Author Archives: Yi Lin

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.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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 22^nd 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 29^th 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.

It was great to have you join NAAAP Philadelphia’s webinar, Connecting the Dots: Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity.

We hope you enjoyed hearing from Lisette Martinez, EVP and Chief Diversity Officer at Jefferson Health and Thomas Jefferson University; Subarna Malakar, Director and Global Diversity & Inclusion Officer at FMC; and Vu Trieu, Sr. Manager, Campus, Diversity, and Military Recruiting at Comcast.

If you weren’t able to attend the event, here’s the link for you to access the webinar and replay it or share it with a contact.

Dear NAAAP members, friends, and sponsors: We hope you are doing well and getting ready for fall. At NAAAP, we are busier than ever organizing even more virtual events that offer our members and friends an opportunity to network and grow professionally.

Late last month, NAAAP National hosted its first virtual Leadership Conference connecting NAAAPsters from all across the country with experts sharing key insights on how to remain successful during this challenging time. If you missed a session or would like to review an interview, you can replay the entire conference in the comfort of your home by clicking here.

We have an exciting “Lunch and Learn” live webinar tomorrow at noon where we will bring diversity and inclusion leaders from various organizations together to discuss the importance of a diverse workforce and more. If you haven’t done so, register as soon as possible to save your spot as we are nearing capacity. Joining our live webinars offers the best experience, allowing you to ask a question and connect with the speakers. To watch any or all of the past webinars we have hosted, please visit NAAAP Philadelphia’s Youtube channel.

Because we believe giving back to the community helps us grow in all areas of our life, we will host our first in-person volunteering event on October 10^th. In small groups and following social distancing guidelines, NAAAP leaders, volunteers, and sponsors will visit several healthcare organizations in the Philadelphia metro area to honor and recognize first responders and healthcare workers with deliveries of more than 500 lunches and personal protective equipment. Stay tuned for photos and updates on this project.

If you are seeking new job opportunities, don’t forget to visit our newly created site which lists openings from our sponsors. There are several openings from a variety of companies large and small including Independence Blue Cross; Karpf, Karpf & Cerutti, P.C.; Oakley Flooring; and WHYY. We are excited to have just added a number of corporate position openings at Wawa. Click here to see the latest job openings and don’t hesitate to reach out to other NAAAP members to network. 

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Wednesday, September 23, join to hear executives discuss the importance of Diversity & Inclusion within every organization. Insights will be shared on the benefits of hiring professionals from diverse backgrounds. Register here.

Tuesday, October 6, we will partner with EY to host a 1.8 CPE credit course on Data Privacy and the Future of Television. This continuing professional education course will help CPAs needing credits to maintain their license. For more information and to register please click here.

Thursdays, October 15, 22, and 29, the Philadelphia chapters of NAAAP, APFA, NABA, and IBA are teaming up to host this year’s 2020 Employee Resource Group (ERG) Virtual Summit Series: Building Unity Across ERGs: Allyship in Action. This three-part series is dedicated to promoting Diversity and Inclusion efforts in the workplace. Learn about how ERGs can collaborate and empower leaders to be change agents in their industry.

• October 15th: Mental Health and Well-Being
• October 22nd: How to be an Ally
• October 29th: Managing Unconscious Bias and Microaggressions 

To register for the first workshop on October 15th (6 – 7:30pm), please click here.

NAAAP PHILADELPHIA LEADERSHIP SPOTLIGHT: CINDY NG

Cindy Ng is a partner at Evergreen Financial Partners where she helps individuals, families, and business owners reach their financial goals through a broad spectrum of financial services, including long-term asset accumulation, preservation, and distribution strategies. Evergreen Financial Partners is a proud sponsor of NAAAP Philadelphia. Previously, Cindy served as the chief financial officer (CFO) of mid-size privately held companies, where she focused on protecting assets, managing risks, and securing the company’s financial future.
 
Passionate about giving back to the community, Cindy co-founded the Greater Philadelphia Cantonese Academy, a not-for-profit Chinese language school based in Rosemont, PA and has served on its board for over 15 years. Cindy has also served on the board of professional organizations and mentored young professionals and college students. She is the Executive Vice President of NAAAP Philadelphia’s leadership team.

1. What three traits define you? High integrity, goal-oriented, and forward thinking.

• High integrity – It’s a critical cornerstone of how I conduct myself in all personal and professional relationships.
• Goal-oriented – With a purposeful roadmap, I am driven to make progress and move toward goal achievement.
• Forward thinking – I look beyond the current circumstances and consider multiple possible outcomes.

