2015 Ascend National Convention

2015 ASCEND NATIONAL CONVENTION 1

Pictured: KPMG Partners, Kalpana
Ramakrishnan, Manolet Dayrit,
Kapila Anand

This is What Success Looks Like

KPMG LLP’s Asian Pacific Islander Network celebrates our diverse
and inclusive culture through the leadership, commitment, and
achievements of its more than 2,000 members. Together with Ascend,
we’re working to increase the presence and influence of diverse
business leaders, today and in the future.

We’re proud to share Ascend’s mission, and to serve as Platinum
Sponsor of the 2015 Ascend Convention.

kpmgcareers.com © 2015 KPMG LLP, a Delaware limited liability
partnership and the U.S. member firm of the
2 KPMG network of independent member firms
affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative
(“KPMG International”), a Swiss entity. All rights
reserved. Printed in the U.S.A. The KPMG
name, logo and “cutting through complexity”
are registered trademarks or trademarks of
KPMG International. NDPPS 393023

TABLE OF CONTENTS 26 Staying Connected at the
Convention - Convene App!
4 Our Partners
5 Welcome Message from Ascend 29 Social Media
31 Awards & Scholarships
National President 32 Ascend National Team
33 Convention Contributors
6 Message from President Barack Obama 36 Career Fair Map
9 About Ascend 37 Exhibitor Booths
10 Chapter Map 39 AGENDA & SESSIONS
12 PROGRAM OFFERINGS 40 Agenda at a Glance
14 AscendNAAMBA (National 42 Friday, August 28th
43 Saturday, August 29th
Association of Asian MBAs) 46 Sunday, August 30th
49 Monday, August 31st
16 Pinnacle: The Pan-Asian Corporate 57 SPEAKER & MENTOR
Board Initiative
BIOGRAPHIES
17 Stanford Advanced Leadership
Program (ALP) 82 2016 National Convention &
Career Fair
18 Executive Insight SeriesTM (EIS)
19 Executive Insight for Women (EIW)
20 Inspiring Across Generations (IAG)

Conferences

21 Ascend Foundation
24 Ascend Founding Board Members
25 Lifetime Members

2015 ASCEND NATIONAL CONVENTION 3

THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS

PLATINUM

JADE HOST

LUXURY
AUTOMOBILE
SPONSOR
PEARL

SILVER

BRONZE

SUPPORTERS MEDIA PARTNER
CHARITY PARTNER
4

Dear Convention Guests,

I am so excited to welcome you Ten years ago we had a vision: to create an organization that enhances
to Ascend’s 8th Annual National the presence and influence of current and future Pan-Asian business
Convention & Career Fair in the leaders and serves as a collective voice for Pan-Asian business
city where it all began 10 years communities. It makes me proud that the entrepreneurial vision we set
ago – New York City! Let’s out in 2005 is alive and benefiting our community as we celebrate 10
celebrate Ascend’s years of Ascend. Achieving our vision would not have been possible if
10th Anniversary in a Big it were not for all of our sponsors, partners, members, volunteers, and
(Apple) way! This year’s our other stakeholders.
theme of “What Success Looks
Like – Agile, Innovative, Bold” Today, Ascend is more powerful and influential than ever.
speaks to the characteristics and
aspirations that we must possess Did you know:
and develop in order to thrive in
our increasingly borderless, competitive, and complex world. Every • We have become the largest, non-profit Pan-Asian membership
annual gathering is a celebration of you, Ascend, and everything you organization for business professionals in North America with
do for Ascend and our Pan-Asian community. Let’s make this one over 8,000 members.
extra memorable and have some fun! To that end, please visit our
bubble photo booths, follow us on Instagram, tag your photos with our • AscendNAAMBA, Ascend’s MBA arm, joined the Ascend family,
hashtags – #Ascend2015, #10YearsofAscend, and #Ascendleadership further strengthening our mission to cultivate Pan-Asian talent.
– take part in the “My Ascend Story” contest by submitting a video
or written paragraph to [email protected] and spread • Ascend has expanded to Canada with a strong presence in
celebratory energy around you! Toronto and Vancouver with over 2,000 members.

This year’s convention features sessions where the concepts of being • Ascend Foundation made national and global headlines with our
Agile, Innovative, and Bold in your career and life are explored. research study “Hidden in Plain Sight: Asian American Leaders in
Take this opportunity to learn to enhance your strengths and develop Silicon Valley.”
takeaways at our sessions, seek out role models, and network with
peers and mentees. Make sure that you meet Ascend’s sponsors and • Many of our local chapters held regional Inspiring Across
partners at the Career Fair and Convention and thank them for their Generations (IAG) Conferences around the country this year with
years of support of Ascend. Connect with one another, learn and share a total of over 1,500 registered participants.
from one another, cultivate new relationships and form new networks.
• We continue to make strides with our Executive Insight SeriesTM
Our goal is for you to leave the convention with a sense of (EIS) and Executive Insight for Women (EIW) programs with over
empowerment, renewed energy and enthusiasm. We want to 1,200 participants to date.
empower you to make change happen and pave the way for
the next generation of leaders like yourself. We want to see I am eternally grateful to our founding partners, Deloitte, EY, KPMG,
you reach your full potential! To that end, I’m delighted to announce and PwC. With their support we have evolved to be an organization
that our Pinnacle Pan-Asian Corporate Board Initiative has officially for all of corporate America and global companies, their continued
launched. Pinnacle is Ascend’s commitment to support and expand contributions have been invaluable to the growth of the organization
Pan-Asians on Corporate Boards with the goal of increasing diversity and to the value Ascend continues to provide for our partners and
in Corporate Boardrooms. In one short year, Pinnacle’s network of members. Together, we have grown Ascend into the largest Pan-Asian
experienced Corporate Board Members has reached over 80 members. organization in North America. Thank you for being there from the
Ascend Pinnacle enables us to enhance our positioning as a career beginning. You should be proud of what Ascend has accomplished.
lifecycle membership organization with programs and networks for
everyone from university students to senior/corporate board members. Finally, I would like to thank our committed sponsors, partners,
Convention and Steering Committees, our dedicated volunteers, the
New York Metro Chapter and members of our other 17 professional
and 34 student chapters, and our Headquarters staff. Ascend is truly
blessed with an unmatched sense of devotion, perseverance and talent
from our volunteers, members and staff. We continue to Connect
individuals, Inspire future leaders, and Ascend them to new heights.
As the old saying goes, “It Takes a Village.” So let’s keep pushing to
move the needle and let’s all please take the passion, energy, and
inspiration back with you in order to help your local Ascend chapters,
companies, and Pan-Asian community.

I cannot wait for the next ten years of Ascend!

Jeff Chin
National President, Ascend

2015 ASCEND NATIONAL CONVENTION 5

6

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We are proud to sponsor ASCEND. 7

2 0 1 5 A S C E N D N AT I O N A L CO N V E N T I O N1506-105726 CS ©2015 Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, New York, NY 10166
MetLife is an Equal Opportunity & Affirmative Action Employer

THE VALUE OF 883939_ASCEND_AD_v2-outlines.indd 1 7/16/15

MANY
PERSPECTIVES
FOR ONE
PURPOSE.

Across this company, people come We salute the
together every day to support the innovative spirit of
mission of our customers with today’s attendees.
innovation, excellence and new
levels of achievement. We’re proud Honored to support the Pan-Asian
to support the 2015 Ascend National business community.
Convention and Career Fair.

THE VALUE OF PERFORMANCE.

www.northropgrumman.com

8

WHO WE ARE OBJECTIVES

Ascend is the largest, non-profit Pan-Asian membership • Connect Pan-Asian leaders across industries through a
organization for business professionals in North America. network of seasoned professionals and emerging leaders
Established in 2005, our network includes over 60,000 senior
executives, professionals, and MBA/undergraduate students • Enable young professionals and emerging leaders to
involved in 17 professional chapters and 34 student chapters*. pursue their dreams and achieve new professional heights
As a career lifecycle organization, we offer robust leadership
and professional development and networking programs • Assist our partners and sponsors to achieve business
designed to cultivate Pan-Asian talent by supporting our growth through world-class diversity and inclusion
members in reaching their career potential and by supporting practices
our corporate partners to develop a strong, diverse, and
inclusive workforce to achieve business growth.

*Includes AscendNAAMBA chapters

VALUE OF ATTENDING OUR 2015 CONVENTION

FOR OUR CORPORATE SPONSORS FOR OUR PROFESSIONAL MEMBERS

1. Experience business growth through newly built 1. Fantastic networking opportunities with Pan-Asian
connections with top industry speakers, panelists, and business leaders and peers
Fortune 500 global executives
2. Actionable insights from top industry experts
2. Meet top talent from the attending pool of and speakers
high-potential candidates and emerging leaders
3. Unique career development opportunities through
3. Align diversity and inclusion objectives through one-on-one sessions with executive mentors and
partnerships with attending affinity groups and exposure to decision makers at our Career Fair
Ascend’s networks

2015 ASCEND NATIONAL CONVENTION 9

CHAPTER MAP

VA N C O U V E R

Univ. of Washington Univ. of Connecticut

Seattle University Yale University
S E AT T L E Fairfield University
Binghamton State University Univ. of Massachusetts–Amherst
Bentley University
Univ. of Rochester NEW ENGLAND
Brandeis University
Suffolk University
TWIN CITIES TORONTO MIT Sloan School of Business
CONNECTICUT & WESTCHESTER
Penn State University
Stony Brook University
NEW YORK METRO
Northern Illinois University MIDWEST GREATER Queens College, CUNY
Univ. of Illinois, Chicago Baruch College
N O RT H E R N PHILADELPHIA
CALIFORNIA Golden Gate University DePaul University Fordham University
New York University
Univ. of California–Berkeley Univ. of Illinois–Urbana Champaign Indiana University Pace University
San Francisco State University Bloomington St. John's University

Rutgers–Newark
Rutgers–New Brunswick
NEW JERSEY
CHARLOTTE Drexel University

LOS ANGELES METRO Univ. of Southern California GREATER ATLANTA Emory University Temple University
Univ. of California–Los Angeles Georgia State University Univ. of Maryland–College Park
Univ. of Texas at Dallas GREATER WASHINGTON
Arizona State University Univ. of North Texas NORTH TEXAS George Washington University

