In a recent article in the Kellogg Chronicles, Anh Tran, a Kellogg Executive MBA graduate and first-generation Vietnamese American, reflects on her journey through leadership, her experiences in the finance industry, and the vital role of mentorship.
Growing up in Texas, Anh completed her undergraduate degree at Wharton and worked at Capital One in Virginia, before pursuing an Executive MBA at Kellogg in Miami. Throughout her life and career, Tran has been guided by a commitment to diversity and inclusion. She believes that an effective leader must understand the different backgrounds and experiences of individuals and adapt their management style accordingly. Her journey has given her opportunities to uplift others’ voices and empower them.
As an Asian-American woman in finance, Anh experienced imposter syndrome early in her career. Initially, she viewed the finance industry as an exclusive club where she might not belong. However, her perspective changed drastically over the years. After confiding in her manager about her hesitation to speak up, she was encouraged to voice her ideas and opinions, even if they could be wrong. This experience taught her the value of making mistakes and learning from them.
Tran emphasises the importance of diverse voices in the finance sector, especially women and Asian Americans, and the need for those in power to foster an inclusive environment. She stresses the significance of sharing ideas to unlock real value for businesses and their customers.
Navigating corporate environments as an Asian-American professional can feel isolating, but Anh emphasizes the transformative power of mentorship. At Capital One, she benefited from both formal and informal mentorship. From her mentors, she learned new strategies and frameworks and validated her experiences, all of which have been instrumental in her promotion to Director.
Her experiences and lessons from her mentors inspired Anh to further her leadership skills through an Executive MBA. She is now committed to building inclusive networks to empower individuals from diverse backgrounds to succeed in their careers.
Read more here.
