One of the most persistent challenges I have faced is the deeply ingrained stereotypes and biases that often limit how Asians—particularly Asian women—are perceived in leadership. There is a long-standing expectation that we should be quiet, agreeable, diligent workers who blend into the background rather than bold, decisive leaders who command the room. 

Early in my career, I was repeatedly underestimated—spoken over in meetings, overlooked for leadership opportunities, and even advised to “soften” my ambitions to fit within a mold that was not made for me.

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