BOUNDARYLESS LEADERSHIP PODCAST

Episode 39.

Highlight: Closing the Asian Leadership Gap

with Khánh Vu

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In this episode, Nozomi and Khánh discuss:

  • What SASE is and the organization’s mission in diversity. 
  • Creating a welcoming, safe culture. 
  • Cultural heritage, and ingrained values. 

 

Key Takeaways:

  • In looking at the number of Asians in STEM it seems high, but if you look at leadership levels, that number drastically decreases. 
  • Peel back the layers of the tapes that play in your head and see if your inner, cultural habits are hurting your forward momentum in US business. 
  • Words can be translated, but the meaning doesn’t always mean exactly the same depending on the context.

“The question for Asians is not about pipeline, but it’s about representation in the leadership level.” —  Khánh Vu

“If I want to seen as a leader, and my behavior that I’m projecting is not seen as a leader, to me, that’s not being authentic. So that means it’s on me on to make sure that my message is comes across.” —  Khánh Vu

About Khánh Vu

Khánh and his family immigrated to the USA from Vietnam at the end of the Vietnam conflict. His family found their way to Colorado. He graduated from John F. Kennedy High School, a Denver Public School.

Khánh graduated from the Colorado School of Mines with a degree in chemical engineering and 3 minors: McBride Honors Program in Public Affairs, Latin American Specialization, and Environmental Science.

His passion for helping young adults and fondness for Mines led him back to accepting the position as the fourth Director of the Multi-cultural Engineering Program (MEP). MEP has come full circle because Khánh was part of MEP's inception in 1989 as a student and was instrumental in the founding of the Asian Student Association in the early 90s, which later became PASES (Professional Asian Society of Engineers and Scientists), eventually merged with SASE. As the MEP Director, he helped over 1,000 students with their recruitment, retention, and professional development.

As a Society of Asian Scientists & Engineers (SASE) volunteer, Khánh helped plan the 2011 National Conference. Khánh joined SASE full-time as the CEO & Executive Director in late 2011. Khánh oversaw the doubling of the collegiate chapters and tripling its membership during his 1st-year tenure with SASE. SASE has become the largest professional Asian American Organization in the US by number of chapters, conference size, and organizational support. He looks forward to growing SASE to its full potential.

Khánh enjoys spending time with his wife, Uyển, and 4 children: Thiên n “JP”, Thiên Sơn “Vincent”, Thiên Hải “Dominic” & Thiên Hà “Teresa”. His hobbies include youth ministry, volleyball, and being a foodie.

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