Connecting with Jane Hyun

How have relationships influenced your professional development and leadership style?

I would NOT be able to do this work without key people at my clients who see the valuable role of an external perspective.? As well, I couldn’t be effective in my role as an interculturalist without the power of my network and community!? During the times when progress?seems slow,?or when leaders seem to be distracted, I count on my “core connections” to be a source of encouragement and accountability.?

I feel fortunate to have had mentors who believed in me when I had to step up to take informed risks with my career when the stakes were high. This allowed me to move past my comfort zone at critical milestones in my life. They’ve taught me to trust myself, and I learned the value of creating a bigger dream than what I could have conjured up.

Do?you?have any tips for maintaining and building strong relationships?

Quite simply, trust takes time to develop.?Always lead from an authentic place is my bottom line, and aim to build long lasting relationships, and that goodwill will yield positive outcomes over time. You want to forge bonds with people who will challenge you and encourage you. If you’re new to building relationships or if the idea of widening your network & getting out there seems daunting to you, start with people that you get a good feeling from.?

How have?you?intentionally built inclusiveness into your circles?

With the work I’ve done traveling to cities around the world (5 continents), I’ve found great fulfillment in cultivating?a diverse network of friendships. It’s been super valuable to stretch our relational comfort zone and bring in others that do not “fit” neatly into your circle. These individuals have the potential to open up your world in ways you might not expect, and I’ve always been intentional about continuing to maintain them. They will yield novel ways of thinking, and bring lots of new adventures!

As an Asian American woman who spent the first 14 years of her career in male dominated spaces feeling like I was often the youngest (or youngest looking) person in the room, I have always had to engage with people and were managed by those who are different from me.?My nonprofit involvement has also been quite a range of activities:? I’ve worked with Operation Exodus Inner City, Inc. , a non-profit that launches NYC Latino youth to excellence through educational opportunities and mentoring relationships. I’ve served on the American Heart Association Diversity Council, and on the board of NAAAP (National Association of Asian American Professionals) .

What community or communities are?you?proud to be a part of?

I have a solid, tight group of friends who represent 4 different areas of my life – the organizations I’ve worked for, fellow parents I have met (through my kids) since becoming a parent, mentors from a wide array of sectors, and HR leaders who are committed to inclusion.?I’m proud of the small community of leaders (from multiple ethnic and cultural backgrounds) who are partnering with me to help build culturally fluent leaders throughout the world.

I love being part of a greater group of interculturalists who are seeking to create workplaces, schools, and neighborhoods where everyone’s voice can be better heard. I want to be part of the greater movement to do good in this world in community. ?

Who’s a Connector that's made a difference in your life??

Rich Hille, one of my early managers, generously expanded my network as I prepared to leave Wall Street and start my own consulting practice!

He introduced me to 2 members of his own network, who then introduced me to 2-3 people in their network, and it grew from there. Those conversations led me to explore executive coaching as a career path. During that time, prior to 2000, coaching was not as widely used. His support gave me the boost to explore a few different pathways before I settled on my current practice.

It's an honor to feature inspiring change-makers across industries who share their stories and words of wisdom about how to build meaningful relationships. Catch up on #CONNECTED with our previous guests, including Sloane Davidson , Soraya Darabi , Kristen Titus , and more!

Susan McPherson is a serial connector, seasoned communicator and founder and CEO of McPherson Strategies , a communications consultancy focused on the intersection of brands and social impact. She is the author of The Lost Art of Connecting: The Gather, Ask, Do Method for Building Meaningful Relationships.

Follow Susan on LinkedIn , Twitter and Instagram and order her new book, The Lost Art of Connecting , also available on Kindle and Audiobook.