From Dim Sum to Leadership: How Jean Lumb Inspired My REVUP™ Framework
Regular visits to Jean Lumb’s restaurant in Toronto’s Chinatown shaped how I see people, leadership, and the power of respect. These lessons later became the foundation of my REVUP™ philosophy.
Late last month, I attended the 28th Annual Jean Lumb Awards, celebrating an extraordinary woman whose influence quietly shaped the course of my life long before I was aware of it.
When I was eight years old, my family often went for dim sum at a restaurant in Toronto’s Chinatown called Kwong Chow, owned by Jean Lumb and her husband, Doug. Jean greeted every guest with warmth and a radiant smile.
This was a time when children were expected to be “seen but not heard.” Yet, Jean knew my name, asked how I was, and remembered details from our conversations. She made me feel special.
In her presence, I felt seen, valued, and that I mattered. Jean Lumb shaped who I am today. That eight-year-old girl wanted to grow up to be like Jean Lumb, to be equally caring, thoughtful, and considerate of others.
Connecting the Dots of Influence
Steve Jobs once said that you can only connect the dots looking backward. Looking back now, I see how those early experiences with Jean helped shape my beliefs about people and leadership.
She showed me, through her actions, that when you Respect others, treat them as Equals, and truly Value who they are, you create a sense of belonging and possibility. Those experiences planted the earliest seeds of what would later become my REVUP™ Framework, built around Respect, Equality, Value, Uniqueness, and Potential. A philosophy designed to help leaders create workplaces where everyone feels they matter.
The Leadership Legacy of Jean Lumb
Jean Lumb was not only a kind and caring restaurateur, she would also become a trailblazer and a leader for change.
Born in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Jean moved to Toronto as a teenager and soon opened a fruit and grocery shop at Bathurst and St. Clair. During that time, many Chinese men in her community lived alone, separated from their wives and children in China because of Canada’s discriminatory immigration laws.
“For someone who came from a large family, the impact of seeing so many solitary Chinese men motivated her to get involved in making changes to Canada’s immigration laws,” — Jean Lumb Foundation photo essay
Although the Chinese Immigration Act (Exclusion Act) was repealed in 1947, family reunification remained severely restricted. In 1957, Jean became the only woman among a 40-member delegation to meet with Prime Minister John Diefenbaker, advocating for an end to race-based immigration restrictions.
“The questions from the floor were mostly directed to me because of the fact that I was a woman and the issue was family reunion,” Jean once recalled. “I feel very lucky that I had the opportunity to be out front as an official spokesperson. Women have always had to be too much in the background.”
Even while running her Cantonese restaurant, Jean hosted politicians, activists, and community members to strategize how to dismantle discriminatory legislation. Her advocacy contributed to the elimination of race-based immigration restrictions in 1967.
Jean also led the Save Chinatown Committee, mobilizing the community to protect Toronto’s Chinatown from demolition during the construction of City Hall and Nathan Phillips Square. Her leadership in that fight helped preserve this vital cultural and community hub.
In 1976, Jean was appointed to the Order of Canada, becoming the first Chinese-Canadian woman and the first restaurateur to receive the honour. She went on to receive the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal and the Governor General’s Award for her contributions to Canada.
A Legacy That Lives On
Today, the Jean Lumb Foundation continues her legacy by supporting young Asian Canadians who are making a difference in their communities in areas such as community service, innovation, science, technology, the arts, and athletics.
At this year’s awards, 17 students were recognized for their achievements in these fields, each of them embodying how one woman’s courage and compassion continue to ripple through generations.
I left the event reminded that even the smallest acts of kindness and leadership can shape lives in ways we may never fully realize.
Jean didn’t know she was shaping a little girl’s view of leadership, but she did. Not through speeches or titles, but through her way of being.
Thank you, Jean Lumb, for showing an eight-year-old what it feels like to be respected, valued, and seen.
Your light continues to inspire me, and through REVUP™, I hope to carry that legacy forward by helping leaders and teams create workplaces where every person feels they matter.