Univ. of Virginia
Darden School of Business

Southern Methodist University

Professional Univ. of Texas at Austin
Pending HOUSTON
Student
Pending
Business School Alliance
/Graduate Affiliate Program
AscendNAAMBA

17 PROFESSIONAL CHAPTERS 34 STUDENT CHAPTERS

• Charlotte • New England • Baruch College • San Francisco State
• Connecticut & • New York Metro • Bentley University University
• Northern California • Binghamton State University
Westchester • North Texas • Brandeis University • Seattle University
• Greater Atlanta • New Jersey • DePaul University
• Greater Philadelphia • Seattle • Drexel University • Suffolk University
• Greater Washington* • Toronto • Emory University
• Houston • Twin Cities* • Fordham University* • Temple University
• Los Angeles Metro • Vancouver
• Midwest (Ascend & AscendNAAMBA) • University of California –
• George Washington Berkeley
*Includes AscendNAAMBA chapter
University* • University of California –
• Georgia State University Los Angeles
• Indiana University –
• University of Illinois –
Bloomington Urbana-Champaign
• New York University
• Northern Illinois University • University of Massachusetts
• Pace University – Amherst
• Penn State University
• Queens College – CUNY • University of Southern
• Rutgers – New Brunswick California
• Rutgers – Newark
• University of Texas – Dallas

• University of Washington

• University of Maryland –
College Park*
(Ascend & AscendNAAMBA)

• University of Rochester*

• Southern Methodist
University

*AscendNAAMBA chapter

10

Pinnacle National Convention
The Pan-Asian Corporate & Career Fair

Board Initiative Myths of Asian
Leadership

Corporate Executive PROGRAMS Executive Insight
Initiative (CEI) SeriesTM (EIS)

Stanford Advanced Executive Insight for
Leadership Program Women (EIW)

(ALP)

REGIONAL/CHAPTER

PROGRAMS Mentorship Programs

LEAD (Leadership, Inspiring Across Generations Women’s
Empowerment, (IAG) Conferences Leadership Council

Advancement, and AscendNAAMBA Conference (WLC)
Development) Series and Career Exposition

For more information about our programs, please visit ascendleadership.org,
call 212.248.4888, or email us [email protected].

2015 ASCEND NATIONAL CONVENTION 11

OUR PROGRAM OFFERINGS

PINNACLE Pinnacle was launched by Ascend to focus on Pan-Asian Corporate Board Directors.
The Pan-Asian Corporate Board Pinnacle helps corporations enhance their business objectives by increasing the
Initiative number of Pan-Asian Corporate Board members. Pinnacle reaches this goal by
creating a platform to network, leverage, and support current Pan-Asian Corporate
page 16 Board members, developing aspiring candidates for future Board service and
providing thought leadership regarding Corporate Board issues.

STANFORD ADVANCED This program is the first of its kind to address the apparent gap in effective executive

LEADERSHIP PROGRAM (ALP) training for high–achieving Pan-Asian executives. Stanford Advanced Leadership
Program (ALP) was conceived and created by Ascend in cooperation with the Stanford
page 17 University Graduate School of Business to accelerate the development of global

business leadership skills of senior executives working in North American companies.

ALP strives to address the disparity between the number of Pan-Asians in the

corporate workforce and those in executive positions.

CORPORATE EXECUTIVE The Corporate Executive Initiative (CEI) enlists and engages Pan-Asian executives
INITIATIVE (CEI) from Fortune 1000 companies to assist the professional development of Pan-Asian
business leaders. Ascend CEI members have achieved positions of leadership in large
global corporations and are committed to the development of senior talent within
the Pan-Asian corporate community.

EXECUTIVE INSIGHT The Executive Insight SeriesTM (EIS) assists high-potential Pan-Asian managers, senior
SERIESTM (EIS) professionals, and young executives attain leadership roles in major North American
corporations. EIS provides insight into key characteristics, specific behaviors, competencies,
page 18 and experiences required to reach the executive level. Participants typically have 8–12
years of experience and hold manager, director, or vice president positions.

EXECUTIVE INSIGHT FOR Developed by Pan-Asian female executives based on contemporary issues raised
WOMEN (EIW) during focus groups conducted in 2013, Ascend created the Executive Insight for
Pan-Asian Women (EIW) program to help mid-level Pan-Asian female professionals
page 19 and managers address common challenges as they rise within their respective
organizations in corporate America. The program provides both conceptual
frameworks and pragmatic, actionable advice on addressing these issues with a deep
understanding of the influence from Pan-Asian cultural values.

MYTHS OF ASIAN Ascend conducted extensive research into the realities of the Asian community
LEADERSHIP as the “model minority” and found that despite their strong work ethic, academic
achievement, and extensive contributions to business, few Pan-Asians have obtained
senior leadership positions in global corporations. This session examines common
misconceptions about Pan-Asians and why so few Pan-Asians in global corporations
reach the senior level. This session provides examples of the behaviors and skills
needed by Pan-Asians to help them achieve their career aspirations, reasons why a
diverse senior leadership team is good for business, and our leadership framework
for corporate success.

ANNUAL NATIONAL Business leaders, senior executives, professionals, and students participate from a wide
CONVENTION & CAREER cross-section of the Pan-Asian community, industry, and from across the country for
FAIR three days of professional development and networking. Inspirational, high-impact
leaders and rising stars in the business community, as well as exemplary students are
also recognized during the Leadership and Scholarship Luncheons and the Benefit &
Awards Dinner.

12

OUR PROGRAM OFFERINGS

In 2013, National Association of Asian MBAs (NAAMBA) joined the Ascend ASCENDNAAMBA
family and together both organizations are committed to the empowerment and
advancement of Pan-Asian professionals and students, globally. AscendNAAMBA (NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF

provides Competent, Committed, Competitive, and Collaborative global ASIAN MBAS)
MBA leaders to fulfill diverse talent pipelines. page 14

Ascend Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit Pan-Asian organization primarily engaged ASCEND FOUNDATION

in research with a mission to educate, advocate, and enable Pan-Asian business
leaders to reach their full potential. Ascend Foundation also provides scholarships. page 21
Through our research and thought leadership activities, the Foundation’s goal is to

help make a difference in the Pan-Asian business community, and help Pan-Asian
leaders make greater impacts in business. The Ascend Foundation engages in
both basic and applied research in trying to create applicable ways for the Pan-

Asian community in North America to become better innovators, role models,
and catalysts for change. The Ascend Foundation’s research findings support and
advocate the Pan-Asian community by cultivating the leadership skills needed to
improve the stance of Pan-Asians in North American corporate environments, as
well as recognize skills that could propel them to leadership positions. The Ascend
Foundation aims to reach an understanding of how to integrate multiple cultures and

leadership styles leading to global success.

Inspiring Across Generations (IAG) regional conferences gather our corporate INSPIRING ACROSS
and community partners for a day of leadership, mentorship, and relationship
development programs providing insight and benefits for both students and seasoned GENERATIONS (IAG)

professionals. These conferences also provide networking opportunities for leaders, CONFERENCES

professionals, and students at the local level. page 20

The 12-month mentoring program provides the tools necessary to enhance MENTORSHIP PROGRAMS

leadership, teaching, and coaching skills. Mentors have the opportunity to strengthen
their knowledge base and improve communication skills while gaining satisfaction and

recognition for helping mentees gain insight that help them develop professionally.

Ascend’s LEAD Series helps members develop and strengthen leadership skills that LEAD (LEADERSHIP,
enable them to advance and achieve their professional goals. Executive panelists
from diverse fields share experiences, including what shaped their decisions and EMPOWERMENT,

perspectives. Mentoring circles and/or a general question and answer session follow ADVANCEMENT, AND

the panel discussion. The LEAD Series is open to Ascend professional members of all DEVELOPMENT) SERIES

experience levels (non-members can also register to attend).

2015 ASCEND NATIONAL CONVENTION 13

In 2013, National Association of Asian MBAs (NAAMBA) • AscendNAAMBA Conference and Career Exposition
joined the Ascend family and together both organizations are
committed to the empowerment and advancement of The Annual AscendNAAMBA Conference and Career
Pan-Asian professionals and students, globally. Exposition offers powerful professional development
seminars, engaging networking sessions, and a diversity
AscendNAAMBA provides Competent, Committed, Career Exposition geared towards providing Pan-Asian
Competitive, and Collaborative global MBA leaders to fulfill MBA job seekers a unique opportunity to connect with
diverse talent pipelines. recruiters from global companies across industries offering
domestic and international career opportunities. For our
PROGRAMS: partners, this signature AscendNAAMBA Conference
provides unique branding, a top MBA talent acquisition
• Women’s Leadership Council (WLC) platform, and professional development opportunities for
their employees.
The Women’s Leadership Council (WLC) aspires to create
opportunities for multicultural women leaders in order EMPLOYER CONNECTION
to propel them to new professional heights. The WLC Job Board and Resume Database Powered by:
hosts the Women’s Leadership Summit (WLS) at the
AscendNAAMBA Conference each year. For Employers and Recruiters: One-stop shop to meet your
diverse talent acquisition and branding objectives.
For Job Seekers: Gain visibility to employers across industries
seeking diverse Pan-Asian MBA/graduate talent.

14

AscendNAAMBA (National Association of Asian MBAs)
The Leading Organization for Pan-Asian MBA/Graduate Students & Professionals

PLEASE JOIN US FOR THE
6th Annual AscendNAAMBA Conference:
Inspiring Across Generations (IAG) with Career Exposition

Washington Hilton Hotel | Washington, D.C.

November 13-14, 2015
www.ascendnaamba.org | [email protected]

EMPLOYERS MBA/GRADUATE STUDENTS & JOB SEEKERS
SCHOOLS
• Aquire Pan-Asian • Find a Job!
MBA/Graduate Talent • Showcase your MBA/Graduate • Gain Invaluable Resume Tips
Program Offerings
• Brand Your Company • Develop Your Talent
• Assist Your Students in Job • Expand Your Network
• Advance Your Leaders Search by Connecting with • Find Mentors & Coaches

Employers

FOLLOW US!

