Celebrating AAPI Women’s Leadership →
Insights from the MJAA Annual Summit
“Integrity, Respect, and Trust!”
In the month of May, during the observance of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) month, the MJAA Mentorship (Monte Jade Asian American) held its highly anticipated Women’s Leadership Summit for the third consecutive year. This empowering event featured a distinguished keynote speaker, an engaging panel discussion, and two enlightening workshops.
Notably, it marked a significant milestone for the organization as it ventured into hosting a paid event tailored to women’s leadership, attracting an impressive turnout of approximately 100 enthusiastic participants.
This article explores the insights and experiences shared at the summit, focusing on the themes such as interpersonal connections, effective communication, self-advocacy, and authenticity.
Keynote
Ann Lee-Karlon, Chief Operating Officer, Altos Labs
“Interpersonal connection and good communication”
In the realm of professional relationships, not every boss will proactively evaluate your performance. It becomes essential for you to take the initiative and assess your own progress. This necessitates cultivating a strong bond and open lines of communication with your boss to collectively work towards enhancing your role and contributing to the success of the company.
Moreover, fostering excellent communication skills within your team is crucial. Occasionally, sharing more about yourself and allowing others to understand your personality can facilitate a deeper connection with colleagues. This enhanced connection can foster a more harmonious work environment, ultimately leading to improved collaboration and productivity when working alongside you.
Panel Discussion
Lily Zhang, Head of Engineering, Caper (Moderator)
Nan Guo, Senior Vice President of Engineering, Zendesk
Carly Wu, Head of Product Marketing, Amazon Advertising
Peter Chu, Board Member and Advisor to Startups and Growth Companies
“ A good manager is to “unlocks” your potential” — Insights from Peter Chu
During a panel discussion focused on identifying promotion opportunities and understanding the barriers to advancement, Peter Chu provided valuable advice. He suggested a different approach to inquiring about promotion criteria by asking your supervisor or manager, “What are the promotion criteria when there’s an open opportunity?” rather than simply asking what you can do to secure a promotion.
Carly Wu shared an inspiring story about advocating for herself during a meeting, and she offered three practical tips to the audience:
Let your co-worker get to know you: Building strong connections with your colleagues helps them understand your strengths, skills, and personality, fostering a deeper sense of camaraderie and collaboration.
Learn to claim credit for your achievements: It’s important to acknowledge confidently and highlights your contributions to projects or tasks. By doing so, you ensure that your efforts are recognized and valued.
Make yourself known: Transition your focus from individual responsibilities to the broader impact you have on the company. By consistently demonstrating your value and the positive outcomes of your work, you can increase your visibility and influence within the organization.
The panel speakers agreed that at times, they had experienced situations where they presented an idea only to have someone else take credit for it. However, they emphasized that this shouldn’t discourage individuals from advocating for themselves. By confidently reaffirming your contributions or giving credit to others when appropriate, you can establish a reputation for your ideas and expertise. Over time, people will become familiar with your role and responsibilities, and you will garner the support and recognition you deserve.
In addition to these insights, the panel speakers provided advice on being proactive in your career:
Understand your organization's top priorities and align your daily work accordingly
Cultivate a network of allies across different teams and departments, rather than relying solely on your manager as the intermediary.
My Personal Experience
I reflect on my early days in my first job in the United States. I relied heavily on my manager as the sole connection to other departments, adhering to a working style influenced by Asian culture that emphasized loyalty to my direct supervisor. However, witnessing a colleagues being unexpectedly fired without any support, I realized the importantance of building alliances and advocating for my work within the organization.
Adapting to the competitve work culture of New York City proved challenging, and I oftened doubted myself. Peter’s Chu’s words struck a chord with me once again: “Taking a stand carriers risks, but we all need to do it with courage; otherwise, we risk falling behind.”
Celebrate Your Wins & Practice Gratitude
The speakers also emphasized the significance of celebrating wins and practicing gratitude:
Documented your accomplishment in a journal, not only to celebrate your successes but also as a form of gratitude.
Share your progress with others at important milestones.
Champion your team’s achievements and generously recognize the contributions of your collaborators
The panel discussion also highlighted the importance of authenticity and vulnerability in leadership. Being true to yourself and embracing your unique qualities allows you to bring your full energy and capabilities to your work. Nan Guo commented, “Authenticity is crucial for effective leadership. And showing Vulnerability is a strength, not a weakness.”
Concurrent Workshops
Courtney Pong: The Dolphin Principle: How to Push Past Limits to Become an Unstoppable Leader
Howard Ting: Mindset Matters — A Key to Professional (and Personal) Transformation
Complementing the panel discussion were two immersive workshops designed to equip participants with valuable skills and strategies for career growth. Led by professional experts, these interactive sessions reached into topics such as effective communication, personal branding, and navigating workplace dynamics. Attendees eagerly absorbed the knowledge and shared and actively participated in exercises and discussions, embracing the opportunities to enhance their leadership capabilities.
I joined Courtney’s improv workshop. Here are some takeaways:
Pay attention and be present
Normalize mistakes and get back on track quickly
Don’t overthink or overanalyze
Be authentic and trust that you are adding value
Recognize that diverse perspectives from others add value and richness
Don’t be afraid of changing to a new topic if you get stuck
Listen actively to understand, not respond hastily
As we continue to uncover the key insights and takeaways from the Women’s Leadership Summit, I hope the knowledge gained and the experiences shared equip you to enhance your leadership capabilities and drive your professional journey toward success.
Embrace the lesson learned, seize opportunities, and let your unique voice and leadership style shine. Here is to your continued growth and becoming a beacon of leadership in your chosen field.
