Podcast Summary: The Leadership Dance Episode: Ep. 1: Once a Dancer, Always a Dancer, with Alissa Hsu Lynch
Release Date: November 18, 2024
Host/Author: Alissa Hsu Lynch
Description: In the inaugural episode of The Leadership Dance, Alissa Hsu Lynch—drawing from her rich background as a former world-class dancer and seasoned business executive—shares her inspiring journey from the dance stage to the boardroom. Elisa, the host, delves deep into Alissa's experiences, uncovering the strategies and mindsets that enabled her to navigate and excel in both the arts and business worlds. This episode sets the tone for future discussions on leveraging unique personal backgrounds to achieve leadership success.

1. Introduction to Elisa’s Journey

The episode opens with Elisa introducing herself and setting the stage for her transformative journey from a professional dancer to a business leader. She shares her early passion for ballet, which ignited at the tender age of three, leading her to dedicate her childhood to dance.

Notable Quote:
“I never thought I'd end up where I am today. I started my career as a professional modern dancer before reinventing myself as a business leader and a board director.” — Elisa [00:00]

2. From Ballet to Modern Dance

Elisa recounts her evolution from classical ballet to modern dance during her college years, highlighting the creative freedom that modern dance offered compared to the rigid structure of ballet.

Notable Quote:
“Modern dance was so much more creative and freeing than the strict technique of ballet.” — Elisa [00:40]

3. Transitioning to a Professional Dance Career

Upon graduating with an MBA, Elisa made the bold decision to pursue professional dance over law school. Her talent led her to a year-long tour with the Limone Dance Company, eventually performing at prestigious venues like the Kennedy Center and Lincoln Center.

Notable Quote:
“I was living my childhood dream performing at places like the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, and traveling all around the world.” — Elisa [02:10]

4. Retiring from Dance and Entering the Corporate World

At 27, facing the natural decline in a dancer’s career lifespan and a desire to start a family, Elisa retired from dance to embark on a business career. Her first corporate role at Johnson & Johnson came with challenges, including balancing motherhood and overcoming feelings of imposter syndrome due to a lack of diversity and role models.

Notable Quote:
“I felt like I didn't quite belong. Not only was I a mom of two kids when no one else was having babies at that stage of their careers, I also didn't have a traditional business background.” — Elisa [04:30]

5. Overcoming Imposter Syndrome and Embracing Authenticity

Elisa discusses the initial struggles of fitting into the corporate environment and how a 360-degree feedback program revealed that colleagues saw her as "all business." Working with an executive coach, she learned to integrate her personal story, including her dance background and motherhood, into her professional persona, enhancing her connections and authenticity.

Notable Quotes:
“People thought it was so cool that I was a dancer and they wanted to know more.” — Elisa [07:15]
“Dance was something from my past that I could bring into the business world to connect better with others.” — Elisa [07:30]

6. Leveraging Dance Skills in Business Leadership

Elisa highlights how her dance training equipped her with essential business skills such as performing under pressure, preparing for high-stakes meetings, maintaining a strong work ethic, and fostering agility—traits that are highly valued in leadership roles.

Notable Quote:
“Dance taught me agility—the ability to adapt on the fly to whatever's happening around you.” — Elisa [09:50]

7. Career Advancement and International Assignments

Elisa shares her successful tenure at Johnson & Johnson, including a promotion to marketing director for the Aveeno brand, likening the team’s synergy to being “in the flow” as on stage. Seeking new challenges, she took an international assignment in Shanghai, which tested her resilience and adaptability while reconnecting with her Chinese heritage.

Notable Quote:
“We were all in the flow together, which is a feeling I used to experience when I was dancing on stage.” — Elisa [11:20]

8. Family Challenges During Relocation

The move to Shanghai brought personal challenges, particularly for Elisa’s older son, who struggled to adapt initially. Balancing a demanding job and family life, she reflects on the resilience required to navigate these difficulties, drawing parallels to the perseverance learned through dance.

Notable Quote:
“Living in China was an adventure and I learned so much about myself while I was there.” — Elisa [13:05]

9. Facing Professional Setbacks and Finding New Opportunities

Upon returning to the U.S., Elisa faced disappointment when she was passed over for a promotion she believed she deserved. Coupled with a shifting corporate culture at J&J, she felt undervalued and decided to leave for a new opportunity at Valiant (now Balch Health), where she thrived and eventually returned to J&J on her own terms at a higher level.

Notable Quote:
“I was learning and growing again and gaining new experiences that I likely would not have had if I had stayed.” — Elisa [17:45]

10. Continued Growth and Current Endeavors

Elisa’s career journey continued with roles in the medical device industry, another international assignment in Switzerland, and a significant move to Google’s technology sector. Today, she serves as a board director for the Honest Company and sits on the Board of Trustees of American Ballet Theater, seamlessly blending her dance and business passions.

Notable Quote:
“We never really stop dancing, we just find new ways to move through life.” — Elisa [20:10]

11. Key Takeaways and Future Directions

In concluding the episode, Elisa emphasizes three core principles derived from her experiences:

1. Embrace What Makes You Different: Leveraging unique backgrounds as strengths.
2. Keep Moving: Maintaining agility and a growth mindset to navigate changes.
3. Choreograph Your Own Success: Defining personal success aligned with individual values and aspirations.

She invites listeners to apply these principles to their own careers and previews future episodes that will explore topics such as reimagining success, embracing change, and building a personal brand.

Notable Quote:
“There’s no one size fits all definition of success. Dream big and choreograph your Leadership Dance to align with who you are and where you want to go.” — Elisa [22:50]

12. Final Thoughts

Elisa wraps up the episode by reinforcing the metaphor that leadership, much like dance, is about fluid movement, adaptability, and personal expression. She encourages listeners to draw from their diverse experiences to craft their unique leadership styles.

Notable Quote:
“With the Leadership Dance, I want to empower you to think about what makes you different and turn your unique stories into strengths, not obstacles.” — Elisa [23:30]

Conclusion:
The first episode of The Leadership Dance sets a compelling foundation for the podcast's mission to intertwine personal passions with professional leadership. Elisa’s candid narrative offers valuable insights into overcoming adversity, embracing authenticity, and leveraging diverse backgrounds to achieve success. Listeners are left inspired to reflect on their unique journeys and empowered to choreograph their own paths to leadership.