YT95 | She Was Told to ‘Act Like a Man’ to Succeed. Here’s What She Did Instead

She told her parents she wanted to be a boy… just so she could be taken seriously. In this episode of YanaTV, I sit down with Jingjin Liu—a bold, honest, and inspiring woman who’s rewriting what it means to lead as a woman at work and at home. She shares her story of growing up in China, moving to Germany to chase individuality, and rising in the male-dominated automotive world by “becoming one of the boys.” We talk about power, patriarchy, parenting—and why she says having a “wife at home” is her secret to doing it all. This one’s real, raw, and full of insight.

Discussion Topics: She Was Told to ‘Act Like a Man’ to Succeed

• Can you really win in the boardroom if you’re not winning in the bedroom?
• “I told my parents I want to be a boy…” — identity, rebellion, and leaving China
• The hidden cost of becoming ‘one of the boys’
• “You’re the worst example” — when your success sends the wrong message
• Playing the game, but losing yourself: what femininity looks like at the top
• Why your content feels fake (yes, she said it)
• Hate comments? Here’s why Jingjin never reads them
• From bedroom startup to boardroom strategy—how it all really began
• What keeps her going when the likes don’t show up
• Two women who shaped her fight—one had power, one had none
• “Time or money—you can’t have both” (and why your guilt is misplaced)
• Married your glass ceiling? How to tell (and what to do about it)
• The script to renegotiate your relationship like a boss
• McDonald’s for dinner and other secrets to letting go of control
• What she wants to be remembered for (and why it starts at home)

Our Guest: Jingjin Liu

Jingjin Liu is a serial entrepreneur and changemaker dedicated to women’s empowerment and social justice across Asia. She is the founder of The ELEVATE Group, a movement reshaping leadership and workplaces to create real opportunities for women at every level.

Previously WABCO’s youngest Global Marketing Director, she led a portfolio worth $800M and generated over $200M in growth. Jingjin later co-founded ASBO Drives—transforming rural agriculture in China—and launched ZaZaZu, Asia’s first sexual wellbeing hub for women. Her work continues to challenge norms and build inclusive spaces where women can thrive.