If, as an old Asian saying goes, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step,” Radio Free Asia (RFA) is fortunate to have Libby Liu as its president since 2005.

            RFA is based in the nation’s capital. Federally funded through the Broadcasting Board of Governors, it broadcasts regional news in nine languages to China, North Korea and other closed societies in East Asia.

Libby was born in San Francisco in 1964. Though young, she has made many thousand-mile journeys and taken so many first steps that this new journey probably looks at once fresh and familiar to her. She sees the Big Picture, and its nuances.

So count on her to sagely and boldly provide leadership in this turning-point time for the region. She’ll enjoy the journey too, although colleagues sound as if she has found her destination at RFA.

Listen to an RFA senior staff member: “At this point, Libby is finally able to bring all the different strands of her life together--her intuitive understanding of Asian culture, her love of the arts and the news, her passion for rule of law and freedom of expression, her personal integrity, even her happy family life. She speaks now with a gravitas that she acquired only in her forties.”

            Or listen to RFA Vice President for Programming/Executive Editor Dan Southerland: “When I first met Libby, I could not believe that any one person could combine so much experience in so many areas–law, business, human resources–you name it.”

He added: “She also has a really good feel, for example, for the Web and its potential for RFA. On top of all that, I discovered she has a

wonderful sense of humor. So maybe you can understand why I enjoy going to work every day.”

“This is not just a job for her, her heart is completely in the mission,” Southerland said, quoting an RFA reporter. Norman E. Thompson, vice president for administration and finance, said, “Libby is a most effective manager of people and issues, quickly grasping complexities and proposing insightful solutions in a prompt and decisive manner.”

An RFA senior staff member said RFA was clearly going through growing pains when Libby took over. “The staff unionized, board members changed, some language service directors and others retired, two beloved staff members died, and the countries to which we broadcast seem to grow more repressive all the time. The challenges were, and are, daunting.

“Libby has met every challenge and every crisis with a laser-like intelligence (I swear she creates Excel spreadsheets in her head), an even temper, an enviable capacity to make decisions for the good of the ‘whole’ company, a tremendous heart, and a sort of grace that is quite difficult to describe.”

In her remarks at the University of Pennsylvania Law School last January, Libby traced her career and her roots and urged students to “Follow your conscience, and your passion, and go make things better–wherever and however you can. Remember that meaning is something you build into your life: Just be on the lookout, always, for opportunities to build it.”

Libby earned her Master in Business Administration from the prestigious Wharton School. She studied law at the University of Pennsylvania. She was human resources director and employment counsel at Syrus in San Jose, California. She became a criminal prosecutor for five years.  She said in her January speech she then “had the opportunity to work on the Strategic Plan of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)–adapting the civil rights movement to the new world.”

Libby’s parents had a hard life when they came here “during the 1950s after a slight relaxation of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882.” Her father, a National Taiwan University graduate, washed dishes to support himself while attending the University of California-Berkeley. Her mother was a National Taiwan Normal University graduate.

Her father was the one who sent her the RFA job listing for VP of administration and finance and told her to think about focusing on her Asian roots.  Shih-Chi Liu is the National Science Foundation program director for sensor technology. He told Asian Fortune he’s “very proud and confident in Libby’s ability to be a good leader.”

            Asian Fortune caught up with Libby on the road via an email interview. Excerpts from that interview follow.

Which programs of your predecessor will you continue, and what programs would you introduce, particularly regarding China, a major factor in Asia?

My predecessor, Dick Richter, along with VP Dan Southerland with his journalism stature (particularly in Asia), created a news operation with the highest levels of journalistic integrity and credibility despite enormous adversity from the governments of our target countries. 

RFA has been able to establish a unique niche of go-to journalism on issues of relevance to people who are denied news and information by central government-controlled news outlets. Of course, each language service’s programming is individualized to each market/culture, but we have a cohesive philosophy and a spirit of purpose that is pervasive throughout.  The programs we are enhancing as we mature involve discourse and public forums. For example, we have call-in programs in our China-based services which allow audience members, at great personal risk, to discuss thoughts and ideas of forbidden topics.

Who are the people you brought to your team?

Recent additions to the senior management team are Norman Thompson, VP of Administration and Finance, Alan Tanenbaum, HR Director, Bernadette Burns, legal counsel and the tragically deceased Robert Wone, General Counsel. 

Who are the people you know in the media circles that can perhaps be resource persons? 

There are too many resources to name here…We have Board members with great journalism expertise who guide us and support us in so many ways–especially the RFA committee members Blanquita Walsh Cullum and Joaquin Blaya. Our sister organizations, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Voice of America, Middle East Broadcasting Network and Office of Cuban Broadcasting. all have great leaders and vast journalistic resources.

Who are the persons who have influenced you in your life? 

Everyone I’ve known has influenced me in one way or another. I try to emulate the positive traits in others and try to avoid the pitfalls of others.  I model myself on character traits rather than specific people:  motivational, decisive, merit-oriented, fair, even-handed and compassionate, etc.

What is your typical day/schedule?

The early morning is a blur of activity, centered on getting two elementary school children off on the bus. In the office, it is a constant stream of issues/resolutions–crises, short-term projects and long-term strategies. It is always a whirlwind of ideas, decisions and interaction with people both inside and outside RFA. The early evening is another child-related blur of activity wherein my role is primarily that of a chauffeur before bedtime, and an hour of quality relaxation time before bed. 

Did I mention the 24/7 blackberry addiction?  RFA’s senior team keeps closely in touch during all waking hours via Blackberry, to the chagrin of most of our long-suffering spouses. I encourage others to “step away from the Blackberry.” But in truth, it is really a gift to have a job that you love and that you desire to stay connected to all the time like we do.

What do you do for relaxation? 

What relaxation? I play with my husband (Tony Scardino) and the kids (a young daughter and stepson), enjoy the sun, read and spend time with friends and family.