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Ascend NorCal Spotlighting ERG/BRG Leaders: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) Success Stories and Best Practices 

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We are focusing on Employee Resource Group (ERG)/Business Resource Group (BRG) leaders who have been making significant contributions to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) efforts within their organizations. We believe that showcasing these leaders will not only celebrate their achievements but also inspire others to drive positive change in their workplaces.

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We invited a list of representative ERG/BRG leaders to share their stories, perspectives, and advice.

 

  • Cisco: Kurtis Yang

  • EY: Sara Tan

  • Instacart: Shengchen Lin

  • Moss Adams: Jennie Ly

  • Visa: Tina Cheung, Andus Cheung

 

Note: The views expressed in the content is solely that of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of the author's employer, company, institution or other associated parties.

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What personal or professional experiences have fueled your passion for supporting the AAPI community?

 

Visa: Our commitment to advocating for the AAPI community has been shaped by both personal and professional experiences. The escalating incidents of anti-Asian harassment and hate crimes, coupled with the noticeable underrepresentation of AAPIs in leadership positions have underscored the urgent need for self-advocacy. Our community must come together, amplify our collective voice, and assert our interests.

 

EY: Growing up in the Midwest, I stood out – so from an early age, I developed an awareness of being different from the people around me. That awareness has lingered throughout my life as I navigated environments where I was a minority, from college to the workplace. Along the way, being involved in the AAPI community has provided me with great support and healing. Having experienced firsthand the impact of AAPI organizations and witnessing the influence of our ERG on young professionals has fueled my passion even further. Supporting and being involved in the AAPI community has been one of my greatest passions throughout my life.

 

Instacart: My deep connection to my Asian roots has always fueled my desire to give back to the community. I have been fortunate to receive tremendous support from the AAPI community. During moments of doubt and insecurity, the unwavering support from this community and the inspirational stories of resilient leaders always energize and enlighten me. I am grateful for the support I received and committed to strengthening and advocating for the community.

 

Cisco: I've seen firsthand the challenges many Pan-Asian talents face in advancing their careers and being represented at leadership levels. These obstacles, often stemming from systemic biases and cultural barriers, have motivated me to support initiatives that empower individuals but, even more importantly, to drive systemic change.

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What does Ascend mean to you, and how has your involvement with Ascend NorCal influenced or impacted your work with the ERG you lead at your organization?

 

Visa: Ascend, the largest Pan-Asian network in North America, represents an invaluable platform for fostering learning and accelerating career development. Our involvement with Ascend NorCal has been instrumental and transformative for Visa Asians Standing Together (VAST), the ERG we lead. Through this partnership, we have facilitated and co-organized a wealth of developmental opportunities for our members, including conferences, networking events, and social gatherings. This collaboration has broadened our ERG’s network, connecting us with remarkable organizations, external ERGs, and skilled professionals across various industries. We’ve gained insight into best practices and initiatives from other companies, many of which we’ve successfully integrated within our ERG. Ascend’s impact on our movement has been profound, catalyzing our growth and enhancing our ability to provide value to our members.

 

Moss Adams: Ascend signifies the opportunities to advance in our life journey, whether in our careers, personal lives, or friendships within the network. My involvement with Ascend NorCal has significantly influenced how I lead our BRG at Moss Adams. This includes emphasizing network development, addressing topics that are impactful and relatable to our employees, and gathering insights that provide value and impact to our organization. Partnering with Ascend NorCal has enabled me to interact with role models and learn from leaders I might not encounter within my organization. Lastly, Ascend has made me realize the immense value of networking, and I am bringing that back to our BRG by developing networking programs.

 

EY: To me, Ascend is a one-of-a-kind network that truly inspires individuals to become leaders and uplift others in the community. Every time I attend an Ascend event, I am further inspired by the individuals in our AAPI community. Seeing people who look like me advance in their careers and achieve amazing things motivates me in my own journey. This has inspired me to bring this type of encouragement to our ERG through professional development events that can help empower our members.

 

Instacart: To me, Ascend represents a source of inspiration and aspiration. I am constantly inspired by leaders who are dedicated to uplifting the community. Their unwavering commitment and enthusiasm drive me to contribute more to the community. I also learned from the intriguing activities and initiatives these leaders have been involved in and gained valuable perspective from their sharing. Through Ascend, I am able to connect with resourceful Asian leaders who provide guidance, support, and a wealth of knowledge. The sense of community and shared ambition within Ascend empowers me to strive for excellence and make a positive impact.

 

Cisco: Ascend has long served as a critical advocate for the advancement of Pan-Asian professionals across industry and for caring for the AAPI community at large. Their dedication to support under-represented AAPI communities through education, individual empowerment and corporate partnerships serve as an important change agent that’s creating important opportunities for all to reach higher goals. The NorCal chapter has been part of this important effort and we’ve been fortunate enough to have participated in a number of their events and programming over the years.