#NAAMBA2015

@ascendnaamba

Visit ascendnaa2m01b5a.AoSrCgEfNorDdNeAtaTiIlOs.NAL CONVENTION 15

Pinnacle was launched by Ascend to focus on Pan-Asian Corporate Board Directors.

CHALLENGE GOAL

As of July 2013, Pan-Asian men and women still accounted Create a platform to network, leverage, and support current
for only 1.8 percent of the 1,214 Fortune 100 Board Director Pan-Asian Corporate Board Members, develop aspiring
seats, in comparison to the 2012 projected US Census Asian candidates for future Board service, and provide thought
population of 7.8 percent. Over 82% of the Fortune 500 leadership regarding Corporate Board issues.
Corporations have no Pan-Asians on their Boards. Ascend’s
recent analysis of Fortune 500 companies show only 85 Pan- Pinnacle will use the push-and-pull model to increase the
Asians on their Boards with seven holding two seats each. number of Fortune 500 Corporate Board Directors of Pan-
Asian descent. Ascend believes that the community needs
VISION to actively commit to “filling the Corporate Board Pan-Asian
candidate pipeline” with Board-ready candidates and will
Help companies enhance their business objectives by increasing endeavor to create greater connections between Pan-Asian
the number of Pan-Asian Corporate Board Members. leaders and the broader business community.

16

STANFORD ADVANCED LEADERSHIP
PROGRAM (ALP)

In collaboration with the Stanford Graduate School of Business, Ascend created the ALP to
accelerate the development of global business leadership skills of senior executives at
North American companies.

As a first-of-its-kind executive program for high-achieving Pan- ALP WILL PREPARE EXECUTIVES TO:
Asian leaders, ALP strives to address the disparity between the
number of Pan-Asians in the corporate workforce and those in • Lead through more effective influence and communications
executive positions. • Lead in dynamic and uncertain competitive environments
• Lead cross-functional teams to compete for global

assignments

ASCEND IS PROUD OF THE ALP PROGRAM!
During the week of August 10, 2015, our seventh ALP class had over 50
participants from 26 global companies. ALP is Stanford’s most highly rated
Executive Education Program at the Graduate School of Business.

For more information, please visit our website www.ascendleadership.org or email us at [email protected]

2015 ASCEND NATIONAL CONVENTION 17

EXECUTIVE INSIGHT SERIES™ (EIS)

EIS prepares high-potential Pan-Asian managers, senior professionals, and young executives
for high-impact roles in major U.S. corporations.

EIS provides insight into key characteristics, specific PARTICIPANTS WILL:
behaviors, competencies, and experiences required to
reach the executive level. The program is developed and • Develop a thorough understanding of the “Myths of Asian
delivered by Pan-Asian executives who successfully led
large U.S. corporations in multicultural settings. Leadership” and how these myths act as barriers
to advancement

• G ain insight into executive values, presence, and leadership

skills demanded by large North American corporations to
be a vital and integral part of the corporate culture

• Learn from real-life examples of executives and leaders –

how they personally and professionally succeeded

For more information, please visit our website www.ascendleadership.org or email us at [email protected]

18

EXECUTIVE INSIGHT FOR WOMEN (EIW)

CREATED BY WOMEN. TAUGHT BY WOMEN. FOR WOMEN.

EIW helps mid-level Pan-Asian female managers and professionals address common
challenges as they rise within their respective organizations in corporate America.

EIW provides both conceptual frameworks and PARTICIPANTS WILL:
pragmatic, actionable advice on addressing these issues • Learn about executive values and leadership skills
with a deep understanding of the influence from Pan-
Asian cultural values. demanded by large North American corporations

• Understand how cultural heritage may help or hinder

their effectiveness

• Recognize and learn how to deal with stereotypes about

Pan-Asian women

• Develop “executive presence” skills, including impactful

communications

• Learn to navigate relationships with mentors and sponsors
• Become more comfortable with participating in informal,

cross-cultural groups in the workplace

• Learn to handle work-life balance challenges

For more information, please visit our website www.ascendleadership.org or email us at [email protected]

2015 ASCEND NATIONAL CONVENTION 19

INSPIRING ACROSS GENERATIONS (IAG)
CONFERENCES

IAG regional conferences gather our corporate and community PAST IAG SESSIONS AND WORKSHOPS
partners for a day of leadership, mentorship, and relationship
development programs providing insight and benefits for both • “Entering the C-Suite and Beyond” Workshop – senior
students and seasoned professionals. These conferences also
provide networking opportunities for leaders, professionals, executive leaders shared their experiences for getting to
and students at the local level. and succeeding in the C-Suite, challenges they faced in their
careers, key skill sets for success, and the roles of mentors
For more information, please visit our website and sponsors
www.ascendleadership.org or email us at
[email protected] • Branding in the Age of Digital Media – insight and

actionable advice for corporations and individuals faced
with the expanding use of interactive technology for
business purposes

• “Promotion Project” Workshop – professional

development program for young Pan-Asian executives
and MBAs

• Building Your Own Executive Brand Name – senior

executive panel insight and tips for shaping and credibly
“selling” your brand to key constituents

• Transformational Leadership – interactive session focused

on developing strategies for a globalized economy

20

ASCEND FOUNDATION

ABOUT ASCEND FOUNDATION MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF
PAN-ASIANS:
Ascend Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit Pan-Asian Ways to Support the Ascend Foundation
organization primarily engaged in research with a mission to
educate, advocate, and enable Pan-Asian business leaders to 1. Be Part of the Change. Make a tax-deductible donation
reach their full potential. Ascend Foundation also provides to the Ascend Foundation, a 501c3 organization.
scholarships. Through our research and thought leadership There are many worthy causes. How does giving to
activities, the Foundation’s goal is to help make a difference in the the Ascend Foundation make a difference in the lives of
Pan-Asian business community, and help Pan-Asian leaders make Pan-Asians?
greater impacts in business. The Ascend Foundation engages
in both basic and applied research in trying to create applicable • Our research guides the community to become
ways for the Pan-Asian community in North America to become better leaders.
better innovators, role models, and catalysts for change.
• Our innovative, world-class programming enables
ASCEND FOUNDATION STUDY – HIDDEN IN PLAIN professional skills and leadership development.
SIGHT: ASIAN AMERICAN LEADERS IN SILICON VALLEY
• We bring together current and future leaders to
Ascend Foundation’s recently released research study, Hidden learn, share, and grow.
in Plain Sight: Asian American Leaders in Silicon Valley analyzes
the leadership pipeline using employment data filed with the • Our scholarship fund provides a seat at the table for
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) by students and young professionals.
five major Silicon Valley-based companies – Google, Hewlett-
Packard, Intel, LinkedIn, and Yahoo – and found that the glass Donate Now to the Ascend Foundation.
ceiling is 3.7x times harder for Asian Americans to crack. Our Visit www.ascendleadership.org/foundation
research received significant interest and raised awareness
of the findings both nationally and regionally through broad 2. Elevate your contribution. Eligible members
coverage on television, online and in print media including of the EY family can support the Ascend Foundation
coverage in Fortune, NBC News, L.A. Times, Fast Company, and Pan-Asian community through the EY Foundation
AP, NPR All Things Considered, MSNBC and international matching grants program. Additionally, as part of
media outlets. the Ascend 10-year anniversary, Jeff Chin, Ascend
President and retired Partner, EY, will match the first
PARTNERSHIP WITH AARP FOUNDATION TAX-AIDE $10k (the maximum allowed per donor) to the Ascend
Foundation.
As part of our on-going support of the Pan-Asian community, For more information email us at
Ascend Foundation is partnering with AARP Foundation [email protected]
Tax-Aide to provide outreach and recruit volunteers for the
program. AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is the nation’s largest, 3. If you are an active PwC volunteer, you
volunteer-run organization providing quality tax preparation can arrange to have the PwC Charitable Foundation
services at no cost. In 2014, 35,000 compassionate volunteers provide financial support to Ascend Foundation and
at more than 5,000 tax sites, in all 50 states and the District of our Pan-Asian community by making a donation today.
Columbia, provided 2.6 million people with free tax help. For more information email us at
[email protected]

Ascend Foundation is delighted and grateful for the support
of EY and PwC.

We would like to remind everyone to take advantage of any
matching grants programs that your company offers. Help us
help our Pan-Asian community!

2015 ASCEND NATIONAL CONVENTION 21

Your individuality makes America stronger. Supporting great causes:
At the Central Intelligence Agency, your inherent culture, a commitment that’s
values and patriotism can also strengthen our ability to as much a part of UPS
meet our mission. Here, you will experience rewarding as our brown trucks.
careers that offer outstanding opportunities to excel and
grow — and the opportunity to make a meaningful UPS is proud to support 2015
contribution to our nation. Ascend National Convention.

NEW CHALLENGES sustainability.ups.com
FOR A NEW GENERATION.
© 2015 United Parcel Service of America, Inc. UPS, the UPS logo, and the color brown are
Applicants must be US citizens and have the ability to trademarks of United Parcel Service of America, Inc. All rights reserved.
successfully complete medical examinations and security
procedures, including a polygraph interview. An equal
opportunity employer and a drug-free workforce.

The CIA is a proud sponsor
of the Ascend National
Convention & Career Fair.

THE WORK OF A NATION.
THE CENTER OF INTELLIGENCE.

www.cia.gov

22

HELP ASCEND AND
AARP FOUNDATION

MAKE A

DIFFERENCE

IN YOUR COMMUNITY!

Join us as we work together to provide free tax
preparation services to low-income individuals
who need our support.
No experience is necessary and there’s a role for
everyone; especially bilingual volunteers who can
assist with language interpretation.
Our certified training program will provide you with
the knowledge and confidence to give back as a
valued Tax-Aide volunteer.
Call 888-AARP-NOW (888-227-7669)
or visit http://www.aarpfoundation.org/s-ascend2015

23AARP Foundation Tax-Aide i2s o0f1fe5redAinScConEjuNncDtionNwiAthTthIeOIRNS.AL CONVENTION

THANK YOU TO OUR ASCEND
FOUNDING BOARD MEMBERS

Your contributions as the Founding Board Members of Ascend have been invaluable to the growth of the organization and to the
value it continues to provide for its partners and members. It all started with you. Together, we have grown Ascend into the
largest Pan-Asian organization in North America. Thank you for all that you have done for Ascend and the
Pan-Asian community!

