Tech Collective Lunch & Learn: Mindfulness for Professional & Personal Success featuring Peggy Yao ’81

Peggy received her B.S./M.S. in Psychology from National Taiwan University and taught psychology at the University before she immigrated to the United States in 1972. She also took multiple courses in the MBA program at Pace University from 1979 to 1981.

Peggy has a big heart and loves to help people. As a lifelong volunteer, she has served the community in many capacities, from helping the PTA in local schools to serving as a translator at hospitals and sitting on the Board of Directors for the Taiwan Center in Flushing. She is an active member of Tzu Chi Foundation, which is the largest charity foundation based in Taiwan and serves over 90 countries around the world. As part of Tzu Chi, Peggy has participated in charity and medical missions for Hurricane Katrina relief in New Orleans and Super Storm Sandy relief in New York. She currently serves as the coordinator of the monthly mental health seminars of Tzu-Chi Foundation’s New York Chapter. Because of her enthusiasm and dedication to volunteering, Peggy received the distinguished service award from the Organization of Chinese Americans, Westchester Chapter, in 2006.

As the first Mandarin-speaking MBSR (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction) teacher in the Tri-State area, Peggy teaches and promotes MBSR at Chinese schools, Chinese senior centers, local libraries and the Tzu-Chi Foundation in New York and New Jersey. She believes that practicing MBSR can have a positive effect on a person’s physical and mental health.