Ashlie Dao

From a young age, I’ve been drawn to understanding people—their unique stories, motivations, and how our differences create a richer, more connected world. Growing up as the child of Vietnamese refugees in the Netherlands and later moving to the U.S. for high school, I experienced firsthand the nuances of cross-cultural interactions and how varied backgrounds shape our perspectives and strengths.

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In adulthood, my curiosity about human behavior deepened, leading me to explore Diversity & Inclusion, work-life balance, motivation, and team dynamics through leadership and research roles at UCLA. My experiences founding the Caregiving Student Initiative, Bruin Caregiving Scholars, advocating for policy change, and conducting independent research on caregiving students provided insights into how support systems can impact well-being and productivity in organizations.

 

Building on my experiences, I’m applying to doctoral programs in Industrial-Organizational Psychology, driven by a commitment to expanding the knowledge that explores how inclusive, balanced workplaces can foster both well-being and peak performance.