Rajiv Basu Marc Jeff Chin Dylan Jeng
Bernardo

Hee Lee Vinay Rey Padilla Jenny Wei
Navani

James Ruan Liren Wei

Our condolences on the passing of Rey Padilla on July 17th, 2015 in the Philippines.

24

LIFETIME MEMBERS
BECOME ONE TODAY!

Ascend’s Lifetime Membership Program provides members a way to demonstrate

their dedication to Ascend and the Pan-Asian community.
Thank you to these and other committed Lifetime Members!

“Ascend is the go-to • Roger G. Arrieux, Jr. • Shane Kim • Punit Renjen
organization to develop • Cathy Campbell • Judy Kopa • Ashok Shenoy
better and more impactful • Larry Chang • Patricia Kozu • Emilio Umeoka
business leaders. I strongly • Jeffrey Chin • Ashok Krishna • Parshotam Wadhwani
believe that Ascend’s vision • Julian Chu • Jessica Lee • Susan Wang
to enhance the presence • Erby Foster • Yanshuai Liu • Janet Wong
and influence of current and • Michael Fung • Helen Loh • Dennis Wong
future Pan-Asian business • Hubert Glover • Wade Loo • Dennis Wu
leaders ultimately helps • S. K. Gupta • Wendy Mai • Jirong Xiao
individuals, companies, and • Jim Han • Nitin Mehta • Jana Yamamoto
our country. I am proud • Seong (Samuel) Hong • Anna Mok • Christopher Yamashita
to be an active Lifetime • Chenming Hu • Steven Pae • Yi Yang
Member and have benefited • Bill Imada • Denise Peck • Eugene Yano
from the business and • Ananda Kanapathy • Marissa Peterson • Chao Zheng
networking opportunities.” • Tariq Khan • Sridhar Ramamoorti

– Michael Fung, Board Director, Over the course of just one year, Ascend’s lifetime membership base has doubled.

Franklin Covey; Board Director, Interim We encourage everyone to join this program to gain exclusive member benefits.
CFO & Treasurer, 99 Cent Stores and
Retired SVP & CFO, Walmart US Stores. To become a part of this outstanding group of leaders, please visit
www.ascendleadership.org today.

2015 ASCEND NATIONAL CONVENTION 25

GET CONNECTED WITH CONVENE

THE MOBILE APP FOR THE ASCEND NATIONAL CONVENTION

We are excited to be featuring the Convene mobile app at the Ascend National Convention
& Career Fair. The easy-to-use app will include helpful event information, as well as information
on the agenda and speakers. Available on iOS and Android smartphones and tablets, Convene
provides you with a one-stop resource to get the most from the event.
You will receive an email containing your Convene username and temporary password. Once
you have received these, visit any of the following stores to install the app to your mobile device.
Install Convene today to get the latest Ascend National Convention & Career Fair
information at your fingertips!

26

We’re better. Together. Our Views Matter. So Will Yours. © 2015 Moody's Corporation and/or its licensors and affiliates.
All rights reserved.
At Wells Fargo, we’re greater together than we are apart. For over 100 years, Moody’s success has been built on
Teamwork guides everything we do for our customers. diversity of thought and differing perspectives. We foster
It’s the very reason we call ourselves team members, an inclusive work environment where all views matter,
not employees. Because when we combine our skills, and proactively promote a culture where all employees
knowledge, and unique perspectives — we build more can achieve their career goals. We take pride in our
successful communities in which we live and work. diverse workforce and encourage innovative thinkers to
join our team.
We’re currently hiring in Finance, Risk
Management, Technology, and more. Moody’s strongly supports a diverse and inclusive
workplace. For more information about exciting
Visit us at the Wells Fargo Career Booth #100 career opportunities at Moody’s, please visit
for more information or apply online at moodys.com/careers.
wellsfargo.com/careers.

Join us at the panel session
Strong Financial Health —
A Key to Being a Holistic Leader
Monday, August 31 • 1:45 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
New York Hilton Midtown
Room: Grand Ballroom West

Wells Fargo panelist
Jackson Chin, Senior Vice President, Head of Business
Architecture Services, Wealth Management Services

Wells Fargo is a proud Corporate Partner of
The Ascend National convention and Career Fair.

Relevant military experience is considered for veterans and transitioning service men and women. Wells Fargo is 2015 ASCEND NATIONAL CONVENTION 27
an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer, Minority/Female/Disabled/Veteran/Gender Identity/
Sexual Orientation.
© 2015 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. Member FDIC. ECG-1264244

OurClorox

begins with

each of us.

The Clorox Company. Powered by you.

You work hard each day to realize your goals. At Clorox, we
reward professionals just like you with a challenging yet
nurturing work environment where you can leverage your
talents and exercise everyday leadership.

What is everyday leadership? From helping solve
challenges, developing the next great product or
participating in a community volunteer project, our

empowering and diverse culture is just one reason
millions of people trust our world-class portfolio
of products.

It takes nothing less than everyone’s leadership,
every day, to create and uphold the spirit of a
company that has remained an industry leader for
more than 100 years. Come join us to create the
next successful century of helping make everyday
life better, every day.

The Clorox Company is an EEO/A rmative Action Employer Please view our career opportunities online.
www.TheCloroxCompany.com/careers
28
NI-XXXXX

CONNECT WITH ASCEND!

#ASCENDLEADERSHIP

Share your convention photos using

#Ascend2015

In celebration of our 10-Year Anniversary, twitter.com/ascendleader
share your favorite Ascend memories by using

#10YearsofAscend

instagram.com/ascendleader fb.com/ascendleadership
Group: Ascend youtube.com/ascendleadership

2015 ASCEND NATIONAL CONVENTION 29

©2015 Accenture All rights reserved. You always look
at the world a
little differently

It’s that unique thinking we
look for at Bank of America

Our most fundamental
message is diversity.

Every day on every continent, Accenture Join our team, and we’ll give you access to unrivalled opportunity –
puts the power of diversity into action. and expect you to seize it and make it your own. We’ll consider your
By embracing an inclusive culture that perspective and stretch your viewpoint with training and mentorship.
supports diverse talent, our people And as part of the world’s leading financial institution, you’ll have the
collaborate successfully and enable global stage to create opportunities in places you’ve never envisioned.
Accenture to compete e ectively in
the global marketplace. To learn more, Bank of America is a proud supporter of Ascend
visit accenture.com/inclusionanddiversity
Visit careers.bankofamerica.com.
30
Life’s better when we’re connected®

Bank of America and its affiliates consider for employment and hire qualified candidates
without regard to race, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, age,
national origin, ancestry, citizenship, protected veteran or disability status or any factor
prohibited by law, and as such affirms in policy and practice to support and promote the
concept of equal employment opportunity and affirmative action, in accordance with all
applicable federal, state, provincial and municipal laws.
© 2015 Bank of America Corporation. | ARBMLBPF | D&I-0716153

AWARDS & SCHOLARSHIPS

2015 AWARD HONOREES ASCEND INSPIRING ACROSS GENERATIONS (IAG)
AWARD: INSPIRATIONAL LEADER
DELOITTE’S ASCEND LEADERSHIP AWARD Seong Ohm Senior Vice President, Sam’s Club
Nelson J. Chai President, CIT Group Inc.
ASCEND INSPIRING ACROSS GENERATIONS (IAG)
ASCEND EXCELLENCE IN DIVERSITY & INCLUSION AWARD: HIGH IMPACT LEADER
Sodexo Sara Kumiko Abiusi Managing Director, Accenture
Award received by Rohini Anand, Senior Vice President & Yogesh Bahl Managing Director, AlixPartners
Global Chief Diversity Officer
ASCEND INSPIRING ACROSS GENERATIONS (IAG)
AWARD: RISING STAR
Esther Jeong Global Diversity & Inclusion Manager, Moody’s
Danny Wang Audit Senior Manager, Deloitte & Touche LLP

ASCEND 2015 CORPORATE SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

Jonathan Liu San Francisco State University Richard Zhang University of Maryland, College Park

Kevin Chen Indiana University, Bloomington Jacky Cheng San Francisco State University
Kelvin Foung University of Houston Jiayi Li Southern Methodist University
HyungJik Lee Indiana University, Bloomington
Michelle Sudihardjo University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign Srinivasan Kuppuswami Temple University
Catherine Wudiyono University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign Andrew Montelongo Fordham University

Anmol Singh Queens College
Anna Zheng Binghamton University

2015 ASCEND NATIONAL CONVENTION 31

ASCEND NATIONAL TEAM

NATIONAL BOARD Jenny Wei Vice President of Student Affairs
Sandeep Gupta Vice President of Chapter Affairs
Jeff Chin National President Peter Kao Board Member
Anna Mok Executive Vice President Steven Pae Board Member
Wes Hom Vice President of External Affairs Sridhar Ramamoorti Board Member
Hee Lee Vice President of Internal Affairs Amy Shang Board Member
Tariq Khan Vice President of MBA Programs Lily Tang Board Member
Andrew Hahn General Counsel
Gina Nam Secretary
Whitestone Kim Treasurer

ASCEND ADVISORY BOARD Bill Imada Chairman, IW Group
Maria Moats Chief Diversity Officer, PwC
Kapila Anand Senior Partner, Public Policy Business Initiatives, Samuel T. Mok Managing Member, Condor International
KPMG
Advisors LLC
Sam Balaji Managing Partner, Deloitte Consulting LLP
Henry Tang Managing Partner, Carnegie Towers Group
Allen Boston Retired Partner, EY William Wong Managing Director, The TBCC Group
Dennis Wu Founder, WuHoover & Co
Kenneth Bouyer Americas Director, EY

Christine Cadena Senior Vice President, Multicultural Initiatives,
The Walt Disney Company

Manny Espinoza Retired CEO, ALPFA

ASCEND CHAPTER PRESIDENTS New York Metro Milan Shah
New England Chandran Subramaniam
Charlotte AJ Desai Northern California Ajay Anand
Connecticut & Westchester Ashok Shenoy North Texas Mark Cheng
Greater Atlanta Mie Igarashi Seattle Maureen Francisco
Greater Philadelphia Cindy Lewis, Yen Tieu Twin Cities Melissa Brown
Greater Washington Wayne Fong Toronto, Canada Kelvin Tran
Houston Julie Ho Vancouver, Canada Conrad Rego
Los Angeles Metro Thomas Phelps IV
Midwest Julie Figueras
New Jersey Jay Chopra

