Meet Susan Chu

 

We were lucky to catch up with Susan Chu recently and have shared our conversation below.

Susan, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?

I don’t think resilience comes from one moment in time, but through a series of opportunities, where you make a choice, “fight or flight”. It’s where our behaviors and brain align and we say to ourselves, “I am going to get through this”, “I am going to figure this out”, “I am going to make this happen”.

For me, my resilience started very early in life. As immigrants to the US, my parents had limited English and knowledge of how things worked, and I saw their struggle and how they had to figure everything out.

I wasn’t fully aware of this until I was in my early teens. I used to go to work with my dad on the weekends, and I remember seeing him negotiating with suppliers, calling bank loan advisors, working through his bills and taxes and interacting with customers. Through all of this, no matter how tough and complex the situation, or how disrespectful some of his customers may have been, he always smiled and remained calm. More importantly, no matter how difficult the situation, I always remember the person on the other side giving in, not because my dad was tough negotiator (which he was), but he showed them respect, was kind and never wanted them leaving the conversation feeling bad. He did this every day for over 40 years.

I learned through him that achievement, success, learning, growth and inner peace does not reside with others, but within ourselves.

My resilience is tested everyday and I can choose how I face the opportunity in the moment. I don’t think, “Oh this is going to build or take away my resilience”, but “what am I going to do to get through this”. Eventually, over time, we’ve taught our brains to operate this way.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

My journey has always been about making a positive impact—both in my life and in the lives of others. With over two decades of experience in HR leadership across Fortune 500 and and mid-size privately held companies in diverse industries, I’ve gained a deep understanding of the challenges professionals face and the incredible potential they hold.

Whether navigating corporate roles, founding a startup, or running a small business, I’ve always been driven by a passion for championing others, staying curious, and creating meaningful connections. These experiences have shaped my approach to coaching, where I focus on helping individuals gain clarity in what they want, how to navigate life challenges and elevate themselves to do what is possible.

My clients come from diverse industries such as Tech, Healthcare, Financial Services, HR, and Academia, and hold various leadership roles. Despite their different backgrounds, they often face similar challenges:

Career Transitions: My clients are often at a crossroads, looking for clarity and direction as they step into new professional identities. Navigating a new role, seeking a promotion, job loss, or considering a complete career change can be daunting.

Leadership Development: Many of my clients are senior professionals who are trying to be the best leader to their teams, build relationships with their peers and manage executive expectations. Leadership impact is about the right mindset, the ability to inspire and lead others, while still exceeding performance levels.

Work-Life Balance: My clients often struggle with home and personal responsibilities, alongside their demanding careers and feeling like something is always out of balance.

Overcoming Self-Doubt: My clients are high-achievers who, despite their successes, often grapple with self-doubt and the fear of not being good enough.

Building Confidence: Learning to trust oneself, assert one’s opinions, building executive presence and take bold steps is crucial for personal and professional growth.

In working with clients, we focus on:

Discovery: Many clients come to me feeling stuck or uncertain. They might be grappling with career decisions, business challenges, relationship issues, or a general sense of unfulfillment. We go through a discovery process, whether it’s your true desires, the beliefs holding you back or a narrative that no longer serves you, or the direction you want to take. I challenge my clients in a way that leads to their learning and growth.

Taking Action: Moving forward, taking big or small steps, figure out which decision to make can be challenging, especially when the stakes are high. My role is to help you navigate this process with confidence. Through thoughtful dialogue, I help you externalize your thought process, examine your options from multiple perspectives, and address the fears, excuses, and complaints that might distort judgement. The goal is to empower you to make better, faster, and more authentic decisions that align with your true self.

Habit Formation: Change doesn’t happen overnight, and it doesn’t happen without conscious effort. Old neural pathways have done their job. I work with you to form deliberate new habits (new neural pathways) that align with your goals and values. Whether it’s building a new routine, breaking old patterns (and thinking) or summoning the discipline to stay on track, I’m here to support you every step of the way. It takes 6 weeks to make a change and 6 weeks to build the new habits. Together, we’ll create habits that not only empower you but also propel you forward towards action.

Here are some of the exciting programs and services that I offer:

ASCEND Leadership Program: The ASCEND Leadership Program, a 3 month structured program, is specifically designed for mid to senior-level professionals who are ready to take their careers and life to the next level. It’s ideal for individuals who are looking to elevate their impact and overcome new challenges.

Career Catalyst Program: Designed for mid-level professionals, who are in transition, are seeking a different opportunity or who want to make a career pivot. This program focuses on building actionable strategies to navigate career changes, creating their future story, and not just the past, and achieving career aspirations, and to really delve into “What is the next narrative that I want to create in my life?”

Mind Mastery POD: A 6-week guided small group coaching program to create sustained change towards a more resilient mindset.

Coaching with me is a journey of self-discovery, growth, and transformation. My clients often describe our sessions as eye-opening, supportive, and empowering. The real magic happens when clients say things like, “I hadn’t thought of it that way,” or “Thanks for not making me feel like I’m alone in this.” It’s about creating a space where you feel heard, supported, and challenged to reach your big audacious goals.

Most importantly, my clients know they are not alone. I am here to encourage, support, and hold them accountable for their decisions and actions. Together, we create a plan that aligns with their values and aspirations, leading to a life and career that is both fulfilling and successful.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

1. Be curious about yourself and others.

2. Learn – Learn not only what you have to, but also what excites you, something that is different and just because.

3. Diversify your experiences.

All of these helped expand my thinking, build perspective taking, and understand how one learning can apply to a different area.

I was able to work in so many different industries, company cultures and with different individuals and groups, not because I was an expert in their space, but because I knew how to navigate, learn, and make an impact wherever I was.

Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?

A former boss of mine saw potential in me way beyond what I could see in myself at that time. This gave me the courage and confidence to be bold and to be a better leader.

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