Honoring Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Who, if anyone in the Asian community inspired you to achieve your goals and do what you do today?

I would have to say, my parents. My father was curious and liked to figure things out. He encouraged me to study engineering at Ohio State University. My mother got a master's degree and studied at the most prestigious college in Taiwan. She pushed me to excel at scholastics. They both valued education and a strong work ethic.

How is it or how has it been working in the workforce as an Asian? Do you have any challenges that you faced?

For me, it has been pretty smooth in the workplace. I'm the first generation of my family who was born in the USA, and thus, I didn't have to learn or adjust to language barriers or cultural differences. My childhood upbringing was very much based on traditional Chinese values. I played piano and violin, as many Asian children are expected to learn. Family is and always will be my number one priority. There were many challenges when I was younger and in school. I was one of three Asian families in my hometown, and kids can be sometimes not so kind to things that are unfamiliar. It taught me to deal with adversity.

Do you have any motivating words for other Asians who aspire to pursue their dreams or get into the field you’re in?

I've been leading Customer Experience (CX) teams for quite some time now. There have been very few Asians in this field at any of the companies where I've been employed, which I find interesting. An important part of Chinese values is to strive to be selfless and help others. Asian parents sometimes try to influence their children to consider engineering or medical fields, and CX isn't typically a major, or at least a popular major, offered at colleges. Here is a case in point. How many times have you been asked to select a drop-down field to pick the option that best describes your profession, and how many times have you not been able to find anything related to Customer Experience leadership? Unfortunately, CX often is not top of mind for people until they need help, and it's at that point that one realizes how important Customer Experience is. It's a great field, and I encourage others to consider this line of work.

Who, if anyone in the Asian community inspired you to achieve your goals and do what you do today?

One person who inspired me is Jensen Huang, the CEO, and co-founder of Nvidia. He taught me to do the unthinkable!

How is it or how has it been working in the workforce as an Asian? Do you have any challenges that you faced?

JELD-WEN has a diverse workforce across the globe, and I have been having a lot of fun working with people from different backgrounds and cultures. Growing up in my Asian household, being cognizant of cost was essential; I guess it is a good thing, as the cost of capital is the essence of business.

Do you have any motivating words for other Asians who aspire to pursue their dreams or get into the field you’re in?

I have inspirational quotes from Asian people whom I think push me and will push others to chase their dreams. The first one is, "Smart people focus on the right things." -Jensen Huang, CEO, and co-founder of Nvidia.

The second one comes from a Malaysian actress who made an acceptance speech during the Oscars, "For all the little boys and girls who look like me..., this is a beacon of hope and possibilities. This is proof that — dream big, and dreams do come true. And ladies, don’t let anybody tell you are ever past your prime." - Michelle Yeoh, Malaysian actress.

Who, if anyone in the Asian community inspired you to achieve your goals and do what you do today?

Growing up, I didn’t really have any Asian role models available to me, nor was there much Asian representation in the media. However, as the social environment has evolved, it has been inspiring to see increased Asian representation in leadership and in the media.

Do you have any motivating words for other Asians who aspire to pursue their dreams or get into the field you’re in?

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is a great opportunity for any person of any identity to learn more about and celebrate the wide variety of Asian cultures that exist.