In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files, we chat about our reluctance to ask for what we want or need. My guest, Xu Simon, shares her personal journey, including how she’s come to re-frame asking for what she needs to make it easier for her to do. She shares tips and insights to help de-personalize the process and empower ourselves to get what we deserve.

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About My Guest
Xu Simon had just finished her PhD from MIT and was nearing completion of postdoctoral studies, on track for a research-intensive academic career, when she took a chance. She followed the love of her life—now husband of 17 years—to Washington, D.C. for a two-year stint as a government contractor. In the State Department’s diplomatic office in charge of reducing the threat of chemical weapons use abroad (ISN/CTR/CSP), she both used her scientific expertise day-to-day and expanded her horizons to the international diplomatic stage. Since the fellowship contract spanned the 2013 Syria chemical weapons crisis, she also had her fair share of crisis management and public scrutiny.
One big lesson she learned from this experience is that the PhD enabled her to contribute high-quality science to the world, but it didn’t equip her to make those contributions accessible to the people who need them most. To help fill this gap, she went back to school for her MBA and subsequently used her combined business and scientific skills at two high-tech startup companies. In addition to her full-time job as CTO of Enozo Technologies, Inc., she speaks at keynotes and workshops about mediating between executives and technical talent in industry.

Social media & Contact:
Website: xufits.com
Email: xufits@gmail.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/xufits/
Instagram: xufits_speaker
Twitter: xufits_speaker
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008373910802
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCa-mzw0qgI7MonFcvqN6TjA

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