NGC Experience: Sean Su
Sean, a shy academic, breaks out of his shell, finds his voice, and achieves better outcomes through collaboration.
Meet Sean Su, the Head of Material Chemistry at Circ™, a company that explores the applications of renewable materials and textile recycling. Sean recently participated in the NextGen Center Foundation for Leadership Program. In this interview, he shares what he learned and how the leadership training program transformed him.
How did you hear about the Foundation for Effective Leadership program?
Sean’s supervisor, Julie, had sponsored other team members for the program and recommended that Sean and his colleagues participate. Sean immediately appreciated the small group setting and the learning environment Founder Brian Alvo has created, conditions which made him feel comfortable about sharing his real-world challenges and exchanging ideas with other professionals on defining leadership.
“I appreciate this program. It’s given me a fresh opportunity to look beyond my daily work. It’s given me another lens to gauge how I interact with people, highlighting aspects of my personality and relationships that I want to improve.”
How did you feel about the leadership program at first?
Did you think, “Oh great, another thing to add to my busy schedule!”?
”You are spot on. Leadership Programs are typically associated with titles and status. But the Foundation program emphasized the “ship” part of “Leadership.” It encouraged me to find my own style of leading a team:
What steps will I take to become a better person?
How will I deal with complications?
And what will I do if I become frustrated?”
Going through the leadership program, did you discover anything unexpected about yourself?
“I used to be a shyer, more introverted person. But when I came to the US, I recognized the need to speak up and participate more. I’m from Taiwan and growing up, the emphasis was being humble and quiet. But here, you need to voice your thoughts and be involved in the discussion.
I recognize vulnerability; in the moment, you don’t feel comfortable, but that’s why I find it so valuable.”
I recognized that I’m sensitive, and by opening myself up, sharing, and also listening to others’ struggles, I allowed myself to become vulnerable. While no two of us have exactly the same experiences, participating in the program allowed us to learn and grow together.
Did you find that you weren't alone, even though the leadership training had participants with diverse backgrounds and experiences?
“I met people from different sectors and saw common threads, such as struggles with communication and managing people. Overall, it was eye-opening to learn about other sectors’ challenges.”
How did the other things you saw in different sectors inspire you to do things differently?
“I found that even if I’m not fully aware of or familiar with another industry’s challenges, it’s helpful to learn about them from those who work in those sectors. I learned to be more patient and not jump to conclusions quickly. It gave me an opportunity to listen and learn.”
How did going through this leadership program heighten your self-awareness?
“The program gave me a sense of community and support. I found speaking with different people very inspirational. If I feel alone, I know where to go for support, and I’m more likely to get the help I need because I am more comfortable with who I am.”
The Foundation for Effective Leadership program creates a safe space where you can express yourself and not feel like you're being judged.
What was your impression of Brian Alvo, essentially “the leader” of the leadership training program?
Brian invests a lot of effort into building and nurturing relationships.
For example, I remember how he helped me identify my personal strengths. He guided me through the process and offered his opinion. He suggests finding and making space to carry what we’ve learned into our everyday lives and to practice our strengths.
Brian guides. He doesn’t “tell us” what to do. Instead, he models and strikes the right balance between showing and telling. I don’t take this approach for granted because I know how challenging it is.
Have you been practicing what you've learned in the leadership training?
”The program was very stimulating. It reminded me of how important self-awareness is. I’ve continued my development journey with Peggy, a NextGen Center coach. I have learned how to set goals and lay a pathway to get there.
Just this morning, I had a conversation with Peggy. She guided me through how to change my routine. I’m a night owl. I tend to work too late and wake up late. I want to go to bed earlier, and I have committed to exercising and reading because they provide me with the quiet space I need for reflection.
I recognized that I couldn’t just focus on business. I need to set time aside to refresh my mind.”
The leadership program doesn’t just address business goals. It’s a 360-degree approach to life. Would you agree?
”Yes. You can’t just focus on business. We are not machines. We are human beings. And, as a human being, you must learn how to make it work and find balance. “
If you're only thinking about work, it will drain your creativity or innovation, and you'll resent it. Having an introspective space makes you a happier and healthier person.
How has your goal-setting approach changed?
“With goal-setting, I learned to take baby steps and focus on improving myself. For example, I had set reading as a personal goal.
Initially, I set a very high bar: Read a book a week. I learned that it wasn’t realistic with my other goals and responsibilities. It’s not about the numbers; it’s about the quality of the reading I’m doing. So even if I’m not reading a book, I’m making time to be present and use reading as a conduit to refreshing ideas and enjoyment.”
Did the leadership program help you see a different side of yourself?
“Still in my mind, I see myself as a scientist. I appreciate my Ph.D. training, but it was focused on the rational side. It’s work that is often done solo because you’re digging deep into a topic, but during that time, you forget about coordination and coming out of that zone.
Working solo can make you feel a little disconnected and sometimes depressed. Especially if you’re trying to solve a problem on your own.”
While collaboration can, on the surface, eat into productivity, that human connection gives you something else. You’re losing something; you're gaining something. It requires you to change your mindset around what is productive.
Have you found that?
“It reminded me of my time in academia. In my academic life, I had a supervisor, lab members, and a committee surrounding me, but it was isolating. However, it was a turning point when I left academia for industry.
I suddenly realized I had to change my mindset. Leadership, or being good at one’s job, is not only about productivity; it’s about how good you are at collaborating with your team members and sharing ideas and resources.
I find myself enjoying teamwork more. I recognize where my weaknesses and strengths are, and it’s nice working with people who have strengths where I have weaknesses and vice versa. Ultimately, I find that the outcomes are so much better than working alone.”
As a child, were you a loner?
“In Taiwan and Asian countries, kids are loaded with academic tests. The focus is on your homework and doing a good job. If you didn’t, you wouldn’t get a great test score and go to a good college. But while I learned how to excel academically, I didn’t learn how to collaborate with others.
And I find that horrible. I had an opportunity to get a great education, but I was blindsided because I didn’t have a chance to work on connecting with others. When I came to the US and became a father myself, I encouraged my children to pursue different things, not have a singular focus on their grades. Because balance makes them more interesting and well-rounded people. “
In what way was the leadership experience pivotal?
“Working in industry, I recognized the need to change and adapt. To be honest, I struggle because major changes or doing a complete 180 can be overwhelming. But through this leadership training, I’ve learned that slowly, year by year, I am becoming more confident, worrying less about others’ judgment, and focusing more on what I can do to feel better in all aspects of my life.
The program gave me tools to evaluate what is right for me and how to lay the foundation for getting there. In other words, the program gave me a chance to define my values and to live my life in a manner that moves me intentionally toward them.”
This interview has been edited for clarity and length.