Don Liu on culture
From 2022 CKA Elevate Series: Don Liu, Executive Vice President & Chief Legal Officer, Target Corporation · · CouncilofKoreanAmericans
“I think a lot of Korean Americans are afraid of failure because they may have to explain to their family — I did try this and it didn't work — but they'll be fine, they'll still be proud of you, and when you succeed the next time you try they'll be even more proud.”
On , Don Liu, Former Executive Vice President, Chief Legal & Compliance Officer and Corporate Secretary at Target Corporation, spoke about culture during 2022 CKA Elevate Series: Don Liu, Executive Vice President & Chief Legal Officer, Target Corporation on CouncilofKoreanAmericans.
About Don Liu
In 2022, Don Liu, then Executive Vice President, Chief Legal & Compliance Officer and Corporate Secretary at Target, participated in two video interviews where he discussed his career, leadership philosophy, and efforts to mentor Asian American professionals. In the CKA Elevate Series, Liu said he was motivated to pursue law after observing his parents' lack of awareness of their legal rights and feeling they were "being had." He advised young professionals to "dream big," take risks, and not fear failure, adding that he believes many Korean Americans are afraid of failure due to potential family reactions. Liu also encouraged Asian American professionals to "send the elevator down" for younger generations, noting that some successful individuals do not spend enough time mentoring, while many mentees are reluctant to ask for help. In the NAPABA Coffee House interview, Liu described his career path from a mid-size law firm to in-house roles at US Healthcare, Xerox, and Target, which he called "the crowning moment of my career." He said he negotiated the title of Senior Vice President and General Counsel at Xerox to reflect the role's importance. Liu acknowledged receiving early 360-degree feedback that he was "arrogant, intimidating, and not a good listener," and said he learned to count to ten before responding under stress. He emphasized that professionals should move to a new job only when it offers growth, not to escape a bad situation. Liu also noted that when he was younger there were few Asian American role models, and he views his involvement with NAPABA as a way to help others obtain similar positions.