Welcome to my newsletter

Why are some people able to fast-track to the top, while others—get stuck?

Why do some people get promotions worth tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars each year, while others—who are just as smart and hard-working—get left behind?

If you’re a first-gen corporate professional, what you may not know is: Corporate America operates by unwritten rules. And if you don’t know them, you will never be a player.

HI, I’m Joy Chen. In my 20s, I often felt stuck—big dreams, relentless work ethic, but no clear path forward.

My parents couldn’t show me the unwritten rules—they were immigrants!

They couldn’t hook me up with exclusive networks; they didn’t have any!

For years, I struggled to fit in and move up. Eventually, after many awkward encounters and with the help of key mentors, I mastered the unwritten rules. At age 31, I became Deputy Mayor of Los Angeles. After that, I spent 7 years as a headhunter for Fortune 500 CEOs. I learned how companies choose their leaders—because I did the choosing.

I’ve learned that the key to breaking through is to gain clarity into how the corporate game actually works. I created the Bridge Cultures, Succeed Faster newsletter because I saw so many folks get completely sidetracked trying to move up.

Maybe you already tried collecting fancy degrees, or working super hard to outperform your colleagues. Now, you may be wondering if you can really make it. Well, I am here to show you: you can.

In this newsletter, I’ll show you what your parents didn’t know, what school never taught you, and what your colleagues already know: the unwritten rules of the game, and how to build the networks you need to reach all your goals more quickly and easily.

This will let you forever escape the trap of being stuck—working so hard and yet feeling like you will never reach your potential.

And this will let you start gaining more opportunities, making more impact, and building more wealth, whether you want to move up in a large company—or start your own company!

Always remember: as a first-gen, you are extraordinary—and the future is yours to shape. Let’s master the unwritten rules together.