On May 14, Ascend NorCal hosted an AAPI Heritage Month Networking Mixer at the Chan Zuckerberg Community Space in Redwood City. This special event brought together professionals from across the Bay Area for an evening of meaningful connection and community celebration.
The evening featured an exciting conversation with Dion Lim and Eric Toda, moderated by Richard Leong. Their discussion explored what it means to lead authentically, use your platform with purpose, and make visibility a responsibility.
Key themes that emerged from the conversation:
Authenticity as a foundation for leadership
Visibility as both opportunity and responsibility
Storytelling as a way to amplify underrepresented voices
Using your platform to advocate, open doors, and build community
Moving beyond stereotypes and leading with purpose
Beyond the main conversation, attendees had the chance to network and build relationships across industries, career levels, and shared experiences.
As the month of May comes to a close, we would like to invite you to reflect on the significance of AAPI Heritage Month as a moment to recognize the diversity and contributions of the AAPI community while charting what it means to move forward with purpose.
Join Ascend NorCal on Wednesday, June 10for our Pride Month Networking Mixer,Seen and Heard: Visibility, Identity, and Leadership.
This inclusive evening will bring together professionals, leaders, and allies for meaningful conversations on authenticity, belonging, and the impact of being fully seen and supported in the workplace.
Event Details
Date: June 10, 2026
Time: 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM PT
Venue: Robert Half | San Francisco, CA
Whether you’re early in your career, an experienced leader, or looking to connect with community, this event is designed to foster connection, conversation, and belonging for all professionals.
There are multiple ways to stay engaged with Ascend NorCal:
Attend upcoming events
Volunteer with the chapter
Explore speaking opportunities
Connect us with potential partners
Join our mailing list
If you are interested in getting involved or would like to connect with our leadership team, please reach out to northerncalifornia@ascendleadership.org and let us know how you would like to engage.
Navigating a career transition, re-entering the workforce, or impacted by recent layoffs? Experience the power of the Ascend network with bi-weekly virtual office hours designed to support career insights, networking, and actionable support.