EXECUTIVE ADVISORS Wade Loo Retired, KPMG Partner
Denise Peck Retired, Cisco Executive
Larry Chang Retired, Hewlett-Packard Executive Janet Wong Retired, KPMG Parter
Buck Gee Retired, Cisco Executive
S.K. Gupta Retired, Lockheed Martin Executive Cathy Hom National Convention Management Associate
Ali Bernardi Marketing and Outreach Manager
ASCEND HEADQUARTERS TEAM Sofia Poyhonen Ascend Foundation - Public Relations Coordinator
Tammy Lau Data & Marketing Technology Coordinator
Peyen Fong National Programs & Marketing Advisor Sera Jean Barnard Graphic Designer
Tifanny Papish National Convention Director Kevin Ong Intern
Robina Singh Director of Operations (AscendNAAMBA)
Anna Wei Director of Business Development
Fred Humphrey Finance Manager
Kai Eng Mathews Office/Operations Assistant
Livia Ching-Gerring West Coast Executive Director

32

CONVENTION CONTRIBUTORS

NEW YORK METRO CHAPTER OFFICERS & BOARD

Milan Shah President Tiffany Chan Co-VP of Events

Esther Jeong Executive Vice President Teresa Yue Co-VP of Events

Niyati Shah Executive Vice President Diane Mei VP of Student Affairs

Esther Jung Secretary Charles Lin Co-VP of Communications

Stephanie Sun Treasurer Jenny Guan Co-VP of Communications

John Kim VP of Development Irene Chan Co-VP of Membership

Christine del Rosario Co-VPs of Events Kunjan Mehta Co-VP of Membership

NEW YORK METRO CHAPTER CONVENTION COMMITTEE

Tiffany Chan Lead Christine del Rosario Advisor

Teresa Yue Lead Milan Shah Advisor

Niyati Shah Lead Christine Park Advisor

Xiaoli Liu Student Committee Member Sandeep Gupta Advisor

Stephanie Sun Committee member Dustin Ling Advisor

Esther Jeong Advisor

SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE RESUME COACHES

Richard Cheung Manager, EY Purav Adiecha Senior Manager, Grant Thorton

Priscilla Huang Assistant Controller, Marubeni-Itochu Steel Kevin Chin Recruiting Manager, Robert Half
America Inc.
Gene Kim Vice President, Director of Permanent
Anna Lau Director of Operations, PwC Placement Services, Robert Half

Jenny Wei Senior Manager, EY Ying Liu Tax Manager, PwC

Linh Nguyen Tax Manager, Grant Thornton

Thomas Phelps IV CIO & Chief Corporate Strategist, Laserfiche

Paul Rollison Assistant Director Career Services,
University of Delaware

2015 ASCEND NATIONAL CONVENTION 33

34

In today’s world, organizations must continuously Warren Kashiwagi
innovate to grow. Innovation requires… Asian People Resource Network

Diversity of thought
and cultures.

Our commitment to diversity, innovation, and an inclusive work environment are just
some of the reasons human resource organizations, and local and national media
have named us one of the best places to work. More than 3,000 Crowe Horwath LLP
employees enjoy generous work/life benefits in addition to challenging career
opportunities. Share your ideas, contribute daily, and define your own future.

To learn more about an exceptional career with challenging projects, continuous
learning, and leadership opportunities, visit gocrowe.com, or contact Warren
Kashiwagi, CPA at +1 916 492 5121 or [email protected].

Find career opportunities at gocrowe.com.

Audit | Tax | Advisory | Risk | Performance

Crowe Horwath LLP is an independent member of Crowe Horwath International, a Swiss verein. Each member firm of Crowe Horwath International is a separate and independent legal entity. Crowe Horwath LLP and its affiliates are not responsible or liable for

any acts or omissions of Crowe Horwath International or any other member of Crowe Horwath International and specifically disclaim any and all responsibility or liability for acts or omissions of Crowe Horwath International or any other Crowe Horwath International

member. Accountancy services in Kansas and North Carolina are rendered by Crowe Chizek LLP, which is not a member of Crowe Horwath International. © 2014 Crowe Horwath LLP FW-16001-012A

Reason says: twitter.com/grantthorntonus
admire the difference. linkd.in/grantthorntonus
Instinct says: youtube.com/grantthorntonus
cherish the individual. facebook.com/grantthorntoncareers

At Grant Thornton, we believe that diversity means more than
hiring according to statistical benchmarks. We know it’s about
listening, learning and fostering a culture where everyone can
contribute fully and openly. If you’re ready to be yourself and
grow your career, visit grantthornton.com /careers

“Grant Thornton” refers to Grant Thornton LLP, the U.S. member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd (GTIL). GTIL and the member firms are not a worldwide partnership. Services are delivered by the 35

2 0 1 5 A S C E N D N AT I O N A L C O N V E N T I O Nmember firms. GTIL and its member firms are not agents of, and do not obligate, one another and are not liable for one another’s acts or omissions. Please see grantthornton.com for further details.

10' 10' 10' 10' 10'

MURRAY HILL - PRIVATE INTERVIEWS FIRE 10' 10' 10' 10' 10' FIRE
EXIT EXIT
119 120 121 122 123

FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE 10'
EXIT EXIT EXIT EXIT EXIT EXIT EXIT
10'
FIRE EXHIBITOR LOUNGE
EXIT 140

8' 8' 8' 8' 10' 10' 10' 10' 10' 10'

162 8' 163 8' 164 8' 165 8' 10' 10' 10' 10' 10' 10'

8' 168 109 112 113 118 20' 139

RESUME 161 8' 8' 8' 8' 8' 8' 8' 10' 10' 10' 10' 10' 20' 10'
COACHING
8' 159 8' 158 8' 157 8' 156 8' 155 8' 154 8' 10' 10' 10' 10' 10' 124a 10'
FIRE
EXIT 160 8' 8' 8' 8' 8' 8' 8' 167 108 111 114 117 138

NASSAU 8' 148 8' 149 8' 150 8' 151 8' 152 8' 153 8' 10' 10' 10' 10' 10' 10'

147 8' 10' 10' 10' 10' 10' 10'

8' 166 107 110 115 116 137

FIRE FIRE 146 8' 8' 8' 8' 8' FIRE 8' FIRE FIRE FIRE 10' FIR
EXIT EXIT EXIT EXIT EXIT EXIT EX
FIRE 145 8' 144 8' 143 8' 142 8' 141 8' 20' 10'
FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE E
EXIT EXIT EXIT EXIT EXIT 136

FIRE FIRE FIRE 20' 10'
EXIT EXIT EXIT
10'
10'
10' 135

106 FIRE
EXIT
10'
10' 125a

105 FIRE
EXIT
10'
10' 20' 10'

104 20' 10'

FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE 10' 126a 134
EXIT EXIT EXIT EXIT EXIT 10'
FIRE 10'
EXIT CAREER FAIR 103
ENTRANCE 10'
FIRE
EXIT 133

10' 10'

10' 10'

102 132

10' 10'

10' 10'

101 131

20' FIRE
EXIT

20' 10'

127a 10'

FIRE FIRE 130
EXIT EXIT
FIRE 10'
EXIT FIRE
EXIT 10'
OFFICE
FIRE 129
EXIT
10'
30'
10' 10'

100 128

ESCALATORS
TO AM HALL I
CAREER FAIR MAP BADGE PICK-UP

36 ELECTRICIAN

103 Accenture EXHIBITOR BOOTHS
113 AICPA
116 Bank of America 104 McGraw Hill Financial
119 BDO 110 Merck
167 BNY Mellon 134 MetLife
133 Boeing 139 New York Life
137 Capital One 105 Northrop Grumman
114 CFA Institute 112 PCAOB
136 CIA 140 Pfizer
106 Cigna 129 PNC Financial Services
115 Consumer Financial 128 Pratt & Whitney – A

Protection Bureau United Technologies
136 Crowe Horwath Company
126 Deloitte 118 Praxair
111 Discover 132 PSE&G
124 EY 125 PwC
168 FBI 130 Robert Half
108 FDIC 101 SEC
117 Grant Thornton 109 St. Jude Children’s
107 Hilton Research Hospital
121 HSBC 131 The Hershey Company
123 Ingersoll Rand 138 Thomson Reuters
120 Johnson & Johnson 166 UPS
127 KPMG 122 Verizon
102 McGladrey 100 Wells Fargo

2015 ASCEND NATIONAL CONVENTION 37

The Power of You

The Power of You. You have a set of skills and abilities that make
you unique and drive you. At Deloitte, you’re encouraged to be
your authentic self which allows for more creativity and better
collaboration. After all, what makes you, you, makes us powerful.

At Deloitte no two are alike. Diversity of skills. Diversity of people.
We do more than just embrace it. We develop it by tapping into the
Power of You.

As used in this document, “Deloitte” means Deloitte LLP and its subsidiaries. Please see www.deloitte.com/us/
about for a detailed description of the legal structure of Deloitte LLP and its subsidiaries. Certain services may
not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting.

