Lucky to Be Here: Building Lives & Careers Abroad

This episode of Lucky to Be Here™️ is the first of two with our guest Joe Kwon. Joe Kwon is the founding attorney of Joe Kwon Law, PLLC, a boutique business immigration practice licensed in Tennessee and serving clients nationwide. He focuses on self-petition and extraordinary-ability cases (EB-1A, O-1A/O-1B, EB-2 NIW) with deep PERM labor-certification experience, and offers attorney-direct, flat-fee representation with first-class multicultural service. His approach is teach-don't-sell: honest case assessment and plain-language guidance over legalese. In our discussion, Joe shares his journey moving as a kid from South Korea to the US, his evolving identity as he adjusted to life in Tennessee and attending college as an international student, and how his experiences shaped his career in immigration law. Throughout our conversation, he shares his insights on navigating these cultural shifts, various career transitions, and the importance of viewing immigration as a journey rather than a destination. You can find Joe Kwon on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook as @joekownlaw to follow him in Korean and English, and book your consultation. Keywords immigration, career development, cultural identity, legal career, international students, US immigration system, personal growth, professional journey, South Korea, immigrant children Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Joe Kwon and his background 02:08 Joe's childhood in Seoul and move to Nashville 03:55 Initial impressions of Nashville and cultural shock 08:50 Adjusting to a new environment and language barriers 12:54 The emotional whiplash of belonging and systemic barriers 18:58 Realization of career interests and law school journey 33:05 The shift from survival to self-actualization in career 43:52 Focus on immigration law and its significance 51:59 Advice to the 12-year-old immigrant self 54:00 Closing remarks and resources for listeners Lucky to Be Here™️ is a podcast that showcases those who took the leap to build lives and careers across countries. They share their stories, their lessons, and their advice to show us what it means, and what it takes, to build a life and career abroad. Lucky to Be Here™️ is hosted by Dr. Analía Gómez Vidal, C.P.C. and produced by AGV Services LLC. Visit our website https://www.agvservicesllc.com/luckytobehere to join our newsletter to receive our episodes in your inbox with career development reflections and resources and to connect in between episodes. Sponsored by Creative Colony Spaces. Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: YYYMONAI8AICFIGC © 2026 AGV Services LLC. All rights reserved.

In today’s episode, we reconnect with Season 1 guest Veronica Sepehr, Registered Canadian immigration consultant (RCIC), to talk about Canadian immigration and some of the key tips and information anyone interested in building a life and career in Canada post-graduation should know. If you have been thinking about Canada as a potential destination for your next professional steps, this episode is your starting point. After that, you can find Veronica Sepehr on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/veronicasepehr/ and work with her through her company, Westdale Immigration by visiting its website https://westdaleimmigration.com/ and booking a consultation at https://tidycal.com/westdale. She also recently started a newsletter that you can sign up for at https://nain.kit.com Keywords Canadian immigration, regulated consultants, international students, permanent residence, work permits, immigration process, Canada education, visa tips Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Canadian immigration and Veronica Sepehr 02:03 Difference between Canadian immigration consultants and lawyers 03:58 The process of becoming a regulated Canadian immigration consultant 06:54 Key considerations for international students moving to Canada 10:03 Choosing designated learning institutions and their benefits 12:00 Steps to prepare for permanent residence in Canada 16:59 When and why clients typically reach out for immigration advice 21:51 Common misconceptions and the value of early preparation 27:05 Patience, timing, and staying informed in the immigration process 29:59 Final thoughts on Canada's opportunities and misconceptions Lucky to Be Here is a podcast that showcases those who took the leap to build lives and careers across countries. They share their stories, their lessons, and their advice to show us what it means, and what it takes, to build a life and career abroad. Lucky to Be Here is hosted by Dr. Analía Gómez Vidal, C.P.C. and produced by AGV Services LLC. Visit our website https://www.agvservicesllc.com/luckytobehere to join our newsletter to receive our episodes in your inbox with career development reflections and resources and to connect in between episodes. Sponsored by Creative Colony Spaces. Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: ZZ6YHENUCSA89QKZ, A4V6H0GQ4WRSHGWI © 2026 AGV Services LLC. All rights reserved.

