When Soon Hagerty was just about five years old, she spent 12 days crammed on a boat with about 40 people, fleeing Vietnam for a refugee camp in Indonesia. Her family arrived in America with just $300 and eight mouths to feed and another on the way. Since then, she’s launched a luxury PR firm, co-founded a global communications agency, opened The Good Bowl restaurant in northern Michigan and created Boundless Futures Foundation , which gives female founders $50,000 grants. Her secret? She says it’s not about being fearless — it’s about taking action even when you are filled with fear.

Your journey in life and business is quite remarkable. Can you share how you came to America?

My dad fought in the Vietnam War alongside the South Vietnamese and American armies. After the fall of Saigon, those who opposed communism were forced to join a re-education camp. And as you can imagine, there’s no education happening there. So my parents knew they had to leave.…