Ascend Midwest Inspiring Across Generations Conference 2023

Bernice Chao is an award-winning Creative Director and has worked on the world's top brands. Bernice is one of the few female Asian American creative leaders in the industry and is helping to shape the AAPI community. by fighting against bias and xenophobia toward Asian Americans and inspiring the next generation of talent through mentorship and scholarship programs. She's given talks on over 50+ stages, including SXSW, 3%, ADCOLOR, and is a professor at LMU and president of TEDxCulverCity.  Bernice was inducted into the 2022 AAF Hall of Achievement, 2022 Hall of Femme, and 2023 She Run's It Working Mother of the Year award.  LinkedIn / @hellobernice

Karen Chiu is the Executive Director and co-founder of Project: VISION (PV), a grassroots nonprofit organization with a mission to help youth in Chicago's Greater Chinatown community achieve their full potentials. Karen was born and raised in the Chicago area and has always been closely connected to the Chinatown community, where so many immigrant families like her own have found a home. During a brief time off from medical school, Karen took a part-time job tutoring teens in Chinatown, an experience that sparked her passion for youth development. Realizing there was a huge need in the community for a safe space where youth can seek support and connect with peers as well as positive adult role models, Karen and four fellow like-minded volunteers founded Project: VISION in 2003 as a simple drop-in tutoring program at the local Chinatown library. ​Today, PV serves over 350 middle and high school youth annually across two youth centers and three school-based sites in Chinatown and surrounding communities. PV’s programs support youth holistically through academic achievement while also encouraging social-emotional learning and well-being and providing opportunities for civic engagement and workforce development. In the coming years, Karen hopes to continue increasing PV’s capacity to serve and engage more Asian American youth and to address their evolving needs through a greater breadth and depth of services. Her big dream is to build a comprehensive neighborhood youth center that serves as a home away from home for youth as well as a community space for all.

Sharon Garcia is the Vice President of Talent Acquisition at Echo Global Logistics, a leading provider in tech-enabled transportation and supply chain management services based in Chicago.  Her 20-year career in recruiting spans a variety of industries where she’s worked on building, scaling, and transforming talent acquisition teams.  Beyond her most recent role with Echo Global Logistics, she’s built, scaled, and operationalized recruiting teams and programs in employment branding, diversity, campus, and internal mobility. Regardless of where she’s at in her career, Sharon is driven by her passion to help people and organizations live into their full potential and focuses on helping workplaces become more diverse, inclusive, and equitable.  She is the executive sponsor for Echo Families, a business resource group focused on fostering healthy and fulfilling work environments for employees so they can be their best for their families. Beyond her work life, she enjoys family time, traveling, and a great Peloton class!  She is on the Board of Directors for Girls on the Run where she contributes to their mission of empowering your girls.  Sharon graduated with a bachelor’s degree at Northern Illinois University, and lives on the north side of Chicago with her husband and two children.

Kathy Vega Hardy was born and raised in Manila, Philippines. She started A Taste of the Philippines in Denver, CO in 2012 and moved the business to Chicago, IL in 2018. ​ Kathy has been published in 5280 Magazine, Denver Zagat, 303 Magazine, Asian Avenue Magazine, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Magazine, Chicago Eater and Secret Chicago. She has been featured on Food Network’s Cutthroat Kitchen & CHOPPED. She is a wife, a mother and loves to explore the beautiful city of Chicago that she’s proud to be a part of.

Christina Churchill is principal at RSM US LLP and the strategy and operations lead of the management consulting practice. Christina previously worked in the manufacturing and financial services industries and has extensive experience working with private equity groups. Christina focuses on the planning, execution and delivery of operational improvement projects for middle market companies. She works with project owners to optimize process efficiency, performance and profitability through the use of technology. She has a proven track record of developing and implementing financial transformation, planning and analysis solutions, and operational process improvements. A passionate, team-oriented leader, Christina possesses a true versatility of skills that span human resources, benefits and payroll processes, to operational procedures, IT and accounting. She has cultivated and maintained meaningful relationships with clients and internal teams to empower them to succeed and excel both personally and professionally. Christina is the family office executive committee consulting representative, working closely with high net worth families to improve their technology and business efficiency. In this role, she consults on a variety of issues, including risk management, cybersecurity, audit, fraud and forensics, and technology services. She serves as chair of RSM’s Consulting Women’s Advisory Council and the STAR Central region board to help develop the next generation of female leaders, particularly in the field of technology. Christina was recognized for her leadership skills as one of Consulting Magazine’s 2020 Women Leaders in Technology.

