Say It Skillfully® is a show that helps you to benefit from Molly Tschang’s expert guidance on the best possible ways to speak your mind at work in a positive and productive manner. Episode 147 is the 28th monthly feature of “Our Voices,” intended to accelerate social change that levels the playing field—helping everyone live to their full potential. Timing is everything. Molly’s guest Christopher Haight admits, “right now” he’s in the perfect place to share his journey, as adopted, gay and Asian. He shares what it’s taken to not just understand, but to embrace the elements of his identity as strengths vs. things to deal with. He attributes “raised as a middle-class white kid” as key to early self-confidence and never letting others diminish who he is. Growing up amongst adopted Korean kids in mixed race families also made his life very normal! Christopher reveals how the most obvious part of his identity—being Asian—took him some time to come to grips with. Thanks to his career in development with Cornell University, he talks gratefully about his eye-opening move to New York City, meeting all sorts of people—especially Asians—and their multitude of stories. “New York can make you a much better person if you let it.” YouTube and his work played critical roles in how he came to learn about and appreciate his Korean culture! Visiting Korea, he shares moments of loneliness, as well as comfort, when he realized that he’d always have a home there. In transition professionally to an exciting opportunity with Stanford, Christopher poignantly reflects on being comfortable within, and how his own groundedness paved the way for a very meaningful life relationship (also an adopted Korean!). He owns up to tending to “compartmentalize” and hold his cards close, though less so in the last 5 years. The opportunity to lead and grow a team at Cornell proved pivotal as he took this responsibility of being entrusted with people seriously. He freed himself “to be me,” in order to signal to his team to do the same. And he reminds, “Your words and actions teach others, even if you don’t realize it.” Christopher offers the wisest words around DEI, “Culture is not policy, it’s practice. It’s not a solvable now challenge.” Don’t miss his sage advice for leaders, including celebrating bad news. He implores people to confidently ask for what they need, to empower themselves to break bamboo & glass ceilings! Forget “pay your dues” mindsets, pave the way so that others aren’t challenged by the same barriers!
Christopher models for us what “do the work” can look like and the riches of doing so. Don’t miss how he inspires all to know no boundaries and to commit to taking action so that all can be safe, seen and heard, and our true and best selves. Molly’s thoughts for the week (thanks Christopher):

Relationships take work.
Please bring problems even if you don’t have the solution.
By being you, you bring power and strength to others

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