From immigrant to bestselling author and global keynote speaker, Sheena Yap Chan shares her journey of reclaiming identity, building confidence, and amplifying Asian women’s voices through media, leadership, and visibility.
Growing up Chinese-Filipino and moving to Toronto at just seven years old, Sheena faced cultural shame and a painful lack of representation in the media. For years she tried to conform to Western standards, only to realize that denying her heritage kept her small. By reclaiming her identity, she found the courage to launch The Tao of Self-Confidence podcast, which has since become a top-ranked show with over 1.3 million downloads and 800+ interviews.
Her story is one of bold pivots and transformative resilience. Leaving behind a 12-year office job, Sheena followed a calling to create meaningful work, even when that meant challenging cultural and family expectations. The pandemic became another turning point, when she co-created Asian Women Who Boss Up and landed a Wiley book deal, despite battling imposter syndrome. The result was The Tao of Self-Confidence and later Bridging the Confidence Gap, both written against the odds and now widely recognized for their impact.
In this conversation, Sheena offers practical wisdom on confidence-building, from reframing failure to embracing her “ready, fire, aim” approach. She dives into the cultural conditioning and gender norms that often silence women, and explains why visibility is not vanity but necessity, especially for those navigating leadership and entrepreneurship. Her insights on healing intergenerational trauma, saying yes to opportunities, and using AI as a tool for growth provide a roadmap for women to reclaim agency and step into their own power.
Listeners will walk away inspired to challenge outdated narratives, embrace visibility, and start taking bold steps toward their own version of leadership. Tune in to hear Sheena’s remarkable story and gain the tools to bridge your own confidence gap.
Chapters 👋
00:39 Meet Sheena Yap Chan Empowerment Leader and Author
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03:20 Sheena’s Journey Embracing Identity and Overcoming Challenges
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05:54 The Power of Representation and Visibility
✍️
07:03 Writing and Publishing Sheena’s Book Journey
💡
08:48 The Importance of Confidence and Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
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11:21 Sheena’s Career Arc From Office Job to Public Speaker
🌱
12:52 Cultural Challenges and Personal Growth
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16:18 The Impact of Early Experiences on Confidence
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21:09 Bridging the Confidence Gap Key Takeaways
👩💼
26:28 Empowering Women Leaders
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27:31 Cultural Challenges for Female Leaders
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31:32 Women Supporting Women in the Workplace
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35:43 The Book Writing Process
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39:28 Embracing AI and Technology
⚖️
46:01 Finding Joy and Balance
✈️
47:29 Travel and Culinary Adventures
Links Website:
sheenayapchan.com
Social Media & Resources:
All Sheena’s links
Check out Sheena Yap Chan’s website, explore her books
The Tao of Self-Confidence and
Bridging the Confidence Gap, and connect with her across platforms to start building your confidence through visibility today.
Rapatalo Group: rapataloconsulting@gmail.com
Episode 60
