Fireside Chat with Jane Marie Chen
Moderated by Michelle Ji-Yeun Kim, Join us for an intimate conversation with Jane Chen — social entrepreneur, leadership coach, and author of the forthcoming memoir Like a Wave We Break (Penguin Random House, October 2025).
On paper, Jane’s story reads like the definition of success: a Harvard and Stanford graduate, she co-founded Embrace Innovations, a social enterprise whose groundbreaking incubator has helped save hundreds of thousands of newborns in vulnerable communities worldwide. Her work earned recognition from presidents, pop stars, and global changemakers alike.
But behind the accolades, Jane faced a deeper truth — a journey through burnout, self-doubt, and the long shadow of intergenerational trauma. When Embrace collapsed, so did the identity she had built around achievement. Her path to healing took her across continents and into the depths of her inner world — through silence retreats, spiritual exploration, and the painful yet liberating work of confronting her past.
In this Fireside Chat, Jane will share her reflections on healing, resilience, personal growth, and leadership — and what it means to move beyond perfection and toward wholeness. Her story is a reminder that true transformation doesn’t come from success or approval, but from learning to embrace the messy, beautiful truth of who we are.
About the Hosts
Jane Chen
Jane Chen is the co-founder of Embrace, which has helped to save over 1 million babies with its portable incubator. She is a TED speaker and a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum. She has been selected for Forbes' Impact 30 and is a recipient of the Economist Innovation Award and Fast Company Innovation Award. Jane has also been recognized as Social Entrepreneur of the Year by the World Economic Forum. She received her MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business, and her Masters in Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
Connect with Jane
Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook | Book | Book Tour
Michelle Ji-Yeun Kim
RevOps Executive and Startup Coach, Michelle Kim has 15+ years of experience at leading B2B tech companies such as Zendesk, Seagate, and LinkedIn. As a Board Member for Women in Revenue and host of the Breaking the Tech Ceiling podcast, she’s passionate about elevating women leaders in go-to-market roles and exploring how introverts can authentically build their personal brand.
Connect with Michelle
Not a member of The Authentic Asian?
To join the waitlist for our next cohort, please fill out our application here
Apply here
Please note that this is a space that centers women and those who relate to their lived experience. If you do not identify with this and would still like to support or engage with the community, feel free to reach out to The Authentic Asian team. We’d be happy to explore other ways to include you.