I work as an executive recruiter in the United States

Ms. Chen's resume would make anyone jealous: She became the highest-paid real estate businessman in the United States in her early 20s, rose to the deputy mayor of Los Angeles with her professional and social skills; At the end of his tenure, he became a global executive recruiter.

From social phobia to social maniac

On any occasion, Chen Yu is the center of the crowd, laughing, it is hard to imagine such a cheerful she was a social phobia patient.

Like all Chinese families immigrating to the United States, Ms. Chen's parents worked hard for their children's education. "They scrimped and saved so that my brother and I could go to a good school district, where I barely spoke because my English was terrible. I was transferred to a special needs class with kids with Down syndrome."

The turning point came on Christmas Eve, when my father said, "Tonight is our department's annual Christmas party." Chen is surprised that he won't go. The father replied, "Because I don't know what to tell anyone." At that moment, Ms. Chen realized why her father had been a junior engineer for more than 30 years with a master's degree from M.I.T.

After graduating from Duke, with no money and no contacts, Chen moved 3, 000 miles to Los Angeles to earn a master's degree in real estate finance and urban planning. She soon found her target, Maguire Thomas Partners, the largest real estate development firm in the country.

Maguire doesn't hire interns, and in the pre-internet era, she couldn't woo HR with an offshore investment. Not to give up, Ms. Chen found out that two of Maguire's senior partners sit on the board of the U.S.C. Building Industry Association. "I can't afford to go to fancy fundraisers, but I can volunteer and donate my time," she said. So she found ten hours a week stuffing envelopes, putting stamps on them, setting up chairs, everything for the building society. Two years later, two partners introduced her to Maguire as a project associate.

Entering the male-dominated real estate industry, Ms. Chen had to smash through countless glass ceilings to get promoted. Once again, her ability to leverage propelled her to the next big thing in her life, Maureen Kindel. "Maureen was 30 years older than me and a very powerful businesswoman in Los Angeles. She likes to entertain but doesn't like to organize. So I volunteered, and our Saturday dinners and poker parties are famous in California politics and business. The more people I connect with, the more people I can connect with." The Los Angeles Times dubbed Ms. Chen 'the Net guy,' and it was only natural that sales of her real estate projects would soar.

Everyone has their A+ program

Before she was 30, Ms. Chen was appointed by the mayor of Los Angeles to a seven-member committee of housing experts to oversee and review the construction of affordable housing in the city. A few years later, she was promoted from housing board specialist to deputy mayor in charge of education and human resources development.

When her term as deputy mayor ended and she wanted to return to real estate, Ms. Chen quietly contacted Heidrick & Struggles, a headhunting firm that caters to the global elite. Unexpectedly, she was advised to give up her old profession, "If the real estate industry has played A- skills, I am A+ in dealing with people." After eight months of contact, Chen joined Heidrick & Struggles as a headhunter after leaving office.

Look for a husband like a headhunter

Ms. Chen, who married at 38, said, "When I was in my 20s, I focused too much on the first element of finding Mr.Right. I spend a lot of time dating 'perfect' men who have all the things on the 'Got better' list, like dressing great and taking me to exotic resorts, but what they lack are the key 'must haves' items, like being trustworthy and loving me."

Chen Yu for the company to find executives, interview 1000 people to decide who can enter the job, looking for her husband she is equally selective. After meeting Mr. Right, and Dave, and giving birth to two daughters, Ms. Chen planned her comeback. Asked how she did it all, Ms. Chen said: "Planning is the most reliable measure of class -- rich people usually plan generations, poor people just want to spend the weekend."