Dear NAAAP members, friends, and sponsors:
We hope you are well and still staying safe.
Despite the continued need to wear a mask and social distance, we are so proud to have organized our first in-person volunteering event honoring first responders and healthcare workers. On October 10th, in small groups and following safety guidelines, NAAAP leaders, volunteers, and sponsors delivered more than 500 lunches and personal protective equipment to several healthcare organizations in the Philadelphia metro area. Scroll down below for the full recap with photos and more.
The last of the Building Unity Across ERGs Workshop will take place on Thursday, October 29th: Unconscious Bias and Microaggressions. The panel of expert leaders will discuss the reasons for stereotypes and the potential impact they may have on influential decisions in the workplace. To register for this free event, click here.
Our members who need CPE credits can sign up for a free webinar on how organizations are driving technology focused and data-driven automation presented by PwC. For more information and to register for this event on November 17th click here.
To watch any or all of the past webinars we have hosted, please visit NAAAP Philadelphia’s Youtube channel.
NAAAP National is hosting three virtual career fairs with the first on Thursday, November 12th. This event will connect Asian and minority professionals with diversity-minded employers, click here for more information.
If you are seeking new job opportunities, don’t forget to visit our site which lists openings from our sponsors. There are several openings from a variety of companies large and small, including Comcast; Vanguard; Independence Blue Cross; Karpf, Karpf & Cerutti, P.C.; Oakley Flooring; Wawa, and WHYY. Click here to see the latest job openings and don’t hesitate to reach out to other NAAAP members to network. To find more even jobs check out the open positions posted on NAAAP National’s Career Center, click here.
Have a ‘Spooktacular’ day!
NAAAP PHILADELPHIA LEADERSHIP SPOTLIGHT: DAVID CHAN
In this issue of our newsletter, we highlight David Chan, Managing Partner at ECA Recruiters, and the Chair of NAAAP Philadelphia’s Board of Directors. David’s career has been in the healthcare industry working in new business development, customer relationship management, talent acquisition, and career development.
ECA Recruiters is a national recruiting firm, helping companies find the best employees. David’s clients include Fortune 500 firms and startups. He has placed hundreds of individuals in new careers throughout the nation and is often a confidant and resource to those individuals seeking career guidance.
He’s also an active community leader volunteering his time with a number of organizations including NAAAP Philadelphia, Jefferson University’s School of Business Advisory Board, the Boy Scouts of America – Cradle of Liberty Council, and youth baseball and football programs.
1. What three traits define you? Most people are defined by more than three traits of course, but the three I would most align myself with are:
- Having a “can-do” positive attitude. The one constant in life is change. It’s important to take it in stride, roll with the punches, and always seek a positive resolution. If life offers lemons, then make lemonade!
- Doing the right thing. As one goes through life, one is confronted with a lot of gray areas. There are the right choices and there are wrong choices. You have to lean on your moral compass, your values, and priorities to do what is right.
- Always be curious. If you ever catch yourself thinking you know everything, then you’re in trouble… you may have stopped growing. Always ask, why? Always wonder if there is a more efficient and effective way of doing something. Be open-minded.
2. What is your personal philosophy? Philosophically, I try to “treat others the way I want to be treated.” In business and personal life, I believe we thrive best when we collaborate, seeking win-win situations. Of course, this is not always possible since not everyone sees life that way. When you’re in the driver’s seat, always seek win-win solutions. In the long run, that’s what sustains long term business and personal relationships.
3. Ten years ago, who did you think you would be now? Pretty much where I am today. I wanted to be a successful entrepreneur running my own thriving business and be the father of two wonderful young men. So far, so good, even with COVID doing its best to derail my best-laid plans!
4. What are you listening to/reading these days? I like to listen to instrumental music while working in my office. I tend to like an eclectic blend of music like modern piano soloist, bossa nova, flamenco, and some EDM. Professionally speaking, I listen to podcasts such as Freakonomics and “How I built this.” I don’t read books often, I prefer to read more cutting-edge, real-time relevant information about what is going on around the world today. I read articles from Entrepreneur, Fast Company Compass, and Harvard Business Review.
