaron Sansoni’s Empire Mastery and Australia’s Speaker Conference with Ethan Donati and Cherie Eilertsen. Determined to turn my passion into expertise, I began learning about community building with The Community Collective and also became a business speaker at Google DevFest, Women Who Code, and also presented a digital wellbeing workshop at the International Families & Fathers Conference at Los Angeles, California.
Current Status: Where I Am Today
Today, I am a social artist who uses creativity to change lives and society. As the Founder of Ditox, my mission is to create a world where social media is healthy again for the next generation. I’m also extremely dedicated to Ditox and can’t wait to support more families and organizations on digital wellbeing. My team and I are reviving the Ditox community with parents and the next generation through events, workshops, programs and speaking engagements. I’m also continuing my mental health journey with a certification in Mental Health Peer Work. Also, to further my journey in the arts, I’m thrilled to have been accepted into film school with The Australian College of The Arts (Collarts). My journey has been a blend of hard work, learning, a bit of luck and the relentless passion to support the next generation.
Closing Thoughts: Reflection and Gratitude
Reflecting on my journey, I am appreciative for God, my family, all my mentors past and present as their support and guidance have been invaluable. I’m grateful for all the work experiences and colleagues I have met in my life that has led me to become the person I am today. I am so excited for what the future holds and look forward to continuing this journey, driven by the same passion that started it all.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Has it been a smooth road? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Life has definitely not been a smooth road at all. If I had to describe it, it felt more like a rollercoaster ride on autopilot mode. You know it’s going to happen but you feel like the scary ride is happening regardless, whether you want it to or not. I faced mental health issues due to toxic relationships. Some struggles I faced along the way included breakdowns, breakups, medication and rehabilitation. Now, looking back, I completely embrace the chaos I went through. If I were to share how to conquer these struggles in future, I would say to be prepared for anything. To practice self-care, self-love and self-respect. And to to that for others too. In the words of many, everything happens for you, not to you.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Imagine social media working for you, not against you. Imagine a world where social media makes you happier and healthier. In today’s world, social media often contributes to anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Ditox is a digital well-being enterprise on a mission to make social media healthy again for the next generation. I founded the organization in 2018 after observing the changes in human behavior when we started using smartphones and social media.
As a marketer with over 15 years of experience in social media, digital, brand and content, I realized (especially after the COVID-19 pandemic) one pivotal thing: technology is never going away. I specialize in digital marketing and content creation on social media, and am known for my creativity and interesting and inspirational content. I have a strong duty of care and responsibility to make marketing more ethical, so that ‘you’ on the other side of the screen find value in the content and can use it to become your best self. We need to learn how to use it as a tool, and not a trap. The same applies to social media: We must learn how to use social media as a tool to communicate, create and inspire. That is why I revived Ditox: to support the community holistically with social media and create healthier communities, a healthier you.
I’m not here to tell you to throw your phone away and go on a retreat only to come back still doomscrolling on social media trying to find that dopamine hit and what makes you happy. We are all about making technology more accessible but in a healthy way. Through our Ditox community, we hold digital wellbeing workshops, events and productions. We support everyday users (including families, parents and tweens/tweens), content creators, experts and influencers who create social media and technology for good.
Through Ditox, I have presented topics on social media and technology at events including The 25th International Families & Fathers Conference, Insight Academy, Google DevFest, Women Who Code, Fresh Networking, Methodist Ladies’ College and Essity Australasia.
I’d love to connect with and interview people who are interested in mental health and wellbeing, social media, and the arts and would love to work with Ditox.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
Risk is something that occurs every day. Whether we’re making career changes, investing financially in business, making lifestyle choices, choosing relationships or even public speaking or expressing controversial opinions, or even driving a car, we’re taking risks.
One major risk I have taken has been to leave my 9-5 corporate life to become a social artist. One risk, but an exciting one, is to move forward as an entrepreneur with Ditox. Another risk has been to elevate my creativity and thrive in the arts. I aim to continue my hobby in filmmaking and music and turn it into a career one day, alongside Ditox. These two major risks alone have catapulted and transformed my life. My identity has evolved. I have created new career opportunities. I have connected with incredible people along the way. My self-belief, perspectives on life and the way I take risks now align with the vision I was born to see.
Some people though, are risk-averse and avoid risk altogether to stay in their safe comfort zone as they may believe that is their personality or that people (themselves) cannot change. I understand why they may have this mindset, but this is not me. Having a growth mindset, I see taking higher calculated risks is like creating higher rewards. As long as your risks align with your values, then I am all for it. I’ve loved taking risks to aim higher and strive for greater. It is like shooting for the moon to land among the stars. I haven’t always made the best life choices by taking some risks, but that is life, and you learn from those life lessons. I believe those lessons have helped me to learn, evolve, grow and open new doors and opportunities in my life.
I do not regret any risky decision I’ve made, for they have given me the tools, lessons and wisdom to be the person I am today. And for that, I am very proud of.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ditox.co
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tha0ie/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thaovanessatran
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/tha0ie
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@tha0ie
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/tha0ie
- Other: https://imdb.me/tha0ie
