ShujianZhang|Leadership|Growth|Lifelong learning

Where learning meets growth throug

Welcome to my corner of the web!

I’m Shujian Zhang, and I’m passionate about leadership, personal growth, and lifelong learning. This space is where I share ideas, insights, and reflections that inspire growth -both personally and professionally.

Here, you’ll find my perspectives on leadership, management, continuous learning, and the lessons I've uncovered through everyday experiences and the books I've read. My goal is to create a place where ideas spark curiosity, encourage thoughtful reflection, and start meaningful conversations.

I invite you to explore, learn, share, and grow along with me.

Exploring leadership, growth, and lifelong learning

Let's learn, share, and grow together.

Blog Catergories

Mind Sparks

2026: Building Quietly, Creating Consistently

I’m not aiming for a perfect year, or a dramatic reinvention. In 2026, I’m choosing steady growth, thoughtful creation, and influence built quietly, over time.

Jan 11 min read

Mind Spark #34: The Wonders We Already Carry

What we seek, clarity, courage, and creativity, is often already within us.

Dec 29, 20251 min read

Mind Spark #33: Managing Conflict with Presence

Managing conflict is a challenge for every manager. This post shares insights from Deepak Chopra on conscious communication, presence, and intention, along with a simple framework to turn disagreements into opportunities for collaboration and creativity.

Dec 24, 20252 min read

Book Notes

Mind Spark #29 - Lifelong Learning: A Spark from an Unexpected Book

Inspired by a book found unexpectedly on my children’s bookshelf. The other evening, while reading with my four-year-old daughter, I came across something unexpected. When she went to get a drink, I started browsing through the bookshelf filled with my children’s books. Among the colorful covers, one title caught my eye: Success: The Psychology of Achievement by Deborah Olson, published by DK. At first, I thought it was a children’s book because of its clean design, thick pa

Oct 24, 20252 min read

Mind Spark #26 - The Underlined Life: From Highlights to Habits

Many of us highlight, underline, or bookmark passages while reading books, but how often do we really put those words into practice? Most...

Sep 28, 20252 min read

Mind Spark #23 - Visibility Starts in the Meeting Room

In my last blog, “ Breaking Barriers by Lifting Others ,” I shared my learning that supporting one another helps us grow together. During Dr. Hua’s talk, she also highlighted four strategies for breaking the bamboo ceiling: speaking up early and often, building strategic relationships, shaping and elevating your brand, and cultivating visibility. One that stood out to me was cultivating visibility. After her presentation, I picked up The Visibility Mindset by Bernice Chao a

Sep 6, 20253 min read

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Growth

Cultural Adaptation at Work: A Manager’s Quiet Lessons

What I’ve learned about cultural adaptation didn’t come from a handbook. I picked it up slowly, sometimes awkwardly, over years of working with people from different backgrounds in both academia and industry.

Dec 15, 20255 min read

Thanksgiving Reflection: Revisiting the People and Places That Shaped Me

Over Thanksgiving break, I returned to Florida with my family to revisit the mentors, friends, and familiar places that shaped my early years in the U.S. Walking those old paths reminded me of the people who helped me grow - and why it matters to stay connected to where we began.

Nov 30, 20251 min read

Navigate Workplace Dynamics with Integrity and Emotional Intelligence

Workplace dynamics is really about people. By staying curious, communicating respectfully, leading with emotional intelligence, and holding onto our integrity, we can work better with others and create healthier teams.

Nov 22, 20253 min read

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Leadership

Care Without Avoidance

Listening to a leadership podcast made me reflect on how I lead with care without lowering the bar. Here I share what I’m learning about pairing empathy with clear direction, especially when supporting young team members.

3 days ago4 min read

Mind Spark # 31 - We Don’t Act Rationally; We Rationalize

Learn how recognizing emotional reasoning in human behavior can help leaders motivate their teams and communicate with greater impact.

Nov 5, 20253 min read

Mind Spark #28 - The First 20 Words Matter: Unlocking Secrets to a Powerful Introduction

Inspired by Rebecca Okamoto’s TEDx Talk “ How to introduce yourself—and get hired ” Have you ever frozen up when someone asks during an interview or a social event, "Tell me about yourself?" It's okay to feel nervous and ramble. Even people with lots of experience can find this question hard. Rebecca Okamoto, a communication expert, found that how you introduce yourself can matter even more than your resume. Okamoto shares that early in her career, she tried to impress interv

Oct 14, 20253 min read

Scientific Advances

RNAi for Fungal Disease Control: A Scientific Breakthrough Enters Global Review

GreenLight’s submission of the first RNA-based fungicide represents more than a regulatory milestone; It signals a shift toward biologically precise, sustainable crop protection. As part of the team working in RNA-based innovation, I’m proud to see this technology move from concept to global review.

Nov 18, 20251 min read

Field Notes From A Conference: Biopesticides, Big Ideas, and Bridging Perspectives

I recently returned from an inspiring trip to China. I had the privilege of attending a major biopesticide conference, where I delivered a presentation on behalf of GreenLight Biosciences and met with leaders across the ag-biotech landscape, including academic researchers, early-stage innovators, and executives at established firms. What Brought Us Together The 15th Conference on the Development and Application of Biopesticides has three main themes: Biological Formulations,

Jul 7, 20253 min read