Libsyn Directory

Ep. 5: Advocating for Asian Americans, with Norman Chen

Release Date: 12/09/2024

Ep. 24: Inside the world of commercial dance, with Angela Elgani

The Leadership Dance

Get a peek inside the commercial dance world from Angela Elgani, a renowned dancer, choreographer, and mentor whose two-decade career has taken her from world tours with Britney Spears, NSYNC, and the Backstreet Boys to blockbuster films like You Got Served and Step Up Revolution. Angela shares her remarkable journey from a determined young girl in St. Louis to performing on some of the biggest stages in the world and later pivoting toward teaching, coaching, and empowering the next generation of dancers. Angela opens up about her personal challenges, including the devastating loss of her...

Ep. 23: Top 10 leadership tips from trailblazers, with Alissa Hsu Lynch

The Leadership Dance

In this recap of Season Two, host Alissa Hsu Lynch reflects on the top 10 leadership insights she’s gathered from conversations with 10 trailblazing leaders. From world-class dancers and CEOs to athletes and change makers, these guests have shared powerful stories of joy, resilience, vulnerability, and reinvention. Alissa reveals the lessons learned and how they can inspire and empower you on your own leadership journey. ______________________________________________ 💡 Top Leadership Tips: Don’t get good at things you don’t enjoy (Lindsay Trout) Most people regret the chances they...

Ep. 22: A refugee can be anything, with Chantale Zuzi

The Leadership Dance

In this powerful episode, Alissa Hsu Lynch speaks with Chantale Zuzi, a remarkable young leader whose journey from a small village in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the halls of Wellesley College is nothing short of extraordinary. After surviving the personal tragedy of losing her parents in a village massacre, Chantale became a refugee at age 13—fleeing to Uganda with her siblings and stepping into the role of caregiver and advocate. Born with albinism, Chantale also faced constant discrimination and danger, navigating life with limited vision and extraordinary courage. Now the...

Ep. 21: The art of strategic reinvention, with Kim Alexis Newton

The Leadership Dance

Step into a conversation that explores the power of reinvention, the courage to disrupt your own path, and the art of weaving creativity into leadership. In this episode, Kim Alexis Newton—board director, entrepreneur, fine artist, and former Hallmark executive—joins Alissa Hsu Lynch to share her extraordinary journey from leading a $1 billion business to building a thriving art and quilting enterprise. Kim reflects on her childhood dreams, the pivotal moment she realized she’d outgrown corporate life, and the intentional steps she took to expand her network and embrace her creative...

Ep. 20: Dancing with courage and curiosity, with Cassandra Trenary

The Leadership Dance

In this deeply personal and moving episode of The Leadership Dance, Principal Dancer Cassandra Trenary of American Ballet Theatre opens up about the journey behind the curtain—from early dreams in Georgia to becoming one of ABT’s most versatile and emotionally resonant artists. Cassandra shares the whirlwind story of her rise through ABT, the emotional toll of injury, and how creative outlets like photography and filmmaking helped her rediscover herself—and her artistry. We dive into her acclaimed gallery exhibition Embodied, a striking tribute to the vulnerability and resilience of...

Ep. 19: From fired to fearless & leading boldly, with Sarah Robb O'Hagan

The Leadership Dance

In this energizing conversation, powerhouse leader Sarah Robb O’Hagan—former executive at Nike, Gatorade, and Equinox, and author of Extreme You—shares insights from her bold career journey. Sarah opens up about the tough lessons she learned from early career failures, the power of resilience, and how embracing her authentic, “extreme” self led her to unlock new levels of leadership. Together, Alissa and Sarah explore what it means to lead with courage, create inclusive high-performance cultures, and why doing “hard things” is essential for growth. Whether you’re just starting...

Ep. 18: Embodying boldness, trust, and love, with Sheila Lirio Marcelo

The Leadership Dance

Tune in for this dynamic discussion about leading boldly, trusting in yourself, and living with intention featuring Sheila Lirio Marcelo, the trailblazing founder of Care.com and now the visionary leader behind Ohai.ai, a virtual assistant for families. Sheila shares her remarkable journey from her entrepreneurial upbringing in the Philippines to building one of the most trusted caregiving platforms in the world. Throughout the conversation, Sheila opens up about the challenges of balancing young motherhood while attending college, underestimating herself, and operating in traditionally...

Ep. 17: Redefining Asian American leadership, with Anna Mok

The Leadership Dance

Episode 17 features trailblazer Anna Mok — the first Chinese American woman promoted to Partner at Deloitte and the visionary co-founder of Ascend, North America's largest network for Pan-Asian business professionals. From growing up in San Francisco and working in her family’s Chinese restaurant as a little girl to becoming a prominent global business leader, Anna shares how her immigrant roots, cultural identity, and deep belief in community shaped her path. We talk about breaking the bamboo ceiling, navigating leadership as an Asian American woman, and why redefining success on your own...

Ep. 16: From NFL underdog to entrepreneur, with Ryan Nece

The Leadership Dance

Episode 16 features Ryan Nece—Super Bowl champion with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and now an entrepreneur, venture capital leader, and philanthropist—in a heartfelt conversation about purpose, resilience, and reimagining success. Ryan opens up about his unique journey from growing up as the son of Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott to carving out his own path on and off the field. He shares lessons learned from his time as a professional athlete and talks about how these translate into business, including the value of leadership, teamwork, and bouncing back from failure. Ryan also reflects on his...

Ep. 15: Dancing through the decades, with Alessandra Ferri

The Leadership Dance

Delve into this fascinating conversation with Alessandra Ferri, Prima Ballerina Assoluta and Artistic Director Designate of the Vienna State Ballet. Alessandra shares her extraordinary journey in the world of ballet, from her early passion for dance in Italy to becoming the youngest principal dancer at The Royal Ballet at age 19. After subsequently being recruited by Mikhail Baryshnikov to join American Ballet Theatre, she has sustained an incredibly long and successful performing career over 4 decades with the world’s top companies, dancers, and choreographers. In this revealing...

More Episodes

In Episode 5 of The Leadership Dance, Norman Chen, CEO of The Asian American Foundation (TAAF), shares his journey from growing up as an Asian American in a predominantly white community to becoming a leader in advocating for the safety, belonging, and prosperity of the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. We dive into the value of cultural identity and what he learned about business, leadership, and family during his 20 years of living in Hong Kong. He reveals why he decided to become an activist after moving back to the United States, discussing the rise of anti-Asian hate in America. Norman draws parallels between business and the sport he loves, basketball, and he talks about how knowing yourself and what you're good at can lead to a fulfilling life and career.

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💡Key Takeaways:

Find environments that appreciate your background and contributions; don’t be afraid to change the room if it doesn’t fit you.

Safety, belonging, and prosperity aren’t just ideals—they’re the foundation of thriving communities.

In both basketball and life, you learn a lot about someone through how they show up, collaborate, and handle challenges.

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Learn more about Norman and TAAF here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/normanlschen/

Twitter: https://x.com/taaforg?lang=en

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taaforg/

Website: http://taaf.org

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