Dear LIFE2 Participants, Alumni, and Faculty,

I am always amazed at the depth people are willing to go to explore and challenge themselves in LIFE2, our Leadership Influence For Early Executives program. It is especially the case for Chinese LIFE2 participants.

This LIFE2 March 2019 edition in Chengdu exceeded my expectations on the depth of its impact. It reaffirmed my confidence in the power of faith, initiative, and developing one’s best true self. It reminded me of my mission to help China develop more globally competitive leaders. It reconnected my understanding that Chinese history and people represent some of the best of what humanity has to offer.

At LIFE2 March 2019 in Chengdu, China

When I joined McKinsey’s New York office as a Business Analyst in 2001, I had always wondered why the most Chinese or East Asians were Engagement Managers. The absence of senior Chinese or East Asian Partners and Senior Partners was jarring. My mentor and Senior Partner at McKinsey Tsun-Yan Hsieh who led McKinsey’s practice in Canada for many years, had gone back to Singapore to lead the Southeast Asia office. I did not have the benefit of having him as a role model in person. Fast forward to after I started the ‘Living a Purposeful Life’ (瑾璟有叙) WeChat public account with Jing Huang and Annie Tang, I now understood why Chinese and East Asians have certain challenges when operating in a multinational and multicultural environment. Since then, I had vowed to do something about it through LIFE2 in Singapore and China—by encouraging participants to look beyond material success and societal expectations, to shape a personal vision and personal influence that resonates across many nationalities.

Over the last 5 years, that is exactly what we have done. And that is exactly what you have achieved as LIFE2 participants and alumni. I am also very proud that our LIFE2 faculty are joined by a group of dedicated industry leaders with a heart for mentoring younger leaders. Jing Huang joined us as a junior LIFE2 faculty, and Xu Xiaoyong, Head of the Nurturing Center for Leadership at the Beijing Teacher’s University, was another great addition to LIFE2 faculty. When Jing Huang began with her deep sharing of a time when she felt profoundly lost in her life and career, I was heartened that participants began sharing that they were looking to connect for the first time or reconnect with their whole true self. They want to sustain the fire in themselves they once glimpsed. They know only this can give them the deeper sense of direction and confidence to influence others and make the right decisions at work and in life. Many resonated, “I have fire in me some times, but it gets snuffed out very easily, by wind or may be another part of me. I want the fire to continuously burn very brightly.”

LIFE2 Junior Faculty Jing Huang

In this cohort, I saw participants changing their relationships with work and their family for the better. They are returning to their lives with more awareness, energy, and passion to contribute to their environment, and more ability and willingness to care for and engage with their family members. Beneath their typical Chinese professional personas, the participants have finally connected to the light and fire within. They experienced the best of themselves and each other as human beings. I hope they never forget this experience, and continue to share that light with others.

Leadership cannot be taught, it must be uncovered. One participant described LIFE2 as going on a treasure hunt—it is risky, but the treasure – our true self – is worth it. LIFE2 is about discovering the true and whole person inside of all of us, and finding societally contributing and appropriate manifestations of this. Over the course of LIFE2, we have gathered faculty and participants who are alight and lighted up others. It is my calling to nurture these sparks, combine together, and let the fire burn brightly. Whether a business owner or senior executive or young-up-and- comer, continue to uncover your true self and hidden qualities and strengths. Grow your spark. Be life-long learners. LIFE2 is not a one-off workshop but the start to a life-time transformation with LinHart’s community now supporting you.

Kindest regards,
Huijin Kong

Principal