Breaking the Bamboo Ceiling

An essential career guide for every Asian American—and all their co-workers and managers—that explains how traditional Asian cultural values are at odds with Western corporate culture.

Leading Asian American career coach and advocate Jane Hyun explains that the lack of Asian Americans in executive suite positions is brought about by a combination of Asian cultures and traditions strait-jacketing Asian Americans in the workplace, and how the group’s lack of vocal affirmation in popular media and culture, afflicts them with a “perpetual foreigner syndrome” in the eyes of Americans who don’t know enough to understand the challenges placed on Asian Americans in the corporate environment.

Filled with anecdotes and case studies from her own consulting experience covering the gamut of Asian Americans from various backgrounds, the book discusses how being Asian affects the way they interact with colleagues, managers, and clients, and will offer advice and real world solutions while exposing the challenges encountered.

For the Asian reader, the book will help them to see the cultural barriers they subconsciously place in their own career paths and how to overcome them. For the non-Asian reader, the book serves as a primer for promoting optimal working relationships with Asians, and will help start a dialogue that will benefit all.

Why do so many qualified Asian Americans hit a "bamboo ceiling" in their careers, and what can you do to break through?

• Understand Cultural Differences: Learn why traditional Asian values like humility and respect for authority can be misinterpreted in Western corporate culture and how to bridge the gap.
• Debunk the Model Minority Myth: Move beyond the harmful stereotype that Asians "are doing just fine" and address the real, often invisible, barriers to career mobility.
• Master Self-Promotion: Discover practical techniques for "tooting your own horn" in a way that feels authentic and overcomes the cultural tendency toward self-effacement.
• Build Your Network: Learn the art of networking and mentorship to gain visibility, find sponsors, and stay in the succession planning pipeline.
• A Guide for Managers: An essential primer for non-Asian leaders on how to support their Asian team members, foster an inclusive environment, and unlock their full potential.

Jane Hyun is an internationally renowned executive coach and global leadership adviser to Fortune 500 companies, business schools, and nonprofit organizations. She speaks frequently on the topics of authenticity, culture, and leadership. A graduate of Cornell University with a degree in economics, she is the author of Breaking the Bamboo Ceiling. She lives in New York City.