Conversation with Eva Chen MNZM: Parenting Between Cultures, Raising Asian Kiwi Kids with Confidence
In this episode of the Authentic Leadership Podcast, Ivan welcomes Eva Chen MNZM back for a deeply personal conversation that shifts from public leadership to the often unseen leadership work of parenting. As an Asian/Taiwanese 1.5-generation mother raising four New Zealand–born children aged 11 to 20, Eva reflects on what it means to raise kids across cultures, systems, and expectations. Together, Ivan and Eva unpack the cultural contrasts surrounding pregnancy and birth—ranging from traditional Chinese beliefs around food and postpartum practices to New Zealand’s more relaxed medical approach—and how these differences can leave migrant mothers navigating confusion, judgment, and self-doubt. Eva shares candid stories about childbirth, premature birth, confinement traditions, and the emotional and spiritual need to advocate for cultural needs within systems that may not automatically recognise them. The conversation also shines a light on the invisible load of motherhood: chronic exhaustion, sleep deprivation, breastfeeding pressure, grief, guilt, and the mental toll that often goes unseen. Eva speaks openly about unequal parenting labour, the lingering effects of patriarchy, and how mothers’ wellbeing is frequently compromised in silence. As the discussion moves into education and childhood, Eva recounts painful experiences of school bullying, racism, and institutional inaction—and how change only came once she learned how to navigate power, policy, and media. These moments highlight the reality many migrant families face: being unheard unless they know how to “play the system.” The episode also explores differences between boys and girls, emotional safety, school avoidance, and the critical role of teachers who are willing to adapt and truly see the child in front of them. One particularly moving moment centres on Eva’s son proudly celebrating a 52% maths result—not as a failure but as a success—opening up a powerful reflection on raising confident children who value effort, growth, and self-worth over perfection. At its heart, this episode reminds us that authentic leadership begins at home: in advocacy, emotional regulation, cultural translation, and the quiet, relentless work of protecting children’s wellbeing in systems that don’t always understand them.
