Win Chang
Ascend N. California VP Programs
For over 30 years, Win Chang has been a valuable contributor to the Oracle Corporation, serving in a number of roles that have spanned technical support to marketing to sales. Currently, she leads a team of pre-sales systems infrastructure engineers focused on state, local government and education customers as its North America Infrastructure Solution Engineering Director.
She is the founder and executive advisor of the Oracle Professional Asian Leadership (OPAL) employee resource group (ERG) and leads the Oracle Women’s Leadership Redwood Shores community. Last year, Win received the Oracle Government and Education Leadership Award for her commitment to excellence in leadership and diversity and inclusion.
Win has been a member of Ascend since 2016 and currently serves as Vice President of Programs (National/Local) for our Northern California Chapter. She is this year’s recipient of the National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP) Chairman Award for outstanding leadership in diversity, equity and inclusion in promoting Asian engagement and representation.
​Current Residence: Redwood Shores, California
Birthplace: Beijing, China
What do you enjoy most in your membership with Ascend?
I love the ability to network, collaborate and make a difference amongst a community of Asian leaders and enjoy being an active participant with the Ascend community.
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How did you get involved with Ascend?
When I was the Oracle Key Account Director for Kaiser Permanente, I met Faye Sahai, who was one of the leaders of Kaiser’s Women In Technology (WIT) business resource group. I was attending a holiday party with the WIT team when I mentioned to Faye that I was starting an Asian leadership ERG at Oracle. She told me about Ascend and invited me to their holiday event.
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I thought the programs provided by Ascend were very compelling, so when Faye invited me to be part of the NorCal board, I jumped at the opportunity.
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One of my favorite Ascend memories was when our Oracle Professional Asian Leadership was awarded the 2018 Ascend Affinity | ERG Leadership Award when the Convention was held in San Francisco.
Win founded the Oracle Professional Asian Leadership ERG, a proud recipient of the 2018 Ascend Affinity | ERG Leadership Award
What was it like attending this year's Ascend Convention?
Just like this year’s event theme said, I truly felt iBELONG. It was such a great experience for me. Some key takeaways
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Mental health matters – don’t take it for granted
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We all need to be strong and help each other through these difficult times
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Continue the journey, become a mentor and impact the next generation
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Develop your Interpersonal skills
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Be your own best advocate​
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Make a plan and act on it
Win at this year’s Ascend National Convention with members of our NorCal leadership team
What have you learned through Ascend?
That representation matters and collaboration with a broad Asian community is important. It’s about sharing best practices, networking and forming lifetime friendships
What advice would you give to your fellow members?
My advice is to get involved – become a member, mentor, or volunteer with Ascend. We are much more powerful when we work together and supporting one another. I’ve met so many wonderful, amazing Ascend members and lifelong friends. By getting involved with Ascend, my life has been richer and more impactful with these wonderful and heart-warming community.
What do you value about your cultural heritage and why?
My family emigrated from China to the United States as refugees when I was three years old in search of a better life. Despite this, I have always felt a deep connection to our Chinese heritage. My parents owned a Chinese restaurant where I spent weekends and evenings working many different jobs from waitress to cook. Over the years, I watched my parents offer employment opportunities, provide guidance and positively impact the lives of countless Asian immigrants. These memories profoundly influenced me and demonstrated the importance of paying it forward, creating fellowship and serving the Asian community
What’s your favorite place to visit in NorCal?
The Angel Island Immigration Station. It reminds us of the complicated history of immigration in America and serves as a symbol of our willingness to learn from our past to ensure that our nation keeps its promise of liberty and freedom.
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I learned about the Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation (AIISF) through Ascend Executive Advisor Buck Gee and now I serve on its board of directors. AIISF collects and preserves the rich stories and personal journeys of thousands of immigrants and shares them with visitors and everyone living in America through education initiatives and public programs.
What’s your motto to live by?
My top five principles for achieving success:
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Be grateful
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Be authentic
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Be bold, take risks
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Challenge yourself to go beyond
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Network continuously
Tell us about your family.
I’m married to my best friend, Mike, and together we have three amazing adult children – Nicholas, Madison, and Michael. Nick works at Oracle in recruitment, Madison works for Wander as a digital marketing manager and Michael is a senior at San Francisco State University and actively looking for an internship!
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The Chang family: Win is seated and behind her is Madison and her boyfriend Hirad, Nick, Michael and Mike.