2. What is your personal philosophy?
I believe in leading a balanced life and making time for my family, my profession, and giving back to the community. I think it’s important to make the most out of each of these and to enjoy the journey along the way.

Also, I have lived my life with a positive mindset, where the glass is always half-full. I think this outlook has brought me more smiles and helped me get through challenges more easily.

3. Ten years ago, who did you think you would be now?
I have spent most of my career in corporate executive roles, serving as chief financial officer in a number of privately held companies and successfully leading them through financial challenges and growth. I’ve always wanted to utilize these skills to also helping individuals as I’ve been handling personal finances for family friends and their businesses since my college days. Currently, I am in the next chapter of my career. In my financial services practice, I am extending my passion and applying my extensive financial experience to helping individuals, families, and business owners to achieve their financial goals at various stages of life.

4. What are you listening to/reading these days?
I enjoy a variety of podcasts and books. In addition to daily news, I listen to inspirational TED Talks and read Adam Grant’s writings on human and organizational dynamics. I also follow Bill Gates whom I believe is a great visionary, not only during his days in the technology world but also the wonderful work he has been championing to improve human lives through his philanthropy.

5. Where is your favorite place to be?
Spending time with my family wherever possible, either at home or at a chosen vacation spot, since we are all very busy.

6. Where is the best place you’ve traveled to and why?
My family and I love to travel and spend time outdoors. I really enjoyed our trip to the Galapagos Islands where we saw stunning landscapes and unique wildlife, such as giant tortoises weighing over 700 pounds and beautiful blue-footed boobies, not seen elsewhere in the world.

7. What is your biggest aspiration?
Professionally, at this time, to grow a meaningful financial services practice that would help educate and improve people’s financial wellness. On the personal side, to be there for my family.

8. What does leadership mean to you?
Lead by example to achieve a common goal while elevating those around you. A leader must have the “we” and “us” mentality.

9.  What would you do (for a career) if you weren’t doing this?
I am a people person and enjoy the human relations aspects. I think I could work in human resources.

10.  What is your favorite thing about volunteering at NAAAP Philadelphia?
I am very fortunate to be surrounded by a team of talented leaders who are looking to grow professionally and to give back to the community. I’ve also built wonderful relationships, shared knowledge and learned new skills through my active involvement at NAAAP.

LESSONS FROM LEADERS:

By: David To, Senior Project Manager at Independence Blue Cross and Vice President of Membership for NAAAP Philadelphia 

Recently, I had the opportunity to interview two senior level executives, Patrick Yung, SVP, Corporate Development and Strategic Investments at Independence Blue Cross, and Will Luttrell, CEO of Amino Payments. Each shared how they grew their careers and what has been essential in developing relationships. Below are summaries of three key lessons I learned during our one-hour discussion.

1. Networking is key to building influence and creating mutually-beneficial relationships. It’s important to know your value proposition or how you can contribute and help others. Once you understand this, you eliminate the idea that your networking activity is self-serving.
2. The secret to being able to communicate and get buy-in from the majority to support your vision requires empathy along with interest in their success and well-being. In addition to these, you have to be authentic, transparent, and honest. Don’t forget to build trust.
3. When planning your next career move, remember that there are different approaches. One is to determine what is important to you and gives you fulfillment; then, grow your career in that direction. Opportunities typically appear when you elevate your marketability. Ask yourself: Who are the people around me, and do I enjoy working with them? Another approach is to have a relentless work ethic and curiosity to solve problems, which can elevate your profile and increase the likelihood you’ll be considered for a promotion. Regardless of how you grow your career, when you see someone else who is successful, ask yourself: why not me? Then figure out a way to get where you want to be.

STORIES FROM OUR MEMBERS:

During the pandemic lockdown, Viviana Yang, NAAAP Philadelphia’s Vice President of Accounting & Finance and Professional Development, had extra time on her hands to focus on one of her favorite hobbies: crocheting. She shared that at the beginning of the lockdown most retail stores that sell yarns were closed, so acquiring the right type of yarn was challenging.
 
Over a few weeks, Viviana completed three woodland animals which she had planned to donate to a friend’s daycare. However, the delivery of her furry friends will have to wait until the daycare will allow visitors again. Additionally, Viviana crocheted a llama and a poncho as gifts for her daughter’s birthday. This year Viviana decided on the handmade gifts because her crocheting skills have improved. To keep the gifts a surprise, Viviana only crocheted after her daughter was in bed. She had many long nights of trial and error, mixed with creativity to complete her varied projects. 

