API Futures

For Ascend NorCal’s AANHPI Heritage Month program, journalist and TV anchor Dion Lim joins marketing leader Eric Toda for a candid conversation moderated by Richard Leong of Google. Together, they explore how identity shapes leadership, why representation matters, and what it means to use your platform with purpose. Through personal stories and honest reflections, Dion and Eric share lessons on vi...

Moderated by CNBC Technology Correspondent Seema Mody, this conversation with Professor Linda Hill of Harvard Business School connects big-picture leadership frameworks to the realities executives face now: navigating uncertainty, unlocking diverse perspectives, and creating the conditions where innovation can drive impact. Drawing from her latest book, Genius at Scale , Professor Hill redefines t...

Recorded live in San Francisco’s Chinatown, this special episode of the API Futures Podcast captures the energy of the Big Game Block Party held on February 4, 2026. We’re joined by API sports legends for a powerful conversation on career-defining moments, resilience, and what it takes to break barriers at the highest levels of sport. Our guests share their journeys, the challenges they faced as t...

Hali Lee—Time100 Philanthropy 2025 honoree, founder of the Asian Women Giving Circle, and author of The Big We —joins award-winning journalist and 6abc anchor Nydia Han to explore the power giving back and igniting community-driven change. Hali shares how shared purpose, generosity, and coming together at the “kitchen table” can shape a more hopeful and impactful future.

As Asian Americans become one of the fastest-growing electorates in 2025, civic engagement and nonpartisan action are key to navigating today’s challenges. Join Hannah Locop of APIAVote and Sunayana Dumala of AAPI’s Coming Together (FL) as they unpack the key issues facing our communities and share practical resources to strengthen representation and collective voice.

Jennifer Tsay and Jennifer Yeh, the dynamic duo behind Shoott, are redefining how clients experience professional shoots through their standout photography platform–with over 750 freelance photographers in more than 60 U.S. cities.  The Jennifers open up about what makes their partnership work, how diverse backgrounds (from investment banking to acting) shape their leadership, and what it really t...

In a world defined by constant disruption, what does it take to lead with clarity, conviction, and purpose? Anne Chow—Founder & CEO of The Rewired CEO and author of Lead Bigger: The Transformative Power of Inclusion —sits down with David Liu, CEO of The Kinjo Group, for a thought-provoking conversation on what leadership looks like today and where it’s headed. Together, they explore the evolvi...

AI is rapidly reshaping how we work. In this episode, Li Fan, CTO & CAO of Circle, explores how AI tools, predictive analytics, and automation are transforming talent management, decision-making, and corporate strategy. Moderated by Atlas CEO Jim McCoy, this conversation offers practical insights for leaders on adopting AI responsibly, balancing human and machine capabilities, and preparing fo...

Fareed Zakaria, CNN GPS host and author of Age of Revolutions , joins Selina Wang, ABC News Senior White House Correspondent, at the 2025 Ascend A-List Awards to discuss today’s complex geopolitical landscape and share insights for global business leaders navigating unprecedented challenges.

Basketball’s impact goes beyond the court—it’s about community, culture, and connection. Christopher Helfrich, CEO of Eat. Learn. Play. (Stephen and Ayesha Curry’s foundation) joins Golden State Valkyries' head coach Natalie Nakase and CEO Jess Smith to explore leadership and social impact in sports. From Natalie’s groundbreaking coaching career to Jess’s role in building the Valkyries franch...

Olympic gold medalist Kristi Yamaguchi—who made history as the first Asian American to win the achievement—joins Golden State Warriors hype man Franco Finn for a conversation about resilience, legacy, and giving back. Kristi shares the dedication behind becoming an Olympian, what it felt like to win gold, and the surprising first meal she had after. She also dives into life after the Olympics, fro...

Join Jyoti Chopra, Chief People, Inclusion & Sustainability Officer at MGM Resorts International, and Lisa Chang, EVP & Global Chief People Officer at The Coca-Cola Company, for an insightful conversation about what it means to be a “people person.” Together, they explore the characteristics and strengths that foster success, growth, and inclusion in the workplace. Don’t miss this inspirin...

Misa Chien, Founder & CEO of The Authentic Asian, is joined by Vanessa Dew, Co-founder of Health-Ade. Together they share candid stories of missteps, tough lessons, and pivotal moments that redefined their paths. Navigating the entrepreneurial rollercoaster is one that requires resilience, learning from failure, and ultimately building a strong support network–which they agree has been their g...