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What are some of the most exciting initiatives your ERG has implemented that have positively impacted the AAPI community within your organization?

 

Visa: VAST Bay Area has organized and executed numerous events in the past year that have positively impacted the AAPI community at Visa and beyond, spanning four key areas:

 

  • Belonging & Culture: Our two largest events are our Mid-Autumn Festival and Lunar New Year, attended by over 1000 employees across two campuses. During Lunar New Year, employees watched a lion dance performance, engaged in activities such as lantern making, calligraphy, and cultural presentations, while fostering a sense of community and culture. We leveraged Visa’s technology to raise over $427 for the Asian Women Shelter.

  • Business Impact: We support local small businesses by sourcing our event supplies from them, promoting their stories, and incentivizing employees to shop from them throughout the year.

  • Community Engagement: We are regular volunteers at Self Help for the Elderly’s meal service for seniors across multiple sites and last year we served holiday meals for Thanksgiving, contributing 166.25 hours of community service with a team of 47 volunteers. In addition, we raised over $17,000 for the Send Relief to the Victims for Fires in Maui Campaign and over $22,000 during Giving Tuesday for nine non-profit partners serving the AAPI community.

  • Talent Advancement: We've partnered with Ascend to participate in over a dozen professional development events and networking sessions in the past year including Ascend NorCal’s biannual conference, welcoming 160+ guests to our Foster City campus. We also organized an internal executive networking and headshots event attended by 18 executives, 65 networking participants, resulting in 81 conversations across 1215 minutes.

 

These initiatives have brought our community closer, sparked joy, and have had a significant positive impact on the visibility and voice of our AAPI community and beyond at Visa.

 

Cisco: We established our Giving Back initiative seven years ago and since then we have successfully raised over $900K through donations, grants, and corporate matching, and our members have contributed more than 3,200 hours of volunteer work to support over 90 NGOs worldwide. This effort reflects our commitment to positively impacting our local communities and amplifying the remarkable work of organizations dedicated to supporting the underprivileged.

 

Our global mentoring program serves as an important initiative for our members to pair up with Pan-Asian Cisco executives who they can see as role models and be a source of inspiration for their career development. The mentoring program started as a pilot for the Americas region then quickly gained momentum with demand coming from Asia Pacific, Europe and Latin America. In our most recent round, we saw a record group of 97 executives mentoring 123 participants and the feedback continues to be overwhelmingly positive.

 

We have placed significant emphasis on social justice issues, particularly in response to the dramatic rise in anti-Asian hate during the pandemic. Since 2020, we have organized training sessions to educate our community on how to respond to harassment in public spaces. Additionally, we have partnered with NGOs to support their efforts in combating social injustice. We have also hosted civil rights leaders like Helen Zia and Professor Dr. Russell Jeung of SFSU to discuss the systemic nature of racism and the historical discrimination faced by Asian Americans. As a result, over 76% of our members have reported increased awareness of key social justice issues, and 71% have strengthened their allyship with other communities facing similar struggles.

 

Instacart: Asians@ Instacart has hosted a series of fireside chats with Asian leaders. Hearing from accomplished leaders within the company has been profoundly inspiring and motivating for our Asians@ ERG members. Furthermore, the impact of our ERG extends far beyond our members. These events have attracted interests across the company, providing an opportunity to promote a deeper understanding of the Asian community. Through Asians@ ERG, we not only provide an opportunity for members and allies to connect with extraordinary leaders but also a platform for Asian leaders to be heard and recognized by the entire company.

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What advice would you give to new ERG leaders or those looking to start an ERG in their organization?

 

Visa: As a new ERG leader or someone starting an ERG in their organization, it's vital to secure executive sponsorships. These sponsors play a significant role in representing and advocating for the ERG, especially in situations where you might not be present. Comprehend the desires and aspirations of your members, be it career advancement, community involvement, fostering a culture of inclusion, or enthusiasm for volunteering. Make it a habit to gather feedback and inspire idea generation. Following each event, carry out a post-event survey to uncover potential opportunities for future events and programming.

 

Moss Adams: My advice is to take some time to learn how to run a business (be an entrepreneur). Running a business and running an ERG/BRG are very similar. From conducting market analysis and understanding what your membership is looking for, to using metrics to advocate for your budget and planning programs and initiatives for your members. These skills aren’t necessarily part of your trade, but every entrepreneur starts with an idea and puts in the effort to allow it to blossom and grow. I see ERGs being most successful when led by leaders who are passionate about what they do.

 

EY: Even if it’s just a handful of people interested in getting involved, don’t be afraid to go for it. Over time, you will discover others who are truly passionate about the AAPI community like you are, and they will undoubtedly join you in fostering the community. Leadership support is also important and will greatly help your ERG expand across the organization. Showing your passion for your community will help leadership see its importance as well.

 

Instacart: Follow your passion and leverage the support around you. Leading an ERG can be both exhilarating and demanding. When you feel stressed and challenged, always remember there is a vast community backing you up -  experienced ERG leaders, inspiring leaders, and supportive members who genuinely care about the community. They are invaluable resources and companions in your journey to achieve great things.

