Comments

• Jul 25, 2009 3:11pm - Where are the Asian Male Newscasters?
  I went to the KCAL website (http://cbs2.com/bios) to check out the babes mentioned. What struck me was not how pretty they are, but the lack of Asian men. Except for one guy, Liu, but he appears to be of mixed race, so that doesn't count. And he's a digitial reporter, I guess that means either reporting on computers or behind the scene (without showing his face). Seems like Asian women are accepted, but Asian men are still considered outsiders.
• Jul 23, 2009 9:57pm - Lilie Hermansjah
  I agree with Samiam and Terry Cheng. It is hard to climb to higher position in here. I was a Finance Director in my country and in here, I work only as a assistant manager. What a waste. With my degrees I should get better position but always can't compete with this white, or other races. I am thinking is there racist in recruit employees specially to higher position?. Probably yes,...sometimes I always have a feeling, they think Asian American is less smart than other . which is really untrue. Well, we still have to fight for that barier and hopefully we will succeed in that part.
• Jul 20, 2009 9:34pm - PT -The Articulate Advantage
  Whoa! Yes, I am a Caucasian. And, I find successful Asian professionals many places. Many women and many men. And no, they have not sold themselves out as Mia Lee. The folks I know are all over the world and successful: They constantly keep their eye upon the goal without ever "selling out"
  They ascribe to the saying "As you walk through life, whatever be your goal, keep you eye upon the donut and not upon the hole"
  
  Let's look at what it takes for absolutely Anybody..... including we Caucasians.
  
  In M. Scott Peck's book, "The Road Less Traveled", the 2nd sentence of either chapter 2 or 3 says "Life is not fair". And it isn't. Never was and never will be.
  I lived for 20 months in Shanghai, China. I saw that regular smart Asian folks were bypassed in Asian companies as often as anybody else.
  
  The key to move up the ladder? As with anybody in any country.....
  1. Know your audience. If the ones in power are interested in golf. Be interested in golf. If they respond to sports and dating metaphors (as they do for my Asian born American friend Ph.D in science & a president of an international management consulting agency)...then use dating and sports metaphors.
  Even Caucasians are told to be interested in what their boss is interested in.
  
  2. How to demonstrate and become successful at this: Read and use the tips in a good networking book like "Never eat alone: and other secrets to success, one relationship at a time" by Keith Ferrazzi w/ Tahl; Raz.
  Another which gives specific words/phrases/sentences to say and not say: Jack Griffin's book: "How to Say It at Work, Second Edition: Power Words, Phrases, and Communication Secrets for Getting Ahead (How to Say It...) "
  
  3. Define specifically what you want. Look for those who getting that and work to get to know these type of folks. Write it down and refine it as you go. We cannot reach a goal if we do not know what it is, the daily actions, the qualifications, people skills and nuanced communication styles. e.g. heavy duty listening & negotiation skills.
  
  Be sincerely interested. Work on your professional communication style and above all, keep your eye on your goal.
  
  Here's to your success,
  Phyllis
• Jul 19, 2009 5:46pm - An example of a "successful" Asian American
  Who "made" it in the American business world.
  
  Go do a Google search of Mia Lee on KCAL 9 News in Los Angeles.
  
  She is a middday news anchor for Channel 9.
  
  She is the epitome of the Asian American sellout who has shed not only her image, but plastic surgerized herself to the point of Michael Jackson, even bleaching her skin, got a boob job,
  
  where she is almost unrecognizable as a Korean American.
  
  Yet she is probably making a very good living as a middday anchor for a major news network, and she is an example of "American business success".
  
  Let me ask all the people who have had a chance to see Mia Lee in action.
  
  Exactly what is the price of success and fame in this country.
  
  Is it required that you shed 100% not only your image, philosophy, attitude, physical make-up, and even voice as an Asian person to become more "American" to become an "American success".
  
  Let me just tell you this. If I needed to completely change the way I look to appear less "Asian", and go suck some Jewish dick (which I'm sure Mia Lee does 24/7)
  
  I would rather completely fail and become a bum than do that to reach the "success".
  
  All Mia Lee was sell her soul to the Devil.
  
  What is more important I ask the Asian American readership who has by chance come across this article and my comments : is money and success more important than being true to your heart and soul?
  
  Ask yourself this question before you decide if you really want to "succeed" in America.
  
• Jul 19, 2009 5:35pm - If I could do it all over again.
  I would not have gotten a business degree and tried to make it in Corporate America with the whites, blacks, and mexicans.
  