Jackson G. Lu is the Sloan School Career Development Associate Professor in Work and Organization Studies at the MIT Sloan School of Management. He received his PhD from Columbia Business School in 2018 and early tenure from MIT in 2023. Jackson studies culture and globalization through two distinctive research streams. His first research stream examines the “Bamboo Ceiling” experienced by Asians despite their educational and economic achievements in the United States. His second research stream elucidates how multicultural experiences (e.g., working abroad, intercultural friendships) shape key organizational outcomes, including leadership, creativity, and ethics. Jackson has published in top general science journals (Nature Human Behaviour, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences), management journals (Journal of Applied Psychology, Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Organization Science), and psychology journals (Annual Review of Psychology, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Psychological Science). His research has been featured in over 200 media outlets (e.g., BBC, The Economist, The Financial Times, Harvard Business Review, NPR, The Boston Globe, The New York Times, The Washington Post). He has received prestigious awards and honors, including 40 Best Business School Professors Under 40, 30 Thinkers to Watch, NLS Rising Star Award from the Academy of Management, Early Career Award from the International Association for Conflict Management, Rising Star Award from the Association for Psychological Science, SAGE Early Career Trajectory Award from the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, and the Best Senior Editor Award from Management and Organization Review.

Like many, 2020 gave Jenny the vision and opportunity to pivot herself in a new direction, this time as an entrepreneur. During the pandemic, she relied heavily on grocery deliveries. Without a car and living in the city, she found it difficult to access Asian ingredients and staple pantry items. She knew others might have been experiencing the same challenges too, especially those in rural areas. Jenny quickly went to work, researching platforms and suppliers/wholesalers. Pandan Market started with 50 products – a small selection of snacks, cooking ingredients, coffee and tea. She tapped into her previous travels in Southeast Asia and curated products that reflected her experiences there. Since then, she has collaborated with Top Chef, Arnold Myint, for a pantry kit and virtual cooking classes. Jenny has also expanded her offerings which include sustainable, artisanal kitchenware, tableware, and home décor. Today, Pandan Market offers a curated experience for lovers of Southeast Asian culture looking to explore new flavors and unique kitchenware from many Southeast Asian countries, including Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia. While growing Pandan Market, Jenny has also continued to pursue her corporate career as a Data Product Manager for Sephora. She has also worked for Kohler Company and Hyatt Hotels Corporations within the Data & Analytics space.

Patricia Ratulangi is VP, Global Communications. She oversees Nielsen’s internal and external communications focused on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. Pat is responsible for proactive external communications around Nielsen’s insights on diverse audiences and content such as our Diverse Intelligence Series. An avid storyteller — she brings to life Nielsen’s corporate narrative to connect and engage diverse communities around the world by using relevant data to amplify underrepresented voices. With over 20 years of experience in corporate communications, Pat leads the team that engages stakeholders through story-telling, data-driven insights and social media. She is also Nielsen’s AANHPI community expert and spokesperson. In 2022, Pat won PRSA Chicago’s Diversity & Inclusion Team Champion award for her work in driving equity in the communications industry Pat is also a seasoned internal communications expert. She has worked closely with HR and DE&I teams to drive employee engagement through inclusive talent processes, a bias-free culture and a senior leadership group that is accountable for the diversity of their teams. She works with external advocacy groups, the Nielsen Foundation, External Advisory Council and Business Resource Groups to extend the company’s community outreach. An all-round communications leader, Pat has worked in public relations agencies and in-house corporate communications teams. Her experience includes planning and activating complex campaigns involving media relations strategy, change management, merger and acquisition communications, social media and strategy alignment. As a board member of VOICES for AAPI, she advocates for increasing the representation of Asian professionals in the marketing and communications industry. Based in Chicago, Pat loves the diversity of her town and exploring new cultures by being in the various neighborhoods — especially trying out restaurants. She loves cooking and getting to know people through the food they eat.

