Cindy Chang: From Grief to Grit—Turning Pain into Power in Product Leadership

On this episode of Adapt or Die: Transformative Leadership Conversations, former tech-CEO-turned-executive-coach Andreas Pettersson sits down with Cindy Chang, seasoned product leader and resilience-builder. Known for thriving in ambiguity and leading with empathy, curiosity, and conviction, Cindy’s journey is anything but conventional. After losing her father in a traumatic moment her senior year of high school—and facing abandonment and isolation soon after—Cindy didn’t just survive. She learned to own her story, build her tribe, and turn vulnerability into a leadership advantage. Today, she’s a powerhouse PM with an unshakable center—and a deep belief in the strength of human connection.

Challenge →
 Cindy’s world flipped overnight when she found herself giving her father CPR in the middle of the night—only to lose him hours later. Days later, her mother moved across the world. With no roadmap, no safety net, and depression setting in, she faced college—and life—completely alone.

Adaptation →
Instead of spiraling, Cindy built structure from chaos—stacking part-time jobs, seeking counseling, and slowly rebuilding confidence through familiar spaces like student leadership. Her big breakthrough came when she stopped going it alone and started cultivating meaningful relationships. Her vulnerability became her differentiator—and her network, her edge.

Success →
From front desk to front lines of product, Cindy’s carved a career leading high-impact teams at speed. She’s turned raw pain into real empathy—and now leverages her lived experience to create psychologically safe, high-performing cultures. Her power? Radical clarity, relentless self-reflection, and the courage to walk away from anything that doesn’t align.

🔥 60-Second Hot Seat:
Cindy’s biggest retired belief? “I’m not good enough.” Not anymore. Now, she role-plays tough convos, listens to her gut, and makes bold exits when values don’t align. Power Without Permission? For Cindy, it’s about micro-moves, emotional courage, and never letting self-doubt make decisions on your behalf.

If you think pain disqualifies you from power, Cindy’s story will flip that script—and help you write your own.

📘 Power Without Permission
Cindy is a co-author in Power Without Permission. Get your copy at leadersadapt.com/book and join the community of women building unapologetic leadership from the inside out.

Visit www.leadersadapt.com/adaptordie for show notes, free resources, and coaching programs.

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https://missionmatters.com/author/andreas-pettersson