San Diego Author Giovanna Pang Garcia Explores Why Chinese Women Are Not Broke in New Book That Marries Chinese Core Values and American Ingenuity
Eight Local Trailblazing Chinese Scientists, Educators, and Entrepreneurs Featured
For her new book Why Chinese Women Are Not Broke, Giovanna Pang Garcia tracked down 100 of the most successful and influential Chinese women in America, convincing them to share their secrets of success. Garcia’s book explains how their core values and commonsense practices can be utilized by anyone willing to invest in hard work and persistence. Among the eight local San Diego County trailblazers profiled are Carol Lam, former U.S. Attorney, Dr. Flossie Wong Staal, the Florence Riford chair of AIDS research at the University of California at San Diego; and Dr. Lilly Cheng, managing director of the Confucius Institute at San Diego State University.
These women became successful not because they beat the odds, but because they persevered, were driven by an indefatigable work ethic, possessed an unstoppable desire for success and never quit pursuing their dreams — core principles that come from being Chinese women.
Garcia herself is an apt candidate for the list. She is Chinese immigrant who came to Southern California by herself at age 16 with no English training, started a business in her living room with $300, and ultimately sold her multimillion dollar computer consulting business before age 40 — without ever graduating from college. Since she sold her business, Garcia has been concentrating on inspirational speaking and workshops that provide practical advice for those serious about improving their lives. Garcia’s book grew out of her love of helping people succeed.
“I wanted to leave my audience with a real blueprint for success,” she said, characterizing the book as Chicken Soup for the Soul meets The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.
Garcia emphasizes that the keys to success are applicable to all people. “While I interviewed Chinese women – because that is my heritage – these same values have been brought to America by immigrants from all over the world. For hundreds of years people have come to the United States with suitcases of hopes and dreams. They also brought a willingness to work hard, take risks, persevere in the face of setbacks and live with integrity,” she said.
As she collected her stories, Garcia discovered a common thread and in her book writes that “despite adversity, limited opportunities, modest backgrounds and gender stereotyping, every single one of these women succeeded by combining their Chinese values with the freedom and abundance of opportunities here in America. That key to any success, she added, is to embrace ‘the same core values.’”
Among the women featured in the book are Diane Tang-Liu, vice president of research and development for Allergen Inc.; Sonya Gong Jent, vice president of operations for State Farm Insurance; Jennie Chin Hansen, president of AARP; Jenny Ming, president of Charlotte Russe; Ivy Chin, vice president of QVC; U.S. Congresswoman Judy Chu, former San Francisco Police Chief Heather Fong, and U.S. Ambassador Julia Chang Bloch.
