🔕 Have you ever stayed silent in a meeting, debating with yourself whether to speak up?
I have. Growing up in an Asian household, I was taught to respect hierarchy, be humble, and prioritize harmony. Naturally shy and reserved, I believed my work would speak for itself.
In my first job, I worked incredibly hard but was afraid to speak up in meetings. It felt like I might overstep, interrupt someone more senior, or risk saying something that wasn’t good enough.
I’d debate with myself: Do I have anything useful to say? Will it sound smart? What if I waste my leaders’ time?
By the time I found the courage, the moment had passed. Afterwards, I’d feel terrible for staying silent.
I’ll never forget a performance evaluation where I was told, “You’re too quiet”. My rating was downgraded despite my accomplishments.
I was shocked and realized that my silence was being interpreted as a lack of leadership potential.
That moment was a turning point. I started speaking up more, but I soon faced a new frustration: I wasn’t being heard.
I’d share an idea, only to be interrupted before finishing. Someone else would repeat my idea—and they’d get credit. Even when I had valuable insights, I wasn’t acknowledged.
I felt invisible.
It became clear that speaking up wasn’t enough—I needed to amplify my voice in a way that ensured I was truly heard.
But I was uncomfortable being loud or overly aggressive—it didn’t feel authentic to who I was.
I asked myself: How do I speak up without feeling inauthentic to my Asian values?
It wasn’t easy, but over time, I developed techniques to speak up authentically and assertively while staying true to who I am.
I know many Asian women are going through the same struggle—finding their voice while feeling unseen and unheard. The costs of invisibility are high: missed promotions, unheard ideas, stalled career growth.
But you don’t have to go through this journey alone. I founded the Asian Women Empowerment Network to increase the visibility of Asian women and empower them to be seen as authentic leaders.
To give Asian women a headstart on increasing visibility in 2025, I’m partnering with Marriot Winquist, to host a FREE Lightning Lesson "Asian Women Leaders: Get Your Voice Heard in 2025", on Wednesday, Dec 11, 12 pm - 12.30 pm PT, as part of Maven's Momentum 2025.
In just 30 minutes, you’ll learn the cultural barriers holding you back, master 5 ways to speak up and get expert insights. 🎁 Bonus: We’ll stay an extra 30 minutes for live Q&A.
Whether you’re struggling to speak up in meetings or feeling invisible in leadership conversations, this is your turning point.
🎙️ Your voice matters. You can be seen and heard.
Reclaim your power and show up as the authentic leader you’re meant to be.
👉 You can sign up and access the recording of the lesson here: https://lnkd.in/gRMGVhC2
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