Building Confidence and Shattering Stereotypes in the Financial Services Industry

"It just takes one woman to just open that door, break that barrier so that we can bring along other women in the process."

Welcome to another inspiring episode of WomenShare: a celebration of women in financial services. In today's episode, our hosts Leah Alter and Joanna Ehresman sit down with Sheena Yap Chan, a Wall Street Journal best-selling author, award-winning podcaster, and keynote speaker who is on a mission to close the gender confidence gap. Sheena is the creator and host of the Tao of Self Confidence, a globally top-ranked podcast with over 1 million downloads, and she has interviewed hundreds of women from celebrities to eight-figure CEOs about their journeys to self-confidence.

In this episode, Sheena shares her remarkable journey and mission to empower women by helping them tap into their leadership potential and move beyond limiting beliefs. Sheena's insights and experiences resonate profoundly with those in the financial services industry, where women are striving for representation and leadership roles.

Key Takeaways:

Empowering Through Representation: One of Sheena's driving motivations for starting her podcast, "The Tao of Self Confidence," was the glaring lack of representation she observed growing up in North America. She emphasizes the importance of offering support and visibility, especially for Asian women who often face stereotypical challenges that undermine their confidence.

The Healing Power of Storytelling: Sheena discusses how the act of sharing personal stories can be healing and empowering. Allowing women to voice their journeys creates a shared sense of struggle and triumph, which can inspire and motivate others to overcome their own obstacles.

Themes in Building Self-Confidence: Throughout her interviews with over 800 women, Sheena identifies recurring themes such as self-love, gratitude, and the importance of hitting a "boiling point" where one realizes the need for change. The stories reveal that growth is not a linear process but a messy, yet rewarding, journey.

Navigating Stereotypes and Self-Promotion: Sheena explores the limiting stereotypes Asian women face, such as being labeled as submissive or overly accommodating. She highlights the need to dismantle these views by sharing stories and being the representation they want to see in the world. Self-promotion is another critical topic, challenging the notion that it is unladylike and emphasizing its necessity in professional growth.

Collaboration Over Competition: Sheena discusses the importance of women having each other's backs in professional settings, drawing parallels with how men often support one another to advance. Transitioning from a mindset of scarcity to one of abundance is crucial for women to lift each other up and achieve greater collective success.

Adapting to Change: Reflecting on the lessons from the pandemic, Sheena underscores the importance of resilience and adaptability. Change is inevitable, and building the confidence to navigate through uncertainty can lead to unexpected and fulfilling opportunities.

Addressing Imposter Syndrome: In her upcoming book, "Bridging the Confidence Gap," Sheena delves into the pervasive issue of imposter syndrome among women. She aims to equip women with the confidence to embrace leadership roles, highlighting the massive economic and societal benefits of having more women in leadership.

As Sheena poignantly puts it, when one door closes, another one opens. Her journey serves as an inspiration for women worldwide to overcome their fears, embrace their vulnerabilities, and step confidently into their potentials.

For more empowering discussions and to join us in our mission to celebrate and elevate women in financial services, subscribe to WomenShare on your favorite podcast platform. With...