We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sheena Yap Chan a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Sheena, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?
Developing self-esteem and confidence really started with my mindset. Growing up in an Asian household, there were so many rules I had to follow. I had to be the perfect daughter, sister, friend, etc and I never shared what I was going through. Because of this, I felt like I didn’t have a voice and stayed in the background. I had to unlearn all of this and see things from a different perspective in order to see my worth and what I am capable of. It doesn’t happen overnight but it was the daily work that helped me gain the confidence I have today.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am the The Wall Street Journal Bestselling author, keynote speaker, consultant and award winning podcaster on leadership and self-confidence. I am also the founder and host of the award winning podcast called The Tao of Self-Confidence where I have interviewed over 800 women about their inner journey to self confidence. My mission is to eliminate the gender confidence gap through my training, resources and programs in order to have more women in leadership roles in all industries.
As women we still face so many gaps and because of it, we have less women in leadership. It takes confidence and courage to make this happen which is why it’s important to show women what is possible through my books, my speaking, my podcast, my products and services. One of the things I am most proud of is my book, The Tao of Self-Confidence: A Guide to Moving Beyond Trauma and Awakening the Leader Within. This is the first book that I written with a major publisher, Wiley. It’s helps women to learn to talk about their traumas and find ways to heal from them so women can show up as their best self. I also have a 2nd book coming out with the same publisher in 2025.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The three qualities, skills and areas of knowledge that were most impactful are the following:
– You don’t have to be perfect. Perfection is a myth and it’s something that is totally unattainable. Most women’s success is delayed because we think we have to have everything perfect to a tee when it’s the total opposite. Just show up as your imperfect self because it’s what makes you beautiful.
– Face your fears. Yes it’s easier said than done but being able to face your fears is what will give you the confidence to overcome what’s stopping you. I always believe that to be fearless doesn’t mean you have fears. It’s about feeling the fear and doing it anyway.
– Be okay to ask for help. Women have been conditioned to be the “Superwoman” for everything and that can get exhausting. Learn to ask for help and that will help you build confidence faster. Asking for help isn’t shameful at all.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
When I feel overwhelmed, I take a step back and ask myself why I am feeling this way. Instead of trying to do everything at once. I pick 3 things that I need to do at that moment. Once I tackle the 3 things, I feel so much better.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sheenayapchan.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sheena.yap.chan/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sheenayapchan
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheenayapchan/
- Twitter: https://x.com/sheenayapchan
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