Breakfast with a VP: Nilyum Jhala

Designed for the Young Professionals / Student Track, Particpants will have breakfast with Hallmark VP Nilyum Jhala for a lively discussion on his leadership journey as well as advice on entering the workforce and networking.

D&I: What’s Next?

Candi is a passionate and experienced diversity and inclusion leader who thrives on helping organizations create more inclusive work environments. She recognizes the power of creating more opportunities for different perspectives and diverse voices. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear Candi speak about her unconventional views on what the future holds for diversity, inclusion, equity, and engagement.

The Power of Creativity: Self-Discovery, Community, and Change

Katerina Jeng will be speaking about how she forged her own path to entrepreneurship, the creation of Slant’d, and the power of creativity to act as a vehicle for self-discovery, community building, and change.

Allyship: Workshop

Facilitated by Angela Pastorek and Nior Gonzales, they will present a workshop to discuss how ERG/BRGs can broaden cross-functional collaborations across demographics. This is especially helpful in our current political climate when ERG members need to consider intersectionality when being champions and allies.

Bold Rebel Leadership

Design impacts happiness. Design impacts the planet. Design impacts the prosperity of our businesses and our communities. Samantha moderates a panel discussion that will explore how creativity can guide us in solving complex problems, shaping our experiences, and advancing our leadership. This session will explore BOLD, REBEL leadership stories that break traditional models of influence/ambition/power through the lens of behind-the-scenes designers of our built environments.

Pushing Boundaries Through Change

Suba had a successful, fulfilling career in design that she loved, but then something shifted. She was inspired to change direction and take on the role of Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at VMLY&R. It’s a decision she hasn’t regretted. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear Suba share her fascinating story in a fireside chat with Michael Gonzales. They will discuss the reasons behind her career change, and how she’s pushed her own boundaries to become an unconventional leader.

Slanted – How an Asian American Troublemaker Took on the Supreme Court

Simon is best known as the founder and bassist of The Slants, the world’s first and only all-Asian American dance rock band. He has been a keynote speaker, performer, and presenter at TEDx, SXSW, Comic-Con, and over 1,200 events across four continents. His work has been highlighted in over 3,000 media features across 150 countries including The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, NPR, BBC, New York Times, and Rolling Stone. You won’t want to miss this opportunity to be inspired by Simon’s unconventional story of leadership and disruption.

Making It Personal – Inspiring Your People to Uncover, Deepen, and Reveal Their Own Conviction for D&I

How does your D&I strategy come to life through your workforce? When someone at your place of work is asked, “Why do diversity and inclusion matter?” how do they respond? For our companies to be successful in delivering on our commitment to provide an inclusive culture for a diverse workforce serving an increasingly diverse market, our people must develop the capacity to authentically and courageously share why this set of issues is important. This is not the time to rely on ‘corporate speak’. We’ve got to make things personal.

The Power of Numbers and the State of the Asian American Community in 2020

The 2020 census will produce data that will impact the Asian American community for a decade when it comes to political representation; equitable distribution of public funds and programs; and services, resources and investments from businesses, institutions and foundations. With Census 2020 only a few months away, and elections and then redistricting soon to follow, critical work is underway to ensure there is a fair and accurate count and that Asian Americans are visible and fully engaged in our democracy. Narasaki is a national authority on voting rights, census, redistricting, diversity in media, immigrant rights and race relations. She is a consultant to the Bauman Foundation which chairs a national collaborative of foundations on the census. In 2014, President Obama appointed her to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.

Leading in the Digital Age

World is changing! What is the factors we need to consider to lead well in this digital age. Discover the 5 challenges that all leaders will need to navigate in the current leadership landscape.

How to Be a Social Media Rockstar!

The world of marketing and communications is rapidly changing. It isn’t just about technology and new platforms, it’s about creating genuine connections. In this intensive workshop, you’ll learn radical approaches to social media that will bring incredible results without the need to dump huge amounts of money into advertising. Simon Tam will be presenting in his signature funny, inspirational, and practical talk that will focus on direct application of techniques for marketing professionals or those who simply want to build influence, reach, and thought leadership.

Uncommon Leadership

Victor be interviewed in a fireside chat by Kim Wallace Carlson about his perspectives on collaboration, community, and the power of entrepreneurial thinking.  Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from this unconventional and innovative leader who believes in investing in entrepreneurs and metropolitan areas to create thriving ecosystems that can help companies flourish and grow.

Finding Clarity in the Chaos

Experiences shape our perspective, and that couldn’t be more true for Lindsey. After a devastating accident nearly took her life, Lindsey’s perspective on life and business shifted, opening her up to a vulnerable new reality. Learn how Lindsey turned her tragedy into lessons learned that can help us all.

How I Used My Super Power to Get Our Church to Embrace Queer and Trans People

You probably don’t have to be involved in a local Asian American church to guess that the majority are highly resistant to change. Yet Ken managed to lead his sizable congregation on a 10-year journey to extend equal worth and equal standing to API Christians who self-identified as LGBTQ+. How was he able to persist and prevail in the face of criticism, defections, and downturns? What important lessons did he learn that can empower other Asian American leaders who are faced with adaptive challenges in their own organizations?

Presented by:

Breaking the Starving Artist Stereotype

Stella Guan is an award-winning visual designer with experience spanning across multiple disciplines and industries, and she’s passionate about challenging the “starving artist” stereotype. In 2019, Stella founded Path Unbound, a company that provides international artists with career advancement and immigration resources. Her company’s mission is to help immigrant artists advance their careers and break away from the “starving artist” stereotype by providing them with much-needed business training. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear Stella speak about why and how Asian Americans can and should pursue artistic careers that are successful, fulfilling, and life-changing.

