Invest in Yourself is the theme of WIN!, a day-long leadership conference to be held on June 4 at the Microsoft Conference Center. WIN! stands for Women in NAAAP (The National Association of Asian American Professionals) and is a development program designed to help Asian American women gain leadership skills and to advance in their careers.
The conference’s public relations/marketing lead, Ngam Nguyen, came up with the Invest in Yourself theme because she saw many of her female friends and family sacrifice for others, leaving little time for themselves.
“Many women and Asians are natural caretakers. We care for our parents, our partners, our children, our colleagues. But we often forget to invest in ourselves,” said Nguyen. “We all need to invest in building our own skills, so that we can become stronger contributors to our families, communities, organizations, and society.”
“My sister told me that I shouldn’t go to college because it would anger my father,” said Dr. Jeudi Boulom, who will speak on the parenting panel. “I was the first to graduate from college. Since then, my siblings have followed in my footsteps and have all graduated from college.”
Next Consulting and Design Consultant Stacy Derk said she invests in herself through constant learning. She takes in-person classes when she has time, takes online classes when she needs more flexibility, listens to audio classes in her car, and learns informally through reading. Derk will lead two workshops, one on effective communication and the other on conflict resolution.
Boeing Manager Aimee Do said, “I make making learning a journey in my life, whether it is from the school, my work experiences, or from the people who are part of my life.” Do will speak on the mentorship panel for those interested in the technology field.
At the conference, experts from various industries will sit on panels and lead interactive workshops on topics such as personal branding, how to negotiate, time management, and financial budgeting.
Speakers will include JPMorgan Chase & Co. Pacific Northwest Chairman Phyllis Campbell, Mary Pugh, Kim Tran, Olivia Lippens, and Christine Chen. ♦
Registration fees range from $30-$80, with discounts for students, current NAAAP members, and early registration (by May 16). NAAAP’s Seattle chapter has arranged discounted hotel rates, student scholarships, and on-site childcare.
For more information, visit naaapseattle.org or e-mail Hang Chen at hang.chen@naaapseattle.org.
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