Copyright © 2015 Deloitte Development LLC. All rights reserved.
Member of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited

38

AGENDA & SESSIONS AGENDA & SESSIONS

2015 ASCEND NATIONAL CONVENTION 39

AGENDA & SESSIONS AGENDA AT A GLANCE

FRIDAY, AUGUST 28 page 42

8:30AM – 5:00PM Executive Insight SeriesTM (EIS) (separate registration required)
8:30AM – 5:00PM Executive Insight for Women (EIW) (separate registration required)
10:00AM – 12:00PM Boeing Business Challenge (separate registration required) [New York]
1:00PM – 2:15PM Student Orientation: Making a Strong First Impression – The Career Search

Presented by KPMG [Beekman]
2:30PM – 3:30PM Communicate With Power – What You Don’t Learn in School [Nassau]
4:00PM – 6:00PM Deloitte Road Show – The Power of YOU (RSVP required) [Beekman]

SATURDAY, AUGUST 29 page 43 – 46

8:00AM – 4:00PM Career Fair [Rhinelander Gallery]
8:30AM – 12:30PM Resume Coaching [Nassau]
10:30AM – 11:30AM Employer Showcase – Comcast NBCUniversal [Regent]
11:45AM – 12:45PM Introducing Life Reimagined Checkup [Regent]
8:00AM – 12:45PM CEI (Corporate Executive Initiative) & Pinnacle (Corporate Board Initiative) Session –

Agile, Innovative, Bold: Diverse Leadership in Corporate Board Rooms & Executive Ranks –
Sponsored by KPMG (executives - invite only) [Beekman]
1:00PM – 2:00PM Welcome Remarks & Opening Keynote – How to Thrive in Today’s Rapidly Changing
Business Environment [Grand Ballroom East]
2:00PM – 3:00PM Living a Life of Significance [Grand Ballroom East]
3:00PM – 3:30PM Ascend Story - A Decade of Impact! [Grand Ballroom East]
3:00PM – 4:00PM Exploring the H-1B Visa as an International Student [Regent]
3:00PM – 4:00PM Lessons of Experience: Effective Leadership Communication [Sutton North]
4:00PM – 5:00PM “Ascend Talk” Series – Inspired by World-Renowned TED Talks [Grand Ballroom East]
4:30PM – 6:00PM DiSC Assessment: A Journey to Better Understanding Yourself and Others! –
Presented by Grant Thornton [Sutton North]
5:15PM – 6:15PM C – Suite Fireside Chat: Your Organization’s Future Demands Agility [Grand Ballroom East]
6:30PM – 8:00PM Opening Reception – Hosted by EY [Grand Ballroom West]

SESSION TYPES

Student

CPE: CPE: CPE: CPE: CPE:
Marketing Personal
Development Communications Computer Science Behavioral Ethics

40

AGENDA AT A GLANCE AGENDA & SESSIONS

SUNDAY, AUGUST 30 page 46 – 49

8:00AM – 9:30AM Breakfast & Keynote – Reflections on Innovative Leadership [Grand Ballroom East]
10:00AM – 11:00AM The Fast-Growing Importance of Cybersecurity [Grand Ballroom West]
11:30AM – 12:30PM Innovation in Action [Grand Ballroom West]
11:30AM – 12:30PM Doctors’ Offices (separate registration required) [please see pg. 47]

12:45PM – 2:30PM Scholarship Luncheon – Hosted by EY [Grand Ballroom East]
2:45PM –3:45PM Inspiring Across Generations Study – Presented by EY [Grand Ballroom West]
4:00PM – 5:00PM The Changing Marketing Trends for Consumers & Professionals – A Conversation with Chief
Marketing Officers (CMOs) [Grand Ballroom West]
5:15PM - 6:15PM BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Global Marketing Panel: Game Changing APAC [Mercury]
How To Be a Part of an Innovative Culture Within Your Organization [Beekman/Sutton North]
Millennials – Managing Them & Knowing What They Want in a Career
[Sutton Center/Sutton South]
5:15PM - 6:15PM ERG/BRG Leaders Forum (invite only) [New York]
5:15PM - 6:15PM Doctors’ Offices (separate registration required) [please see pg. 49]

MONDAY, AUGUST 31 page 49 – 54

8:00AM – 9:00AM Breakfast & Keynote: Being Bold for Major Impact [Grand Ballroom East]
9:00AM – 10:45AM Pan-Asians in the Business World: How Perceptions Impact our Realities – Presented by Deloitte

[Grand Ballroom East]
11:00AM – 12:00PM Lessons Learned from East to West [Grand Ballroom West]
11:00AM – 12:00PM Doctors’ Offices (separate registration required) [please see pg. 51]

12:15PM – 1:30PM Leadership & Awards Luncheon: Daring Greatly [Grand Ballroom East]
1:45PM – 2:45PM BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Strong Financial Health – A Key to Being a Holistic Leader [Grand Ballroom West]
Juggling It All [Beekman/Sutton North]
Be a Leader! Express Your Viewpoint [Sutton Center/Sutton South/Regent]
1:45PM - 2:45PM Chief Diversity Officer (CDO) Forum (invite only) [New York]
1:45PM - 2:45PM Doctors’ Offices (separate registration required) [please see pg. 53]
3:00PM – 4:30PM Teamwork at the Edge [Grand Ballroom West]
4:45PM – 5:45PM Convention Wrap Up & Closing Remarks [Grand Ballroom West]
6:00PM – 7:00PM Networking Reception [Sutton Complex]
6:00PM – 7:00PM President’s Reception (invite only)
7:00PM – 9:30PM Ascend’s 10-Year Anniversary Benefit & Awards Dinner [Grand Ballroom East]

2015 ASCEND NATIONAL CONVENTION 41

FRIDAY, AUGUST 28

EXECUTIVE INSIGHT SERIESTM (EIS) (separate registration required)

8:30AM – 5:00PM

EXECUTIVE INSIGHT FOR WOMEN (EIW) (separate registration required)

8:30AM – 5:00PM

BOEING BUSINESS CHALLENGE (separate registration required)

10:00AM – 12:00PM Join us for the Boeing Business Challenge and learn about Corporate Finance through
New York simulated, real-life scenarios with customers. Compete in groups and come out as the
winner in this interactive, competitive and fun challenge! Small prizes will be given to
Student the winning team.

STUDENT ORIENTATION: MAKING A STRONG FIRST IMPRESSION –

AGENDA & SESSIONS THE CAREER SEARCH

Presented by KPMG

1:00PM – 2:15PM What really gets you noticed at career fairs? How do you show a company that you are
Beekman the best candidate for the job? Are you using the right skills and techniques to stand
out? Hear the inside scoop from recruiters and professionals about what you may be
Student missing – don’t let that dream job pass you by.

COMMUNICATE WITH POWER – WHAT YOU DON’T LEARN IN SCHOOL

2:30PM – 3:30PM Michael Balaoing, Founder & CEO, Candlelion LLC
Nassau
Get the competitive edge to become an effective executive. Quickly upgrade the
Student #1 leadership skill that schools don’t teach you: how to communicate well in any
setting - in interviews, conversations, presentations or meetings with important
audiences. Learn CEO secrets on how to speak, persuade and present yourself with
confidence and impact. This purely interactive session features hands-on exercises, live
demonstrations, peer support, and individual feedback. You will leave with practical
communication tips and ideas from a world-class coach who has worked with more
than 10,000 students, professionals, and business leaders across six continents - from
Sheryl Sandberg to Jessica Alba, Amazon to Uber.

DELOITTE ROAD SHOW – THE POWER OF YOU (RSVP required)

4:00PM – 6:00PM April Holmes, 2004 and 2008 Paralympic Medalist, Track & Field
Beekman You have aspirations, a style, background, and experiences that are exclusively you.

Student Join us along with Paralympic Medalist, April Holmes, and be motivated to engage the

power of YOU. Your background is vital to your success and can help you get one step

ahead as you maneuver through your professional career choices. However, how you

use your unique perspectives is up to you. Will you engage the power of YOU?

42

SATURDAY, AUGUST 29

CAREER FAIR 8:00AM – 4:00PM

Rhinelander Gallery

RESUME COACHING Resume coaching takes place in parallel to the Career Fair, offering an invaluable
opportunity for job seekers to have their resumes reviewed by coaches who provide
8:30AM – 12:30PM constructive tips for improving one’s resume for optimal results.
Nassau
Come and join us to learn more about Comcast NBCUniversal, a company that is
EMPLOYER SHOWCASE at the intersection of media and technology. Featured panelists will talk about both
Comcast NBCUniversal entry-level and experienced level opportunities in finance and accounting. Comcast
NBCUniversal representatives will be there to answer any questions you may have. We
10:30AM – 11:30AM look forward to meeting you.
Regent

INTRODUCING LIFE REIMAGINED CHECKUP AGENDA & SESSIONS

11:45AM – 12:45PM The world is full of possibilities, especially in this time of non-stop change: new
Regent passions to pursue, work that’s rewarding, people to connect with, healthier ways
to live. Sometimes you know exactly what you want and how to get it. Other times,

the answer isn’t as clear. A Life Reimagined Checkup event will help offer a fresh and

personalized approach to help you navigate the next phase of your life. A personal

experience to help you understand where you are in life and what your next move

could be. We are all going through different transitions in our lives, wondering what’s

next, where or what can I do with my life. Through the Checkup experience, which

is led by a trained Life Reimagined Guide, each individual will have time to reflect,

share, and begin to create ideas on moving forward. Come be inspired about your

possibilities. Whether it’s work, family, or health that’s on your mind, you’ll discover

new methods and tools to help you achieve your goals. Join us for this 60-minute

interactive checkup which is appropriate for people of all ages!

CEI (CORPORATE EXECUTIVE INITIATIVE) & PINNACLE (CORPORATE

BOARD INITIATIVE) SESSION (by invitation only)
Agile, Innovative, Bold: Diverse Leadership in Corporate Board Rooms & Executive Ranks

Sponsored by KPMG

8:00AM – 12:45PM Keynote Speaker S.K. Gupta, Managing Director, Ascend Pinnacle
Beekman Keynote Speaker Anna Mok, Partner, Deloitte; Executive Vice President, Ascend
Moderator Kapila Kapur Anand, Senior Partner, Public Policy Business Initiatives, KPMG
CPE: Behavioral Ethics Moderator Kalpana Ramakrishnan, Partner, KPMG
Panelist Irene Chang Britt, Board Director, Dunkin’ Brands Group
Panelist Arun Nayar, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Tyco; Board
Director, Bemis

Panelist Steven Pae, Chief Information Officer & Senior Vice President, CIT Group; Board
Member, Ascend

Panelist Alice Young, Board Director, AXIS Capital Holdings, Ltd. (NYSE – “AXS”);

Board Director, Mizuho Trust & Banking (USA), Inc.; Founder, Alice Young Advisory

This session will discuss how diversity at the top of corporations helps companies
perform better and provide better returns for shareholders. Experienced Board

Members and Corporate Executives will share their personal experiences and journeys.

