Uncapping Leadership: Authoring Your Own Leadership Story as an AANHPI Community Member

Episode Overview:In this week’s episode, Lindsay speaks with Alex, Chief ProgramOfficer at LEAP, about how dominant leadership archetypes can cause Asian and Asian American professionals to feel pressured to choose between cultural values and workplace success. Alex describes the “invisible tax” of self-erasure, burnout, and imposter syndrome, and frames LEAP’s impact as helping participants realize they don’t need to fix themselves to fit anarchetype; they can “author” themselves, stop performing, and close the gap between who they are and how they lead.  The conversation explores Asian cultural values and how behaviors tied to hard work and achievement can be both helpful and hindering, including getting stuck in the weeds, missing networking and leadership opportunities, perfectionism, and low tolerance for ambiguity.  Episode Breakdown:00:00 Breaking the Leadership Archetype: Why Leaders Don’tAll Look the Same02:15 The ‘Invisible Tax’: Self-Erasure, Burnout, andImposter Syndrome03:36 From Fixing Yourself to Authoring Yourself (and FindingYour Voice)05:35 Meet Alex: The Mentors and Moments That Led to LEAP11:58 AAPI Cultural Conditioning vs. Workplace Norms: Namingthe Core Values13:33 When ‘Hardworking’ Backfires: Perfectionism, Ambiguity,and Looking Up16:25 True North Check-In: Fulfillment, Purpose, and thePrivilege of Reflection24:05 Being Misread at Work: Model Minority Myths and‘Executive Presence’26:29 Code-Switching, Validation, and Burnout: Staying YouWhile Translating29:25 Why We Don’t Celebrate Ourselves: Survival Mode &Upbringing29:58 Imposter Syndrome, Deferral, and the Lifelong Journeyof Self-Worth31:25 Turning Cultural Humility Into Strength: Anxiety asFuel & Leadership Relatability35:08 Does It Get Easier? Leadership Growth, Hardship, andOne Foot Forward39:18 Inside LEAP: “Keep Your Values, Develop New Skills” +Program Overview45:43 What LEAP Feels Like: Culturally Affirming LearningEnvironments & Validation48:48 How to Apply + New Learning Community for Disruptors(and It’s National)51:14 Final Takeaway: Be Seen—In Any Moment, Choose Courage What You’ll Learn: Why AANHPI underrepresentation in leadershipisn’t a talent gap, but a systems and archetype gap.How cultural values like humility and hard workcan be misread in Western workplaces.The hidden cost of self-erasure, code-switching,and performing instead of leading.Why leadership is a human experience rooted inconnection, not just outcomes or titles.How to stop fixing yourself and start authoringyour own version of leadership.About Alex Cena:Alex Cena is the Chief Programs Officer at LEAP (Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics), where he leads the development and implementation of leadership programs serving AANHPI professionals across nonprofit, corporate, and highereducation sectors nationwide.  As a leader with a background in higher education, student affairs, and nonprofitleadership, Alex brings over a decade of experience designing culturally responsive leadership development initiatives.  His work centers on empowering leaders to keep their values while expanding their skills, challenging outdated leadershiparchetypes, and building pathways for AANHPI professionals to lead without self-erasure.  Alex is passionate aboutcultivating community, amplifying underrepresented voices, and creating spaces where leaders can show up fully and authentically.Connect with Alex: LinkedInConnect with Courage Class on TikTok,Instagram, YouTube:@[email protected]/podcastSign up for Courage Class Notes, aweekly newsletter:https://dr-lindsay-kwock-hu.kit.com/980fac101a⁠⁠Music Credit: DayNigthMorning from Pixabayinvitation-no-copyright-music-388387 Memoria – Sadpiano and strings cinematic background, Descript River Song, Descript