How Identity Has Influenced a Product Manager's Career at ChargePoint
Kevin's Asian American heritage presented a significant career challenge, stemming from cultural norms around speaking up and saying no, which directly conflicted with the demands of product management. Overcoming this required conscious effort to "detach from that label" and recognize how cultural background impacts workplace behavior, ultimately leading to a deeper understanding of global cultural differences and enhancing career success.
Overcoming Challenges, Cultural Awareness, Communication, Product Management, Self-Awareness
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Kevin Chung
Product Manager
ChargePoint
Cornell University 2011
UCLA MBA
Political Science, American Studies
Energy & Utilities, Technology
Product / Service / Software Development and Management
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans, Greek Life Member, LGBTQ, Student Athlete
Video Highlights
1. Overcoming cultural barriers to speaking up and saying no: Kevin discusses how his East Asian cultural background initially made it difficult to voice opinions or disagree, a crucial skill in product management. He emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and recognizing how cultural upbringing can influence professional behavior.
2. Developing cultural awareness and understanding: Kevin highlights the value of recognizing one's own cultural background and how it impacts interactions in a diverse workplace. This awareness extends beyond just his experience as an Asian American, emphasizing its broader applicability to professional success.
3. Importance of self-reflection: Kevin's journey underscores the need for self-reflection and understanding how personal experiences shape career decisions and interactions. He encourages others to identify and address similar cultural influences on their own professional lives.
Transcript
As someone who identifies as Asian American, how has that impacted how you've navigated your career?
This experience has definitely impacted my career in many ways, both subtle and quite noticeable. But I think the biggest challenge I went through, and something I helped to break free from in product management, was related to my culture.
Broadly speaking, a lot of East Asian cultures can have something similar. You can feel locked into an environment where it's not really a good thing to speak up, or it's very hard to say no. If you've been listening to my other answers, you know that product management often involves saying no confidently and questioning authority.
It's about pushing yourself into uncomfortable zones. That was a great learning experience and a challenge. I didn't realize how hard it was until I started facing issues where someone would ask why I didn't speak up. You don't want to just say it's because you're Asian, as that shouldn't be the excuse.
However, in some ways, it is. That's how you grew up and the household environment you were in. Detaching myself from that label, while still being a proud Asian American, meant not doing things stereotypically defined by my behavior.
So, being cognizant of those behaviors and how they impact involvement in an American workplace made me more aware of cultural differences, not just in the United States, but around the world. I think that's a very good skill to have.
Developing this awareness is important. Even if you're not Asian American, recognizing where you come from and how that impacts success in your role is crucial. I would say be very cognizant of these things and look into yourself to see how they impact you.