2015 ASCEND NATIONAL CONVENTION 43

SATURDAY, AUGUST 29

WELCOME REMARKS & OPENING KEYNOTE

How to Thrive in Today’s Rapidly Changing Business Environment

1:00PM – 2:00PM Convention Welcome Remarks Jeff Chin, President, Ascend
Grand Ballroom East Keynote Speaker Carl S. Carande, Vice Chair – Advisory, KPMG

CPE: Personal Development First, Jeff Chin, Ascend President, will welcome attendees to this year’s convention
and look back at Ascend’s 10-year journey, the successes and milestones as well as
discuss the next 10 years of Ascend! Then, Carl Carande, who has helped some of
the world’s most successful enterprises, will address the challenges of a constantly
changing business landscape. As KPMG’s Vice Chair of Advisory, Carl advises clients to
anticipate customer needs and innovate to meet shifting market demands. He believes
individuals should do the same in managing their careers. Being flexible, anticipating
the need to learn new skills and working collaboratively are keys to success. Join us as
Carl shares his insights on how to position yourself and those you mentor to thrive in
today’s evolving economy.

LIVING A LIFE OF SIGNIFICANCE

AGENDA & SESSIONS 2:00PM – 3:00PM Joseph Jordan, Inspirational Speaker, Author of “Living a Life of Significance”
Grand Ballroom East
Joe Jordan’s “Life of Significance” discussion deals with fundamental demographic and
CPE: Personal Development societal changes: The aging population of the world and the rise of Millennials. Both

groups are striving for a more meaningful, purpose-filled career. Organizations are

now faced with the challenge of not only explaining what needs to be done and how

to do it, but also to answer the most fundamental question: WHY? Joe’s presentation

reveals how to create a culture of significance where people are enriched and fulfilled.

There is no more powerful source of creative energy in the world than a turned on,

empowered employee. This is the key to higher productivity and retention.

ASCEND STORY – A DECADE OF IMPACT!

3:00PM – 3:30PM Jeff Chin, President, Ascend; Co-Founder, Ascend
Grand Ballroom East Rajiv Basu, Partner, Deloitte & Touche LLP; Co-Founder, Ascend

Ten years ago, a group of agile, innovative, bold leaders ventured on a journey in the
great city of New York and launched Ascend. As we celebrate Ascend’s decade of
impact in its birthplace, join us for a captivating conversation with its founders whose
vision translated into real impact for countless individuals nationwide. Learn about
the Ascend story and our founders, what motivated them, how the organization has
impacted them, why Ascend is so unique, and what the future holds for this
great organization.

EXPLORING THE H-1B VISA AS AN INTERNATIONAL STUDENT

3:00PM – 4:00PM Eve Guillergan, Immigration Lawyer, Eve Guillergan PLLC
Regent
This session will cover the basic information a student needs to know to obtain an
Student H-1B visa. What is an H-1B visa? How do you get one? How do you get an employer to

sponsor you? What are the benefits to the employer? What is a visa quota? What is a

“cap-gap”? How do you navigate the process? What happens if you can’t get one? Join

us to learn answers to these questions and more!

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SATURDAY, AUGUST 29

LESSONS OF EXPERIENCE: EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP COMMUNICATION

3:00PM – 4:00PM Dr. Anthony James Newkirk, Senior Manager, Diversity & Inclusion, AICPA
Sutton North
An important part of the educational journey is the development of skills to maximize
Student communication effectiveness and the acquisition of a leadership orientation. This
seminar provides student participants with an opportunity to reflect upon those skills
and experiences attained in their academic studies and to effectively apply them
to the professional environment. Key objectives include recognizing the strengths
and opportunities of students’ current communication styles, understanding the
relationship between leadership and effective communication, and identifying effective
communication tools to highlight their career potential to future employers.

“ASCEND TALK” SERIES

Inspired by World-Renowned TED Talks
Facilitator Amy Shang, Former EVP, North America, HSBC; Board Member, Ascend
4:00PM – 5:00PM Irene Chang Britt, Board Director, Dunkin’ Brands Group Theme: Agile AGENDA & SESSIONS
Grand Ballroom East Michael Chen, General Partner & CEO, Chen & Associates; Former President & CEO,

CPE: Personal Development GE Capital Media Theme: Innovative

Chris Simmons, CEO, Moments LLC, Retired Managing Partner and

U.S. Board Member, PwC Theme: Bold

We are thrilled to present this inaugural installment of The “Ascend Talk” Series
where inspirational senior business executives will share personal perspectives on the
key themes of the convention and will explore what it means to be Agile, Innovative,
and Bold. Come prepared to be inspired.

DISC ASSESSMENT: A JOURNEY TO BETTER UNDERSTANDING YOURSELF

AND OTHERS!

Presented by Grant Thornton

4:30PM – 6:00PM Jessica Robino, Manager, People & Culture, Grant Thornton
Sutton North
This program is designed to introduce you to a personal assessment tool used to
Student better understand yourself and others. Through this shared understanding, you can be
more successful, communicate more effectively, and contribute more to the team. The
learning objectives of this session are: introducing personal DiSCernment inventory,
determining your DiSC behavioral type, identifying the behavioral characteristics of
each type, and identifying ways to communicate more effectively based on your style
and the styles of others.

2015 ASCEND NATIONAL CONVENTION 45

SATURDAY, AUGUST 29

C – SUITE FIRESIDE CHAT: YOUR ORGANIZATION’S FUTURE
DEMANDS AGILITY

5:15PM – 6:15PM Moderator Betty Liu, Anchor/Editor-at-Large, Bloomberg Market Day
Grand Ballroom East Panelist Mark Hug, Executive Vice President, Product & Marketing, Individual Life
Insurance, Prudential
CPE: Personal Development Panelist Thad A. Huston, Group Chief Financial Officer, Medical Devices,
Johnson & Johnson

Join us for this informative session and hear first hand from C-level executives on how
and why agility is critical to organizations today. With the global economy, the fast
pace of business, and rapid technology advancements, organizations require leaders
and professionals that are flexible and responsive to their client needs. The C-Suite
executives will share what it takes to lead in these organizations and give tips on how
agility can enhance business results in today’s workplace.

AGENDA & SESSIONS OPENING RECEPTION Network and mingle with fellow attendees at the Convention Opening Reception. An
Hosted by EY excellent way to end a day filled with professional development activities.

6:30PM – 8:00PM
Grand Ballroom West

SUNDAY, AUGUST 30

BREAKFAST & KEYNOTE: REFLECTIONS ON INNOVATIVE LEADERSHIP

8:00AM – 9:30AM Day 2 Welcome Remarks & Introductions Anna Mok, Partner, Deloitte; National
Grand Ballroom East
Executive Vice President, Ascend
CPE: Personal Development Keynote Speaker S. Shariq Yosufzai, Vice President, Global Diversity
Chevron Corporation

In this groundbreaking keynote session, Shariq Yosufzai, a 40-year veteran with
significant operating experiences, will be sharing his domestic and global experiences as
a business leader. He will discuss the opportunities and challenges along the way, and
how to overcome challenges as one develops oneself into an innovative leader.

THE FAST-GROWING IMPORTANCE OF CYBERSECURITY
Moderator Kevin O’Sullivan, Partner, Risk Consulting Group, Crowe Horwath
10:00AM – 11:00AM Panelist Emmet C. Eckman, Director, Cyber Engineering, Northrop Grumman
Grand Ballroom West Panelist Tauseef Ghazi, Director, Security and Privacy, McGladrey
Panelist Tess Martillano, Managing Director, Information Risk Management Enterprise
CPE: Computer Science

Services & Chief Information Risk Officer (CIRO) for Latin America and Caribbean, BNY Mellon

Cybersecurity is one of the hottest topics in corporate board rooms today.
Cybersecurity incidents have significantly increased over the last few years (e.g., Sony,
Target, and Home Depot). Such incidents can damage a company’s brand and image
and lead to business and financial statement risks. It’s no longer just an “IT issue.”
Hackers’ activities have evolved from “for fun” incidents to targeted attacks in specific
industries, companies or executives. Cybersecurity is top of mind for Board Members,
Audit Committee Members and Regulators. Companies are expected to have a
program in place to quickly detect and respond to incidents. This panel will discuss how
cybersecurity incidents have evolved, where companies are most vulnerable, measures
companies have in place to address threats, how they are preparing for future incidents,
and what we can do on a daily basis to be less vulnerable to such incidents.

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 30

INNOVATION IN ACTION

11:30AM – 12:30PM Bo Moon, Technology Strategy Team Lead, Strategy & Operations,
Grand Ballroom West Samsung Electronics America
Alex Kandybin, Principal, Strategy & Innovation, PwC
CPE: Personal Development
Innovators drive change – evolutionary or revolutionary, at large, established
companies or small startups, within particular sectors or widespread. Our speakers
will discuss the change they lead in their companies and how they develop, pursue,
and implement innovative ideas, what sorts of challenges they face in large established
companies versus in a start-up environment, and what it means for their bottom line
and shareholders. They will share their career and personal stories, including their
biggest challenges, and the characteristics and discipline necessary for professionals to

be successful in their own unique journeys.

DOCTORS’ OFFICES (separate registration required)
Ascend’s wildly popular ‘Doctors’ Offices’ clinics are back at our 8th Annual National
11:30AM – 12:30PM Convention. Take part in the intimate private sessions with our ‘Doctors of Leadership’

– leaders who have been through the same workplace challenges that you are facing.

They will share their own experiences and advice on how they overcame those AGENDA & SESSIONS

challenges and situations, as well as give actionable everyday tips for the workplace.

East FACING FAILURE – Taimur Sharih, Director, Executive Staff, Praxair

Holland TECHNICAL VS. MANAGEMENT – Yoon Chong, Director, PwC

Harlem ASK YOUR BOSS – Ai-Lynn Chee, Director, Transaction Services, PwC

Midtown STAND UP AND SEEK RECOGNITION – Kunjan Mehta, Partner,

Grant Thornton

Hudson TAKING CHANCES – Thomas Phelps IV, CIO & Chief Corporate Strategist,

Laserfiche; President, Ascend Los Angeles Metro Chapter

SCHOLARSHIP LUNCHEON
Hosted by EY

12:45PM – 2:30PM Keynote Speaker Carolyn Slaski, Americas Vice Chair – Talent, EY
Grand Ballroom East Ascend, along with EY and other partners, will honor university students who

demonstrate scholastic exellence, leadership, and commendable community service.

