Leading with Agency: From Refugee to Purpose-Driven Executive with Hoai Scott

I’m in conversation with Hoai Scott, a Senior Vice President, people leader, and Vietnamese refugee whose story invites us to rethink what power, success, and integrity actually look like. Together, we trace her journey from surviving and striving to leading from a place of grounded wholeness—where her values, choices, and leadership style all align.We talk about what it means to stop shape-shifting for approval, to choose yourself in rooms that weren’t built for you, and to lead in a way that honors both your ambition and your humanity. Hoai shares how she’s learned to own her story without bitterness, set boundaries without guilt, and build a career where her presence in any space is intentional and rooted in purpose.This conversation is for anyone who has ever felt the pressure to overperform, be “the good one,” or carry it all alone—especially Asian women and women of color navigating corporate systems. It’s also a loving reminder that taking care of yourself is not indulgent; it’s foundational to doing the hard, meaningful work you’re called to do.Key Themes & TakeawaysLeading with values: aligning your mindset, daily actions, and decisionsMoving away from perfectionism and people-pleasing toward purpose and integrityNaming and unlearning the “shape-shifting” many Asian professionals experienceBuilding real, human relationships with supervisors and teamsWhy self-care is a leadership practice, not a rewardRedefining freedom—not as “do whatever you want” but as inner permission and mindsetPowerful MomentsOn Choice & Ownership“I'm not bitter about my choices because they're mine.” – Hoai ScottOn Service, Not Selfishness“It is not selfish. It is in service. Of giving the best.” – Sohee JunOn Being Willing to Stand Out“In order to make a difference, you have to be different.” – Hoai ScottOn Shame & Healing“My belief is if you give it air, you talk about it and own it, it dissipates. The power of that shame dissipates.” – Sohee JunOn Capacity & Hard Work“You cannot do hard work without taking care of yourself.” – Hoai ScottReflection QuestionsWhere are you abandoning your own values in order to belong—and what would it look like to gently come back to yourself?In which spaces do you feel pressure to “shape-shift,” and what is one small way you could show up more as you?What choices in your career do you need to fully own, so you can move forward without regret or resentment?How might your leadership change if you treated rest, care, and boundaries as part of your job description?If you believed your presence in a room was intentional and necessary, how would you lead, speak, or decide differently?Resources & Topics MentionedValues-based and integrity-centered leadershipIdentity, refugee roots, and navigating corporate America as an Asian womanLeadership development, executive presence, and workplace cultureSocial justice, inclusion, and creating spaces of belonging at workMental fitness, shame resilience, and self-care for high-achieving leadersRecommended by Hoai:📚 The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown — on courage, shame, and embracing who you are📚 Positive Intelligence by Shirzad Chamine — on quieting inner saboteurs and strengthening your sage🧊 Cold therapy and nervous system support — including science-backed insights from Huberman LabAbout the GuestHoai Scott is a Senior Vice President and values-driven executive who leads at the intersection of people, culture, and impact. As a Vietnamese refugee who built a successful corporate career, she brings a nuanced lens to leadership, equity, and what it means to belong. Hoai is committed to creating workplaces where people can do hard, meaningful work without losing themselves in the process—and where difference is recognized as a source of power, not a problem to fix.#asianlikeme #ValuesBasedLeadership #PurposeDrivenWork #AuthenticLeadership #CorporateImpact #SocialJustice #InclusiveLeadership #ExecutiveWomen #WomenInHR