193. Soon Hagerty Shares her Global Brand Communications Experience and Incredible Life Story

When she was four, Soon’s family fled Saigon at the end of the Vietnam War. After a perilous 12 days on a boat and another six months at a refugee camp, the family ultimately settled in Fresno, California, sponsored by an uncle who had fought for the South Vietnamese. Her parents’ determination to create a successful life in America by becoming entrepreneurs inspires and defines Soon to this day. Soon has co-owned several PR/marketing firms including Luxe Communications, which she founded, and Centigrade a marketing, communications and events company with several offices in North America and Europe. Her global brand communications experience includes developing strategy for many of the world’s top brands, including Lamborghini, Ducati Motorcycles, eBay Motors, Black River Caviar, Xellent Vodka and Breitling watches. Since 2016, Soon has overseen Hagerty’s brand strategy in support of the company’s stated purpose to save driving and fuel car culture for future generations. In 2022, she was named one of the U.S.’s “Top Women in Communications” by Ragan Communications for her work in transforming the Hagerty brand. She played a lead role in transforming Hagerty from a local specialty insurance company operating in a basement to a global publicly traded lifestyle brand for car lovers that joined the New York Stock Exchange (HGTY) in 2021 with a value of more than $3 billion. A believer in “doing good by doing well,” Soon is founder and co-owner of The Good Bowl, a mission-based Vietnamese restaurant in Traverse City, Michigan, that donates $1 per bowl to charity. She is also the creator of “Help in Heels,” a women’s volunteer group, and “Running in Heels,” a women’s entrepreneur group. Soon is married to McKeel Hagerty. Together they plan to launch a non-profit to support women entrepreneurs nationally. Of everything she has done in her life, Soon is the most proud of her daughter Ava and her step-daughters, Olivia and Sophia.