Diversity and the Importance of Representation in Leadership
Ni hao ma? Wo hen hao and nice to meet you!
Over a decade ago, I started my career in health care marketing/advertising in New York and joined the Real Chemistry team in San Francisco in 2017. Over the last five years, I’ve seen the company more than double in size. We’ve been ambitious – not just in growing our roster of health care clients, but also in undertaking efforts to recruit diverse talent and foster inclusion. Although much work has been done, there are many opportunities left to explore and, in my opinion, it all starts with recruitment. During my time at Real Chemistry, I have been partnering with our Talent Acquisition team in our recruitment efforts and have learned some valuable insights.
I understand firsthand the importance of recruiting diverse talent, and I believe we must start by reaching out to communities directly. As a first-generation Chinese immigrant, the idea of a career in health care marketing/advertising was foreign. Today, China is the second largest global digital advertising market in the world, but that wasn’t always the case. Popular television shows such as Mad Men showcase the creative revolution on Madison Avenue in the 1960s, but during that period, China – my birth country – was still going through its cultural revolution. Although my mother, in traditional fashion, wanted me to major in science and become a doctor, I chose instead to follow my interest and major in political science. After earning a liberal arts degree, I entered the advertising industry and spent the initial years of my career learning the trade. However, I never truly felt that I belonged in the agency environment – or in the wider industry. Surrounded by driven individuals, I found it challenging as a woman of color to find my voice in meetings and to deliver my points of view with the appropriate tone. That experience made me sensitive to the journeys of others who are new to the industry.
After working in marketing/advertising for more than a decade, I only began to feel truly empowered – not just as an individual contributor, but also as a people manager – when I took the position at Real Chemistry. In my role here, I’m able to successfully guide my team members in navigating their careers by drawing on a host of internal initiatives – from managerial training to DEI groups, career coaches and dedicated time set aside for professional development and ongoing education.
As a leader at Real Chemistry, I champion all types of diversity. I’m grateful to have finally found my voice and balance, as I hold an intrinsic belief that inclusion in the workplace starts with me and my actions. I proactively ask for diverse benches of candidates to recruit and ensure that we as leaders are always creating a space for inclusion in our workplace. Soon, I hope to see more diverse talented teammates come through our doors. To all the creative souls I have yet to meet, sharpen your resumes because we’re hiring! And to my managers at Real Chemistry and my many mentors here and beyond: thank you for your support, and let’s get to work. There’s more to be done.
