Nine Deaths, One Life: From Fashion Model to High-Tech Exec, Where East Meets West

Nine Deaths, One Life: From Fashion Model to High-Tech Exec, Where East Meets West is a book about surviving and excelling in three-dimensional paradoxes: navigating the tensions between Eastern and Western values, transitioning from a looks-intensive to brain-intensive industry, and enduring nine near-death experiences in the quest for a good life.

The stories are down-to-earth and deeply personal, demonstrating how to live by five guiding principles: courage with wisdom conquers, travel the least-traveled roads, embrace cross-disciplinary thinking, success is not predictable-failure is, and virtue is theft-proof wealth.

This book is useful for professionals, for curious minds seeking insight into immigrant experiences, and for young people, particularly young women, looking for life and career guidance. It also explores parenting practices for raising children with a conscience and an unwavering sense of responsibility. More than a memoir, this book addresses critical thinking, decision-making strategies, and tactics for ordinary people in life and work.

"Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat." -Sun Tzu, The Art of War

Kan Tang believes in balancing science and art, logic and imagination, and embracing multidisciplinary thinking. A former high-tech CTO and engineering executive, she is equally passionate about the performing and literary arts. As a first-generation immigrant, she developed a love for reading, writing, coaching, and public speaking to inspire and empower others. Featured in Women in Security and AgileToday, Kan has spoken at major events including the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing Conference, the CIO Forum, Government Summits, HP Discover mainstage, and GitHub YouTube Live. She holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering and a master's in computer science from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and completed the Harvard Business Leadership Program. Earlier in life, Kan was a professional model in China as well as a singer and track-and-field athlete. Outside of technology and literary art, she enjoys music, fashion, fitness, and designing floral arrangements. Kan resides in Wichita, Kansas.