Sandip Shah is a Managing Director at Protiviti, leading the firm’s Enterprise Architecture offering as part of the broader Technology Consulting group.  His clients span industries including financial services, retail, technology products, and nonprofits. He is a born-and-bred Chicagoan passionate about the city and all that it offers. Sandip sits on the board of two organizations, notably Apna Ghar – a human-rights organization focused on ending gender violence through critical, comprehensive, and culturally competent services, and outreach and advocacy across communities.

Tammy Meinershagen A recognized change maker and transformational leader, Tammy Meinershagen is Chief Innovation Officer and Managing Partner Dallas/Frisco at Blackshaw Partners. Tammy oversees all business strategies and operations expanding the Blackshaw brand, both in the U.S. and internationally. She also leads the firm’s Client Engagement in Dallas/Frisco. Tammy’s distinctive career includes 10+ years serving clients through strategic change, creating initiatives that mobilize key stakeholders and result in increased brand awareness and winning partnerships. Her work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Dallas CEO Magazine, Korea Daily News, Dallas Morning News, WFAA, Local Profile Magazine, Frisco Style Magazine, and many other media outlets. Named the “Spirit of Frisco” by the Frisco Chamber of Commerce, Tammy made history as the first Asian-American to serve on Frisco City Council, well-known in the community for her positive impact championing arts, culture, and diversity. Currently, Tammy is a member of the Orchid Giving Circle through the Texas Women’s Foundation, supporting Asian-American causes in North Texas, and also an Advisory Board Member of the Frisco Arts Foundation, Leadership Prep School, and Legacy Christian Academy. Originally from Chicago, IL and a graduate of Northwestern University, Tammy and her husband Todd have three beautiful daughters, all in the creative sector. A professionally-trained musician, Tammy enjoys playing music whenever she can on her beloved Steinway piano and violin.

Wei Tsay is a Taiwanese American and a three-time entrepreneur. He's the Founder & CEO of Apologue, a social media and marketing agency in New York City. Clients have included Marc Fisher, Easy Spirit, Medtronic, and Daniel Pink. Most recently, Wei founded VeryAsian, a media company that shares Asian American news, culture, and stories. Wei is passionate about racial, gender, and LGBTQ+ equality and believes in a better and brighter future for all.

Eric Wu works in the Leadership and Talent Development space on the Talent Development and Well-being Team within Human Resources Department at Northwestern University, where he focuses on building scalable talent and performance management strategy and solutions to improve professional development and career outcomes for staff.  Eric is also involved in the leadership for the APIDA Staff Affinity Group (ASAG) of Northwestern.  Eric leverages human-centered design and design thinking to solve for organizational challenges and social impact initiatives. A career pivoter, Eric finished up his graduate studies at Northwestern in 2022 where he obtained his MS in Learning and Organizational Change and completed a graduate certificate in Designing for Organizational Effectiveness. Prior to moving into the human capital space, he spent 12.5 years in beer working in corporate strategy, sales operations, and business transformation for MillerCoors.  At MillerCoors, he was a dedicated DEIJ advocate, including leading the Asian employee resource group for many years. ​Outside of work, he is a passionate community advocate that co-chairs the Asian Giving Circle , a volunteer-led philanthropic affinity fund that is housed under The Chicago Community Trust. Eric is an active member of Fourth Presbyterian Church. He has previously been an Associate Board member of The Chinese American Service League and a mentor at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls.

Brian is a staff data scientist at LinkedIn and a content creator with 1.5M followers on TikTok, 100K on YouTube, and 70K on Instagram. His content is centered on his deadpan big head teaching "uncomplicated" satirical tutorials, combating harmful and harmless misleading info with data, and sharing cringy Asian experiences/jokes. Brian graduated from Stanford University with a bachelor’s in Economics and master’s in Public Policy.