Huijin Kong: Quitting McKinsey, Identity Metamorphosis & Helping 1 Million People to Uncover Their True Selves

“For me, the purpose is very important. Everyone deserves to be helped. Some moments of conscientious crisis are situations when assessing if the leaders are being purposeful. Are they being selfless or self-interested? Sometimes, things can get a little bit political. Most leaders give their best, do things for the right reasons, try to rise to the occasion, and uncover something very powerful within themselves. I could continue every day to do what I do, and I love the privilege of witnessing these light bulb moments. I have a lifetime goal of helping at least a million people to uncover their true selves and channel that toward better decisions and more positive influence.” - Huijin Kong

“The principle I learned from reading a lot of books during my soul-searching era is awareness. It’s the process of metamorphosis. Something in you is dying and then your true self is emerging. Awareness means not being afraid to face it. It makes you mobilize different parts of your brain and your heart to guide you to what to do with it. It’s not practical to repress it.” - Huijin Kong 

“I quit McKinsey and knew that the road had come to an end. I was learning some things, but not at the rate that I wanted to, and I was afraid I’d get stuck in the exploration. I quit without having any alternatives. I went through three to four years in my own pursuit of trying to find myself and be a person that I could only vaguely, intuitively feel. People felt sorry for me saying I’ve really lost it. They said I had so much potential, but they didn’t know what's going become of me. Some people thought I was depressed. The whole process of letting go of an old self and birthing the true self is a very tumultuous, emotional one. It's almost like dying and renewing yourself.” - Huijin Kong

In this conversation between Jeremy Au and Huijin Kong, Principal at LinHart Group and co-author of Positive Influence: The First and Last Mile of Leadership, they discussed personal evolution, leadership, and positive influence. The discussion illuminates three primary themes:

1. The Unveiling of Self-Identity: Huijin opens up about her dynamic personality, portraying herself as an energizer bunny, compass, and challenger. From her academic star student beginnings to her time at McKinsey, she candidly shares her evolution and passion for helping others become better leaders and influencers.

2. The Metamorphosis of Identity: Huijin delves into the complexities of identity transformation, sharing her own shift from old identity death to new identity rebirth. She offers poignant advice for those undergoing similar shifts, emphasizing the importance of confronting uncomfortable feelings.

3. Positive Influence and Purposeful Leadership: Huijin discusses her co-authored book 'Positive Influence.' She fervently articulates the need for more positive influences in our society, particularly in leadership roles, despite the prevalence of negative influences.

Throughout the conversation, they also talked about Huijin’s learnings from her soul-searching journey, the significance of self-awareness in personal growth, and balancing productivity and caring for other people’s well-being. 

Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/huijin-kong

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