Twenty years ago, Jane Hyun published Breaking the Bamboo Ceiling, exposing the invisible barriers that prevent Asians in leadership from reaching their career goals. Yet, despite growing DEI efforts in workplace advancement, those barriers remain. Asian Americans currently comprise 13% of the U.S. professional workforce, but only 6% of them hold executive positions, according to a 2020 LEAP report.
Hyun’s latest book, Leadership Toolkit for Asians: The Definitive Resource Guide for Breaking the Bamboo Ceiling, responds to these ongoing barriers by offering practical strategies to decrease the leadership gap for Asian professionals.
Hyun is a renowned leadership coach and diversity strategist, working with global organizations on DEI initiatives. In a conversation with Cold Tea Collective, Hyun reflects on the ongoing challenges Asians face in breaking through leadership barriers and the need to support a more multicultural leadership.
Closing the Workforce Gap for Asians
When Hyun first wrote Breaking the Bamboo Ceiling, she observed that DEI initiatives in the corporate world often overlooked Asian Americans in their diversity programs. “They were counting us as a minority group, but we weren’t part of any initiatives these organizations offered,” Hyun explained. “Asian Americans need help too — they need assistance, mentorship, and guidance.”
This gap in support — coupled with the onslaught of Asian hate at the peak of the pandemic — inspired Hyun to channel her experience into Leadership Toolkit. “The global pandemic reminded us that we are still considered outsiders,” said Hyun. “I realized I needed to share the story of everything I’ve been working on, including the challenges we continue to face.”
Cultural Awareness Among Asian Leaders
When Hyun reflected on her years of coaching, she found that many of her clients struggled to understand how their cultural upbringing could actually shape their workplace experience. “Many Asian leaders are not fully aware of how their life experiences and cultural values influence their professional behavior,” Hyun explained. “It’s only when we start unpacking these experiences that they see their career path more clearly.”
To help foster these realizations, Hyun recommends considering how your personal upbringing and cultural values affect your daily life. “Reflect on what being Asian American means to you beyond your country of origin,” Hyun said. “How does this identity shape the way you interact with the world?”
The Model Minority Myth in the Workplace
Although most Asian Americans may be familiar with the model minority myth, some professionals may feel that their workplace experiences aren’t impacted by race or ethnicity. Hyun encourages Asian Americans not to undermine the role this may have on their career growth. “To the degree that you are of Asian descent and you bring that into a workplace, people will make assumptions about you because of who you are and your identity,” said Hyun. “That’s something you can’t control. I would say most Asian Americans would be affected by this.”
Even in majority-Asian workplaces outside of North America, the bamboo ceiling may appear in a different form. “Many professionals in Asia work for Western companies, so the workplace can be very Eurocentric in its stance and structure,” said Hyun. “There’s often a gap in leadership and who has access and who does not.”
Taking Action Against the Bamboo Ceiling
To combat the “bamboo ceiling,” Hyun recommends Asians in the workforce be intentional about the relationships they build. In today’s fast-paced work environment, upcoming leaders need to invest time in creating strong networks of people willing to push for their growth, both inside and outside their organizations. “Who you’re working with and who you’re learning from is crucial,” she explains. “Identify people who inspire you and think long-term about how they can support your career. There’s no time like the present to foster those relationships.”
Self-reflection is also key. From academic, professional, or even extracurricular experiences, Asian leaders can identify patterns of strength and accomplishment. “Reflect on those moments where you felt naturally capable and fulfilled,” she says. “Taking the time for this kind of deep reflection is essential for moving ahead in your career and finding roles that are a better fit for who you want to be.”
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