The Other Side

In partnership with?Ascend Leadership, I am posting to shed light on #TheOtherSide and spark conversation about being Asian in the workplace. This is the side we don’t typically talk about, where bias, stereotypes, and cultural differences impact our ability to reach our full potential.

All my life, I’ve received compliments for my English abilities from well-meaning people. I’m sure it doesn’t come from a place of malice, but it illustrates how that perception of “otherness” exists: the perception that someone with my face can’t be a native English speaker. As a child, I was desperate to assimilate. Today, I embrace who I am. I lean into opportunities to subvert expectations and show people some data points that work against common stereotypes. Representation matters – not only to provide role models, but to break the mold on old thinking, too.

I’m fortunate to be with a company that emphasizes belonging in its culture and has time and again given me a platform to share my story. Join this initiative and learn about other ways to support at?https://lnkd.in/eVDWnqQA.?To all our allies out there: Thank you, and please support us by sharing this with your network @AscendLeadership #AscendLeadership #TheOtherSide #AscendTogether

You can also follow #TheOtherSide on LinkedIn to see stories of several Asian leaders and the types of challenges and perceptions they had to overcome.?