2022
Innovation & Strategy Senior Manager
ASIAN
LEADERS Worth Watching
TM
INTERNATIONAL
Imperfectly Enough
Education: BS, business administration (concentrations: accounting, management information systems), University of the Pacific Company Name: Moss Adams LLP Industry: Finance and Accounting Company CEO: Eric Miles Company Headquarters Location: Seattle, Washington Number of Employees: 3,000 Your Location (if different from above): Sacramento, California Words you live by: You are imperfectly enough. Who is your personal hero? My parents for their courage, perseverance, and doing their best to provide for our family. What book are you reading? I am reading Atomic Habits: An Easy and Proven Way to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones by James Clear, and re-reading the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. What was your first job: Student assistant at University of the Pacific’s SUCCESS-TRiO program Favorite charity: SPCA and other organizations devoted to animal welfare Interests: Eating delicious food, traveling, and playing video games with my family
Growing up in an Asian household, my family had very high expectations for me—to do it all and be the perfect individual. I needed to get good grades, have a prestigious career that provides financial stability and security, buy a house, get married, have two kids . . . (the checklist just keeps going). It wasn’t until seven years into my career that I realized I cannot be perfect and meet ever-changing expectations, nor can I do everything on my own. I am not a superwoman with unlimited time. What I realized I needed was a wonderful support system, personal and professional. It needs to be a support system that is supportive of my authentic self and my goals, as well as one that will help me achieve my goals. For example, my personal support system includes my immediate family, extended family, and friends. To succeed personally at home, I need my family to support me and my sometimes chaotic schedule. My career can result in long days, and my husband and family will help me with household work and taking care of the kids. My personal support system does not expect me to do it all, even though traditionally the mother is the one responsible for childcare and housework. My family does not expect me to pursue a prestigious career and supports my innovative career journey. To succeed in my career, I need a support system that includes my colleagues, such as my team members, management team, partners in the firm, and even my human resource team. These are individuals I can rely on to assist me with getting projects done, to be my sponsoring partner to communicate and enforce my innovative ideas, or to be my sounding board to help prioritize my goals and projects. The people and the culture at Moss Adams provided me with a wonderful support system that allowed me to progress in my career journey and pivot from assurance services to leading and managing our firm’s innovation efforts. It took a few years to redefine what success looks like for me and to gain the courage to pursue more innovative projects. And my professional support system was there, feeding me encouragement. There is an adage that says, “It takes a village to raise a child.” Not only does it take a village to raise a child, it also takes a village to support you and your dreams. I have learned and shared with others that I cannot successfully be my authentic self and climb the career ladder without delegating responsibilities and tasks to my support system. They are with me through my failures and accomplishments, and they believe that I am imperfectly enough.
Family: The greatest support system that ever existed: my husband, two children, pets, parents/in-laws, siblings, and friends.
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2022 Second Quarter
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AWARD
Jennie Ly
