How Identity Has Influenced A Small Business Owner's Career
Howard, a business owner, describes their Asian American identity as a "hyphenated identity," a complex experience that has shaped their career by fostering deep connections with clients who share similar multifaceted identities and "core immigrant struggles." This understanding allows them to offer coaching services to a broad audience, recognizing that "most people just have that," a complex identity, rather than a singular, pure one.
Overcoming Challenges, Identity, Cross-Cultural Communication, Entrepreneurship, Building Connections
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Howard Zuo
Business Owner
Small Business Owner
Georgia Institute of Technology, 2011
N/A
Engineering - Chemical
Aerospace, Aviation & Defense, Coaching, Speaking & Writing
Entrepreneurship and Business Owner
None Applicable
Video Highlights
1. Howard's experience with a hyphenated identity as an Asian American has allowed him to connect with a broad range of clients, understanding the complexities of navigating multiple cultural backgrounds.
2. He emphasizes the importance of owning one's identity and creating space for it, which translates to his coaching business where he works with diverse clients facing similar identity-related challenges.
3. He highlights the commonality of complex identities, arguing that most people don't have a 'pure' identity and that the ability to relate to these diverse experiences has broadened his career opportunities and client base.
Transcript
As someone who identifies as Asian American, how has that impacted how you've navigated your career?
I brought up being Asian American as one of the many identities I hold. This hyphenated identity has been central to me since childhood.
I'm not Asian enough for "actual Asians," but not American enough for "generic Americans." I had to wrestle with that because there was no way for me to change my identity. I couldn't have a childhood in Asia or time travel back.
The outcome was that I had to own my identity. I also had to create space for it. I couldn't pick and choose parts of it; I had to accept everything as a package.
In my coaching business, I work with non-Asians and Asians in Asia. The highlight is often how they themselves have hyphenated or complex identities they are trying to reconcile.
Recently, I worked with clients who felt it would be easier if they were in Asia. They believed people would look like them, understand them, and they wouldn't face anti-Asian racism. I met a client from China whose dream was to live in rural America, like Nebraska.
She explained that her dream was to escape the feeling of too many Chinese people in China, where there was no sense of personal space. She felt that deviating from the norm in China often led to being criticized. She wanted to be in a place where she could simply be her best, weird self.
This connection between two people with very different desires, but overlapping perspectives, highlights how having a hyphenated identity allows me to connect with others who have complex or hyphenated identities. I think most people have this. Being purely one thing is the rarity.
As I bring this more into my career, I feel I can reach more people. More people are open to my services, even if their experiences might manifest as a slightly different accent or food preference. The core immigrant struggles are very similar across the board.
Advizer Personal Links