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By: Dr. Jian Zhang I have always wanted to see the world. Over the years, my family took many wonderful trips together while our children were growing up. Those journeys remain some of our happiest memories—discovering new places, experiencing different cultures, and simply having uninterrupted time together as a family. I also traveled extensively throughout my career, often for conferences, meetings, speaking engagements, and professional responsibilities. Those journeys ha

By: Dr. Jian Zhang What Happens When the Path You Planned Disappears? Most of us begin our careers with an idea of where we are going. We work hard, build expertise, earn opportunities, and gradually develop an identity around what we do. Then something happens. A promotion does not come. A business fails. An organization changes direction. A reform we believe in collapses. A position disappears. A carefully planned career suddenly takes an unexpected turn. At moments like th

By: Dr. Jian Zhang I am delighted to share an important milestone: my new book, Pressure and Possibility: How Difference Becomes a Source of Strength in Leadership, is now available for pre-order. Published by Forbes Books and scheduled for release on January 12, 2027, this book has been years in the making. But in many ways, the story began decades ago. It began in a small rural village in China, where I grew up during a time of scarcity and uncertainty. It continued when I

By Dr. Jian Zhang This weekend, I had the privilege of attending the 2026 Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) Conference and Gala at Stanford University. For three inspiring days, Nobel laureates, pioneering scientists, AI visionaries, entrepreneurs, educators, physicians, and public leaders gathered to discuss some of the most important questions of our time—from artificial intelligence and scientific discovery to energy, education, and the future of humanity. Among them wer

Tang-Song Eight Great Prose Masters — #1: Courage of Conviction By Dr. Jian Zhang Every Leader Has a Defining Moment Every leader eventually faces a defining moment. It is rarely the day they receive a promotion or an award. Instead, it is the moment when doing the right thing comes at a personal cost. Should you speak up, knowing it may damage your career? Should you remain silent to protect your position? Leadership is rarely tested by competence alone. It is tested by char

From a Supermarket Bulb to an Unexpected Summer Bloom By Dr. Jian Zhang Some of the most joyful surprises in Jian’s Garden do not begin in a nursery. This one began in the produce section of an Asian supermarket. A few months ago, I bought fresh lily bulbs for cooking. Each bulb was made of many overlapping white scales, almost like flower petals hidden beneath the soil. I removed and cooked the outer layers, but instead of throwing away the small central cores, I planted the

为什么今天还要读唐宋八大家？ 从八位古人的人生，重新理解成功、失败与领导力 By Dr. Jian Zhang What does success really mean? Is it power, wealth, reputation, or recognition? Or is success something much deeper—the ability to remain true to our values, continue growing through adversity, and leave a lasting impact on others? More than a thousand years ago, the Eight Great Prose Masters of the Tang and Song Dynasties explored these same questions—not through theories, but through their own lives. Like many Chinese

One Yellow Flower, A Lifetime of Joy By Dr. Jian Zhang Every garden has a beginning. Mine began with a single yellow dahlia. When I was a junior high school student living in the school dormitory in rural Guangdong, one of our teachers planted several dahlias in the schoolyard. It was the first time I had ever seen them. Standing by the dormitory window, I couldn't help but say, "The flowers are so beautiful!" The teacher smiled, cut one yellow dahlia, and handed it to me. It

By Dr. Jian Zhang Zeng Guofan is one of the best historical figures from China in Qing Dynasty. Not because he lived a life of uninterrupted success, but because he experienced repeated failures without ever giving up on growth. Most people remember Zeng Guofan as the statesman who helped suppress the Taiping Rebellion, founded the Xiang Army, and rose to the highest ranks of the Qing government. Yet I believe his greatest legacy is not his military victories or political ach

六韬与组织领导力：建设能够永续发展的组织 By Dr. Jian Zhang Building Organizations, Not Just Winning Battles Among China’s ancient classics, The Art of War is perhaps the best known around the world. Yet another remarkable work, The Six Secret Teachings (六韜), traditionally attributed to Jiang Ziya（姜子牙), offers a broader vision of leadership. While The Art of War focuses on achieving victory, The Six Secret Teachings explores how leaders build organizations, cultivate talent, establish governance,

