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Session Recordings

24 August, 2020
12:00 - 1:00 pm

[Professionals] Ascend President’s Welcome + Reimagined Ascend Talk: Delivering Happiness for Impact with Eric Yuan, CEO of Zoom

Ascend President’s Welcome and Reimagined Ascend Talk: Delivering Happiness for Impact: Zoom, a leader in modern enterprise video communications, is guided by its core value of “Delivering Happiness.” Its far reaching impact on businesses, individuals and families especially during this global pandemic has been well documented. Join us on this opening day of our 2020 Ascend National Convention for a reimagined Ascend Talk with Zoom CEO Eric Yuan on his journey to the United States, his rise to the pinnacle of business success, impact of family in his life, and his outlook on the future of work and business recovery.

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24 August 2020
1:00 - 2:00 pm

[Professionals] Technology Trends & Impacts

Technology is almost every part of our lives especially during this time. We will explore key technology trends and impacts to industries, companies and you:

• 5G networks - better connect and enable customers

• Data-Driven - drives new business value by utilizing data, Analytics, and Machine Learning (ML) and exploring Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data Science

• Cybersecurity - growing challenge of cyber threats and security

Moderator: Faye Sahai (Mirai SV Global)

Panelists: Akshay Bhargava (Malwarebytes), Ayan Roy (EY) Paul Challoner (Ericsson), Ulrika Jagare (Ericsson)

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24 August 2020
2:00 - 3:00 pm

[Professionals] Future of Work: Ways Emerging Technologies are Reshaping Work & Workplace

Future of work is now! Emerging technologies continue to reshape the way we work and the way companies operate. Join us for a conversation on how emerging technologies will impact the nature of work, how work is done, who does the work, where the work is done, and how new technologies will be leveraged to create equal opportunities by removing human bias in decision-making.

Moderator: Arjun Kalra (Crowe)

Panelists: Deeksha Joshi (Liberty Mutual), Jing Li (Accenture), Vala Afsar (Salesforce)

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25 August 2020
12:00 - 1:00 pm

[Professionals] Ascend Talk: Building Resilience and Impact in the Post Pandemic World

The recent vortex of both the pandemic and spotlight on racial injustice in America has proven to be exhausting for those immersed in conversations of crisis management. Join us for an important discussion around the role global institutions and geopolitics' can play in the future workplace. Leading the discussion is Bhushan Sethi, Partner and Joint Global Leader, People & Organization, at PwC. Organizations that have emerged stronger were able to draw upon their purpose and values to help make the right decisions for their employees, their communities, and their broader stakeholders. Join Keynote Speaker, Bhushan Sethi, to learn about how business leaders are preparing for the future, including lessons from PwC. The time to be intentional and forward-thinking is now.

Featured Speaker: Bhushan Sethi (PwC)

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25 August 2020
1:00 - 2:00 pm

[Professionals] Are You Preparing Yourself to Lead and be a Game Changer?

Join us for a conversation with Professor Linda Hill of Harvard Business School and Michael Ku of Pfizer about why leadership matters now more than ever. We will reflect on the special challenges diverse leaders face in managing their careers so they can be the game changers in their organizations and communities they aspire to be. Based on 20 years of research on collective genius, Professor Hill will discuss what it takes to build and lead agile teams of innovative problem-solvers. Leadership for innovation is not about getting people to follow you to the future, but about getting them to co-create it with you.

Moderator: Michael Ku (Pfizer)

Featured Speaker: Linda Hill (HBS)

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25 August 2020
2:00 - 3:00 pm

[Professionals] Workplace Wellness & Mental Health: The Next Frontier of Diversity & Inclusion

Now more than ever, it is imperative for employers to invest in a culture of health at work where both physical and mental health concerns of employees are taken into consideration, and addressed head-on. Mental health is one of our nation’s most pressing public health issues. In addition to having an adverse personal impact on individuals, things like depression, anxiety, addiction, and stress are affecting companies’ bottom line. In this panel, we will discuss why wellness is important in the workplace, importance of focusing on mental health solutions and why it is important to prioritize employee wellness and mental health as part of an overall workforce D&I strategy.

