Welcome to the very first edition of the Ascend Midwest Newsletter! Our goal with this quarterly update is to keep you connected to the latest chapter news, events, and opportunities. Whether you’re a student, an emerging professional, or a corporate leader, we hope this serves as a valuable resource to stay engaged with the Ascend community. Thank you for being part of our mission to elevate Pan-Asian leaders and allies across the Midwest.
Relive highlights from the September 2025 Inspiring Across Generations (IAG) Conference! A day of thought-provoking sessions, meaningful networking, and community celebration. Thank you to our speakers, sponsors, and attendees who made it possible.
Cindy serves as Treasurer on the Ascend Midwest Leadership Team. She first became involved with Ascend Midwest as a result of strong connections made at her first Ascend convention. Cindy has been continually motivated by fellow members who are talented, passionate, and selflessly working to provide career guidance and advocacy for others.
Growing up ABC, Cindy reflects back on so many aspects of her Chinese upbringing that have shaped her values and built character (family values, work ethic, Chinese school, piano lessons...the list goes on). In the corporate workplace, Cindy has been a vocal advocate for the pan-Asian community, pushing for members to be seen, heard, and appreciated for the value they are already contributing. She has been asked to share her story and represent the community on a national stage, including at the 2024 Ascend convention.
Cindy has almost 20 years experience in strategy, product, marketing, and strategic initiatives in the financial services industry. She has sought out cross-functional experiences including leading and managing commercial program launches, defining and delivering product roadmaps and customer journeys, marketing and communications strategy, and executing cross-functional projects in the digital space. Career-wise, Cindy has stayed curious, which didn't always mean a direct path, but has provided critical experiences and expanded knowledge and skills.
Cindy received her B.A. from Dartmouth College and MBA from UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School.
In her free time, Cindy likes to explore Chicago restaurants, theater, and architecture with her husband and dote on their two mini dachshunds. She also taps into her artistic side with watercolor painting and graphic design. She actively serves in alumni leadership positions for her alma maters.
Corporate Partner Spotlight: CIBC
Goals & Mission US CIBC Asian Employee Network’s (CAEN) mission is to create engaging cultural and community events that enables individuals from all backgrounds to grow, network and experience various aspects of Asian culture, as well as hear about the Asian-American experience both in and out of the workplace.
US CAEN’s vision is to create a workplace where diversity of the Asian American community is celebrated such that employees feel a sense of belonging and are welcomed as valuable citizens across CIBC.
Partnership In its mission to continue enablement of its Asian constituents and allyship, CIBC sought to engage an organization whose influence had national ties, a significant presence in student organizations, and has a successful history that aligns with CIBCs inclusion strategy, which is to boldly champion a future where inclusive talent, visionary leadership, and a thriving culture converge by forging purposeful pathways that elevate engagement, foster continuous development, uphold the highest standards of compliance, and accelerate economic inclusion and business growth across the U.S.
Programming Strategy There is significant alignment between CAEN and Ascend programming. In practice it would materialize as a cooperative relationship beneficial to both CIBC and Ascend where both organizations foster growth and elevate the culture of inclusion while providing programming that continues to provide development opportunities for both members of Ascend and CIBC ERG members and their allies. Core aspects of programming to focus on are:
Student engagement and mentorship
Professional development
Cultural education
Business Networking and building relationships
Bringing together the broad Asian professional business community for inclusive impact
Ascend DePaul hosted a Speed Networking Event, where students had the opportunity to connect one-on-one with industry professionals and gain valuable insight into future career paths.
We were honored to welcome representatives from Synchrony, Fift Third Bank, Hyatt, and Uber, who shared their expertise across finance, tech, and hospitality. From refining elevator pitches to hearing real-world career advice, the evening was filled with meaningful conversations and new connections.
A huge thank you to our professionals for sharing their expertise with our members!
That’s a wrap for our first newsletter! We’re excited to continue sharing highlights, spotlights, and opportunities with you each quarter. Have an idea for future editions or want to be featured in a spotlight? We’d love to hear from you. Until next time, thank you for your continued support and participation in building a stronger Ascend community.
Want to Help Our Chapter Grow?
Ascend Midwest thrives because of passionate members like you! Whether you’re interested in joining a committee, helping organize events, or supporting our leadership team, we’d love to have you involved.
Volunteer for an Event – Assist with event logistics, check-ins, and more
Join a Committee – Help shape our programming, outreach, or operations
Take on a Leadership Role – Get involved in shaping the future of Ascend Midwest