By Dr. Jian Zhang This morning, I read an article in The Atlantic that questioned one of the most enduring assumptions in higher education—that the world's most prestigious universities will always remain the most influential. The article argued that demographic shifts, rising tuition, artificial intelligence, changing workforce expectations, and growing public scrutiny are forcing higher education into a period of profound transformation. As I finished reading, I found mysel

Ancient Wisdom for Leading With Empathy, Emotional Intelligence, and Human Connection By Dr. Jian Zhang “The poems express what is deeply felt in the heart.” — Confucian tradition Introduction: Leadership Begins With Understanding People Leadership is often associated with vision, strategy, decision-making, and execution. Yet the greatest leaders understand something even more fundamental: Leadership is about people. Organizations do not innovate. People do. Hospitals do not

By Dr. Jian Zhang Standing beneath the orange tree in our front yard, I am often reminded that nature is far more creative than we can imagine. This tree has been part of our home for many years. A few years ago, I noticed a new branch emerging from the lower part of the trunk. It grew much faster than the rest of the tree and quickly became one of its dominant branches. Soon, it began producing fruit. What caught my attention was that the fruit looked slightly different from

《春秋》与战略领导力：在复杂与不确定中作出正确决策的古老智慧–古为今用，中西结合篇 By Dr. Jian Zhang 名不正，则言不顺；言不顺，则事不成。 ——孔子论《春秋》 “When names are not correct, language is not in accordance with reality; when language is not in accordance with reality, affairs cannot be successfully carried out.” — Confucius on the Spring and Autumn Annals Introduction: A Book About More Than History At first glance, the Spring and Autumn Annals appears to be little more than a historical chronicle. Compiled during the Zhou Dynasty a

By Dr. Jian Zhang For decades, discussions about success have focused primarily on individual capability. We talk about intelligence (IQ), emotional intelligence (EQ), hard work, resilience, and leadership. Modern management theory has helped us understand why some individuals consistently outperform others. Yet these explanations are incomplete. If success were determined solely by personal ability, why do highly talented individuals sometimes fail to thrive? Why do organiza

By Dr. Jian Zhang “The people are the foundation of the nation; when the foundation is secure, the nation is at peace.” — Shang Shu (Book of Documents) Introduction: One of the World's Earliest Books on Governance If the I Ching teaches leaders how to navigate change, the Shang Shu teaches leaders how to govern. Compiled more than three thousand years ago, the Shang Shu (Book of Documents) is one of the oldest classics in Chinese civilization. It records speeches, proclamatio

By Dr. Jian Zhang “As heaven maintains vigor through movement, a leader should constantly strive for self- improvement.” 天行健，君子以自强不息。 ——《易经》I Ching (Book of Changes) Introduction: The World's Oldest Book on Change For more than three thousand years, the I Ching (Book of Changes) has been one of the most influential texts in Chinese civilization. It has guided emperors, scholars, military strategists, philosophers, and leaders through periods of uncertainty and transformation.

古为今用，中西结合篇《管子》与人才培养：领导者最大的事业，是培养下一代领导者 By Dr. Jian Zhang "A one-year plan is to grow grain. A ten-year plan is to grow trees. A lifetime plan is to cultivate people." (“一年之计，莫如树谷；十年之计，莫如树木；终身之计，莫如树人。”) ——《管子·权修》/ Guanzi, Quan Xiu As healthcare leaders, executives, educators, and mentors, we often spend enormous amounts of time developing strategies, managing operations, and solving immediate problems. Yet one of the most profound leadership lessons was articulated more than 2

By: Dr. Jian Zhang After decades as a healthcare executive, I have come to believe that building corporate culture is the most important responsibility of a CEO. Strategies change. Technologies evolve. AI will continue to transform industries. But culture ultimately determines whether an organization: thrives, survives, or collapses under pressure. Over the years, I have seen organizations struggle not because they lacked intelligence, strategy, or resources, but because they

By: Dr. Jian Zhang The Four Books and Five Classics, written more than two thousand years ago, are not “outdated ancient texts.” They are timeless reflections on human nature, leadership, self-cultivation, education, and how people relate to one another. Among them, The Analects may be the text most closely connected to everyday human life. It does not focus on power or quick success. Instead, it asks a deeper question: What kind of person should we become? In today’s world