Moderator: Lisa M. Hackard (KPMG)

Panelists: Emily Raines (BMS), Garrett Vang (Toyota), Kumar kymal (BNY Mellon), Rubiena Duarter (Disney)

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25 August 2020
3:00 - 4:00 pm

[Professionals] Post-Pandemic Outlook: From Surviving to Thriving Post COVID-10

The COVID-19 global pandemic has been one of the biggest disruptions of our lifetime with far reaching health, financial and business implications. The organization of the future is taking shape in the actions the companies are taking now. This panel will explore the impact of the pandemic on various industries, what companies are doing to survive in the current environment and how they can thrive in the post-pandemic world.

Moderator: John Lee (RSM)

Panelists: Alpa Inamdar (BNY Mellon), Sandeep Gupta (Deloitte), other panelist TBA

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25 August 2020
7:00 - 8:00 pm

[Professionals] Mindfulness Meditation (RSVP Required)

On this second day of our convention, we invite you to join us for a mental and physical relaxation activity where you will learn how to slow down racing thoughts, let go of negativity, and calm both your mind and body. All you need is a comfortable place to sit, free time and a judgment-free mindset.

Remarks by: Vera Fair, Co-lead, Ascend Orange County (OC) Chapter Planning Team

Instructor: Girish Adake (MUFG)

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26 August 2020
5:00 - 6:00 pm

[Students + Professionals] Ascend Talk: Building Technologies for Social Impact with Mick Ebeling

Nothing is impossible forever. This is the guiding principle of Not Impossible Labs, a one-of-a-kind, award winning technology incubator and content studio dedicated to changing the world through technology and story. Join us for this special Ascend Talk featuring Mick Ebeling, the founder and CEO of Not Impossible Labs, who will share stories of how technology makes the impossible possible to solve humanity’s biggest challenges. And, bring your curiosity with you for a live Q&A session with Mick after the Talk!

Featured Speaker: Mick Ebeling (Not Impossible Labs)

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26 August 2020
6:00 - 8:00 pm

The Impact Challenge 2020: Emerging from the Pandemic: Recovery & Reinvention for Asian and Other Small Businesses Semi-Finals

Impact Challenge teams will showcase their work, presenting transformative business models that will help small businesses bounce back from the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. A panel of judges will evaluate entries and select four to five teams to move on to the Impact Challenge Finals where teams will compete for a grand prize of $8,000!

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26 August 2020
9:00 - 10:00 pm

[Students + Professionals] Bhangra Class - Fitness & Fun! (RSVP Required)

Back by popular demand, we are excited to bring bhangra dance lessons to our convention guests – this time in a virtual environment. Originating in India, bhangra is a high energy dance performed to lyrics that commonly reference themes of love, patriotism, strength, and celebration. The class will be taught by Bhangra Empire, a renowned dance team with the goal to bring bhangra to the mainstream. In addition to walking away with a new skill, you will also get in a phenomenal fitness workout.

Participants will learn custom choreography and receive a video of the class instruction.

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9 September 2020
3:00 - 4:30 pm

[Professionals] ERG/BRG Leaders Forum

Ascend Impact Global Employee Resource Group (ERG) Leaders Forum: Turning to ERGs to Navigate COVID-19 & Beyond

With the unprecedented backdrop of a global pandemic and rise of racial tension in the nation, employee resource groups (ERGs) continue to show resilience and deliver impact by being at the forefront of encouraging employee engagement, enabling mental health support and supporting businesses in their plans to return to work. Join us to hear from a panel of ERG leaders from a cross section of industries on how ERGs are helping companies navigate COVID-19 and beyond. 

Moderator: Sara Porrit (OMD USA)

Panelists: Janet Leong (JP Morgan Chase), Sue Gilbert (The Coca Cola Company), Jing Yang (Bristol Myers Squibb)

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16 September 2020
6:00 - 7:00 pm

[Professionals] In Search of What Matters featuring Dominique Crenn

Join us for a conversation with Dominique Crenn as we explore Crenn’s journey to the U.S., her storied climb to the pinnacle of culinary profession and the obstacles she has faced in a male-dominated industry. We will learn about her family’s influence on her life and career, and her undeniable allyship in support of other women. She will reflect on dealing with adversities including leading in one of the hardest hit industries by the pandemic. Crenn's experiences will inspire you to explore what matters the most in life and take action!

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24 September 2020
12:00 - 2:40 pm

[Student Programming] |

12:00 – 12:30 PM ET

[Students] Theme: Building Impactful Future Leaders: Ascend Welcome & Testimonials

Join us as we open the program with welcome remarks from our Los Angeles (LA) Metro & Orange County (OC) Chapter leaders on how Ascend helps develop impactful future leaders. We will also showcase testimonials from members on Ascend's impact on their lives and what they are doing to pay it forward!

