DENISE ANG
Head of Strategic Partnerships, Google | Founder, Asian Women Empowerment Network | Founder, Denise Ang Coaching & Consulting | Board Member
Hi there, I am Denise Ang. Welcome to my Asian Women: Unseen to Stoppable newsletter! I write about topics on the unique challenges faced by Asian women in their careers, and strategies on how to lead with authenticity, purpose and visibility.
Who is this for?
Are you an Asian woman facing these issues? If so, I’ve created this newsletter for you!
Unfulfilled & Unclear Of Your Purpose. You worked very hard, always feeling the need to push yourself to do more. You've climbed the corporate ladder, yet your achievements have not brought you the fulfillment and happiness you expected. You are not interested in playing office politics, and now you feel lost, questioning if this path is truly right for you. You want to figure out what's next for you.
Feeling Burnt Out. You value humility and respect for hierarchy, which makes it difficult for you to say no to your colleagues. You end up doing the housekeeping work that others avoid. You find it hard to advocate for yourself, and you are feeling burnt out from people-pleasing and taking on too much.
Lacks Confidence. Your career progression has stalled, and it's impacting your confidence. You begin to question whether you are truly good enough. Your inner critic grows louder, and you're battling self-doubt and imposter syndrome, even in your current position.
Not Seen As a Leader. You feel overlooked and unseen as a leader, despite your accomplishments. You have been told that you are not visionary enough and you lack executive presence. You are struggling to get promoted to higher levels and you feel stuck in your current role.
Not Visible & Not Heard. You struggle to increase your visibility in a male-dominated environment. You find it hard to speak up, and even when you do, you feel that your voice isn't heard or valued. When you try to be louder and more assertive, it feels inauthentic to who you are.
No Role Models. You don't see anyone who looks like you in executive leadership. You lack mentors or sponsors who will champion your growth. You feel that you have limited access to resources, networks or connections needed for success.
Are You Trying To Figure Out What’s Next For You?
As Asian women, we navigate unique challenges shaped by cultural expectations, workplace biases, and societal stereotypes. We’re often caught between traditional values that encourage humility and harmony, and corporate norms that reward self-promotion and assertiveness. The "bamboo ceiling" and the "model minority" myth add another layer of complexity, making it harder for us to be recognized for our leadership potential. At the same time, we have to deal with stereotypes and biases, from being perceived as too quiet, or labeled as too aggressive when we do speak up. And for many of us, career growth is intertwined with family expectations—whether as daughters, wives, or mothers—making our path even more complicated.
In addition, we face challenges shaped by our cultural upbringing and deeply ingrained narratives of success. From a young age, we were taught to follow a certain script: get good grades, attend a prestigious university, secure a stable job, and rise through the corporate ranks. We followed this script diligently, believing it would lead to fulfillment and success. But when we finally reach the end of this script, we pause, look around, and realize—this isn’t what we truly want. Instead of feeling accomplished, we feel unfulfilled, disconnected, and uncertain about what’s next. We want to explore new possibilities, to step into something that feels more aligned, but we don’t know how to make that decision.
We struggle to find a leadership style that allows us to be authentic and visible.
We struggle to rewrite our script and own our success story.
I Can Help You
I've successfully built fulfilling and meaningful work outside of my full-time career—founding a network for Asian women, coaching professionals, and serving on nonprofit boards—all while excelling in my corporate roles.
Having made multiple career pivots across public and private sectors—including public policy, HR, consulting, business strategy, and product partnerships—I deeply understand the complexities of job transitions.
My firsthand experience allows me to offer practical strategies, personalized support, and a roadmap to help you navigate your own career evolution with confidence and clarity.
Whether you're seeking greater fulfillment, exploring new opportunities, or balancing multiple passions, I can help you take your next step with purpose. I can help you rewrite your script and own your story.
More About Me
I care deeply about the diversity and inclusion issues of Asian women and I founded the Asian Women Empowerment (AWE) Network to advance the professional development of Asian Women in the US and beyond.
I serve on the board of the Asian Women Coaching Collective (AWCC) and the US Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce (USPAACC) Western Region, where she supports the Asian women coaches, entrepreneurs and business communities. I am also an ICF ACC certified executive coach and specialized in coaching Asian Women at Denise Ang Coaching and Consulting.
I am a business strategy and partnerships leader with over 20 years of global experiences in Asia, UK and the US. I have made several pivots in my career spanning across the public and private sectors. I have an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management, a Masters in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University, a Bachelor in Electrical Engineering from Imperial College London and am also trained in negotiation in Harvard Law School (LinkedIn).
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