  If I did try to the corporate route, I would have at least studied something that is at least "going with the grain" for my background, culture, and ethnicity as an Asian American. IE I would have studied IT, computer programming, science or engineering and tried to make it in a company as a techie, laboratory scientist, engineer or another highly technical position that America views as a bastion and traditional domain of "model minorities".
  
  As far as positions concerning leadership and management, well why try to be a square peg fitting in a round hole?
  
  Life is short. We have a lot of things to worry about as it is in a finite amount of time.
  
  When all of America is basically geared unfavorably towards Asians, especially with regards to handing handing over reigns of power to Asians in influential roles and positions within corporate management, other forms of leadership, or politics,... why try to fight the power and be a superhero.
  
  Sure in the end, something is gonna need to happen. Some Asian is going to have to break the mold, like Barack Obama did for the blacks in order to change the American view of Asians.
  
  Yet, as far as I can see it, we're far from that. Also there are like milllions and millions of Asians who are trying to do the same thing.
  
  Is it possible that all of us can become a mini Barack Obama within the corporate world.
  
  Fat chance, most of us are gonna fail. That is just the sheer probabilities as they relate to outcomes for most endeavors.
  
  Sure it is important to try, but why the need to try to so hard and try to make our lives the stuff of movies and books written about us.
  
  A made for hollywood movie about the minority underdog who strove and strove despite the odds and obstacles that hold us down as powerless minorities in Corporate America.
  
  Why try to be a superhero?
  
  Like I said, life is short. Some of us are gonna try to be the outlier and the fat end of the tail who comes from left field to beat the odds and make a name for ourselves. Like I also said, 99% of us who try this endeavor are gonna fall flat on our faces as have the last 20 to 30 years when our predecessor Asian American sisters and brothers have tried the same thing and eventually just faded away into void of nothingness.
  
  Hey life is not so complicated. In the end all people want respect, all people care most about themselves and their families and loved ones, and most people don't want to share. They are greedy. Greedy for life, greedy for success, and money. Most people also gravitate towards familiarity. A familiar face, a familiar heritage, a familiar voice, a familiar race.
  
  If you take that into consideration, there is just no way that an Asian American who has statistics working against him in terms of population is going to stand much of a chance against the millions of non Asians who would rather see one of their own than an Asian.
  
  If I stand back and reflect for a moment all of the above, and if I had a chance to do it all over again....
  
  I would just rather have studied premed in college, go to med school, and become a doctor and make a comfortable living and make a difference by saving lives.
  
  Why? Because white people and most Americans don't have any qualms about taking advice from an Asian person but they sure as hell don't want to take orders from one.
  
  Cheap, simple, and petty right? Welcome to the human psyche.
  
  Deep down inside, we are all just animals.
• Jul 19, 2009 5:26pm - The Answer
  When have White men actually given anything to minorities? African Americans started becoming executives because they started their own companies such as BET, etc. Most truly successful minorities are either self-made or were greatly helped by people of their own race. Civil rights came about because minorities started scaring the crap out of White leaders in the 1960s. Asian American women who are given positions must realize that they are still being viewed as sex toys for White men who can't get or handle White women. Asian Americans must realize that they must start helping each other instead of rejecting each other. Jewish people are so successful because they stick together and help each other.
• Jul 19, 2009 8:28am - The Answer
  When have White men actually given anything to minorities? African Americans started becoming executives because they started their own companies such as BET, etc. Most truly successful minorities are either self-made or were greatly helped by people of their own race. Civil rights came about because minorities started scaring the crap out of White leaders in the 1960s. Asian American women who are given positions must realize that they are still being viewed as sex toys for White men who can't get or handle White women. Asian Americans must realize that they must start helping each other instead of rejecting each other. Jewish people are so successful because they stick together and help each other.
• Jul 17, 2009 8:05am - My take
  And this guy knows this : “to be successful in the executive suite, we shouldn’t give up our culture and values. But we have to recognize the skills needed to be an effective leader. We have to learn to speak up and be noticed, even if it’s just to point out that we work well collaboratively.”
  
  because he himself is a successful executive manager?
  
  I doubt it. 11 years of corporate experience in America. All of the AA execs I have seen (that I can count on my one hand) have no semblance of their Asian culture than their outward appearance. They seem to do everything they can to shed their ties to their culture than the other way around. IE they just seem like sellouts, for lack of a better word.
• Jul 16, 2009 4:25pm - Cecil Fong
  I worked for a major corporation and AP's who have done well in my company have all exhibited smilar characteristics in being proactive, showing initiative and passion, caring and people oriented, being able to think out of box. All of above characteristics make a good leader regardless of race and gender, so I think AP can overcome any inherent institutional bias by showing the right stuff and given the right circumstance in most companies. I also think it is very important to be always positive and not have a victim mentality. Despite the clearly superior education achievements, I perceived most AP's to be too easily satisfied and not willing to step out own comfort zone or make the necessary sacrifices in order to climb the corporate ladder. This can be one reason for the low AP representation in senior mgt ranks. Another important area AP's do not seem to realize is the need to network and build relationships outside our own group.
• Jul 16, 2009 11:49am - The only Asian males who should try for management
  In corporate America are the one or two Asian brother in the white fraternity in college. That sported the LL Bean vest with the UVA hat and wore hiking boots. They had no Asian friends, and were the only Asian brother in the frathouse.
  