12:30 - 1:30 PM ET

[Students] Panel Discussion: Ascend Allies Coming Together to Build Impactful Future Leaders

Allyship is a deliberate process of engaging in tangible actions toward combating the prejudices faced by peers as well as encouraging others to do the same. Allyship is crucial in the current environment as the global community faces unprecedented public health crisis, its disproportionate impact on communities of color and rising acts of violence against the black community. Join us for a panel discussion where multicultural leaders will share what allyship truly means, why it’s important for students, how they can become active allies in their communities for greater impact, and resources available to help them get there. This event will showcase leaders in professional diversity organizations discussing and demonstrating leadership as allies.

Emcee: Kevin Ma, Ascend Los Angeles Chapter (EY)

Moderator:  Tariq Khan (Global Diversity Marketing)

Panelist: Fields Jackson, Jr. (Racing Toward Diversity Magazine), Damien Rivera  (ALPFA), Tysheba Morgan, (NABA)

25 September 2020
12:00 - 1:30 pm

[Students + Professionals] Theme: Building Impactful Future Leaders: Ascend Talk & Scholarship Presentation

Ascend Talk Featuring Ali Master, Partner, EY, in conversation with Priyanka Naidoo, Senior Manager, EY

Emcee:  Dion Lim, Emmy award-winning anchor and reporter at KGO-TV, ABC7 News

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25 September 2020
12:00 - 1:30 pm

Scholarship Program featuring scholarships presented by EY, PwC, Robert Half, RSM.

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25 September 2020
1:40 - 2:40 pm

[Students] Boost Your Career Search Success with the G.R.I.T mindset

Part I: U.S Job Market Scenarios: Join us to learn how to find jobs during this pandemic when the job market is really tough to crack. Are American employers still interested in hiring International Students? Coach Kwan Segal, Founder & CEO of ICAway, will share with you the data of the US job market and the American Employers’ hiring trends for skilled foreign workers. 

Part II: Staying Resilient with Positive Mindset We’ve seen students who landed jobs during the pandemic. One thing they all share is that they have the G.R.I.T (Generous, Resilient, Impactful, and Together) mindset. Shazman Khan, a former international student and the Energy Data Program manager at Amazon, will share his experience on how using the G.R.I.T. framework and landed his dream job at one of the Big Four Tech firms during the pandemic.

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25 September 2020
2:40 - 3:40 pm

[Students] Panel Discussion: How to Get a Job & Promotion in the New Normal 

The pandemic has challenged the job market in an unprecedented way. However, many companies are still hiring and looking for talent in a competitive environment. This session will focus on the essential soft skills that job seekers must have to stand out, especially in the current job market. Our speakers will share insights on what hiring managers are looking for during the unusual job market. Whether you are a student in college looking for an internship, a graduate looking for a job, a professional looking for growth, or a budding entrepreneur, you will find useful tips for your career and job interviews.

Moderator:  Christine Hamakawa (Ascend Summer Corps)

Panelists:  Tariq Khan (Global Diversity Marketing), Kurt Heissenbuttel (Fidelity Investments)

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29 September 2020
12:00 - 3:00 pm

[Professionals] Ascend Allyship Forum | Welcome + Four Segments

Allyship, based on the concept of friendship, is the life work or practice of building relationships based on trust, consistency, and accountability with marginalized, oppressed, or dominated groups and individuals. Allyship when examined through the lens of intersectionality, gives us a deeper understanding of how intersecting dimensions of person’s social and political identities (e.g. gender, sex, race, class, sexuality, religion, disability, etc.), combine to create unique modes of discrimination and privileges.

Join us for a series of high-level dialogues on these important topics at our inaugural Ascend Allyship Forum. This Forum is presented in partnership with our corporate and community partners who exemplify the power of allies coming together for greater impact.

Welcome Remarks: [12-12:05 PM ET] Allyship Pillar: Gender

Host:  Anna Mok (Ascend National President)

Executive Ascend Talk: Inclusive Leadership: Male Allyship at the Executive Level [12:05-12:20 PM ET]

Without the deliberate and conscious support of men, ending gender disparities in the workplace is unlikely. Join us for a conversation with Sanat Chattopadhyay who believes that people in any organization work best when they feel they truly belong and are represented fully and fairly, especially women. Learn about how he practices allyship towards women and how Merck, a signatory to the Paradigm for Parity, is leading the way in closing the corporate leader gender gap.

