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Janet Kim

Why I've Been Silent Since October

Published about 1 month ago • 2 min read

January 8, 2026

Why I Went Quiet

Welcome to Level Up Weekly, where I help emerging leaders think strategically, organize effectively, and execute with clarity—so they can be seen, heard, and valued.

Why I Went Quiet

Hello friends and colleagues,

Some of you may have noticed I went quiet.

I paused the newsletter in October because I was heads down preparing for my TED Talk.

It was the final stretch of a goal I wanted to finish without distraction.

Now that it's behind me, and with a fresh start to 2026, I'm resuming the newsletter by sharing the talk itself.
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👉 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗘𝗗 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲​

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗜 Avoided

The talk begins with a moment I spent years trying to erase.

When my family moved from Korea to the U.S., I entered 8th grade as an outsider — immediately and visibly.

I didn’t speak English.

I looked different.

I sounded different.

And yes, I had a perm my dad thought would help me blend in.

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It didn't.

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So I did what many kids do when the world feels too big — I tried to shrink.

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Walking close to the wall.

Sitting in the back row.

Hoping invisibility would protect me.

​

I didn’t know then that those years weren’t diminishing me.

They were training me.

𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗜 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱

The things that made me feel small became the tools that helped me walk into any room with clarity.

Leaders who've been outsiders learn to sense what others miss.

In my TED Talk, I share three powerful Korean concepts that shaped how I lead — long before I had the language for them:

  • 𝗡𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗶 - noticing the room before the room notices you
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  • 𝗝𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗴 - the quiet thread that builds lasting trust
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  • 𝗛𝗮𝗻 - the shared struggle that becomes shared strength

These weren't lessons I chose.

They were survival tactics that eventually turned into leadership.

Worth Remembering

  1. Not all leadership skills are taught; some are acquired under constraint.
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  2. Early invisibility often sharpens situational awareness.
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  3. What feels like difference early can become discernment later.

If you've ever felt out of place or wished someone handed you a map - this talk is my map. Watch the full TED Talk Link​

Starting next week

I’ll return to sharing observations on leadership, visibility, and managing up, drawn from real organizational dynamics. I’m glad to be back.

Today’s reflection:

The stories we avoid the longest often explain how we lead.

Not because they define us,

but because they trained us before we knew what we were learning.

Bonus Practice:

Notice what you learned before you had language for it.

Those instincts are rarely accidental.

They’re usually earned.

Connect with Me

If this resonated with you and you’re wondering how to empower your voice — I’d love to hear from you. Feel free to message me (janet@janet.kim.)

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Janet Kim

Transformational Coaching to Help You Level Up

I leverage 18+ years in Stanford tech to help emerging leaders like you think strategically, build influence, and execute with confidence, so you’re seen, heard and valued where it matters most.

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