The Tao of Self-Confidence

The Tao of Self-Confidence

by Sheena Yap Chan
Released May 2023
Publisher(s): Wiley
ISBN: 9781394166572

Read it now on the O’Reilly learning platform with a 10-day free trial.

O’Reilly members get unlimited access to books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.

Start your free trial

Book description

A WALL STREET JOURNAL BESTSELLER
A PUBLISHERS WEEKLY BESTSELLER 

A guide for Asian women to tap into their confidence and joy, and shine as leaders in today's world

In 2021, women represented 54.3% of the US workforce but only held 35% of senior leadership positions. Of that percentage, only 2.7% of Asian women were seen in management roles. While there have been great leaps for women in the workplace in the last decade, women of color still fall behind. The Tao of Self-Confidence book sets a foundation to help Asian Women start being seen as leaders in work and life rather than by our stereotypes. In this book, you'll read about:

  • Getting to the root causes of what's holding you back and stepping into your greatness
  • Cultural and historical issues that affect our leadership potential
  • Finding and gaining more confidence as your authentic self 


With an honest and vulnerable approach, Yap Chan discusses and explores the specific challenges our community faces, historically and now in the midst of the pandemic, intergenerational and historical trauma, false stories we tell ourselves, and how we can rise above stereotypes. We'll tap into our inner joy, celebrate our authentic self, and awaken the leader within.

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright
  4. Introduction: The State of Asian Women
  5. 1 The Model Minority Myth and How That Affects Us
    1. History of the Term “Model Minority”
    2. The Danger of the Myth
    3. The Model Minority Myth and Mental Health
    4. Notes
  6. 2 The Challenges Asian Women Still Face
    1. The “Submissive” Stereotype
    2. The Hypersexualized Stereotype
    3. The Yellow Peril Stereotype
    4. “Yellow Fever” Fetishization
    5. Representation of Asian Women in Hollywood
    6. The Representation of Asian Women in Mainstream Media
    7. Lack of Asian Women Leadership Representation in Other Industries
    8. The Pressure to Get Married
    9. The Need for Perfection
    10. Fear of Failure
    11. The Asian American Closet
    12. The Beauty Standards of Asian Women
    13. The Confidence Gap
    14. The Inequality Asian Women Face
    15. Notes
  7. 3 Intergenerational Trauma and Why We Need to Talk About It
    1. How Intergenerational Trauma Shows Up for Asian Women
    2. The Centuries of Intergenerational Trauma for Asian Women
    3. Hollywood Representation Tackling Intergenerational Trauma
    4. Turning Red
    5. Umma
    6. The Joy Luck Club
    7. Notes
  8. 4 How to Unlock Our Traumas
    1. What Is Trauma?
    2. Childhood Trauma
    3. PTSD
    4. Racial Trauma
    5. Money Trauma
    6. Cultural Trauma
    7. How to Unlock Your Traumas
    8. Notes
  9. 5 The Journey to Healing
    1. Open Your Chakras
    2. Take Care of Your Mental Well‐being
    3. K‐dramas
    4. Seek Professional Help
    5. Notes
  10. 6 The Journey to Self‐Love
    1. Self‐Care Is Essential
    2. Self‐Love Practices
    3. A Study in Self‐Love
    4. Notes
  11. 7 The Power of Self‐Confidence
    1. What Is Self‐Confidence?
    2. Three Steps to Building Self‐Confidence
    3. Have a Purpose
    4. Face Your Fears
    5. The 51% Rule
    6. What Is Your Confidence Color?
    7. The Art of Asking Questions
    8. Learning from the “Nos”
    9. Keep Moving Forward
    10. Don't Wait for the Perfect Moment
    11. Let Go of What Others Think of You
    12. Celebrate Every Win
    13. Practice Makes Progress
    14. Make the First Move
    15. Ask for Help
    16. Notes
  12. 8 The Future of Asian Women in Leadership
    1. Kamala Harris
    2. Kim Ng
    3. Wave (Marvel Superhero)
    4. Janet Yang
    5. Sandra Oh
    6. BLACKPINK
    7. Savitri Jindal
    8. Rosa Saito
    9. Notes
  13. Conclusion: Words for Your Self‐Confidence Journey
  14. Resource List
  15. Acknowledgments
  16. About the Author
  17. Index
  18. End User License Agreement

Product information

  • Title: The Tao of Self-Confidence
  • Author(s): Sheena Yap Chan
  • Release date: May 2023
  • Publisher(s): Wiley
  • ISBN: 9781394166572