Moderator: Subha Barry (Working Mother Media)

Featured Speaker: Sanat Chattopadhyay (Merck)

Panel Discussion: Allyship in the Workplace: Intersectionality of Gender, Race, Ethnicity & Sexual Orientation [12:20-1:00 PM ET]

Women’s overlapping identities including race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, class and ability, impact the way in which they experience inequity. In this panel, we will explore questions such as: How can majority groups and other cohorts in business including women in positions of power and influence step up to be true allies for women in underrepresented racial and ethnic groups? What effects do the intersecting multiple dimensions have on women’s advancement? How can those in positions of privilege acknowledge their privilege and become an impactful ally?

Moderator: Subha Barry (Working Mother Media)

Panelists: Steve Chung (The Walt Disney Company), Lindsay-Rae McIntyre (Microsoft), Melonie Parker (Google)

Allyship Pillar: LGBTQ+ Workforce Panel Discussion: Beyond Dialogue to Action: Intersectional Allyship in Support of LGBTQ+ Workforce [1:05 – 2:00 PM ET]

On June 15th of this year, the Supreme Court ruled that the 1964 Civil Rights Act protects gay, lesbian, and transgender employees from discrimination based on sex, thus making it illegal to fire an employee based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Justices who voted in favor of this ruling have been recognized as allies for the LGBTQ+ community. While a landmark decision for the country, a lot of work still needs to be done to create a more inclusive and just society for all. The LGBTQ+ community faces unique challenges due to not only the deep rooted systemic discrimination but also due to the added complexities brought on by multifaceted dimensions of sexuality, identity, race, and gender. Join us for a panel discussion as we explore how companies and individuals can move from dialogue to action as intersectional allies who recognize LGBTQ+ community members’ full identity. Learn about steps you can take to both educate yourself on unique challenges facing the community and how you can become a better and more impactful ally. 

Moderator: Deena Fidas (Out & Equal)

Panelists: Chris Crespo (EY), Allen Chen (Bank of America), Debbie Ebalobo (The Coca Cola Company)

Allyship Pillar: Race Panel Discussion: Intersectional Allyship for Racial Justice: An Inclusive Approach to Supporting Communities of Color [2:05 -2:50 PM ET]

Racism and discrimination continue to be daily occurrences in the lives of many. 2020 has been especially challenging on these fronts. Due to the global pandemic which fueled anti-Asian sentiment and macroaggressions and the death of George Floyd which ignited long overdue dialogue on racial injustices against the black community, the unique and complex racial challenges faced by people of color have come to the surface. Join us as we explore why it’s crucial for businesses and inclusion leaders to both show solidarity and act on becoming a true intersectional ally at and across all levels of the organizations in support of communities of color. This also means that the race towards racial justice is not seen as a zero sum game but instead, an inclusive journey that we all share.

Moderator:  Sonita Lontoh (HP)

Panelists: Liliahn  Majeed (NBA), Sarah Carruthers (The Coca Cola Company), Randy Reyes (Google)

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30 September 2020
4:00 - 5:30 pm

[Students + Professionals] Impact Challenge (Final Round)

Emcee: Hope King

Judges:  Xiao-Dong Chen (Bristol Myers Squibb), Michael Shum (NYC Department of Environmental Protection), Mahesh Sudhakaran (IBM), Lena Wu (Feed Your Hospital), Joseph Cruz (EY), Agnel Kagoo (KPMG)

5:45 - 6:15 PM ET

[Students + Professionals] 15 Years of Ascend Impact: Reflections & Look Ahead to a Promising Future

Moderator: Robina Singh (Ascend National Program Director)

Speakers: Jeff Chin (Ascend Founding President), Anna Mok (Ascend President)

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30 September 2020
8:00 - 9:30 pm

Ascend After Dark: National Convention Wine Down: A Wine Masterclass

Wine down with Ascend After Dark as we bring the 2020 Ascend National Convention to an official close. In partnership with Wine Access, we'll have two wine experts host a wine masterclass. In this masterclass, these experts will teach you to explore the stories, history, and people behind the bottles. Deepen your knowledge of the properties in each sip, cultivate your passion, and choose, order, and pair wines with confidence.

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