INSPIRING ACROSS GENERATIONS STUDY

Presented by EY

2:45PM – 3:45PM Diana Cruz Solash, Director, Global and Americas Diversity & Inclusiveness, EY
Grand Ballroom West
EY’s research on generations finds that one-third of full time workers around the
CPE: Personal Development globe and across numerous industries say that managing work-life has become more
difficult in the last five years. Our research dispels many myths about Millennials and
reveals that this generation has new attitudes toward work and life. During this session,
we’ll dive into the data, discuss why full-time workers quit, what their challenges are,
and what people around the globe really want in a job. Our panel will share practical
advice on how to modernize the workplace and your own leadership, with an eye
toward staying ahead in an increasingly competitive global economy, as well as how to
communicate across the generational divide.

2015 ASCEND NATIONAL CONVENTION 47

SUNDAY, AUGUST 30

THE CHANGING MARKETING TRENDS FOR CONSUMERS & PROFESSIONALS –
A Conversation with Chief Marketing Officers (CMOs)

4:00PM – 5:00PM Moderator Tariq Khan, CEO, Global Diversity Marketing & Adjunct Professor,
Grand Ballroom West Marketing, New York University; Vice President of MBA Programs, Ascend
Panelist Mammen G. Verghis, Vice President, Multicultural Consumer Marketing,
CPE: Marketing Prudential Financial
Panelist Ajay Dhaul, Vice President, Johnson & Johnson Consumer

In the marketing world, the rules of engagement are shifting and the consumer is in the
driver’s seat. In this session, we will discuss how marketing trends are changing and the
impact of these changes on consumers and professionals pursuing a career in today’s
ever-evolving job market. Employers are seeking diverse talent that is uniquely gifted
and knows how to connect with the changing marketplace. These seasoned marketing
executives will share their insights on this important topic and provide career advice for
attendees to find an edge in a competitive environment.

AGENDA & SESSIONS BREAKOUT SESSIONS Moderator Bill Imada, Chairman & Chief Collaboration Officer, IW Group
Panelist Connie Chen, Manager, Global Marketing Strategy and Planning,
Global Marketing Panel: The Walt Disney Company
Game Changing APAC Panelist Nathan Tan, Associate Director, Brand Partnerships and Experiences,
Global Cadillac
5:15PM – 6:15PM
Mercury As exciting as it is important, the Asia-Pacific region continues to be one of the
driving forces in today’s economy. Join us for this powerful session exploring the ever-
CPE: Marketing expanding and evolving influence of the APAC market and the way companies can
best approach and enter the region, particularly from a marketing perspective. We
will discuss the different types of expansion plans and strategies, internal and external
requirements, and weigh in on the various challenges and opportunities to ensure
continued success in the region.

How To Be a Part of an Innovative Michael J. Monahan, Principal-in-Charge, Compensation and Benefits Consulting,
Culture Within Your Organization Northeast Region, Grant Thornton

5:15PM – 6:15PM Mike Monahan, an Assistant Managing Principal for People in Grant Thornton’s NY/NE
Beekman/Sutton North Territory and Principal in Charge of two specialty tax practices with deep experience
as an HR executive, consultant, board member and trusted business adviser, will
CPE: Personal Development offer insights about how to be a part of an innovative culture journey within your
organization and company. He will address organizational values and commitment to
success through a meaningful and intentional approach directed at success.

Millennials – Managing Them & Kimo Kippen, Chief Learning Officer, Hilton Worldwide
Knowing What They Want in
a Career According to the U.S. Census Bureau statistics, there are 80 million+ Millennials (born
5:15PM – 6:15PM between 1980 and 2000) in the U.S., representing 25% of our nation’s population and
Sutton Center/Sutton South more than $200 billion in annual buying power. They are our future leaders, employers,
consumers, and parents. It is no surprise then that they are a desirable cohort for
CPE: Personal Development employers. In this session, learn about Millennials’ unique values and how to attract,
manage, and retain them by truly knowing what they want in a career.

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 30 AGENDA & SESSIONS

ERG/BRG LEADERS FORUM (by invitation only)

5:15PM – 6:15PM Moderator Dustin Ling, Director, Global Public Sector Group, Corporate & Investment
New York Banking, Citi

Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and Business Resource Groups (BRGs) are
invaluable entities which provide employees with opportunities for growth and
development while ensuring that such activities are aligned with the business’ bottom
line. ERG/BRG leaders are an integral part of an organization’s overall employee and
business development efforts. Join us for this must-attend informative forum to learn
and share ERG/BRG best practices, including why these entities are important and the
value they bring to the organization.

DOCTORS’ OFFICES (separate registration required)

5:15PM – 6:15PM Ascend’s wildly popular ‘Doctors’ Offices’ clinics are back at our 8th Annual National

Convention. Take part in the intimate private sessions with our ‘Doctors of Leadership’
– leaders who have been through the same workplace challenges that you are facing.
They will share their own experiences and advice on how they overcame those
challenges and situations as well as give actionable everyday tips for the workplace.
Holland CONDUCTING A DIFFICULT CONVERSATION – Lisa Ong, National
Talent Management Director, Office of Diversity, PwC
Harlem FACING FAILURE – Paul Cheung, Director, Employment Tax Services, Grant Thornton
Midtown ASK YOUR BOSS – Kshama Jobanputra, Vice President; Human Resources Manager,
Bank of America
East NO TIME FOR TRAINING – Christina Dearth, Tax Manager, Grant Thornton
Hudson NAVIGATING AN UNCIVIL WORKPLACE – Mohammad (Mo) Azam, Vice President,
Corporate Internal Audit and Compliance & Ethics, UPS

MONDAY, AUGUST 31

BREAKFAST & KEYNOTE: BEING BOLD FOR MAJOR IMPACT

8:00AM – 9:00AM Day 3 Welcome Remarks Gina Nam, Partner, PwC; Secretary, Ascend;
Grand Ballroom East Keynote Speaker Milan Shah, Partner, PwC; President, Ascend New York Metro Chapter

CPE: Personal Development Ascend was founded 10 years ago to develop and grow more Asian leaders. How
will we continue to build the brand of Ascend with our own unique footprint? This
challenge requires not only passion and courage but requires us to be bold. Join us to
hear approaches on how leaders are changing the world.

2015 ASCEND NATIONAL CONVENTION 49

MONDAY, AUGUST 31

PAN-ASIANS IN THE BUSINESS WORLD: HOW PERCEPTIONS IMPACT

OUR REALITIES

Presented by Deloitte In this expanded session, we will examine how perceptions of Pan-Asians and gender
viewed through subjective cultural lens may create barriers to advancements in
9:00AM – 10:45AM business as they impact performance evaluations, perceptions of leadership potential,
Grand Ballroom East and advancement opportunities. Being aware of and addressing these perceptions is
vital to managers in building teams and creating organizations that are inclusive, diverse,
CPE: Personal Development and reflect outstanding leadership advancement opportunities. In this session, we will
also explore how perceptions may be similar and different between Asian men and
AGENDA & SESSIONS women and between the different Asian sub-groups. A breakthrough 2015 Ascend
Foundation study, “Hidden in Plain Sight: Asian American Leaders in Silicon Valley,”
analyzed the previously confidential U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
(EEOC) data released by five major Silicon Valley companies and found that while
Asian men and women are well represented in the non-managerial professional
workforce, they are severely under-represented at the executive levels. The study
found that although there are nearly as many Asian professionals as white professionals
in these companies, white men and women are ~154% more likely to be an executive
compared to their Asian counterparts. The “Asian effect” is 3.7x greater than the
“gender effect” as a glass ceiling factor.

Session Facilitator Anna Mok, Partner, Deloitte; National Executive Vice President, Ascend
Panels Moderator Richard Lui, Journalist and News Anchor, MSNBC and NBC News

Panel Discussion: Asian Business- Challenges facing Asian women in the business world are unique and require a solutions-
women: Behind the Veil of Success oriented approach. The 2015 Ascend study “Hidden in Plain Sight: Asian American
Leaders in Silicon Valley” found that Asian women are the least represented as executives
by almost three times relative to their percentage in the workforce in Silicon Valley.
Of the 13.5% Asian women professionals, only 3.1% are executives. STEM (Science,
Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) fields appear to be plagued by a similar Asian
female leadership gap. Even though Asians in general are perceived to be good engineers,
ironically, women of color, including Asian women, lag behind and face pervasive gender
bias in the STEM fields. We posit that one of the underlying factors of these disturbing
realities is the perception that Asian women are either viewed as obliging and submissive,
and are considered better suited for more traditional feminine roles or at times viewed as
overly aggressive “dragon ladies” who are not effective leaders.

Panelist Buck Gee, Executive Advisor, Ascend
Panelist Caroline Tsay, Vice President and General Manager, Hewlett-Packard Company
Panelist Marie Terezakis, Human Resources Executive, Global Human Resources,
Bank of America

Panelist Sara Kumiko Abiusi, Managing Director, Accenture

Panel Discussion: Asian Businessmen: From boardrooms to the entertainment and sports world, Asian men have long been
Competent but not Charismatic? “type casted” and are perceived to be uncharismatic, socially awkward, lacking in
athletic abilities, and are viewed as loners – not team oriented. A New York Times
Editorial entitled, “Asian Men Can Jump” explores the complexities created by these
misconceived perceptions – perceptions that are in many ways perpetuated by
Asian parents who fail to recognize presence of such abilities in their children, not
understanding that while cultures do shape us, they do not determine us. A study
conducted by Thomas Sy of the University of California, Riverside, found that, “Asians
are seen as having less charisma when compared to white counterparts–a trait that
is often synonymous with effective leadership in Western societies.” This perception
is even more pronounced when it comes to Asian males. They are thought to be
competent but often misperceived as lacking in charisma and thus lacking in full leadership

ability in the corporate business world and executive suites.

Panelist Janet S, Wong, Executive Advisor, Ascend; Partner (Retired), KPMG

Panelist Ron Lai, Senior Product Manager, Invoice2go

Panelist Sandeep Vij, Board Director, Coherent

Panelist S. Shariq Yosufzai, Vice President, Global Diversity, Chevron Corporation

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