Associations Thrive - 68. Khanh Vu, CEO, Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers (SASE), on Helping Members Develop Cultural Agility and Leadership Skills

68. Khanh Vu, CEO, Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers (SASE), on Helping Members Develop Cultural Agility and Leadership Skills

11/30/23 • 37 min

1 Listener

While Asian-Americans are well represented in the tech workforce, they are poorly represented in leadership positions, including tech leadership. How do we help Asian scientists and engineers move into leadership roles?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Khanh Vu, CEO & Executive Director of the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers (SASE). Khanh discusses:

How Asian scientists and engineers are often held back by cultural traits, including the desire to always be respectful, let their seniors speak first, and not seem overly aggressive.
How SASE helps members develop the communication and leadership skills needed to rise up the rank at their organizations.
How Asian women are the least likely to move into leadership positions, which is why SASE has a women’s leadership conference and new mentoring pods to support their women members.
How the SASE National Convention is known for its amazing food, training, and job interviews with corporate sponsors.
How hundreds of job offers were made during this year’s National Convention.
How Northrop Grumman’s CEO challenged her Asian and Asian-American executives to come up with a plan to recruit and nurture their Asian-American staff, and then share their playbook with other SASE corporate sponsors.
How Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) help groups within companies find support and training.
How the National Convention in 2023 was the largest ever, with 3,000 attendees.
How membership is at an all-time high of over 20,000.

References:

SASE website

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Khanh Vu, CEO & Executive Director of the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers (SASE). Khanh discusses:

How Asian scientists and engineers are often held back by cultural traits, including the desire to always be respectful, let their seniors speak first, and not seem overly aggressive.
How SASE helps members develop the communication and leadership skills needed to rise up the rank at their organizations.
How Asian women are the least likely to move into leadership positions, which is why SASE has a women’s leadership conference and new mentoring pods to support their women members.
How the SASE National Convention is known for its amazing food, training, and job interviews with corporate sponsors.
How hundreds of job offers were made during this year’s National Convention.
How Northrop Grumman’s CEO challenged her Asian and Asian-American executives to come up with a plan to recruit and nurture their Asian-American staff, and then share their playbook with other SASE corporate sponsors.
How Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) help groups within companies find support and training.
How the National Convention in 2023 was the largest ever, with 3,000 attendees.
How membership is at an all-time high of over 20,000.

References:

SASE website

Previous Episode

67. Julie Kresge, Executive Director, Erie County Bar Association (ECBA) on Doing Good and Implementing a New Strategic Plan

How do you meet the needs of small and large firm members? How do you work alongside your state or national association to benefit your members, and remain distinct and relevant to members?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Julie Kresge, Executive Director of the Erie County Bar Association (ECBA). Julie discusses:

Her unique and winding path to becoming an Executive Director.
How the Erie County Bar Association promotes the rule of law, does a lot of good in the community, and creates a vibrant community of attorneys.
How the Bar Foundation raises money for law school scholarships and education support for homeless students.
The Bar’s new strategic plan, which lays out 34 recommendations for improving the association.
The Bar’s new, non-attorney membership type that is meant to expand membership and support all the legal staff at law firms.
The Bar’s weekly journal, which reports on all legal activities in the community. This journal is a HUGE member benefit and revenue generator.
The Bar’s signature events: Law Day and the Bench Bar Conference.
How lawyers are in high demand in Erie County right now.

References:

Erie County, PA Bar Association website

Next Episode

undefined - 69. Blane Ruschak, President of The PhD Project, On Attracting Black, Hispanic and Native Americans to the World of Business Through Professors

69. Blane Ruschak, President of The PhD Project, On Attracting Black, Hispanic and Native Americans to the World of Business Through Professors

What’s really working to attract Black, Hispanic and Native American professionals to the world of business?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Blane Ruschak, President of The PhD Project. Blane discusses:

His personal journey from auditor to recruiter to head of The PhD project.
The importance of diversity in the business community and how The PhD project is making a difference by recruiting diverse candidates to get their PhDs and become professors at business schools around the country.
How The PhD supports its members through conferences, training and mentoring. The PhD project has a 90% PhD completion rate, a number unheard of in other programs.
How they help new PhDs become better teachers and researchers through training and conferences.
When The PhD project was founded, there were fewer than 300 Black, Hispanic and Native American professors in US business schools. Today, there are over 1700!
How their members become PhDs and professors to give back, make a difference in their communities, and conduct meaningful research.

References: