The Impact of Cultural Differences on Leadership Success with Joy Chen | Tao of Chao 15

The Tao of Chao Podcast

Chinese Americans quickly learn that there are cultural differences between the Eastern and Western business worlds. Today's guest is our bridge between the two.
In this podcast episode, Philip Chao interviews Joy Chen, CEO of the Multicultural Leadership Institute. They discuss the importance of cross-cultural communication and the impact of cultural differences on leadership success. Joy shares her personal journey and how she developed cultural fluency through immersion in Western business cultures. From this personal story, Chen and Chao explore the challenges faced by Chinese immigrants in Western companies and the need to understand the unwritten rules of the game. From schooling to overcoming accent biases, they explore the shallow understanding of diversity and the need to focus on cultural diversity rather than just race.
From today's episode, you'll hear these key takeaways:
- What are "WEIRD" cultures (Western Educated Industrialized Rich Democracies)
- Grades are important, but they are not the sole determinant of success. Cultural and social skills are equally important.
- Accent bias exists in American society, but it can be overcome by developing relationships and showcasing one's value.
- Building relationships and venturing out of one's comfort zone is crucial for personal and professional growth.
- Diversity should be understood in terms of cultural diversity, not just race.

DISCLOSURE: Views expressed in the Tao of Chao podcasts are individual opinions and they do not represent the employers of each guest or the firm with which each guest is associated. Our podcasts are for educational and informational purposes only and should not be deemed or viewed as investment advice or recommendations. Please consult your personal financial advisor, investment expert, or investment fiduciary before taking any actions about your plan and investments.

Chapters

1. Cold Open (00:00:00)

2. Introducing Joy Chen (00:00:44)

3. Joy Chen’s personal backstory (00:01:41)

4. Christmas party and finding life purpose (00:03:10)

5. Joy Chen’s professional resume / viral blog post (00:04:27)

6. Current projects including Multicultural Leadership Institute (00:06:17)

7. State of US-China relations and the US China trade war (00:07:22)

8. Personal relationships in polarized world (00:10:04)

9. Joy Chen and the Multicultural Leadership Institute (00:10:53)

10. Diversity in the US context / DEI — Diversity Equity and Inclusion (00:12:32)

11. Reframing the DEI debate — Is diversity or culture more important? (00:14:09)

12. Human tribalism (00:16:39)

13. Cultural goggle: How we learn to see the world (00:18:05)

14. Cultural adaptation as survival tactic (00:19:39)

15. Understanding differences between Asian and American leadership styles (00:22:54)

16. Losing cultural heritage and "Model Minorities" (00:25:18)

17. Joseph Henrich and WEIRD: Western Educated Industrialized Rich and Democratic (00:28:48)

18. Understanding East vs. West business cultures (00:30:47)

19. WEIRD parallel: Introverts vs. Extroverts (00:34:15)

20. WEIRD exhibits extrovert traits (00:34:52)

21. Indian Americans success in Western corporate cultures (00:36:14)

22. School tips for Chinese-American students (00:37:18)

23. “Social skills are more important than grades and report cards” (00:38:33)

24. Accent as an impediment? (00:39:43)

25. Accent-bias in America / Story of power broker Charlie Wu (00:40:41)

26. Post-Pandemic career (00:43:47)

27. Divisiveness of DEI and potential solutions (00:44:39)

28. Where to learn more about Joy Chen (00:45:58)

29. EoS (00:46:56)

30. Legal Disclaimer (00:47:18)