 

Cisco: Educate yourself about the issues affecting your community both within your organization and in society at large. Look for areas where your ERG's goals align with your company’s priorities and purpose, as finding these synergies can help garner more support and create win-win scenarios for all involved.

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How do you engage and motivate your ERG members to foster a vibrant and supportive community within your organization?

 

Visa: Recognition plays a crucial role - always uplift, acknowledge, and thank members and volunteers for their contributions. In addition, tracking impact and sharing these results can motivate others to understand and join the larger mission that you are building both within and outside the organization. Foster trust, psychological safety, and inclusivity, and ensure an open invitation to colleagues across all intersections, creating a welcoming atmosphere for everyone.

 

Moss Adams: Our leaders do our best to motivate and engage our members by being genuine and relatable.

 

EY: I believe that for anyone, especially our ERG members, it is important to provide support and trust to engage and motivate. It means the world to feel seen and understood by others in the community. To foster that kind of community within our ERG, we must lead by example, being genuine and thoughtful.

 

Instacart: We actively listen to the community to understand their needs and interests and utilize community resources to bring events to life. We also rely on members’ connections for guest speakers, swag preferences and catering options. It’s critical to building a robust system where members feel valued, empowered, and heard.

 

Cisco: First and foremost, we try to be centered on important topics that our members care about, whether that’s about career advancement, leadership representation or giving back to the community to share a few examples. This helps our members to be engaged and challenges them to grow and to encourage one another.

 

It’s incredibly important to me that we also create a sense of community and belonging. We put a lot of energy into celebrating our diverse set of cultures throughout the year and inviting our members and the broader Cisco community to learn about the significance of the traditions and symbolisms and to gain a deeper appreciation of the values it represents. More and more of our members are telling us that they feel more proud of their culture, identity and who they are than perhaps how they felt about it in the past.

 

I think creating opportunities for our members to learn, grow and to have shared experiences together is what’s allowed our community to have tripled in membership over the past four years to 3,500 employees and to have local chapters in every major region of the world.

 

Is there anything else you’d like to share that would be helpful to other ERG leaders about your ERG or your own journey?

 

Visa: By leading by example, we’ve inspired others to step forward, become more involved with our ERG, and fostered a sense of pride among our members. Pace yourself, as this role is a remarkable journey of self-discovery and leadership growth. Try to establish relationships and get to know colleagues outside of official ERG events and programs. Lastly, find ways, both big and small, to acknowledge ERG members. Whether they are new to the ERG, the company, celebrating a birthday, or work anniversary, make sure they feel recognized. Above all, enjoy the journey!

 

Moss Adams: We began our ERG journey by celebrating cultures and fostering cultural awareness within our organization. This initial focus sparked a sense of belonging and engagement among our members. From there, we were able to launch additional career-focused initiatives. I would advise that ERGs/BRGs can start small and grow over time as you bring more people on board. The leader doesn’t have to do it all.

 

EY: I believe there will always be passionate individuals in your community who will want to become involved – the key is to recognize and tap into these individuals who have a shared passion to create a strong and supportive AAPI community through your ERG.

 

Instacart: Leading an ERG is an excellent opportunity to influence without formal authority and drive meaningful change. Though there will be times when you feel stressed, stuck, or overwhelmed, the lasting impact you make in building a supportive and inclusive community makes all your hard work worthwhile. Embrace the journey, and don’t underestimate the power of small, consistent efforts.

 

Cisco: Employees who participate in ERGs are often happier and more engaged, leading to higher retention and motivation. Their involvement allows them to tap into an expanded network, which can significantly enhance their effectiveness in their business.

ERG/BRG Leaders

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Andus Cheung

Technology Risk Management Director 

Visa

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Shengchen Lin

Corporate Finance Manager

Instacart

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Tina Cheung

Global Program Manager

Visa

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Sara Tan

Manager

EY

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Jennie Ly

Innovation & Strategy Senior Manager and certified public accountant

Moss Adams, LLP

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Kurtis Yang

Director of Employee Engagement

Cisco

Ascend or ERG/BRG Event Photos

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Andus Cheung, Tina Cheung, and the volunteers from Visa, at the Ascend NorCal IAG in November 2023 at Visa Foster City Campus

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Sara Tan from EY, volunteering at the Ascend NorCal IAG in March 2023 at Accenture San Francisco office

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Kurtis Yang from Cisco, at the 2023 Ascend A-List Awards in NYC

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Jennie Ly, VP Programs Sacramento and Co-VP Student Affairs of Ascend NorCal, from Moss Adams, at a NorCal’s Career Panel and Networking event in April, 2024

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Shengchen Lin along with other Instacart Asians@ ERG leads and Salesforce Asiapacforce BRG leadership team, at Instacart San Francisco office in May 2023 Asian Heritage Month

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