John helps Asian professionals break through cultural and personal barriers. He’s coached clients at top companies like Google, Apple, Amazon, and Goldman Sachs. His content on assertiveness and imposter syndrome has reached over 25 million views worldwide.
In this episode, we unpack the cultural and psychological forces that shape identity, leadership, and self-worth — especially for those navigating multiple worlds.
🔥 Authentic Leadership & Dropping the Mask
What does real leadership look like — and what doesn’t it look like? John explains the danger of performative leadership and why people can feel when someone’s not being genuine. We explore how true leadership emerges from mission, not ego.
❤️ Humility vs. Toxic Humility
Humility is often praised — but is it always healthy? John breaks down the difference between genuine humility and the toxic kind that leads to self-erasure. He shares how cultural messaging shaped his early beliefs about staying small, and how he rewrote that narrative.
🌏 The Inner East Meets the Inner West
If you’ve ever felt caught between cultures, this conversation will resonate deeply. John shares what it’s like to carry both Eastern and Western influences, and how he learned to integrate — rather than choose between — those parts of himself.
🧠 Healing the Wound Behind the Mask
So many of us wear masks to cope with hidden pain. John opens up about the cost of over-performing, how burnout forced him inward, and the radical honesty that changed everything. We talk about the healing that happens when we let ourselves truly be seen.
📚 The Birth of Big Asian Energy
Writing a book like Big Asian Energy came with big expectations. John reveals the creative process, the responsibility of representation, and the depth of research that went into crafting a book that breaks new ground.
Links from this episode:
🎵 TikTok
📖 The Big Asian Energy Book
Ben’s Freedom From Addiction Circle mentioned in the introduction.
Previous Evolving Man episode with John Wang