Two years ago, Viviana learned how to crochet to de-stress from the busy schedule of being a professional woman. She was constantly on-the-go, multi-tasking, juggling work and family duties, and her mind was used to nonstop thinking and planning. Viviana tried meditation, but it was difficult for her to practice it and completely clear her mind to relax and de-stress. Viviana found that crocheting requires only yarn and a hook, and the repetitiveness of the work allowed her mind to clear and slow down. According to Viviana, the best part is seeing her hard work and creativity come to fruition. Viviana learned to crochet by watching YouTube tutorials and joining crocheting Facebook Groups. The latter connects her with the crocheting community around the world.

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.

We are supportive of the great work the Asian American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia (AACCGP) is doing to support small business owners during this time. AACCGP recently sponsored a virtual program to help growing minority- and women-owned businesses learn about the essentials of exporting and doing business internationally. On September 22, AACCGP will be hosting a free virtual workshop for small business owners to hear directly from the IRS on topics critical to the success of their business. To help Asian-owned restaurants and grocery stores during the COVID-19 pandemic, AACCGP will also be extending their Asian Eats program through the end of the year. For more information about AACCGP, click here.

We want to congratulate SEAMAAC for their outstanding work in feeding hungry people in Philadelphia during the pandemic. Since March, SEAMAAC has distributed thousands of meals and food boxes to Philadelphians while encouraging them to vote and complete the census. Through partnerships with other local organizations, SEAMAAC provided more than 400 free COVID tests and helped raise nearly $500,000 to support small family- and immigrant-owned businesses in South Philly. For more information about SEAMAAC and to donate to their efforts, click here.

Dear NAAAP members, friends, and sponsors:
 
Happy Summer! We are gearing up to offer three virtual events over the next few weeks to help you connect with other professionals and learn new skills. We have opened these events to non-members too so feel free to share the registration links with a friend or a colleague who could benefit from any or all of our upcoming webinars. Please be sure to R.S.V.P. today as spots are limited. Scroll down below for additional information and sign up today to hold your spot in our upcoming events.
 
In case you missed our last webinar on the importance of having a personal brand that stands out and knowing how to promote yourself, click here to watch the replay.
 
NAAAP Philadelphia is committed to building and connecting our Corporate Sponsors to our Members and friends with career opportunities in the Philadelphia area. To that end, we are excited to provide additional resources by launching a page on our website for you to see companies in the area hiring talents in a broad range of areas from technology, finance, legal, consulting, healthcare, operations, marketing, real estate advisory, and others. Our corporate sponsors have the opportunity to post jobs to the NAAAP Philadelphia website where members and non-members alike will be directed to the available positions and instructions on how to apply. Please be sure to check the website periodically to see if your next opportunity awaits.
 
UPCOMING EVENTS:
 
Next Wednesday, July 1st at 7 p.m. for NAAAP’s WIN(e) and Dine, first virtual event with Women In NAAAP. Pour your favorite wine or beverage, gather a light snack, and join NAAAP as we host a virtual get-together to discuss how Covid-19 is especially challenging for women and how we can support each other. Everyone is welcome! Click here to register and be sure to read the two articles attached on the registration page. Join Women In NAAAP for a relaxing evening and a lively discussion! 

Thursday, July 9 for a “Lunch and Learn” live webinar on employee rights during the pandemic: Employer and Employee Rights and Obligations Concerning Covid-19 with Current and Returning Employees – From A Legal Perspective. Trial attorneys from Karpf, Karpf & Cerutti will explain applicable laws and answer your questions. Register to attend the event here.   Thursday, July 23 for a “Lunch and Learn” live webinar focused on your career: Thrive in a New Norm: Own Your Career. Three senior executives from Comcast, Robert Half, and TD Bank will offer advice on how to navigate and land your next career opportunity in today’s current market. Register to attend the event here.