  These guys can make it to management. That's cuz they probably grew up in Skokie, Illinois or Des Moine Iowa with 0.0001% Asian population so doesn't know what it means to be Asian anyway.
  
  Unfortunately for an Asian American who grew up in Orange County California and see white people from an Asian perspective, my ass is forever tainted with viewing whities as racist.
  
  I admit, it's around 40% my own problem because I think white people aren't gonna hire me so it reaffirms it.
  
  But still I'm sure in the end they only hire qualified Asians as tokens anyway to promote diversity and that is it.
• Jul 16, 2009 11:44am - samiam
  To the guy with the HBS degree.
  
  Go to Asia. You will be virtually guaranteed a job in junior management. It's up to you if you want to climb higher.
  
  At a foreign company located in Asia, you have a decent shot at making it to the upper ranks.
  
  At a domestic company, jr level sr exec is possible.
  
  Yeah it's a bunch of bs.
  
  You have to understand why you are not getting hired to be a fellow manager with white males.
  
  Think about it man. White people invented slavery man.
  
  No matter what they say or what they do, it is in their genetics to think they are the only ones who belong in "the club"
  
  They are never gonna treat u like one of their own to run a company even if you are more American than a white dude who just moved from Scotland.
  
  
• Jul 16, 2009 11:39am - Samiam
  This is a stupid ass question. The dumbest I ever seen.
  
  Why u ask? Because Crackers hold us down. Jeez its so obvious.
  
  Also like someone said, Asian Americans are also racist against our ownselves in playing Uncle Tom to the general American population.
  
  As UN PC as I sound, what I say is the plain truth.
  
  We got nothing working in our favor in this country. We are running against the wind, swimming upstream. Especially us males.
  
  Look at me. I"m a Wharton School graduate and I can't even find a job while all these black and mexicans have no problems getting a job after graduating from Everest college.
  
  If you're an Asian male in this country and unless you work in IT, or you're a doctor or a lawyer with your own people as clients...
  
  you should forget about climbing the corporate White America Ladder.
  
  Statistics show it's a losers game. There will be a much greater pay off to starting your own business.
  
  The odds are just not stacked in our favor.
  
  
  
• Jul 16, 2009 7:18am - Terry Cheng
  I would like to add 2 points to your excellent article. First, Asian American managers or executives do not hire our own people based on my observations of large employors and in midwest states. African Americans and Latino Americans do hire or promote their own. Second, we need to populate more in larger employors to give us higher percentage of exposure in the candidate pool.
• Jul 16, 2009 6:44am - KL
  Good points made in this article but there are some additional factors I have picked up along the way in my career. Traditionally, Asian Americans make great workers and can be extremely knowledgeable but are not groomed for leadership roles in typical US companies - and these are 2 different paths in work. AA's are culturally perceived as too "soft" ie: docile, non-vocal, non-aggressive, and lacking the robust image that corporations want to have in the upper ranks of positions. Language issues continue to perpetuate the obstacles where corporate does not want anything less than perfect English and the all-American well-roundedness with the ability to cultivate inter-corporate relationships outside the office including things like knowledge of and proactive involvement in sports (golf, football, baseball, etc.) Things like this matter a great deal at the upper levels of management and it's just one of the ways you get noticed and promoted. But it is a long uphill battle because Asians cannot easily shake off the image they are physiologically "stuck" with. It's almost like you have to do the impossible-shedding your skin
  
  However, it will be very interesting to see how things unfold in the future as business development and growth continue to shift over to Asia. White American management can be perceived as reckless and overbearing (and unwelcome) in that part of the world.
• Jul 15, 2009 11:06pm - The Real Thing
  I graduated from Harvard Business School and plenty of job offers for firms who wanted to send me to Asia. But those same firms would not give me any offers in this country, even though I was born in and grew up in the US. This made me realize that I had to start my own company or join a small start-up. The fact is many White executives hire and promote people like themselves (White men) or people that they feel like they can control (brainwashed minorities) or people that they are sexually attracted to (women). It is unfortunate but true.