Date: May 27, 2025
Theme: Legacy of Leadership and Resilience
Focus: Authentic leadership, cultural influence, executive presence, and navigating professional barriers
Panelist:
Niki Chakravarthy, EVP, M Booth
Vivian Lee, Correspondent and Producer, CUNY TV
Bill Imada, Chairman & Chief Connectivity Officer, IW GROUP
Ariba Jahan, Head of Transformation, Anomaly
Moderator: Mellissa Ungkuldee, Director M Booth Health and Gold ERG Co-Chair
Gold Professional Development Chair & Event Project Lead: Moon Kim EVP Corporate Practice, M Booth
Setting the Stage:
The panel opened by grounding the conversation in data points that highlights the harsh reality of underrepresentation of Asian Americans in executive leadership positions throughout the communications and marketing industry. Although Asian Americans are well-represented in entry-level positions and often possess high levels of education and professional qualifications, that representation sharply declines at the executive level—particularly for Asian women. As of 2023, just 7% of board seats in Fortune 1000 companies are held by Asian executives, and more than half of those boards have no Asian representation at all. This disconnect underscores the critical need to not only recognize these gaps but also explore these barriers and raise awareness of opportunities tied to advancing Asian leadership across the industry and beyond.
Key Themes of the Discussion:
1. Cultural Influence on Leadership:
Panelists shared how their cultural roots shape leadership values:
- Humility (Bill): A “superpower” often undervalued in Western leadership norms.
- Community & Curiosity (Niki): Rooted in collectivist upbringings and passion for understanding others.
- Resilience & Legacy (Ariba): Emphasized passing on knowledge, power, and reducing the burdens future generations must carry.
- Leadership through Listening (Vivian): Advocacy can be quiet but powerful—documenting patterns and finding allies is crucial.
2. Redefining Executive Presence:
- Coded Feedback: Terms like “executive presence” and “gravitas” are often rooted in dominant cultural norms—typically white and male—and can unintentionally overlook or undervalue the varied leadership styles that emerge from different cultural backgrounds.
- Reclaiming Identity: Ariba reframed coded feedback as an opportunity to change the face of leadership by showing up visibly and powerfully.
- Introversion as Strength (Bill): Listening and storytelling are leadership tools just as valid as extroverted qualities.
3. Tokenism & Ownership:
- Reframing the Seat (Niki): “Even if I was invited as a checkbox, it’s my seat now.” Panelists emphasized using their presence to push for inclusion and representation.
- Owning the Moment: Success isn’t just about being in the room—it’s about reshaping the room itself
4.Practical Leadership Advice:
- Document Everything: Projects, wins, feedback, growth—create a personal “career wiki.”
- Stay a Learner: Be open to new projects, experiences, and feedback.
- Be Visible: Promote your work with confidence; you are your best advocate.
- Be an Ally: Support other ERGs, uplift peers, and create opportunities for others.
- Stay Authentic: Leadership is evolving—your values can stay the same even as your style grows.
