The Visibility Mindset

1Finding Your Own Voice

Bernice Chao

If people were silent, nothing would change.

—Malala Yousafzai, Pakistani activist for female education, Nobel Peace Prize laureate

When asked to speak at the Omnicom Precision Marketing Group's (OPMG's) Asian Pacific Islander Collective, I was stunned that Van Tran, a principal at Credera, and Cathy Butler, the chief executive officer at Organic, had picked me to talk about charisma. As someone who constantly feels like a fish out of water no matter what room or conversation I am in, this would have never been a topic I would have chosen for myself. I discovered, however, that others see me as charismatic because of the strategies and techniques I consciously employ while speaking with others.

Learning how to communicate is vital for Asian Americans because they face a strong stereotype as technically competent, diligent, and quiet. Because of this perception, Asian Americans are less likely to be promoted into management and leadership positions.¹ In western workplaces, those in leadership positions typically are praised for having qualities of being outgoing, bold, and sometimes even brash, which is at complete odds with how Asian Americans are seen in society.

A New York Times article reported that more than 160,000 student records showed that Harvard consistently rated Asian American applicants lower than others on traits such as “positive personality, likability, courage, kindness, and being widely respected.”² This news was a painful ...