Jane Hyun, executive coach and diversity strategist to Fortune 500 companies and author of Breaking the Bamboo Ceiling, recently talked on how Asian American professionals can successfully navigate one’s career in today’s multicultural workplace. Ms. Hyun, president of Crossroads Associates, was the guest at a discussion held November 2 at the law firm of Arnold & Porter in the nation’s capital. Over 50 guests came.

The Practicing Attorneys Resource Committee of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association (APABA) of the Greater Washington, DC Area organized the event. May C. Lee and Leah Frazier are the Co-Chairs of the Practicing Attorneys Resource Network of APABA-DC.

She gave tips on how Asian Americans can thrive in mainstream America. In Asian boardrooms, it’s respectful to wait your turn, she said. American boardrooms are filled with people interrupting and speaking loudly to be heard.

Noting that second and third generation immigrants continue to face barriers, she cited the cultural differences. Asian sayings, "The nail that sticks up, gets hammered down," and "The loud duck gets shot at" contrast with the Western sayings, "You have to toot your own horn" and "The squeaky wheel gets the oil." "Asians have to learn to speak up," she said. She cited Helen Zia, author of Asian American Dreams, who kept reminding people how to pronounce her name correctly.