Unleash Your Inner Underdog by Starting with Success.
In Underdog Nation, Quang X. Pham disrupts the standard mindset advice by presenting a framework to help you commit to your vision of success, confront your obstacles, course correct, and build your credibility.
“Quang X. Pham’s personal story is one of incredible courage and resilience. He has turned his own hardship and pain into a pragmatic framework to achieve success that almost anyone can apply to their own personal and professional lives. A unique and unflinchingly honest approach to separating self-worth from setback, reframing and owning negative results as a way to recalibrate a path to success”
— Holly May, Chief Human Resources Officer, Petco and former CHRO of Walgreens Boots Alliance and Abercrombie & Fitch
“From war to Wall Street, Quang X. Pham’s incredible underdog journey from Vietnam to America and from the Marines to biotech is a must read!”
— Michael Waltz, Nation Security Adviser, former Congressman from Florida, bestselling author and Green Beret combat veteran
“Twenty years after chronicling his journey from South Vietnam to the Marine Corps in A Sense of Duty, Quang X. Pham is back with his astonishing second act. Underdog Nation bundles his lifetime of achievements, which now includes serving as CEO of a biotech firm that IPO’d, into a practical framework for business and social success that converts life’s obstacles into propellant. Inspiring stuff from Pham, always a Marine.”
— Owen West, former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations, retired Goldman Sachs partner, acclaimed author and Marine combat veteran
“Underdog Nation is the patriotic journey of a war refugee who became a Marine Corps pilot then CEO of a Nasdaq-listed company. Quang X. Pham’s definition of success as driven by effort and results (Going to the ER), with relatable life lessons to be read and heard, will resonate with many audiences.”
— Alison Levine, Mountaineer and New York Times bestselling author of On The Edge
“Underdog Nation is an essential read for leaders and anyone striving for something more in life. Drawing from his incredible journey of overcoming insurmountable odds, Quang X. Pham shares powerful lessons in leadership and resilience. Through practical insights and real-world wisdom, his book serves as both a trusted guide and a source of inspiration for navigating life’s inevitable challenges. When you find yourself off course, Underdog Nation will be the roadmap to get you back on track.”
— Carey D. Lohrenz, former U.S. Navy fighter pilot, CEO, WSJ bestselling author, Fearless Leadership: High-Performance Lessons from the Flight Deck, and Span of Control
The reason most people feel left out, burned out, unappreciated, or lost in life or in their professions is because they are chasing success defined by someone else.
The solution? Define your own vision of success.
Author Quang X. Pham has consistently defined success by harnessing the spirit of the underdog. From his roots as a Vietnam War child refugee, to flying into combat as the first Marine Corps pilot of his heritage, to ringing the bell as CEO of a new IPO on Wall Street, Pham’s equation for success has been rooted in his ER Approach™―zeroing in on your effort and results.
Most people sabotage their chances by overcomplicating the journey. Meanwhile, underdogs excel by simplifying decision-making, honing their skills, and disrupting expectations. If you’re tired of the status quo, consider this your invitation to join the Underdog Nation in the greatest country in the world, the USA.
About Quang x. Pham
Quang X. Pham is a biotech executive, war veteran, author, speaker and community leader with a remarkable journey shaped by resilience, service, and entrepreneurship. He made history as the first Vietnamese American to earn naval aviator’s wings in the Marine Corps and lead an initial public offering (IPO) on Nasdaq.
His inspiring American underdog journey, told in first person, is unlike any other.
Born in Saigon, South Vietnam, Quang and his family fled as refugees when he was 10, while his father, a Republic of Vietnam Air Force pilot, remained and was imprisoned for more than a decade. After earning a degree from UCLA, Quang served seven years on active duty, flying CH-46 helicopters in the Persian Gulf War, Somalia and in the Reserves.
Following his military career, Quang transitioned into business, founding multiple pharmaceutical companies. In 2000, he launched MyDrugRep.com (which became Lathian Systems), an innovative online platform for physician marketing engagements, which was later acquired. In 2015, he founded Espero Pharmaceuticals and Jacksonville Pharmaceuticals. His leadership and entrepreneurial success earned him the Florida EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2018. Today Quang serves as Chairman and CEO, Cadrenal Therapeutics (Nasdaq: CVKD).
Quang is also the author of the award-winning father-son memoir, A Sense of Duty: Our Journey from Vietnam (Penguin Random House, 2005).
Committed to giving back, Quang has served on the boards of private companies, veteran charities and educational organizations. He lives Florida with his family, continuing to lead and inspire.