Say It Skillfully® – OUR VOICES Jim Yong Kim, improbable fighter
June 8, 2021
Hosted by Molly Tschang
[Download MP3] [itunes] [Bookmark Episode]
Guest Information
Episode Description
Say It Skillfully® is a show that helps you to benefit from Molly Tschang’s expert guidance on the best possible ways to speak your mind at work in a positive and productive manner. Episode 83 is the 13th feature of “Our Voices”–an opportunity to hear firsthand of people’s journeys and what it was like for them to grow-up, go to school, struggle, work and live in our world. Dr. Jim Yong Kim, Partner and Vice Chairman of Global Infrastructure Partners, shares his path to extraordinary change agent—what shaped his identity as an Asian American and how as educator, medical expert and global leader he made change happen at G20 summits and in remote, rural villages alike. Born in South Korea to parents uncharacteristically NOT urging “just fit in,” Dr. Jim reveals his early years in America—feelings as an outsider, often stared at, and struggles with what being Korean means. His Father, tough and unashamed of his roots, guided his son to complete medical school before other studies, so he’d “have a skill that no one can take away from you.” Unlike Asian stereotypes, Dr. Jim divulges his nature as a fighter and shares fondly his exhilarating, formative time at Brown University’s “Third World Center” and feeling closest to his fellow people of color. He may surprise you, noting studying anthropology was largely a way to resolve his identity crisis. And rather than “service” it is fighting for justice that’s his raison d'être, compelling his fearlessness to “speak truth to justice” on uncomfortable topics to the world’s most powerful political leaders and respected experts. Hear him talk of his difficulty with tough conversations, his “no cry zone” at Partners in Health, “fighting for things worth fighting for” and many insights from his roles around the world: * Global action is extremely difficult—the personalities matter a lot. * Leadership is critical; democracy, fickle. * Optimism is a moral choice: you can’t take on intractable problems without it—per Italian philosopher Antonio Gramsci, “Pessimism of the intellect, optimism of the will.” He shares his hope in the amazing movements of young people tackling tough ESG issues, and sees Asians waking up to “things not being fine” as a good thing. “People knowing how it feels to be Asian can create greater awareness for ALL underrepresented groups and a powerful sense of solidarity. With the awakening of BLM and The Asian American Foundation—there’s a sense it is possible to be respectful of all people and their choices.” Molly’s thought for the week, honoring family friend Dr. Lee Shiu, who passed peacefully at 92: “Enjoy life to the fullest. Sing, dance, laugh, be happy, and don’t worry too much.” Tune in to learn from Dr. Jim’s remarkable life journey, inspiring us to know no boundaries and to commit to taking action so that all can be safe, seen and heard, and our true and best selves. bendingthearcfilm.com Correction: His leadership in 2014 was critical to frontline Ebola response in WEST AFRICA.
Say It Skillfully®
Tuesday at 8 AM Pacific Time/11 AM Eastern Time on VoiceAmerica Business Channel
Molly Tschang's Say It Skillfully® is a show that helps you benefit from Molly's guidance on the best possible ways to speak your mind at work in a positive and productive manner. She helps everyone from CEOs to interns to recognize that we are all both part of the problem as well as the solution, and that the path to solving any problem is to say what needs to be said.
Molly is a rare breed: tough enough to advise CEOs and company boards, but empathetic enough to understand the human costs of not allowing talent to shine. She has helped dozens of management teams navigate the human after-effects of mergers and acquisitions, and her show brings her expert guidance to a wider audience.
Say It Skillfully® every Tuesday at 8 AM Pacific Time/11 AM Eastern Time on the VoiceAmerica Business Channel.
Molly Tschang
Molly Tschang helps her clients' organizations gain the skills to Win As One, which most other companies never even try to do. She starts at the top, guiding management to commit to each other’s success and lead as one cohesive unit.
Molly is Founder and CEO of Abella Consulting, a New York-based leadership development and business advisory consultancy that helps senior leaders cultivate the collaborative capacity to elevate individual, team and organizational performance resulting in accelerated sustained, profitable growth. She created and hosts the “Say It Skillfully®” video series on LinkedIn, making it easier for all members of an organization to say what needs to be said in a constructive and productive manner.
Prior to launching Abella, Molly held executive leadership positions at Cisco Systems and U.S. Filter, where she led the integration of over 80 acquisitions. She holds a BS in chemical engineering from Cornell University and an MBA from UCLA. In 2017, Molly was selected from among 12,000 applicants to be a protégé of Marshall Goldsmith through his 100 Coaches initiative. In her downtime, she enjoys tennis, yoga and cooking with family and friends.
