Jean Lee: "We need more good leaders to make the world a better place" / Business Education

This note is about the ideas and words that resonated/inspired/reminded me of many things. It'll probably give you some inspirations and thoughts too. 

*For those who are tagged: You are in my thoughts when I reflected on this!! Like ripples on the water, I'm going to share the touching feelings I had when I read these with you. Some of you are mentioned by name, some of you are not - but indirectly or directly, you are related to this note. 

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/7b8b3d24-4f1b-11e0-9c25-00144feab49a.html#axzz1HHuEWA9C

Experiences are words of wisdom... in length. Having the chance to read about someone so inspiring is a true pleasure. Thank you, Elgin! For mentioning your mom - and now she's on news! 

(Some of these points are just bolded but without reflections (starting with ">" markings). I'll probably revisit this sometime to elaborate more. For now, let's look into Ms. Lee's experiences.) 

Q1. When did you know you wanted to teach?

"That was the first time that someone saw that potential in me, something that even I myself had never given thought to." 

Q2. What is the strangest thing you have ever done when teaching?

"I get students to share their life story, which is a very big part of learning in leadership." 

> Life itself is made up of human experiences. Like history, humans can only learn by re-examining their footsteps and make their futures better. Without reflecting meaningfully, no lessons would be gained. I totally agree with Ms. Lee that life story is a very big part of learning - and not just in leadership, too. Even in Art history, I'm constantly practicing which contexts I should be considering for the work I'm researching, whether it be cultural, social, historical, political, or biological (artists' personal life story). As I mentioned here, the biological/artists' background/life story is also a context. For artists such as Gaughin, van Gogh, Yves Klein, Mark Rothko, Jackson Pollock, Frida Kahlo, etc, their life story plays a crucial role in their art. Without learning about the Kahlo's tragic accident and how that impacted her in fertility and in life, her expressive and deeply emotional paintings about her struggles would not be easily understood. 

> I lost track of which of my friend shared with me once that actors aren't all extroverts; she mentioned how the process of acting requires a lot of introspection. Mentioning this reminded me of my experiences in high school Theatre Arts; the introspection was the precise reason I would have wanted to keep pursuing Theatre. Yet, my skills and talents are limited - but in music and art, there lies some common characteristics.

(For my fellow artist friends in IB Art: Haruna Akashi, Justen Waterhouse, Amanda Lo, Christine Vranze, Thomas Ng, and other who I couldn't tag...)  

I was also drawn to the introspection process of creating art and the meaning that lies behind each artwork when I watched my high school friends working in the art studio. :) Special mention of Christine Vranze, whom I miss a lot, thank you for sharing your thoughts with me - I still remember the piece where you made dried swirling piles of acrylic paint in various colors, mentioning how you're inspired by the fact that people can be wasteful with their resources. 

(I'll disconnect thinking on this reflection relating to art as I can probably discuss endlessly...back to Ms. Lee!!) 

Q3: What is your biggest lesson learnt?

"Never assume. Nothing is impossible. Everything is possible. With my years of experiences, sometimes I tend to judge and come to a conclusion too soon. There are times that I was proven wrong. People can amaze me with their potential and determination."

> At times when I get discouraged, I'd always rethink the possibilities in that certain case again. 

When I think repeatedly about something, it's definitely a sign/because there's some determination that's waiting to push me out there to carry out my thoughts. If the thoughts don't circulate (remind, repeat, rethought of), they won't have energy. 

> I don't know how much of my potential and determination is seen by others. But I've had some fortunate discussions and inspiring sharings with my close friends who would help me realize that by affirming, telling me clearly what they saw in me and the power that I have in my hands to do a lot. 

> Can I amaze people with my abilities? Abilities might be limited.

But Potential? Determination? I admire Ms. Lee's contributions in Education, because her words as a mentor and expert in what she does gives us belief that potential and determination can be brought out in us - that is, as long as we have it within us, we just need to use it - bring it out to work - so we can make an impact. 

This connects to her next interview question and her answers: 

Q4: What do you enjoy most about your job?

Transforming people. I feel so amazed that people can change and that I could be there to witness that change. It shows in their eyes and in their behaviour, which is very gratifying and rewarding. With some students, I am still amazed with why and how they change. It’s certainly the most rewarding experience when I see how my students regain their energy, find their sense of meaning and direction and make good decisions for themselves, for the companies and for society. Having that desire and vision to make change and impact. I am truly happy for them. We need more good leaders to make the world better place.

Q5: What is the best piece of advice given to you by a teacher?

