Academics and Corporate World?

[Anonymous]

There is constant discussion about Asian kids doing so well academically. You can look at any school or grade and almost always the top performers are Asians. However this does not translate proportionately in corporate world. The top leadership in almost every field is dominated by whites. Is it because of biases, or Asians (despite of doing well academically) lack some key skills and creativity needed to advance higher in corporate hierarchy. Is it just a matter of time and going to catch up in near future? Or these kids seriously lack the skills to reach the top of the ladder.

Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

I assume you are referring to Asian Americans? Because the largest companies in Asia are led by, well, Asians. This includes, of course, many of the largest multinationals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I assume you are referring to Asian Americans? Because the largest companies in Asia are led by, well, Asians. This includes, of course, many of the largest multinationals.

Yes, Asian American. Thanks for pointing that out.

[Anonymous]

When I was in b-school there was a pretty large group of Asian and Asian-American students. They've been very successful in a range of industries from investment banking to major corporates. Obviously many of the largest companies in the world are led by Japanese, Koreans, etc. So no, I don't think there is any inherent limitation.

[Anonymous]

Some data to correlate to the first post:

- The Asian American population accounts for about 4.8% of the U.S. population, but only 0.3% of corporate office populations.

- Even in fields where Asian Americans are highly represented, such as the Silicon Valley software industry, they comprise a disproportionately small percentage of upper management and board positions. One-third of all software engineers in the Silicon Valley are Asian, however they make up only 6% of board members and 10% of corporate officers of the Bay Area's 25 largest companies;

- At the National Institutes of Health, where 21.5% of scientists are Asians, they make up only 4.7% of the lab and branch directors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I was in b-school there was a pretty large group of Asian and Asian-American students. They've been very successful in a range of industries from investment banking to major corporates. Obviously many of the largest companies in the world are led by Japanese, Koreans, etc. So no, I don't think there is any inherent limitation.

Some data to correlate to the first post:

- The Asian American population accounts for about 4.8% of the U.S. population, but only 0.3% of corporate office populations.

- Even in fields where Asian Americans are highly represented, such as the Silicon Valley software industry, they comprise a disproportionately small percentage of upper management and board positions. One-third of all software engineers in the Silicon Valley are Asian, however they make up only 6% of board members and 10% of corporate officers of the Bay Area's 25 largest companies;

- At the National Institutes of Health, where 21.5% of scientists are Asians, they make up only 4.7% of the lab and branch directors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is constant discussion about Asian kids doing so well academically. You can look at any school or grade and almost always the top performers are Asians. However this does not translate proportionately in corporate world. The top leadership in almost every field is dominated by whites. Is it because of biases, or Asians (despite of doing well academically) lack some key skills and creativity needed to advance higher in corporate hierarchy. Is it just a matter of time and going to catch up in near future? Or these kids seriously lack the skills to reach the top of the ladder.

Thoughts?

You can say exactly the same thing about women. Almost always the top school performers are girls. The top leadership in almost every field in the corporate world is dominated by men. Is it because of biases, or women (despite doing well academically) lack some key skills and creativity needed to advance higher in the corporate hierarchy?

Or, in other words: good grief.

[Anonymous]

Why do we keep debating tiger parenting of asian parents, their focus on academics and extra curricular activities, etc? We all know that it does not really matter and despite of all the academic success, they are not going to be winners in the end.

[Anonymous]

Perhaps Caucasians make it to the board room because they PLAY as children?

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/give-childhood-back-to-children-if-we-want-our-offspring-to-have-happy-productive-and-moral-lives-we-must-allow-more-time-for-play-not-less-are-you-listening-gove-9054433.html

[Anonymous]

Personally I think that, despite how nice it is to be academically brilliant (and I am not one who can say that I am, unfortunately)...what it takes to make it to the top of corporate america (which I am blessed to say I have accomplished) has nothing at ALL to do with academic smarts. Zero. Seriously.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps Caucasians make it to the board room because they PLAY as children?

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/give-childhood-back-to-children-if-we-want-our-offspring-to-have-happy-productive-and-moral-lives-we-must-allow-more-time-for-play-not-less-are-you-listening-gove-9054433.html

I guess that explains why white people of European heritage are running all of those Asian companies in Asia -- they PLAYED as children.

No, wait...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Personally I think that, despite how nice it is to be academically brilliant (and I am not one who can say that I am, unfortunately)...what it takes to make it to the top of corporate america (which I am blessed to say I have accomplished) has nothing at ALL to do with academic smarts. Zero. Seriously.

I think you DO need to be smart to make it to the top, but you also need effective communication skills, know how to build relationships and be a leader.

What skills do you think gets people to the top?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps Caucasians make it to the board room because they PLAY as children?

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/give-childhood-back-to-children-if-we-want-our-offspring-to-have-happy-productive-and-moral-lives-we-must-allow-more-time-for-play-not-less-are-you-listening-gove-9054433.html

I guess that explains why white people of European heritage are running all of those Asian companies in Asia -- they PLAYED as children.

No, wait...

What an inherently stupid comment. Do we need to point out the lack of logic in this, or if you ponder it long enough, will you eventually get it?

[Anonymous]

You need to be a risk taking. Intelligent, yes and good communicator too but the brilliant students that do not end up climbing the latter I think mostly are conservative non risk taking. It cannot climb to the very top without being willing to take a few chances.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is constant discussion about Asian kids doing so well academically. You can look at any school or grade and almost always the top performers are Asians. However this does not translate proportionately in corporate world. The top leadership in almost every field is dominated by whites. Is it because of biases, or Asians (despite of doing well academically) lack some key skills and creativity needed to advance higher in corporate hierarchy. Is it just a matter of time and going to catch up in near future? Or these kids seriously lack the skills to reach the top of the ladder.

Thoughts?

My only thought is that this is very, very tiresome.