At some point in your career, you feel the tug: The Sunday-night dread.The creeping exhaustion.The sense that you’re doing everything “right,” yet something is missing.Maybe you wonder: “Is this the life I want to keep building?” You’ve worked hard to get to this point—earned respect, made sacrifices, pushed through self-doubt. Yet the cost of carrying all that can weigh on your well-being, slowly draining your spark. But here’s what most people don’t see: growth doesn’t have to come with...
27 days ago • 5 min read
Life has a way of teaching us the hardest lessons—often through loss, pain, and illness. For me, those lessons arrived all at once: two precious friends taken by serious illnesses, one suddenly gone before we could say goodbye. Then another dear friend diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer, facing a brutal battle. These women were all career-driven, accomplished, in the prime of their lives. Two are gone. One is fighting fiercely. In 2023, I faced my own health crisis. These experiences were...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
Have you experienced that nagging feeling of "not good enough" creeping in as you navigate your career growth? The pressure to advance, the endless scroll of seemingly perfect careers and lives on social media? You compare yourself with other people's careers and lives, you feel you're falling short in the social comparison game. If this resonates, you're in the right place. We, as driven professionals, often find ourselves measured against unspoken societal standards. It's a natural human...
about 2 months ago • 4 min read
II used to believe that being highly empathetic was my professional superpower. After all, emotional intelligence is a prized leadership trait, right? My early mentors certainly thought so: "Don't get emotional in conflict. Never make decisions when you're upset. Always keep your cool." So, I mastered the art of emotional regulation. I paused, breathed, and responded calmly, even in high-stakes moments. From the outside, I was a thoughtful, composed, professional leader. But inside, something...
2 months ago • 3 min read
This week, I received devastating news. A dear friend—a fellow professional woman—was diagnosed with stage 4 non-smoker lung cancer. It has already reached her brain, requiring immediate surgery. The pain now radiates through her shoulders and spine, and there’s a terrifying possibility it could spread even further. The speed? Just one month. The weight of this news was crushing. A stark, sobering reminder that beneath our responsibilities, roles, and achievements lies a simple, essential...
3 months ago • 3 min read
Burnout isn’t a buzzword, it’s a full-blown crisis. In Q1 of 2025, Glassdoor reviews mentioning burnout surged 32%, the highest spike since tracking began in 2016. Meanwhile, a 2024 LinkedIn survey found that 62% of American workers left paid vacation days untouched. That’s not just a workload issue. That’s an identity issue. Burnout isn’t only the result of high-pressure workplaces. It’s also fueled by internal patterns: the imposter thoughts that whisper we haven’t done enough, and the...
3 months ago • 3 min read
A few years ago, a friend asked me, “What does a good life look like to you?” I paused. Then I said, “I wish I had prioritized myself. I want to choose me—more.” At the time, I was so focused on my work that I had unintentionally neglected what makes life whole—relationships, health, joy, and well-being. I had been taught to invest in career growth, to be reliable, selfless, and endlessly available, for the team, the mission, the goals. And I excelled at it. But there was a shadow side to...
4 months ago • 3 min read
"Happy people are those who sleep less and hustle." I recently encountered this comment on social media, and I can't help but wonder: was it meant sarcastically, or does it genuinely reflect that person's reality? From years immersed in Silicon Valley's tech culture, I know the allure—and the potential pitfalls—of the 'hustle' mentality, often painting a picture of relentless, fear-fueled effort. But let's pause and truly ask ourselves: what are we striving for? Is this constant state of...
4 months ago • 3 min read
If you're a professional Asian woman like me, picture this… You're standing in front of the mirror, practicing how to ask for that well-earned promotion. Your track record speaks volumes—stellar projects delivered, high-performing teams led, innovations implemented. But still, something holds you back. That hesitation isn’t just personal. For many Asian women in America, career progression is shaped by a complex interplay of cultural values, gendered expectations, and racialized performance...
5 months ago • 3 min read