Recognized for her ability to leverage positivity to take personal tragedy and turn it around into an advantage, Orlena is an inspirational speaker and patient advocate, with an unique ability to inspire global audiences on how to rise above physical limitations and accomplish your stated goals all by employing a “Mind Over Matter” mindset.
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Mind Over Matter
Despite having a rare brain disease that affects only less than 1 in 100,000 and being physically compromised with hemiparesis on one side, Orlena’s mind is strong and she is able to go out into her community to raise awareness about rare brain disease and to inspire others that not only can you survive stroke, but that you can thrive and inspire others.
When Orlena lost control of her car while driving her then 21 month old daughter 10 years ago, from a stroke due a rare disease called Moyamoya, when she awakened from her medically induced coma about 6 weeks later, she was enveloped in a world that was familiar, but that would never be the same.
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Ten years later, after two brain surgeries, the loss of both of her dear parents, the birth of her son and the endearing love of her husband and family have evoked Orlena's emergence from the smoke as she bands with twenty other “Warrior Poets” to bring to light the poetry of their collective survival.
MIND
OVER
MATTER
"After hearing Orlena speak to the Senior Management at Mauna Lani, it inspired myself and my Team with important lessons of perseverance and positivity. Orlena's story illustrates that persevering and maintaining a positive attitude can allow an individual to do anything even if it may have seemed impossible at one point in time." - Matthew Felton - Director of Rooms - Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection, 2022
''Orlena's positivity and her outlook on life inspired our group of leaders at Mauna Lani. Reminding us to shift our perspectives and realize how lucky we are in our jobs and our lives in general" - Carlos Peñaherrera - Front Desk Manager - Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection, 2022
"Orlena is professional, articulate and a terrific speaker who is able to educate and inspire others! Her positivity, drive, creativity and sense of humor serve as a roadmap for facing challenges, recovery and growth."
-Pamela Davis, MA, OTRL, CAPSPacific Stroke Association Program Manager, 2019
Prior Speaking Engagements
Asian Employee Resource Group(ERG), Caribou Health Sciences, Berkeley CA
Poetry Reading to the Pacific Stroke Association, World Poetry Day
In honor of Stroke Awareness Month 2023, comprehensive stroke talk at the Peninsula Healthcare District Fitness Center.
From Wheelchair to Podium:” Presentation at Ackerman Union, UCLA and discussions with students, UCLA Neurosurgury and Research team.
National Charity League Skyline Chapter February Patroness Meeting
Orlena is invited to speak on the Champion the Challenges Stroke Panel at Los Lagos Golf Course in San Jose for the Annual Golf 4 Life event.
Orlena presents at Santa Clara by sharing her experience as a stroke survivor with a group of leaders and professors at the meeting.
Orlena shares her Mind Over Matter approach as the keynote speaker at the Pacific Stroke Association February meeting.
Orlena is featured at the Pacific Stroke Association (PSA)'s annual Auction and Gala with her story of resilience and determination in overcoming stroke as a young mother.
Panelist on Minimum Continuing Legal Education(MCLE) Alumni Panel, Santa Clara University, School of Law
Guest Stroke Survivor Speaker at 23rd Annual Pacific Stroke Association Stroke Conference, Schultz Cultural Arts Hall, Palo Alto
“Author Meet & Greet at Barnes & Noble” in San Mateo
Book talk and signing, Boutique Dandelion, San Jose, CA. Fundraiser with a percentage of proceeds from book and boutique sales benefitting the Pacific Stroke Association.
Orlena is invited to speak in front of the senior leadership team at the Mauna Lani Resort on the Big Island in Hawaii to share inspiration and strategies for how to overcome hardship by adopting a "Mind Over Matter" mindset.
Invited to speak in front of the Nursing staff at Santa Clara Valley Medcical Center, the hospital previously a patient at.
Orlena kicks off the Pacific Stroke Association (PSA) Annual Stroke Conference Presenting on Surviving and Thriving after her stroke while offering inspiration and an intimate look into a stroke patient’s story of survival.
Orlena joins her alma mater for a panel sharing her experience as a stroke survivor and her subsequent rehab with many of her own past teachers in attendance.
Orlena closes out the Physical Therapy All Hands staff meeting by sharing her experience as a stroke survivor and her subsequent rehab with many of her own therapists in attendance.
Book selected to be featured as a noteworthy book in the NAPABA Book Nook at the 35th Annual NAPABA Convention, JW Marriot, Indianapolis, Indiana
Guest Speaker at virtual May meeting for talk with members of YESS: Young Stroke Survivors.
Poetry reading at Alma Mater Castilleja with fellow Class of ‘95 classmates helping to read poetry
“Know Stroke” Featured guest with Co-hosts David Dansereau and Michael Garrow on their “Know Stroke” Podcast for some thought provoking questions and a deep dive into rehabilitation and hard questions about Stroke Recovery.
Orlena is the featured speaker at the Peninsula Healthcare District Health & Wellness Center sharing her stroke survival journey and Mind Over Matter mindset approach.
Invited to speak in front of Oracle's Diverse Abilities Network to share inspiration and strategies for turning personal tragedy into triumph all by employing a “Mind over Matter” mindset.
Orlena is featured at All Hands for Informatica with her story of resilience and determination in overcoming stroke as a young mother.
Orlena was
featured in NetApp’s “Learning from Each Other” Speaker Series on August 5th.
Orlena is featured at the Pacific Stroke Association (PSA)'s annual Auction and Gala with her story of resilience and determination in overcoming stroke as a young mother.
MOYAMOYA STRONG
Orlena (Fong) Shek
(She/Her) Speaker, Writer, Thought Leader, Change Agent. Championing grit and resilience by utilizing a "Mind over Matter" mindset to take on life's challenges and live your best life. Former Open Source Licensing Legal Expert.
Personal Leadership
How to leverage opportunities to step up to take on a leadership role even during the most difficult of times
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Mind Over Matter
How to find meaning out of hardships by rising above your limitations to achieve your stated goals
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The Power of Positivity
Lessons from a double brain surgery stroke survivor warrior
Living an Intentional Life
Why it's possible even in the face of tragedy and how to do it
