Creative Work
Award-Winning Filmmaker × Bestselling Author × Aspiring Cartoonist
Dave has always loved making things: books, cartoons, films, videos, travel stories, and occasionally elaborate excuses for why he loves wearing cowboy hats in California.
His creative work sits at the intersection of Wall Street survival, Asian American storytelling, dad humor, underdog energy, and the lifelong belief that if something is painful enough, confusing enough, or ridiculous enough, it probably deserves to become a story.
Dave studied creative writing at the University of Pennsylvania, screenwriting through Sundance Institute, and satire through The Second City. He also spent decades in finance and technology, which is basically comedy with spreadsheets.
Career Writings
I wrote THE WAY OF THE WALL STREET WARRIOR because after decades on Wall Street, I realized most career advice is either too vague, too boring, or written by people who have never been trapped in a conference room with twelve bankers arguing over font size.
The book is my humorous, irreverent guide to surviving and thriving in corporate America. It’s part career manual, part battle plan, part therapy session for anyone who has ever wondered, “Is this meeting necessary?”
It sold almost 10,000 copies in its first two weeks, became a Top 10 Amazon bestseller in business finance, and won several awards, proving that occasionally the universe rewards sarcasm, scars, and practical advice.
BREAKING BAMBOO is my career advice column for AAPI, underrepresented, and ambitious professionals who want to get ahead without losing their souls, sanity, or lunch money.
I write about the unwritten rules of work: how to manage bosses, take risks, build a brand, survive office politics, and understand why “quick sync” is often corporate code for “abandon hope.”
Think of it as career advice from someone who climbed the ladder, saw what was at the top, and decided to send notes back down.
I’ve loved drawing cartoons since I was a kid, which means I’ve spent most of my life turning emotional damage into tiny illustrated people with oversized heads.
My cartoon work includes THE ABC LIFE, inspired by the funny, awkward, and surprisingly profound moments of being an Asian American dad, husband, human, and occasional walking embarrassment.
I also created cartoons for THE WAY OF THE WALL STREET WARRIOR because finance books should not feel like punishment. Sometimes the best way to explain corporate absurdity is with a joke, a drawing, and a character who looks like he just got destroyed in a staff meeting.
Film is where my love of storytelling, representation, and controlled chaos all come together.
Through Liucrative Media, I support films and filmmakers who tell bold, emotional, funny, strange, deeply human stories, especially Asian American and underrepresented voices that deserve a much bigger screen.
I’ve been lucky to work on extraordinary films such as DÌDI (弟弟), which won at Sundance, EVERY DAY AFTER, which won HollyShorts and became Oscar-qualified, FORGE, which won CAAMFest, HOT WATER, which won at SFFILM, and INHERITANCE, which won Slamdance.
These films have premiered at major festivals, earned meaningful recognition, and reminded me why storytelling still matters in a world drowning in content.
My own creative goal is simple: make films that entertain first, hit emotionally second, and sneak up on you later while you’re brushing your teeth.
Travel is my excuse to be curious in public.
I love exploring places with history, culture, food, beauty, weird signs, questionable transportation decisions, and at least one moment where I think, “This is either a great story or how I disappear.”
My travel writing is not about pretending to be a glamorous influencer standing alone in a perfectly empty landmark. It’s about discovery, family, photos, videos, history, jet lag, snacks, and the joy of realizing the world is much bigger, stranger, and more generous than your inbox.
My one travel rule: take lots of photos and video. Then take more. Future you will be grateful. Current you may run out of storage.
Creative Training
I’ve taken creative classes in satire, screenwriting, fiction, and video production because I like homework even after graduation.
Online Satire
The Second City
Screenwriting
Sundance Institute
Creative Writing
University of Pennsylvania
Video Producer and Editor
Bay Area Video Coalition