5. Where is your favorite place to be? I don’t know if I have a favorite place to be. The world offers more exciting venues to visit than I have time or money to explore.
6. Where is the best place you’ve traveled to and why? Hands down, my favorite places have been snowboarding trips in the Canadian Rockies. If one has never experienced the serenity, natural beauty, and peacefulness in locations such as Banff, Lake Louise, or Kicking Horse, you have to try to get there.
7. What is your biggest aspiration? My aspirations have changed with time. As my career advances and my children grow up, I find my priorities and perspectives change and evolve.
8. What does leadership mean to you? You have to lead by example which includes making the right call and/or facing tough choices. It’s important to find the right balance when being pulled in different directions. Leadership is doing what’s best for the team knowing you can’t make everyone happy. Leadership is rallying and encouraging others to collaborate and elevate the group to achieve the stated goals.
9. What would you do (for a career) if you weren’t doing this? Probably something related to ocean conservation and research. I grew up marveling at the French underwater explorer and conservationist Jacques Cousteau as he explored the oceans.
10. What is your favorite thing about volunteering at NAAAP Philadelphia? No doubt, the people. I have met dozens of wonderful individuals who are very successful in their professional careers and have decided, like myself to give back. We pay it forward to help the next generation succeed and help clear the path forward for them.
LESSONS FROM LEADERS:
By: Ellen Yu Longo, Vice President of Communications for NAAAP Philadelphia
Recently, I had the opportunity to interview Susan Jin Davis, Comcast NBCUniversal Chief Sustainability Officer, and Juan Lopez, Independence Blue Cross Senior Vice President Finance Shared Services. We had a conversation about their careers and how they arrived at their current roles. There was no doubt Susan and Juan were very proactive and strategic in directing their career paths. When the moment was right, each also spoke up and asked for a promotion or saw a need and created a new position with more responsibilities. Below are some great lessons I learned during our one-hour discussion.
- Speak up and don’t be afraid to get noticed. Susan shared that when we sit silently in a meeting and don’t contribute to the discussion, we are not helping anyone, especially ourselves. Susan recalled one time earlier in her career a manager pulled her aside and said that by not participating in the discussion, she was not doing her job.
- Do your job and make your boss shine but don’t forget about yourself. You need to dictate your career and determine if you want to rise up the ranks or find opportunities with a different company. Don’t expect your boss to promote you as it may or may not happen.
- Don’t forget to network and build relationships with colleagues outside of your department and outside of your company. Juan shared that when you successfully complete a big project you need to let your colleagues and key contacts know – don’t hide your achievements. Be strategic in sharing your successes so more people know what you are capable of doing – don’t over do it, of course! Your network can help you find and identify new opportunities to take on more challenges or take on a new role.
- Stay positive. You will encounter setbacks or failures and it’s okay. Learn from the lesson and grow. Sometimes it will be very challenging to move forward, but you have to push yourself… after a storm, the sun will shine again.
- From time to time, pause and think about your career and whether you are on the right path. If you are not excited to do your job, it may be time to find a new opportunity. Sometimes we are too focused on pursuing a path or checking the boxes. We don’t realize that we may have changed and no longer seek what we once wanted. It’s important to own your career, have a plan, and work that plan. From time to time, it may be necessary to adjust that plan as you grow professionally.
ERG SUMMIT SERIES:
By: Annie Chung, Penn Medicine Senior Research Coordinator, and Director, Event Project Management for NAAAP Philadelphia
It has been a great experience to represent NAAAP Philadelphia and work with ALPFA Philadelphia, Independence Business Alliance (Greater Philadelphia’s LGBT Chamber of Commerce), and the National Association of Black Accountants, Inc. to organize a series of workshops.
