On July 8, the AmCham China Young Professionals Committee hosted another NextGen Leadership Luncheon series with a session led by Tracy Doherty McCormick, China Country Counsel at Boeing. Held at the AmCham China offices in Beijing, this intimate event brought together 15 ambitious young professionals for a thought-provoking leadership dialogue.
McCormick shared insights from her personal and professional journey, what she wishes she had known in her twenties, viewed from the perspective of her fifties. She spoke about the inevitability of disappointment in life and work, and emphasized the importance of resilience, maintaining personal well-being, and building meaningful relationships. “Don’t burn yourself out,” she said. “Budget time to enjoy life and be happy.”
She also encouraged participants to view every job as a learning opportunity and to not be afraid of rejection. From writing letters to senators early in her career to embracing various roles along the way, McCormick’s message was clear: take initiative, stay open to opportunities, and don’t be afraid to start from the bottom.
On leadership, she highlighted the power of mission, purpose, and a strong sense of belonging to unify teams. She noted that good leaders support others in learning from mistakes and understanding what truly matters to them.
The event concluded with networking over a light lunch and a gift from sponsor Beijing Gaide Dental Center, which provided each attendee with a goodie bag including hand cream and a teeth-cleaning voucher. Stay tuned for future sessions in our NextGen Leadership Luncheon series!