Asian Women Leaders: Get Your Voice Heard in 2025

🔕 Have you ever stayed silent in a meeting, debating with yourself whether to speak up?

I have. Growing up in an Asian household, I was taught to respect hierarchy, be humble, and prioritize harmony. Naturally shy and reserved, I believed my work would speak for itself.

In my first job, I worked incredibly hard but was afraid to speak up in meetings. It felt like I might overstep, interrupt someone more senior, or risk saying something that wasn’t good enough.

I’d debate with myself: Do I have anything useful to say? Will it sound smart? What if I waste my leaders’ time?

By the time I found the courage, the moment had passed. Afterwards, I’d feel terrible for staying silent. 

I’ll never forget a performance evaluation where I was told, “You’re too quiet”. My rating was downgraded despite my accomplishments.