National Association of Asian American Professionals SF Gateway to Leadership Conference

Asian Americans make up 25% of Ivy League graduates but only 1% of C-Level (CEO, COO, CFO) executives.  Why is that, and how can we break through the so-called "Bamboo Ceiling"?  Over 300 members of the National Association of Asian American Professionals San Francisco chapter gathered at the First Annual Gateway to Leadership Conference on Saturday to exchange ideas, forge partnerships, Link In, Follow and Friend each other.  I bet 300 people are starting their week totally psyched to take on the world.  

I was honored to speak about how to take risks and try new things despite the fear of failure that so many Asian Americans are brought up eating like a breakfast of champions.  Then, I had to walk the walk myself, quaking onstage in my high heeled pumps in my first-ever emcee gig at the luncheon.

Conference co-chair Isabel Nguyen, NAAAP SF Chair Christopher Do, Central Intelligence Agency's Michael Mau, and Monster Cable's "Head Monster" and keynote speaker Noel Lee, took the stage by storm, giving the kind of energizing and inspiring speeches that make you glad they do not let whatever fears they have stop them from sharing their vision and expertise.   

Noel Lee zipped around the stage on a tricked out Segway in front of slides like "I always wanted to be a Rock Star!" and "Always Lead, Never Follow."  His mother looked on proudly, decked out in Monster headphones and a leopard print blouse.

With Head Monster Noel Lee

Isabel Nguyen, Christopher Do,
National Assoc of Asian American Professionals SF

I had nightmares that attendees would ignore me, tweet terrible things about me or throw dinner rolls at me.  I worried no one would laugh at my jokes, that the room would be full of pre-teens rolling their eyes (my usual audience at home).  That the lights, the sound, my voice, my brain, would fritz.  Thankfully, none of that happened.  Instead, I got to share ideas with leaders and innovators, and meet attendees like one young aspiring blogger who said "I'm afraid to start."  

We set a deadline for her to come up with her first post.  Stepping into the unknown is hard because we don't know what will happen.  Turning that dread into excitement is where we find our courage.   I bet she's going to take that step and I, for one, can't wait to see what will happen!