Stepping into your Origin and Belonging Story

What process do we undergo to “belong” in the workplace and beyond? What type of support might we need to feel accepted, understood, and appreciated? Lisa shares a personal story of her journey as an Asian woman in corporate America, advocating along the way for diversity, inclusion, and equity for her communities.

Trends in Technology: Why Metrics Matter to ERGs

LinkedIn Optimization: Building Your Personal Brand

Discover how to optimize your LinkedIn profile to establish your personal brand. Personal brand nowadays is just as important as your company brand. Take matters in your own hand and grow your personal brand to amplify your professional goals and objectives. Bring your laptops, smartphones, and iPads and be ready to learn some practical tips and tricks to give yourself a LinkedIn® makeover that will stand out from the crowd of profiles.

Five Tips for Networking Success

During this engaging leadership session, participants will learn the principles of the Coffee Lunch Coffee Networking Platform along with five immediately actionable tips for becoming imaginative, inspired and enterprising Master Networkers. Attendees will be challenged to think unconventionally about the way they build professional relationships and can expect to leave the session with specific and creative ideas for advancing their networking efforts and bolstering the quality of their relationship bases.

The 5 Voices

The 5 Voices is the code for unlocking your capacity to have honest conversations and build deeper, more authentic relationships with your teams, your families and your friends. In order to lead others effectively, we need a true understanding of ourselves, our natural tendencies and patterns of behavior. In learning what your leadership voice sounds like to others, you will discover what it feels like to be on the other side of your personality, as well as how to hear and value others’ voices.

Connected Leadership: Learnings From a Career in Advertising

Jon leads a global advertising and marketing agency with nearly 7,000 employees across six continents. At a time when media and messaging landscapes are historically fragmented, learn how VMLY&R helps brands resonate creatively and culturally — conveying relevance and value on an increasingly personal level.

Find a Buddy. Be a Buddy. Connect in Authentic Two-Way Dialogue: Part I

Buddies is a program at Hallmark that gives Employees the opportunity to connect in an authentic, two-way dialogue with other Hallmarkers from different generations, cultures, ethnicities, religious backgrounds, identity-based preferences, and significant life experiences. Come hear from DIVE Buddies participants as they share their experiences with the program and particpate in a Leadership Convention version of DIVE Buddies. Part I will be an introduction to the program and getting paired up with your Leadership Convention DIVE Buddy. In Part II we will bring the participants back together to discuss their experiences and what they learned from their buddy.

Debunking Salary Negotiation and Personal Branding Myths

These two important skills go hand-in-hand. After all, if you are not clear on how to articulate your personal brand or the value you bring to an employer, it would be hard to negotiate with confidence for the salary you believe you deserve.

ERG Belonging Story

ERG leaders will share how organizations can better advance the inclusion discussion and help write their “belonging” story. We’ll discuss themes of visibility, accountability, and authenticity.

Trends in Technology: Metrics and the Asian Employee Journey

Why aren’t there more Asian Americans represented in senior leadership positions? Many are asking this question. Eli Lilly and Company sought to understand this through a new and innovative approach. The research was designed to understand the employees’ experience with the same rigor that it had long applied to its market research. Based on both metrics and storytelling, the result provided new insights to improve the career growth for women and minorities such as Asians. In this interactive workshop, Kingman Ng will share lessons learned from this bold approach.

The Arts are Everyone’s Business

Creativity is everywhere, and companies are always looking for ways to tap into the skill in their employees. Partnering with the arts engages employees, benefits the community, and ensures a more inclusive workplace. Be a champion for arts and culture at your company.

ERG/BRG’s Role in Supporting “Being” You

Sharing her background in strategy, technology, and engineering – Tashina has driven impact in the world of Diversity of Inclusion. As a trailblazer in modern data platforms, she will highlight how equity is not only a social issue but a clear business imperative.

Executive Perspective on ERG ROI

Senior Leadership will share their insights on the true benefits and power of ERGs in helping to shape the Diversity and Inclusion Strategy for the organization. We’ll highlight how this is done from a vantage point to create and drive strategy, while leaving space for people to develop their own.

ERG Becoming Journey

Diversity Managers will discuss how to support employees’ “Becoming” journey through establishing, maintaining, and advancing ERGs. We’ll highlight how personal transformation and leadership development are fundamental to this work.

Next Steps on your ERG Being, Becoming, Belonging journey

Put the insights acquired at 2019 ERG Summit into motion.

Better Than Normal

More to come.

Life through Disruption

Life happens in moments, and throughout Sabrina Wiewel’s life, those moments often come in the form of disruption. From her experiences as a child navigating a multi-cultural identity to her career as she broke through the “bamboo ceiling,” Sabrina’s experience with disruption not only shaped her life but helped her become a disruptor and ultimately a change agent both personally and professionally. Don’t miss the chance to hear Sabrina use her signature blend of authenticity, humor, and passion to share inspiring anecdotes and stories of disruption as a catalyst for change and growth.

Straight to the Heart!: Storytelling Workshop with Dr. Ada Cheng

Do you want to tell stories to connect with people emotionally, to convey meanings with urgency, and to exert impact? In this storytelling workshop, we will discuss basic tenets of this art form, such as detailed descriptions, emotions (the importance of vulnerability), meanings, relationships with the audience, who you are as a storyteller, and the purpose of storytelling. Participants will have the opportunity to integrate these elements of storytelling and practice telling during the session. While this workshop is geared toward telling personal stories, principles learned in this session are applicable to all public speaking occasions.

Allyship: Case Study on Breaking Barries, the LGTBQ Belonging Story.

Trace Ballard will share her journey and the work she engaged in to create her “Belonging” story through fighting for equity and creating an inclusive culture in a government agency.

The Inclusive Leader

More to come.