I am Ruiqi from China. I completed my undergraduate studies in a culture deeply rooted in Confucian traditions. For the first 22 years of my life, I was fully immersed in Eastern ways of thinking, living, and being. Over the past decade, however, I’ve had the opportunity to live, study, and work in Germany and the United States — experiences that have exposed me to completely different value systems and ways of life. Western culture, in many ways, has also shaped my personality.

This cultural collision has brought many heartwarming moments of connection, as well as the occasional moment of discomfort or frustration. Along the way, I’ve come to realize how gender also plays a significant role in the workplace — sometimes subtle, sometimes undeniable.

Due to the cultural differences between East and West, I, like many of my Asian female friends working in Western environments, have adapted in order to thrive professionally. 

That’s why I created this personal blog — a space dedicated to female leadership through an East-meets-West lens. Here, I explore:

• differences between Asian and Western workplace culture as well as leadership styles

• challenges faced by Asian women in global professional environments

• general recommendations from Asian female leaders

I hope this blog offers you insight, encouragement, or even just the comforting feeling that you’re not alone.