To mark the release of Ascend’s final report in a 3-part series on API mental health and well-being, Dr. Jenny Wang, clinical psychologist and founder of Asians for Mental Health, joins David Doan, Senior Manager at EY Nexus for Health Solution Architect, for a discussion on workplace mental health challenges for API professionals. Ascend’s mental health series provides crucial data on the unique...

Maulik Pancholy, actor, author, and activist, faced cancellation by a Pennsylvania school board after being scheduled to speak to students about anti-bullying. Following community backlash, the decision was reversed, and his speech, supporting LGBTQIA+ students, was reinstated. Meanwhile, Dr. Saju Mathew, physician and CNN medical analyst, came out to his family and broke off an arranged marriage....

How do we answer to the call of intentional leadership? Join Jerry Won, Founder and CEO of Just Like Media in conversation with Marissa Pagnani McGowan, Chief Sustainability Officer of L’Oréal Groupe, North America, as they discuss building sustainable communities that can impact business and society. Both Jerry and Melissa share their experiences of how they show up for others inside and outside...

Award-winning journalist, author, and activist Helen Zia speaks with journalist and author Jeff Yang about the importance of journalism and how our voices can advocate for justice and our communities. Helen is considered a key figure in the Asian American movement and helped found American Citizens for Justice after Vincent Chin's racially motivated murder. It's been 42 years since Vince...

Dr. Connie Wun, Co-Founder, Executive Director of AAPI Women Lead, speaks with Ai-jen Poo, Executive Director of Caring Across Generations and nationally-recognized expert on elder and family care, the future of work, and gender equality. Both will share their personal journeys about how the core value of "caring" has been their compass in leading an entire country to shift the discussio...

Culture enthusiast, writer, and author Jeff Yang speaks with artist, expressionist M Chow of HBO’s documentary film aka Mr. Chow and founder of Mr. Chow’s restaurants where famous artists, celebrities, and politicians flocked for upscale real Chinese food. M recounts the tragedies of his life that have shaped who he is today, from his resilience through anti-Chinese racism when he left Shanghai fo...

Anthony Soohoo, a recognized leader in AI technology and innovation, speaks with his good friend, mentor, and fellow powerhouse Jenny Ming, CEO of Rothy’s, as part of our “Leading Together” series. In this episode, Anthony and Jenny demonstrate how their close bond has uplifted them as leaders, parents, and community members. When one of us leads, the impact can be widespread and invite many other...

WNBA team the Las Vegas Aces have won championships in both 2022 and 2023. What makes a championship team? Assistant coaches Natalie Nakase and Tyler Marsh discuss the importance of teamwork and each coach reflects on their own personal journeys in both the NBA and WNBA. In honor of Women’s History Month, we celebrate the impact Natalie has made as the first Asian American coach to win a WNBA cham...

Maneet Ahuja, Editor-at-Large for Forbes Media, Founder of ICONOCLAST , and host of Spotify’s “Megatrends” podcast speaks with Suneera Madhani, Founder of billion dollar unicorn Stax and Founder and CEO of “The CEO School,” about navigating stressful work challenges in the Fintech and Media industries and how leaning on a support system can impact your overall outlook. Both women have achieved maj...

Uncertainty and challenging times continued in 2023 as did inflation hikes, volatility in the market, and growing concerns of the impact of climate change and geopolitical issues. What will the future economy look like in 2024, 2028, or even 2030? Who will be the majority stakeholders? Martina Cheung, President of S&P Global Ratings discusses her predictions with Pat Ratulangi, VP of Global Co...

Award-winning news anchor of ABC and voice of API Futures Dion Lim sits down with Ascend’s President, Anna Mok, to discuss the inequities women face in the workplace and parenthood. Dion is a new mom who just returned to work after maternity leave and Anna is a proud mom of a young adult who just started her career journey. These female powerhouses talk about the decision to have children while ma...

Our guest speaker Mark Tatum is Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer of the NBA joined by arena host and hype man for the Golden State Warriors, Franco Finn. Our first API Futures episode touches on the experiences of being biracial and how our upbringing shapes who we become as leaders. We also discuss Ascend’s research paper on The Diversity-Equity Gap in the Fortune 500 where we disc...