Thank you to everyone who attended Part 1 of our 3-part ERG Summit Series last Thursday, Building Unity across ERGs: Allyship in Action. Along with Lilibeth Ramirez from ALPFA, NAAAP’s EVP Cindy Ng helped kickoff the Mental Health and Well-Being Workshop joined by the moderator Dr. Scherz, and esteemed panelists Geralyn Giorgio, Rev. Dr. Lorina Marshall-Blake, and Dorian Sevilla.
The discussion was open and honest about the incredible need to pay attention to our mental health and to seek support when needed. The audience was engaged and asked panelists tough but thoughtful questions about how to navigate ERGs and our mental health during these trying times.
These are the key takeaways:
- Be courageous, ask for help when you need it, and tell your story so that others may learn from it.
- Seek out the Employee Resource Groups at your company to see how they might be able to support you; you may be surprised to learn you aren’t the only one with those feelings.
- It starts with the leadership, find executive sponsors who can help champion your cause, and hold others accountable for establishing the change you seek.
- ERGs are not meant to be exclusive but inclusive, use them to educate and learn.
Join us for Part 2 of the series tonight, October 22nd at 6 p.m.: How to be an Ally with moderator Zach Wilcha from IBA and panelists Dave Sekula, Kristin Houston, and Christian Perez Glese. To register for this free event, click here.
The last of the Building Unity Across ERGs Workshop is next Thursday, October 29th at 6 p.m.: Unconscious Bias and Microaggressions with moderator Kimberly Reed and panelists Isabel Duffy, Rebecca Taylor, and Tyrone Brewer. To register for this free event, click here.
RECOGNITIONS:
Community service is fundamental to NAAAP, so we want to highlight some of the good work of our fellow nonprofits and projects we have partnered with other organizations.
On Saturday, October 10th, following CDC health and safety guidelines, we held a Frontline Workers Appreciation Day. Some NAAAP Philadelphia leaders and members teamed up with many of our sponsors to kick-off an event to honor and recognize frontline and healthcare workers. Approximately 50 volunteers gathered at the Navy Yard at 10 a.m. to break into smaller groups and delivered lunches and personal protective equipment to eight healthcare organizations and first responders in the Philadelphia metro area.
Our teams of dedicated volunteers stopped by Crozer-Chester Medical Center; Corporal Michael J. CrescenzVAMedical Center; Einstein Medical Center; Lankenau Medical Center; Roxborough Memorial Hospital; St. Mary’s Medical Center; Temple University Hospital; and Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. In total, we donated over 80 cases of hand sanitizers; 3,000 face masks; 500 meals prepared by Sang Kee; and 800 customized heroes T-shirts.NAAAP Philadelphia thanks its many generous sponsors – CRC Industries; WuXi Advanced Therapies; Karpf, Karpf & Cerutti, P.C.; Rush Order Tees; and PIDC – for supporting this event and joining us to help our local communities. We are proud to be featured on PHL17 and Fox 29 Philadelphia.
If you know one or are an entrepreneur looking to grow your business, consider joining a free 12-week program to be connected to experts and other business owners. Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses helps small businesses grow and create jobs by providing them with greater access to education, capital, and business support services. For more information, visit https://10ksbapply.com/.
Don’t forget many restaurants and shops owned by Asian business owners are open and ready to serve you. We commend the Asian American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia(AACCGP), serving businesses in the Delaware Valley, for launching Asian Eats (#PhillyAsianEats). The site continues to highlight and list Asian restaurants and grocery stores open for business – takeout or delivery. Please consider supporting one of these businesses by ordering food and/or groceries. A list of businesses can be found at https://asianchamberphila.org/asian-eats/.
MORE INFORMATION ON UPCOMING EVENTS:
CONNECT WITH NAAAP PHILADELPHIA:
You can always stay connected with us by checking NAAAP Philadelphia’s website or any of our social media platforms: LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube. If you are not a member, join today by visiting this link: https://naaap-philadelphia.silkstart.com/join. The benefits of being a member are access to invitation-only events to further develop leadership skills.