We had the good fortune of connecting with Elizabeth (Lisa) Liang and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Elizabeth (Lisa), we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I had never seen a story like mine told, so as a professional actress and published writer, I took it upon myself to write, produce, and perform a one-woman show about my life, Alien Citizen. It had a successful run in Hollywood and ended up touring internationally from 2013 to 2019. Since it did so well, I believed I could help other people tell their intercultural stories, so I began leading workshops on creating a solo show or memoir at colleges, universities, summer schools, and conferences in the US. I also began leading private sessions online with participants all over the world. The vast majority of them have been women, over half of whom are women of color, which is very gratifying since one of my missions is to help underrepresented people tell their stories. Meanwhile, Alien Citizen was made into a film, now on DVD and streamable, and is being used as a teaching and counseling resource on campuses around the world. I now also deliver keynotes on the transformative power of intersectional storytelling. The business morphed to contain all of these facets, but the thought process behind it was: I’m going to have to tell my story myself and then help other intercultural women tell theirs, because no one is specifically helping them otherwise.

What should our readers know about your business?
My business validates and advocates for women and intercultural people (multiracial people, children of immigrants, borderlanders, Third Culture Kids, transnationally adopted people, and so many more) via my workshops, film, and keynote. At a time when the world is a harrowing place for the majority of humans, my film, keynote, and workshop weave cultures together on different levels with humor and candor, and help people to overcome the fear of others and the pain of feeling other/alone. My work brings connection, which is a building block for transformation. I’m proud that my film Alien Citizen is used as a teaching resource on college and university campuses, and that my workshops have helped so many people tell their stories and develop an easy, pleasurable writing practice.
I’m most excited about my keynote and how it helps people to understand intersectionality and the importance of sharing our stories.
I got to where I am with incredibly hard work, generous support from donors to my solo show (which started all of this), and terrific interns. Nothing about running a small business has been easy. I overcame challenges by not giving up. One major lesson: take breaks to replenish yourself and avoid burnout.
I want the world to know: our stories and our feelings about them matter. Honor them.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
VISIT: Chinese Theatre handprints & footprints, Hollywood Bowl (for a show), Descanso Gardens, Griffith Park, Malibu

DINING: Chado Tea House (at Ovation Hollywood after visiting the Chinese Theatre), The Grain Cafe (Mid-City), Republique (Miracle Mile), Mod Pizza (Culver City), Cava (Culver City), Fortune House Chinese Cuisine (Miracle Mile), Amalia’s Restaurant (Koreatown), Kouraku (Little Tokyo)

MUSEUMS: AMPAS Museum, Museum of Jurassic Technology, LACMA, The Getty, MOCA

VIEW: Theatre at the Kirk Douglas, Mark Taper Forum, Boston Court; movies at one of the AMCs

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My husband Dan Lawrence, my parents Susan & Harry and brother John, and the organization Families in Global Transition (FIGT)

Website: https://elizabethliang.com/HapaLis-Prods

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hapalis/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-liang-intercultural/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/interculturalstorytelling

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwm0xUmE1cJXBAQ1uLU3_Nw

Image Credits
Bailey Yoo Rim Steinbach, Kamran Afary, Daniel Lawrence, Rob Lazar

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.