Stronger Together: A Reflection on Leadership and Community
There was one thing that drove me to want to be the President & Executive Director of the Asian Pacific Fund (APF) – an unwavering belief that we are stronger together. A belief that when Bay Area AANHPI communities come together, we not only reflect strength in numbers but strength that is rooted in culture, generations of resilience, and an unapologetic vision of what’s possible for our communities.
Transitions are difficult, especially when they come sooner than you planned. However, I am a firm believer that every chapter of a career has an impact on both the individual and the organization.
In the chapter of APF, which I had the honor to lead, we made some important pivots. Under the clear direction of our committed APF Board, we transformed APF to become a systems change funder. Together, we built a new team capable of driving change, engaged our affiliate partners to develop a systems change strategy, and got to work. We defined a new Theory of Change that built on APF’s 30 years of success as a capacity builder while focusing on three new priorities – mental health, economic security, and language access. We showed up differently, exercising a clear point of view on these priorities at our Summits and Galas, taking those views public with our first Op-Ed, and advocating for them at the State Capitol and even The White House. In this chapter, we demonstrated that APF is not just an AANHPI-fueled community foundation, but a foundation that fuels the AANHPI community.
In the chapter of my career that APF holds, one thing is certain – I am not the same leader I was before stepping into this role.
- To our APF affiliate non-profits, you have given me a deep understanding of the many roles you play for our communities. Every day, you meet invisible needs that are often not funded, all with an innate determination that I wish more of us had. Thank you.
- To our APF supporters, you have proven to me that generosity comes in many forms, from a Gala ballroom full of raised paddles to corporate employees who volunteer for us to youth leaders speaking at our events. Thank you for helping us drive change.
- To our APF Board, you are some of the most committed and strategic leaders in our community. Thank you for holding our mission with both hands and constantly pushing APF to be of even greater service to our community.
- Finally, to the APF staff, there are few teams you can laugh with while achieving amazing outcomes. Thank you for being a “dream team” – it has been an absolute privilege to call you my colleagues.
Many of you know that I take every opportunity to issue a call to action. So, my last ask as APF’s President and Executive Director is the same as the first ask I ever made of you – stay engaged. With your support, we have set APF on an upward trajectory that will require all of us to sustain. Together, we can keep that momentum going. The next chapter of APF’s story has not yet been written, but collectively, we can ensure it is the most exciting one yet.
Sincerely,
