Recognition requires active self-promotion and sharing impact.
Strategic storytelling is crucial for team success and garnering support.
Deep dives
Empowerment and Self-Advocacy in the Workplace
Deb Le's journey from introversion to executive leadership highlights the importance of empowerment and self-advocacy in the workplace. Growing up in a collective society, she initially believed in letting her work speak for itself, but learned that recognition requires active self-promotion. By amplifying her team's work, seeking credit, and sharing impact, she transformed from a quiet achiever to a CEO, emphasizing the crucial shift from humility to assertiveness.
Strategic Narratives and Team Recognition
Deb Le's experiences at Facebook showcase the significance of strategic storytelling in team success. Initially, her team's monumental project went unnoticed due to her inability to narrate its importance effectively, leading to team members leaving. However, by crafting compelling narratives around their work, the subsequent project achieved significant company success, underscoring the value of vocalizing achievements to garner recognition and support.
Work-Life Balance and Support Structures
Deb Le's insights into work-life balance highlight the pivotal role of support structures in professional success. She candidly discusses the necessity of having help, emphasizing that success often hinges on the presence of supportive spouses and external assistance. By valuing the contributions of partners and openly acknowledging the need for external support, Deb challenges societal norms around women's career progression and advocates for a culture of mutual support.
Deb Liu, CEO of the $4.7 billion company Ancestry, author of Take Back Your Power: 10 New Rules for Women at Work and a former student of Jeffrey Pfeffer, Ph.D shares how she overcame enormous amounts of challenges and career discrimination, why amplifying your work is a generous act, and questions to bring you to reaching your career goals more efficiently.
How her careers at PayPal, eBay, and Facebook helped her learn to use her voice to overcome challenges
The challenges Asian women face in their careers and how she overcame them
How she actively worked to change her shy nature to cultivate power and executive presence
Why asking for help and resources is a sign of strength
How differently telling the story of a product shifts support and revenue
How a core team of four expanded to twelve and the impact that team created
The Hero’s Journey in relation to projects, failure, and changing perspective
The importance of sharing more about the work you are doing, especially to your manager
A new way to look at self-promotion
How people are willing to engage in power and influence if they don’t think it’s for selfish motives
The value in giving your team credit
Recommendations she makes to other women
Questions to ask to bring you closer to reaching your job and income goals
The importance of a learning mindset
Creating balance at home
DEBORAH'S BIO
Deborah Liu is a seasoned technology executive based in Silicon Valley. She is currently the president and CEO of Ancestry, the company at the forefront of family history and consumer genomics. Prior to this, she served on the leadership team of Facebook, where she was the vice president of Facebook App Commerce. During her time there, she founded Facebook Marketplace and created Facebook Pay, Facebook Audience Network, and App Ads. Previously, she spent several years at PayPal, where she led the eBay marketplace product team, created the charitable donations and social commerce teams, and worked in corporate strategy. An alum of Duke and Stanford University, she also serves on the board of Intuit and is cofounder of the nonprofit Women in Product. She lives with her husband, three kids, and mom in California.