Lucky to Be Here is a podcast that showcases those who took the leap to build lives and careers across countries. They share their stories, their lessons, and their advice to show us what it means, and what it takes, to build a life and career abroad. In Season 2, we are getting tactical and we expand into building more than our lives and careers… This new season features guests who decided to also build communities, resources, businesses and innovations to support other international students and professionals in different ways: from providing services that someone moving across countries might need to building spaces for community and trailblazing new discussions on what needs to be addressed systematically. We are more than Lucky to Be Here. We also pay it forward. Subscribe wherever you are listening or watching to receive our new episodes in your feed every other Wednesday. Lucky to Be Here is hosted by Dr. Analía Gómez Vidal, C.P.C. and produced by AGV Services LLC. Visit our website https://www.agvservicesllc.com/luckytobehere to join our newsletter to receive our episodes in your inbox with career development reflections and resources and to connect in between episodes. Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: WXIBOP9IRNSPILSB © 2026 AGV Services LLC. All rights reserved.

In our last bonus episode for Season 1, we share four key takeaways from the first season of Lucky to Be Here. Whether you are an immigrant, want to become one, or have no desire to ever move countries, these takeaways speak to our lives and experiences beyond borders and nationalities. Because we can all learn from our stories. Keywords immigrant stories, personal growth, community building, life transitions, resilience, cultural adaptation Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the season’s reflections 01:55 The journey of immigrant stories and shared insights 03:50 The importance of community and support networks 07:04 The internal transformation and feeling like a stranger 10:06 The in-between space of identity and culture 13:13 The significance of inner work and self-awareness 15:05 Community building as a universal process 16:57 The impact of our choices on others 18:49 Recap of key takeaways and closing thoughts Lucky to Be Here is a podcast that showcases those who took the leap to build lives and careers across countries. They share their stories, their lessons, and their advice to show us what it means, and what it takes, to build a life and career abroad. Lucky to Be Here is hosted by Dr. Analía Gómez Vidal, C.P.C. and produced by AGV Services LLC. Visit our website https://www.agvservicesllc.com/luckytobehere to join our newsletter to receive our episodes in your inbox with career development reflections and resources and to connect in between episodes. Join our Patreon https://www.patreon.com/LuckyToBeHere to get access to behind-the-scenes updates and live chats with Analía. Sponsored by Creative Colony Spaces. © 2026 AGV Services LLC. All rights reserved.

Mutiara is a certified coach and global educator who equips students and professionals to become visionary leaders through immersive global experiences and transformative coaching. Her methodology blends practical leadership training with deep cultural intelligence, translating potential into purposeful impact. During our initial conversation, we discussed her experience as an international student, the ins and outs of traveling around the world from Indonesia, her time as an international student in the United States, and her homecoming journey and more recent initiatives, including the Berani Penasaran program (courageously curious). In this episode, we dive deeper into these themes, discussing what it feels like to navigate uncertainty while also ushering others through their own homecoming. You can find Mutiara on Instagram at @coachmuti. You can also learn more about her work at https://www.andselfcare.com/c-club and https://www.beranipenasaran.com Keywords personal growth, change, self-discovery, transformation, immigration, grief, intentionality, homecoming Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Mutiara's journey of self-discovery 06:50 The nonlinear, spiral nature of change 07:56 Experiencing loneliness and internal transition 11:10 The importance of reflection and taking pauses 13:58 Coming back home and integrating past and present 16:57 The challenge of matching with current self in relationships 20:01 Creating spaces for deep, meaningful conversations 22:05 Grief and loss as part of change 23:06 Final thoughts on embracing change and self-growth Lucky to Be Here is a podcast that showcases those who took the leap to build lives and careers across countries. They share their stories, their lessons, and their advice to show us what it means, and what it takes, to build a life and career abroad. Lucky to Be Here is hosted by Dr. Analía Gómez Vidal, C.P.C. and produced by AGV Services LLC. Visit our website https://www.agvservicesllc.com/luckytobehere to join our newsletter to receive our episodes in your inbox with career development reflections and resources and to connect in between episodes. Join our Patreon https://www.patreon.com/LuckyToBeHere to get access to behind-the-scenes updates and live chats with Analía. Sponsored by Creative Colony Spaces. © 2026 AGV Services LLC. All rights reserved.