To be who I am! Being a smart and intelligent woman, I often put pressure on my peers unintentionally. By having high standard for myself and others, I am often seen as “demanding”. I have lost friends because of that. There were times that I was very doubtful about myself and tried to shy away from the limelight. One of my professors told me that I would shine no matter how much I hid and that I have to be who I am. At that moment, I felt very touched and relieved. Now, I give the same piece of advice to other women leaders.

> (For Carryn), I feel bad that I've already missed a few of the Women's Leadership Conferences... how are those events?? Been fun? I'd like to catch up with you sometime on the experiences and the content of the meetings... I also hope you're liking what you've read so far in my note as an aspiring leader :) and is somewhat inspired by Ms. Lee's or my notes' content. 

> (For Min Ji), I look up to you! Great one! :D I hope you're enjoying the article that you read about Ms. Lee too... if you have any time to read... ^___^". 

> (For Ahmed, Izzy, Azeem, Sung and others who believes in me), at times of doubt, I turn to you - because you have the power of pulling me out of the doubts that I have of myself and you all make me see my value and uniqueness... perhaps I don't have enough self-confidence to see that myself, but with your help, with the faith that you have in me, I feel touched and relieved. 

Q6. Who are your business influences?

Hadi Surya, who is the boss in my first consulting project. He is an entrepreneur and founder of one of the largest family business in Indonesia. I was impressed by his willingness to engage a young 28-year-old PhD lecturer, based on an article that I had written in the Straits Time, a newspaper in Singapore. In the six years of working with him, I learned a lot about family business, entrepreneurial leadership and organisational transformation. I admire his vision and determination and his foresight in business decisions. Most of all, I respect his appreciation of simplicity and humanity.

I am also very inspired by some of the Chinese business women leaders/managers: Yang Mianmian, Liu Mingming, Shi Xiaoyan, Zhou Xiaoguang, Chen Ailian, Anita Leung Fengyi, to name a few, whom I interviewed in the last two years in China. Their positive attitude, determination, kindness, willingness to take hardship and sacrifice make them authentic leaders. They make me believe that we need more women leaders to bring a female perspective into the workplace and business. I always believe that women can bring a more balanced view and peace in life.

Q7. What advice would you give to women in business?

Never give up on who you are; be proud of your gender and identity and be feminine; Love yourself in order to love others. Turn the stereotypes of women into strengths.

Q8. How do you deal with male-dominated environments?

Face the reality and live with it, respect the strengths of men, communicate effectively and speak up with confidence. Try to be assertive and not offensiveand know where your support stems from. Work with men who appreciate and support you and endeavour to win respect with your own actions and your own merits. Try to do what they can’t do and do it well, accept that it will take time to change and take a step at a time.

Q9. What inspires you?

Helping people to grow and be better always inspires me. After coming to terms with the death of my father and brother, I realised that life is short. We bring nothing to this world and will take nothing from this world when we leave. Thekey and fundamental question we should ask ourselves is: what do I leave behind to the world and the people? My answer is words of wisdom, therefore I teach and I write.

Q10. What are your future plans?

I will continue to do research in China because there are many interesting issues here. I will continue to be the bridge of east and west. I would like to help promote more women leaders and mentors for women students and I would like to assume more leadership roles.

Artist Quotes / JR's Public Art Project on TEDtalk - Memorable Words and Reflections

Can Art Change the World?

Let JR, the French Street Artist share his story and vision with you. 

http://www.youtube.com/user/TEDtalksDirector#p/u/2/0PAy1zBtTbw 

“In some way art CAN change the world, art isn’t supposed to change the world, to change particular things, but to change the perceptions, art can change the way we see the world, art can create an energy. Actually, the fact that art can’t change things makes it a neutral place to exchanges and discussions – and then, enables it to change the world.”

(( my reflections in double parentheses.)) 

JR's Words Extracted out of the Video: 

"As important as the result, is how you do things." 

--result (finished visual product) / how you do things (idea/concept, philosophy, planning, method, execution) 

(( Many people who look at art would think art should be visually pleasing, with intricate techniques that not anyone can do, and be really unique - otherwise, why is it art? 

Yet if art is only limited to the framework of visual aesthetics, it wouldn't be 'art'.

Art as a wide range of functions... and it's only after learning Art History I began to breakdown my misconceptions

of what art is and start building on the possibilities of what it can be. 

The function of art has been evolving for a long time - just like our daily language... rolling along with time, 

from purely decorative and visually pleasing to acts of challenging the standards of an era, thought-provoking, expressing opinion, profound in logic and philosophy and meaning... and some without a very complex finished visual product.  

“In conceptual art, the idea or concept is the most important aspect of the work. When an artist uses a conceptual form of art, it means that all planning and decisions are made beforehand. The execution is a perfunctory affair. The idea becomes the machine that makes the art.”  Sol Le Witt - via – Originally quoted from ” Paragraphs on Conceptual Art ” Sol Lewitt – Artforum (June, 1967). 

