Let Go, Go Big, and Believe in Magic: Tiffany Duong on Building a Bold, Nonlinear Career

What happens when you stop gripping so tightly and finally let go?

That’s exactly what ocean explorer, environmental advocate, and storyteller Tiffany Duong did—quite literally—while 60 feet below the ocean’s surface in the Galápagos. One dive changed everything. A law career left behind. A new life in the ocean (and for the ocean) just beginning.

Tiffany joined me on The Underswell to talk about her wild career pivot—from unhappy corporate lawyer to full-time storyteller, nonprofit founder, explorer, and creator of change. And while her journey is uniquely hers, her lessons are universal.

If you’ve ever questioned the career path you’re on, felt the nudge to pivot, or dreamed of chasing something more joyful, more purposeful, and more you—this one’s for you.

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From Law Office to Liveaboard

Tiffany had all the hallmarks of a successful career: a law degree, a prestigious job, a house in LA. But she describes that version of her life as “feeling dead inside,” living only for the few hours or days where she could feel fully alive—usually doing adrenaline-filled activities on the weekends.

A scuba diving trip to the Galápagos changed that. “I literally held onto a rock at the bottom of the ocean,” she said. “And my brain said: you’re going to die alone if you don’t let go.”

So she did. And when she surfaced, everything was different.

She went back to LA, quit her job, sold her house, and promised herself she’d never return to a life that didn’t feel alive.

The Life Gumbo

Today, Tiffany is based in the Florida Keys (sometimes). She's constantly traveling—to Honduras, Norway, the Bahamas, the Amazon—writing, diving, leading expeditions, and building nonprofits like Tela Coral and The Seabirds. She lives by a rule: “My life is never the same on purpose.”

And while it may look chaotic from the outside, she calls it her “life gumbo.” It’s not a neat little dinner plate with separate compartments—it’s everything, all mixed together.

That includes:

• Building scientific storytelling campaigns for undiscovered reefs like the “Rebel Reef” in Tela, Honduras

• Leading all-female exploration teams to the Arctic, Antarctic, and everywhere in between

• Recording ocean soundscapes with hydrophones and turning them into open-source data maps for researchers and educators

• Empowering non-scientists, moms, teachers, and everyday citizens to become ocean advocates through storytelling and citizen science

Bold Career Advice

Tiffany had so many great one-liners and golden nuggets, but here are some highlights I’m still thinking about:

💥 “Don’t go out looking for a job title. Start with how you want your life to feel.”

💥 “Failure isn’t failure—it’s just a data point.”

💥 “If data were enough, we wouldn’t have a climate crisis. People need to feel something.”

💥 “You are also the art.”

💥 “Let life move you.”

💥 “Don’t limit yourself. Dream bigger.”

💥 “Money doesn’t create happiness—it just reduces unhappiness.”

💥 “There’s no such thing as perfect environmentalism. Be an imperfect advocate.”

Building on Her Terms

Whether she’s filming a documentary, co-founding a nonprofit, or hanging upside down in aerial yoga overlooking the ocean, Tiffany is chasing one thing above all: joy.

She’s not afraid to be multidisciplinary, to blur lines between science and art, to post ocean data one day and her half-marathon the next. She refuses to niche down. And she’s okay with moving a little slower if it means staying true to all the parts of herself.

That approach may not be for everyone, but it’s exactly the reminder so many of us need: There’s no one way to build a career. There’s only your way.

Three Big Takeaways

If you’re thinking of making a pivot, trying something new, or building a life that looks a little different, Tiffany’s parting advice is:

1. Define your own version of success.
   For Tiffany, it’s waking up when she wants, living where she wants, and never taking a meeting she doesn’t want to be in.

2. Embrace change and build your adaptability.
   The world will shift—so don’t fight it. Just take the next best step.

3. You don’t need the whole map.
   Start where you are, with what you have. The rest unfolds as you go.

If you’re not already following Tiffany, go do that now. She’s on Instagram @tiffmakeswaves and LinkedIn, and she’s a generous, open, powerful voice in the sustainability and storytelling space.

Her story is proof: when you trust the ocean (or the process), let go of the rock, and stop waiting for permission—you just might find yourself flying.

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✌️ DS