LEADERSHIP SPOTLIGHT: NOEL ABEJO   For the debut of NAAAP Philadelphia’s Leadership Spotlight, we highlight Noel Abejo, a Vice President of Technology for Wells Fargo. He is a board member of the Asian American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia and on NAAAP’s leadership team as Vice President of Public Relations. We had a conversation with Noel recently and asked him to share his thoughts on a broad range of topics from what he’s reading to his leadership style to his favorite travel spot. Read on to learn more about Noel.    What three traits define you? Accountability, Integrity & Commitment.   What is your personal philosophy? Take action and make a difference. Live each day and finish what you started.   Ten years ago, who did you think you would become? I didn’t look that far ahead ten years ago since we were just getting out of a bad economy. I knew I wanted to move up in my career and take on more responsibilities. I also became more involved in helping literacy programs for children and being a mentor for young adults.   What are you listening to/reading these days? I recently read “Autentico: The Definitive Guide to Latino Career Success”. It’s a good read on the importance of Latinos and their influence in the next few years. Unfortunately, Latinos still lacked numbers in executive positions and senior leadership which is also faced by Asians in the United States.   Where is your favorite place to be? I love family vacations so it would be anywhere with family. We have an annual multi-family vacation at Sea Isle City so that has become my favorite place and there are so many memories of our get-togethers.   Where is the best place you’ve traveled to and why? It always seems like my most recent vacation is the best so Italy would be it. More specifically, Florence. The history, Renaissance, art galleries, Michelangelo’s David sculpture, beautiful architecture, and the people were great. Plus, Leonardo da Vinci is one of my favorite historical figures. My favorite quote from him is, “Learning never exhausts the mind.”     What is your biggest aspiration? Career-wise, I want to continue to stay on track as a leader, team player, and be a role model. From a personal standpoint, being a husband, father and grandfather has been very fulfilling.   What does leadership mean to you? Have a vision, take action, communicate well, and follow-through. Be accountable at all times.   What would you do (career-wise) if you didn’t get into IT management? If I could go back in time, I would probably be an airline pilot, but that requires 20/20 vision which was a showstopper. Teaching at a college is something that I have also considered.    What is your favorite thing about volunteering at NAAAP Philadelphia? NAAAP really builds leaders by providing connections that matter. It is a pleasure to watch young adults make big progress each year.     For more information on Noel Abejo connect with him on LinkedIn.

While many businesses across the country are opening up again, we still need to be cautious to avoid contracting Covid-19. Many of our members who are working from home are enjoying working in pajamas and not having to deal with their morning commute. It seems many of us have found ways to cope with this sudden change in our lives. What has helped during the stay-at-home order as shared by Kevin, Catherine, and Caleigh below is thinking positively.  

Kevin He, a marketing manager, with two toddlers and a dog, adjusted to the stay-at-home order by doing his best to keep to his usual routine which involves having his morning tea, afternoon snack, and going out for walks regularly. He admits it has been challenging as he or his wife has had to be always “on duty” to feed and entertain their two boys. He has been keeping in touch with colleagues and contacts via virtual meetings, emails, phone calls, and texts. With restrictions easing, Kevin is already looking into taking a family vacation. He is eager to go anywhere outside of his home.

Catherine Rheault, a senior at Temple, has continued working for a local CVS store so she hasn’t been stuck working at home. She has been staying connected with contacts via LinkedIn. When she is not working, Catherine has kept busy by exercising and spending time with her family. In the coming weeks, she is looking forward to eating at a restaurant with friends and family. Additionally, Catherine is eager to visit a salon to get a manicure and a haircut. 

Since the stay-at-home order was implemented, Caleigh McGrath, a senior at Drexel and an intern at Comcast, has made it her goal to attend every virtual event, especially happy hour. She makes a point to proactively contact coworkers via email or instant message to check in on a regular basis. She loves the team chat channel where everyone is asked daily to engage by sharing a photo of a certain topic. Caleigh has been spending time with friends and family via Sync Tube and FaceTime. When it’s safer to do so, Caleigh plans to visit her Aunt Kathy and give her a big hug.

RECOGNITIONS:

We want to congratulate the Asian American Women’s Coalition (AAWC) for hosting a successful virtual “banquet” in place of their usual in-person banquet to celebrate awardees of the AAWC scholarship program. This year, with support from their generous support of donors, AAWC was able to honor 27 scholars, many of whom will be first-generation college students this fall. The virtual banquet is hosted on the AAWC website and was officially kicked off by a Zoom launch event on June 15, 2020. The launch event featured speakers, including Cecilia Moy Yep, AAWC co-founder and the “Godmother of Chinatown”.


CONNECT WITH NAAAP PHILADELPHIA:
You can always stay connected with us by checking NAAAP Philadelphia’s website or any and all of our social media platforms: LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. If you are not a member, join today by visiting this link: https://naaap-philadelphia.silkstart.com/join.

We hope you enjoyed NAAAP Philadelphia’s first webinar: How to Market & Promote Your Personal Brand. If you would like to watch it again or missed the live webcast click here to catch the replay.
 
We are planning more webinars and we’d love to hear from you. Please click here to take a brief survey, so we can bring you the content you are interested in.

Thank you for your time!