Some people may not consider photography to be art, but I wonder if they understand

the uniqueness and the art of a photograph in the timing, setting, angle, subject(s), choice that has went into the momnet of snapping the camera. 

It's best explained by saying the 'art' in conceptual / process art is the process itself. 

Already, during the act of execution, the action itself and the process of taking the action condenses all of the 

essences of what makes it 'art'. 

For an artist like JR - the act of art can be defined by a concept, an idea, a motivation - and that's how he brought his art around the globe, impacting lives. )) 

"In the public art project, I don’t choose my artwork anymore, (list of artists names)

Other people’s artworks, it doesn’t matter today whether it’s your photo or not,

The importance is what you do with the images, the statement it makes, where it’s pasted.." 

His art project participants say to him: "Please, make our story travel with you." 

(( I cannot see a more emotionally-moving type of art than the global arts that connects and impacts us humans so widely. While aesthetically beautiful artworks are also emotionally moving, in my opinion, they cannot nearly carry the same emotional impact and profoundness as the contemporary arts. Resonating with the beauty and awe that viewers experience is a small framework. 

Yet with artists like JR and another Chilean artist, Alfredo Jaar, their visions in art crosses knowledge, social, cultural, political etc boundaries - it's like riding on a satellite that surrounds the Earth, understanding the world and its relation to us in that way.

Discovering how a large number of Latin American artists expands their artworks' connection to a global and universal context really touched me. On my trip to Washington D.C. this spring break, I found an inspiring "dialogue" of two featured artists' works in the Smithsonian African Art Museum. )) 

Henrique Oliveira left such a statement: 

"I don't like much this way that in Europe and North America artists are labeled - a Brazilian artist and not just an artist. I know I am Brazilian and the most clear proof of this is that I cannot speak as an English speaker but always from the outside. The only way I can prevent this is through my work. I think the visual arts can be understood regardless of language. I try to work in this universal language." 

(( I cannot help but smile when I see "always from the outside" and feeling a part of me being an outsider at times

in the American environment... even if I'm not as "outside" as Henrique may feel in terms of language ability, there's still some subtle aspects that I feel I'm not "inside" enough. It could be the perspective of my personal shyness/ cultural difference that makes me feel this way.. even now I can only seem to gain some confidence in exchanging thoughts with people similar to my background... either International students, or people in the field of Art History... because when we talk in the same "language", I feel the connection better - and the affiliation helps me feel the wall doesn't exist as thick as I imagined it to be. )) 

Art itself is a universal language... whether the work speaks of struggles and emotionalities, communicated in the expressive works of van Gogh and Pollock; or the works by Alfredo Jaar that provokes thoughts by a representation of a map, with the title: "Geography = War"... artists give their works power to communicate with us deeply in different aspects. 

The difference lies in whether or not we have to be accquainted with the artists' backgrounds first. 

I think for individual artists, there's a need to understand their personal, cultural, social, political backgrounds... 

Yet with the type of public/global art project that JR and many Latin American artists are working on, it provides their viewer with an ease to be able to connect more instinctively solely on their own experiences - and often at times, with an extension of imagination on the international issues. 

When an art becomes so capable... we're reminded by JR's rhetorical question in the video: 

“Can art change the world?”

My view is: If change needs a step, then art could be the step - the inspiration...

What does JR say? 

“In some way art CAN change the world, art isn’t supposed to change the world, to change particular things, but to change the perceptions, art can change the way we see the world, art can create an energy. Actually, the fact that art can’t change things makes it a neutral place to exchanges and discussions – and then, enables it to change the world.”

“I wish for you to stand up for what you care about by participating in a global art project, and together we’ll turn the world…INSIDE OUT.”

Hearing JR's words, I'm reminded that all creations need money. Art shouldn’t be something viewed at then left there undone. If it evokes something technically/emotionally striking or pleasing, some support should be given other than the visiting fee, emotional impact within/or expressed/and admiration for the artist.

-turning the world INSIDE OUT with art can help surface the values/issues that have been hidden.

Link if you're interested: Insideoutproject.net 

“What we see changes who we are”

-Not just for art. But also on the life level: experiences. people. qualities. Insights.

Link: Tedprize.org 

Sandile Zulu, artist featured in Smithsonian African Art Museum (contemporary exhibition)

"As in the nature of every dialogue, the interchange of knowledge, experience and expression leads, at least from a critical point of view, to imagineries of identity, priviledge, power and economic status. These, in turn, bring about a confrontation with greater issues of creativity, art making and the social environment in a global context. But dialogue on a global stage is always a complex proposition. It is this tension and attention that inspired my dialogical premise."