There's an advantage that costs you more the more you use it.
In December 2025, right after she was named co-CEO of Binance, Yi He was asked what it means to lead as a woman. She didn't talk about hardship. She pointed to a trap — leaning on charm at work:
"When you lean on these soft skills, people respect your charm rather than your expertise. That ultimately undermines your professional credibility."
The other half of her answer was simple: once people respect your expertise, the conversation about gender tends to fade on its own.
The lesson isn't only for women. Everyone has a shortcut advantage — connections, looks, a smooth way with words. It gets you in the door faster. But if that's all people remember you for, it becomes your ceiling.
The advantage worth building is the one nobody can take away: being good at the work.
In December 2025, right after she was named co-CEO of Binance, Yi He was asked what it means to lead as a woman. She didn't talk about hardship. She pointed to a trap — leaning on charm at work:
"When you lean on these soft skills, people respect your charm rather than your expertise. That ultimately undermines your professional credibility."
The other half of her answer was simple: once people respect your expertise, the conversation about gender tends to fade on its own.
The lesson isn't only for women. Everyone has a shortcut advantage — connections, looks, a smooth way with words. It gets you in the door faster. But if that's all people remember you for, it becomes your ceiling.
The advantage worth building is the one nobody can take away: being good at the work.
