Joy Chen
陈愉
From Shy Outsider to Global Leader: Joy Chen’s Journey
I know what it’s like to feel like an outsider. As a child of immigrants, I learned early how to read the room, build trust, and connect deeply across differences. Those skills shaped everything that came next—from leading economic and workforce development as Deputy Mayor of Los Angeles, to recruiting global CEOs, to helping others harness what makes them different and turn it into real leadership impact.
Joy's bio
JOY CHEN is CEO of the Multicultural Leadership Institute and a former Deputy Mayor of Los Angeles. She has served as a Fortune 500 CEO and Board recruiter, and as a bestselling author in China, where her work empowered millions. Today, she delivers keynotes and training programs that help people everywhere lead with greater authenticity and impact. Her work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, Financial Times, and Vogue China.
As Deputy Mayor of Los Angeles, Joy spearheaded economic and workforce development in one of the world’s most diverse cities, home to speakers of more than 90 languages. She then joined the global executive search firm Heidrick & Struggles, recruiting Fortune 500 CEOs across North America, Europe, and Asia.
In a moment of unexpected serendipity, Joy’s leadership blog went viral in China, propelling her to fame as a bestselling author. Her book, Do Not Marry Before Age 30 (30岁前别结婚), became a cultural phenomenon, earning her recognition from The Wall Street Journal as a “guru for Chinese women” and inspiring a generation to redefine success on their own terms. Building on this momentum, Joy founded a training organization that has empowered millions across Asia and the Americas to develop as global talent.
Today, as CEO of the Multicultural Leadership Institute, Joy helps leaders and teams turn cultural differences into drivers of innovation, collaboration, and growth.
Joy holds an MBA and an M.A. in Urban Planning from UCLA and a B.A. from Duke University. She is a 2004 American Marshall Memorial Fellow, fluent in Mandarin Chinese and English, and brings a deeply global perspective to her work.