School of Self-Worth
School of Self-Worth is a purposeful podcast and community for the ambitious woman who knows she is worthy of an astoundingly great life. Join us weekly as we redefine success, set and sustain boundaries, and reclaim your self-worth.
Hosted by Nicole Tsong, bestselling author, former journalist, and work/life balance coach, who helps professional women live an aligned life. We will have diverse and meaningful conversations with successful women from all walks of life who share insight about what it takes to be brave, joyful, and yourself every day.
Every single episode is thoughtfully designed to leave you feeling empowered, with tangible tips and advice that will lead you to your next breakthrough.
School of Self-Worth
139: How Brilliant Asian-American Women Turn into the Invisible Backbone
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You’re the one everyone relies on.
You deliver. You solve problems. You hold everything together.
So why are you still being overlooked?
In this episode, Nicole breaks down the hidden dynamic keeping so many high-performing Asian American women stuck: becoming the invisible backbone at work. If you’ve ever been told to “be more strategic” or watched others get promoted ahead of you despite your results, this conversation will shift how you see everything.
This isn’t a performance issue.
It’s a perception issue.
And the root of it goes deeper than you think.
Nicole unpacks how the experience of being a third culture kid shapes the way you show up in your career.
If you’re ready to stop being praised privately but overlooked publicly, this episode will show you the shift that changes how leadership sees you—without changing who you are.
THE TOP LEARNINGS IN THIS EPISODE:
- The "Invisible Backbone" Phenomenon for Asian American Women [00:00:12]
- Understanding the Third Culture Kid Experience [00:02:53]
- Cultural Values Impacting Visibility and Leadership [00:03:38]
- The Performance vs. Perception Problem [00:02:14]
- The Key to Advancement: Developing Internal Authority [00:06:19]
- Tangible Steps to Reclaim Authority and Shift Your Career Trajectory [00:12:12]
If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device, post it to your Instagram stories, and tag @nicoletsong so we can give you a shout-out and thank you for your support!
Asian Visibility System: Want to permanently reverse cultural conditioning and step into a life where you feel purposeful and thrive? Grab the Asian Visibility System: go.nicoletsong.com/visible.
Do you struggle with boundaries? Discover the blind spots holding you back and take the Boundary Tendencies Quiz: nicoletsong.com/quiz
Want to build morning habits that last so you jump out of bed with energy and clarity every morning? Join Nicole’s 5-Day Morning Challenge: go.nicoletsong.com/morning-habits
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For full show notes, transcript, and links, visit nicoletsong.com/podcast.
Have a question or topic you’d like Nicole to touch on in a future episode? Email podcast@nicoletsong.com to share any thoughts or feedback.
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