b' You later took on the leadership of Cetis, a global corporation. Cetis How did you navigate the shift from devoted mother to LS: business leader? LS:The timing was just rightboth of my kids had completed theirCetiscollege degrees and were well on their way pursuing their Mastersand Juris Doctorate degrees, giving me the space to focus on the busi- ness. As I stepped into leadership at Cetis, I made a point to involvemy children in business discussions. Including them on calls and decisions added a new dynamic to our relationship. It was empower-ing to transition from parenting to leading, and it brought our family LS:even closer together through shared goals and vision.As a Chinese woman in America, what challengesandopportunitiesdo you see for women like yourself today? LS:One of the biggest challenges is lack of confidence. Too often Ihear women say, I cant do that, or avoid PTA meetings because of language or cultural barriers. That mindset frustrates me. Confidenceis everythingyou dont need to know everything to start. Just show up and figure it out along the way. At the same time, I encourage LS: women to embrace their heritage. People are genuinely curious aboutother cultures and sharing your experiences can be a powerful way 20 to connect and lead.20 How would you like to inspire other Chinese or immigrant-background women to step into leadership rolesin business and beyond?LS:I want to encourage women to break the bamboo ceiling. Leadership starts with taking that first uncomfortable stepleading a meeting, speaking up, owning your space. I never imagined that after 20 years as a stay-at-home mom, Id be traveling globally for business, visiting over 20 factories a day, or leading C-suite strategy sessions. But I took it one day at a time and kept learning. Now Im the one suggesting ideas and driving results. Your cultural background isnt a barrier. Its a superpower.58 BALLIET + WANG LUXURY LIVING'