THE SPEAKER
CULTIVATING LEADERSHIP: CONNECT AT YOUR CORE
We know the best and most successful leaders need self confidence that comes from one’s core; a sense of grounding that balances them during the best of times and also buoys them through the worst. We also know diversity and inclusion—having a range of different voices and viewpoints—can spark innovation and new ideas; they can protect us from the pressure to conform to the standard quo and the threat of groupthink, when there is an unwillingness to engage with new and fresh ideas. And yet, self confidence, when depending on external factors such as physical beauty, the possessions one owns, or even achievements one has made, can be short lived and ephemeral. This is all the more challenging for individuals outside the standard “norm” who face ongoing systemic racism, mansplaining, and micro aggressions.
​
Connecting at your core reconnects individuals with their best selves; it’s from there they find grounding and build self-confidence.
​
Takeaways from this talk include:
-
Recognize an intrinsic sense of self and the confidence that comes with it.
-
Allows participants to recognize the value of a fun, joyful (and balanced) life
-
Improves leadership skills by understanding that successful qualities do not depend on artificial, external factors, but organic internal ones which, once cultivated, allow for unlimited potential
-
Bolsters leadership potential by creating a real sense of self confidence.
-
Practice techniques that connect with others from one’s authentic core, creating a genuine, authentic bond that grows trust, understanding, and communication.
_edited_edited.png)
DECOLONIZING BEAUTY: YOUR AUTHENTIC POWER
We all want to be beautiful. But stereotypes often shape, if not determine, how one perceives oneself and others. For those who don’t fit the white cis-gendered ideas of beauty, the foundation of beauty can be unsteady, creating a lack of confidence during challenging situations when one needs it most. But beauty belongs to you. It’s your entitlement. It is not a conceptual idea but an experiential one. You have control over your narrative. Christina has used writing as a vehicle for self-empowerment and advocacy, providing the foundation for the development of critical thinking skills in navigating our social sphere. She shares personal experiences as a Chinese American woman who grew up in a wealthy White suburb. She gives strategies for advocacy and empowerment techniques for staying grounded in the face of growing and systemic racism, sexism, in a culture littered with negative body images.
​
In this program, you’ll discover your authentic core and step into leadership roles with ease and confidence.
-
Discuss stereotypes and how they affect the way we perceive others as well as ourselves.
-
Explore your personal story and identify external ideas or trauma that influenced your perception of self and others.
-
Recognize the difference between internal and external concepts about beauty and how they inform (and cloud) your true self.
-
Identify the role of vulnerability and grasp the potential for empathy and growth.
-
Locate personal keystones to transformation, strength, courage and empowerment.
-
Implement personal change by transforming negative events into positive actions, paving your way to discovering your true potential
Storytelling
The STORY has existed since the beginning of humankind. There’s a diverse range of voices, and a huge range of ways to tell it, whether it be told around a fireplace, read from a book or kindle, performed as a play or opera, or captured in visual art.
Some perspectives don’t get shared and desperately need to be. I write from a place that’s deeply personal to give my view of the political. Recently, I’ve started storytelling. I believe it can be a force for personal political change that reaches a broader audience. We need that now. I hope you agree.
Here are some of the stories I’ve shared: