Winston Engages Its Community in Conversation About Diverse Asian Pacific American Perspectives

In honor of Asian and Pacific Islander American Heritage Month 2020, the Winston Diversity & Inclusion Committee and Winston Asian Leadership Initiative held a panel on May 14th titled “Pathways to Success: Diverse Asian Pacific American Perspectives.” The overarching goal of the panel was to bring together a diverse group of voices to discuss their individual experiences as Asian Pacific Americans as well as their common goals and challenges.

The event was hosted by Jovial Wong, Washington, D.C. partner and co-chair of the Winston Asian Leadership Initiative. He was joined by Chicago Associate Nasir Hussain, Houston Associate Kelvin Han, Washington, D.C. Partner Aman Sidhu, and Winston Chicago alumnus Partner Sam Park. Sam is now a client serving as the U.S. general counsel and global head of intellectual property for Hikma Pharmaceuticals.

“Asian Americans are the most diverse U.S. racial group,” Jovial established in the first minutes of the panel. “The group consists of more than 48 ethnicities, over 300 spoken languages, varied socioeconomic statuses, and distinctions across immigration histories, generational status, culture, and religion.”

While Jovial and the other five panelists are only a fraction of this collective, their personal journeys stand as evidence that there is no prototype of what it means to be Asian Pacific American. Rather, under this title, there are infinite, ever-changing narratives that can lead to shared experiences and overlapping goals.

Over the course of the hour-long conversation, the group discussed a wide range of topics including the bamboo ceiling, the role of adversity in shaping personal ethos, and the ways that being raised in multilingual, multinational environments inform one’s practice and perspective.