As I sat down with Amy Wang, representing Taiwan in the Mrs. Asia USA 2024 pageant, the discussion that succeeded opened my eyes to a new perspective. Wang’s story is multi-layered, and within the pages of her life, deep wisdom and leadership advice were gleaned.
For over 20 years, Wang has worked in Silicon Valley, with experience building software products and services at large enterprise companies, including Cisco, Adobe, Oracle, Ingram Micro, HP, and Yahoo.
Despite a long track record of achieving success in corporate leadership roles, Wang followed her inner voice and embarked into a new path, one that would change the trajectory of her life in ways she never anticipated.
In 2022, Wayo Ventures was born, a real estate investment firm she and her partner formed to help individuals unlock financial independence. At the beginning of this year, Wang “took a bold step,” and launched a foundation, the Dragon Hearts Foundation, which supports “disadvantaged women and creates educational scholarships for the next generation,” she says, “and this came about just before I was invited to join the pageant.”
When Wang was asked to be the Mrs. Taiwan delegate for the Mrs. Asia USA 2024 pageant, she realized it was a unique occasion to further her impact on society. “Beauty pageants weren’t really on my radar when the opportunity presented itself, but the chance to represent Asian American women and my Taiwanese heritage through a mission-driven platform felt like an opportunity of a lifetime.”
Today, Wang says she has “more space to think about purpose and direction and the impact I want to bring forth in this world,” with a spotlight on her philanthropic endeavors.
To learn more about Wang’s inspirational journey as a leader, shifting from corporate executive to business owner, founder of a foundation, and now Mrs. Taiwan 2024, she shares 5 tokens of advice for women in or looking to step into a leadership roles:
1. Define your North Star, aka your vision
“Vision is crucial,” Wang emphasizes. “I’ve encountered leaders focused on goals and KPIs, but without a guiding North Star, how can we truly inspire others? Running a business without a clear vision is like navigating the woods without a compass—most of the time, you’ll end up lost.”
“A powerful vision provides a long-term plan that unites your team. Without it, people can lose direction, unsure of the purpose behind their efforts. It’s essential for top executives to clearly articulate and inspire their teams towards a shared goal.”
2. Believe in yourself
Throughout her career, Wang often found herself as the only woman or the only Asian in the room—a challenge she met with courage, refusing to let limiting beliefs dim her light. “I mentor those starting their careers, who may feel they don’t deserve their place or that their voice doesn’t matter. I urge them to speak up; everyone has unique insights to offer, and these contributions can profoundly influence any organization or cause,” she asserts.
“You absolutely deserve to be heard,” she emphasizes. “Even small steps in sharing your thoughts can help you discover and reinforce your confidence, building a foundation that grows stronger over time.”
3. Find meaning in the work you do
Wang’s unwavering passion for her work fuels her drive and success—a crucial quality for any strong leader, both professionally and personally. If you are not feeling energized by your work, it often signals a reason to feed what is missing. “When I truly love what I do, it is much easier to keep moving forward and stay motivated.”
“When you’re deeply engaged, it doesn’t feel like work. It’s all integrated into your day to day. I feel blessed and fortunate to be able to guide my own path. It wasn’t always this way.”
“I designed this life for myself,” she reflects. Her corporate career opened many doors, but she often felt limited working for someone else. “Now, I’m in the driver’s seat, choosing how I want to spend my time.”
4. Success thrives on teamwork and a growth mindset.
“Are you fostering a team culture and environment that breeds success and continued learning?” Wang challenges us to consider. At the heart of leadership and business success is the caliber of people you collaborate with—cultivating connections, nurturing relationships, and continuous improvement are values she holds paramount for any team.
“No one achieves greatness in isolation. I owe much to those who have supported me along my journey,” she acknowledges.
“I thrive on building great teams and leveraging all of the individual strengths to create something extraordinary. This principle has guided my success in the corporate world, where respect and reputation are earned through not only your own abilities but through collective achievement.”
5. Listen to your inner voice. Have the courage to reinvent yourself.
“I always had this inner voice that was not afraid to declare when I felt strongly about something. It manifested when I was twelve years old and guided me throughout my life,” says Wang, a voice that prompted her to move from Taiwan to the U.S., leaving her family behind at an early age.
“Even though I sacrificed a lot by walking away from the comfort of my own family, I knew that it would provide greater educational and career opportunities for me. Even at twelve, I trusted that voice, and it has led me to where I am today.”
The decision to follow her intuition, despite the risk, was not simple, but she saw the vision for herself and chose to walk her destined path. “I did this multiple times throughout my career. It’s taking that leap of faith and being okay with the unknown and then challenging the status quo. I feel like those things have served me well and have stretched me a lot, molding me into the person I am today.”
This past February, that same voice rang clear, and Wang felt called to found the Dragon Hearts Foundation—materialized in the Year of the Dragon, her Lunar zodiac sign.
“The timing of events this year has been impeccable,” she reflects. “I anticipated a significant and transformational year, but I never imagined just how monumental it would be. The momentum we’ve built and the work accomplished have been incredible, and the possibilities ahead are hugely significant. I really feel that.”
Wang recently launched a scholarship program to support young women who are pursuing majors in STEM and business.
“Sometimes, you have to trust your heart and take that step into the unknown. Even without knowing the full outcome, you’ll find that bridge that leads you to your next adventure,” she concludes.
To learn more about the Dragon Hearts Foundation, visit the website here. Show your support for Amy Wang during the upcoming Mrs. Asia USA 2024 pageant by following along her journey on her Instagram.
