How do you turn your toughest struggles into a force for progress?

Ask Jake Kailahi, a mixed-race Tongan from the North Bay who grew up isolated, questioning his identity and dealing with the passing of his father.

“If you feel like you’re on a path alone, I hope it gives you confidence knowing that you might be the first one doing it,” Kailahi said. “You’re creating a pathway for others around you.”

Kailahi’s original roadmap to become a Football star was stomped out by a heart condition.  

At the risk of an aneurysm, stroke, or his heart rupturing, there was no chance he could rub some dirt on it and walk it off.

So instead, he walked straight onto a different path.

“You’ve got to move,” Kailahi said. “The one thing I know is that opportunity is going to present itself in a lot of different ways, and you’ve got to make sure you’re putting yourself in a position to execute on those opportunities.”

Community college, working part-time at a sports store, and throwing himself headfirst into whatever caught his interest was the first step. Transferring to the university of Santa Barbara was next, and he wasn’t just walking toward his future any longer. He was flying into it.

He ended up in the tech start-up world, although had various involvements in different education and charity initiatives. The things he did, the organizations he got involved with – there’s enough of them to justify a book just counting them off.

The key takeaway is why he made the choices for his future that he did.

“It has to always be purpose driven work,” Kailahi said. “I’m never going to go and be part of an organization that’s just grabbing money. There’s got to be some kind of impact, it’s got to be driving some kind of positive outcomes for the world.”

Once you find success, the important thing is what you do with it.

“You either get a seat at the table and pull up some chairs for others,” Kailahi said, or use your success to “build your own table.”

You needn’t look any further to understand his philosophy than to simply hear the name of the company he works at today: ‘Career Karma’

Recently, as the Senior Program Manager and a Product Strategist for the company, he was crucial in their launch of a program with Google that will help 5,000 learners break into careers in tech.

Kailahi’s advice for anyone about to walk down their own path?

“Walk into any room like you’re the best thing they’ve never heard about.”

Hear Jake Kailahi tell his inspiring story in full on the Nesian News podcast here.

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