Jiezhen Wu: CEO Struggles, Leadership Lessons from Parenthood, and Why 5-Year Plans Fail – E587

Jiezhen Wu, leadership coach and community builder, joins Jeremy Au to explore how identity, leadership and parenting intersect in shaping purposeful careers. They trace her journey from nonprofit work and Harvard to coaching C-suite leaders across Asia. Together, they reflect on living by design rather than default, the trade-offs of relocating from the US to Singapore, and the internal clarity needed to define true success. Jiezhen unpacks how becoming a mother reshaped her professional lens, why Southeast Asia holds untapped potential for leadership development, and how frameworks can guide but not dictate growth. The episode blends candid stories, cultural nuance and practical reflection for anyone navigating career and life transitions. 01:29 Identity evolves across life stages: Jiezhen shares how becoming a parent, moving countries and shifting careers reshaped how she introduces herself and lives more intentionally. 04:28 Leadership coaching creates systemic impact: Coaching senior leaders unlocks broader ripple effects across organizations, communities and even family systems. 10:08 Parenting clarified her values and time choices: Her decision to integrate work she loves with being present for her children guided her career shift and focus. 14:10 Returning to Singapore aligned purpose and place: While the US offered development, Asia felt like home with stronger roots and a clearer sense of impact. 19:09 Flexible playbooks work better than fixed plans: She encourages leaders to replace rigid five-year plans with adaptive playbooks that evolve with life’s seasons. 20:42 Success requires clarity and courage: Coaching often helps people articulate what they truly want and take steps toward it instead of staying stuck or self-sabotaging. 28:31 Tools are useful when customized to the individual: Jiezhen uses coaching frameworks, leadership dialogues and self-designed models like the Possibly Playbook to support reflection and change. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/jiezhen-wu-playbook-over-plan Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Vietnamese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts