Helen Wan's 'bamboo ceiling' strikes a chord
'The Partner Track' has sparked a real discussion about challenges Asian-Americans face in corporate culture.
Guest host Piya Chattopadhyay speaks with novelist Helen Wan, whose novel The Partner Track has sparked a real-world discussion about "the bamboo ceiling" faced by Asian-Americans in corporate culture.
A lawyer herself, Wan comments on the "unspoken rules" she's observed in the workforce and why she sees the stereotype of the hardworking Asian American as a "double-edged sword".
"The flip side of that stereotype -- of diligence, being careful and hard-working -- is not necessarily being a risk-taker or a leader or aggressive," she says.
Her depiction has resonated with many readers, who see real-world lessons in her fictional story.