Why is it that, at our school, there is such a high representation of Asian and Asian American students, yet we do not see the proportionate representation win leadership? Have a conversation about the opportunities, the challenges, and strategies for success.

1. Phillips Academy
Seattle Girls’ School
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee
Leading While Asian:
Envisioning and Getting to Leadership as
Asians and Asian Americans
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)

2. About Seattle Girls’ School
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)

3. About Seattle Girls’ School
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
What Calls You into Leadership?
Think about the time or experiences that
got you interested in being a student
leader. What keeps you from going for it?
What happened when you went for it? If
you got there, how did you get there?
What keeps you going?

4. “Leadership”
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)

5. “Leadership”
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)

6. “Asianness”
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)

7. “Asianness”
 Deference to authority figures, respect for elders, self-
effacement, restraint, avoidance of family shame, and
placing others’ needs ahead of one’s own. These
values are slow to change across generations. (Kim,
Atkinson, Yang)
 In surveys, only 15 percent of Asian-American chief
academic officers have participated in leadership
programs, compared with 57 percent of African
Americans and 30 percent of Hispanics.
 Asian Americans have the lowest rate of rise to
management when compared with Blacks, Hispanics
and women in spite of having the highest educational
attainment.
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)

8. “Asianness”
 Within a few years of employment, many Asians find
themselves pigeonholed into dead-end careers with no
path for advancement to upper-level corporate careers.
 Asian Americans are less likely to aggressively
network, self-promote, and speak up at work meetings
with concern and ideas when compared to their
coworkers.
 Unconscious physical trait bias (height, eyes,
expressiveness, warmth, engagement) affects
perception.
 Though Asians report widespread workplace
discrimination, many do not report these instances.
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)

9. Things You Can Do
 Envision your “ultimate goal” or “dream role”
 Seek mentors and sponsors
 Enter leadership programs
 Practice with mid-level leadership
 Be adaptive without losing yourself
 Own and speak your accomplishments
 Seek opportunities that have a growth potential
 Leave situations without growth opportunities
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)

10. Re-Defining “Leadership”
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)

11. Presenter Information
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee
6th Faculty and
Professional Outreach
Seattle Girls’ School
2706 S Jackson Street
Seattle WA 98144
(206) 805-6562
rlee@seattlegirlsschool.org
http://tiny.cc/rosettalee
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)