TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADER PROJECT By: Nicole Castillo, Rosa Mendoza ✓ Solved

Meet Dr. Keri Yang, founder of Pretty Powerful Woman and Powerful Speaker Academy. Dr. Keri Yang is an international speaker, speaking coach, and business mentor with close to two decades of experience on live and virtual stages. She teaches her clients how to leverage the power of their personal presence, speak with style, and use captivating stories to build an instant connection with their audience.

Dr. Keri Yang grew up in Taiwan, completely immersed in the Asian culture. Being a woman, Keri Yang was always silenced. Her voice did not matter. She was taught to keep her head down and work very hard but never take credit. She excelled in school but was never fully in touch with her creative side. She often found herself wondering about the world outside her immediate surroundings.

The catalyst for her speaking career began when a teacher signed her up for a school speaking competition. Although she initially forgot her words, she managed to engage the audience by being herself during the second round. This moment planted the idea for her future endeavors. After being accepted into several PhD programs, she realized that effective communication was integral to her success.

Post-graduation, Dr. Yang faced challenges in the corporate world, remaining silent and fitting into a professional mold. However, a friend's advice encouraged her to embrace her authenticity. This led her to start her business with the mission of helping others use public speaking to transform their lives.

Dr. Yang emphasizes the importance of establishing an instant connection with the audience, which is essential for success. Her clients have seen significant improvements in their conversion rates, often achieving impressive financial results through effective speaking techniques.

Despite various challenges, including cultural expectations and language barriers, Dr. Yang's journey reflects a powerful narrative about personal growth and empowerment. She encourages individuals to find and embrace their true selves while sharing their stories.

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Dr. Keri Yang epitomizes the concept of transformational leadership through her story and the effective strategies she employs in her coaching practice. Transformational leaders inspire change and empower others to achieve their highest potential, and Dr. Yang has dedicated her career to doing just that. By focusing on authenticity and personal narrative, she teaches her clients to present themselves in a genuine manner, which fosters deeper connections and enhances their persuasive capabilities.

A transformational leader, like Dr. Yang, often emerges from overcoming personal adversities. Her early life in Taiwan exemplifies this journey. Cultural norms dictated that women remain silent and serve in a subordinate role. Dr. Yang’s encounter with this restrictive environment instilled in her a sense of determination to break free from societal constraints. Her experience aligns with the transformational leadership theory posited by Bass and Avolio, which asserts that leaders can inspire followers by acting as role models and challenging the status quo (Bass & Avolio, 1994).

Throughout her life, Dr. Yang has faced and navigated various obstacles, from language barriers as an immigrant to the challenges of fitting into a corporate environment. Each struggle has contributed to her development as a leader. She embodies the principles of resilience and perseverance, and her journey reflects what Bennis and Nanus describe as the ability of leaders to learn from their experiences and adapt (Bennis & Nanus, 1985). Her story is not only one of personal triumph but also serves as a blueprint for others pursuing their passions amidst adversity.

Dr. Yang’s business model revolves around guiding clients to recognize and utilize their unique stories. This is essential in the realm of transformational leadership, where the authenticity of a leader can significantly impact their influence. By encouraging individuals to share their experiences, Dr. Yang enables them to connect with others emotionally, paving the way for effective communication and engagement. As noted by Goleman, emotional intelligence is a critical component of successful leadership (Goleman, 1998). By fostering a space for vulnerability and relatability, Dr. Yang strengthens the leader-follower dynamic.

Moreover, Dr. Yang’s approach emphasizes the importance of continual growth and self-improvement, foundational elements of transformational leadership. As she transitioned from a reserved individual to a confident speaker, she illustrated the transformative process that many leaders undergo. The transformational leader continuously seeks new knowledge and experiences, ultimately sharing these insights with their followers (Burns, 1978). In her work, Dr. Yang models this lifelong learning philosophy and encourages her clients to embrace change.

Her clients’ success stories serve as compelling testimonials to the effectiveness of her coaching methods. Notably, tangible improvements in their speaking abilities translate into enhanced career opportunities and personal fulfillment. Through her guidance, many clients report increased conversion rates in their business dealings, demonstrating the direct correlation between effective speaking and financial success. This impact aligns with research conducted by Berkhout et al., which identifies communication skills as a critical determinant of professional achievement (Berkhout et al., 2016).

Furthermore, Dr. Keri Yang's work is emblematic of a larger movement within leadership studies that champions inclusivity and authentic self-expression. As a first-generation immigrant and a woman in a predominantly male-dominated field, her journey affirms the necessity of diverse voices in leadership. Today’s global environment increasingly values leaders who can draw from their varied experiences to foster collaboration and innovation (Nielsen et al., 2018). Her commitment to empowering others to embrace their authenticity helps cultivate a more inclusive landscape in business and leadership circles.

In conclusion, Dr. Keri Yang embodies the principles of transformational leadership through her commitment to authenticity, personal empowerment, and continuous growth. Her journey serves as an inspiration and a roadmap for aspiring leaders, emphasizing the value of storytelling and genuine connection in fostering impactful leadership. As we navigate the complexities of modern leadership, Dr. Yang's approach reminds us of the importance of sharing our stories and embracing our true selves to inspire others to achieve greatness.

References

• Bass, B. M., & Avolio, B. J. (1994). Improving Organizational Effectiveness Through Transformational Leadership. Sage Publications.
• Bennis, W., & Nanus, B. (1985). Leaders: Strategies for Taking Charge. Harper & Row.
• Berkhout, J., de Witte, K., & de Vries, W. (2016). Communication Skills Influence Career Success: Evidence from a Longitudinal Study. Journal of Workplace Learning, 28(3), 129-144.
• Burns, J. M. (1978). Leadership. Harper & Row.
• Goleman, D. (1998). Working with Emotional Intelligence. Bantam Books.
• Nielsen, S., Ptty, S., & Goetz, S. (2018). Diversity in Leadership: A Review and Future Directions. Leadership Quarterly, 29(3), 304-318.
• Yang, K. (2021). How This Woman Built A Multi-Six Figure Business Teaching Entrepreneurs To Become Successful Speakers. Forbes.