The Cost of Being an ‘Interchangeable Asian’
This image is a composite of 100 portraits made of Chinese, Japanese and Korean men by the artist Atta Kim as part of his series “Self Portrait.”Credit...Atta Kim
Is getting comfortable as a squeaky wheel the only way to succeed in corporate America?
Anna Mok might argue yes. She is the president of the Ascend Foundation, and as one of the first Asian American women to rise to an executive role at the consulting firm Deloitte, she experienced her share of mix-ups along the way. She encourages people to speak up for themselves and bond with co-workers over common ground, like shared enthusiasm for a hobby or sports team or coming from the same hometown.
“People remember you because they remember what we have in common,” she said. “You have to lead with that a little bit. I don’t think you can lead with, ‘I’m Asian.’”
