​

Hi Reader,

It’s Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month in the United States! On a weekend trip to the Sacramento Delta, I was unexpectedly surprised to find myself in the tiny town of Locke, California, established in 1915 and claims to be “the only existing town in America built and inhabited almost exclusively by Chinese until recent years.” As a Thai-Chinese immigrant, I enjoyed poking around with my Chinese bestie Irene Salter as we explored a gambling den (my dad would have been proud!), the school house, and cute little shops (see some pictures).

More professionally, I’ve been spending this month diving deep into talks, workshops, and panels focused on Asian American leadership. While being with hundreds of people of color and allies over the past week and a half, I’m realizing how much we’re all yearning for both direct conversations and belonging. One participant shared:

“The conversation overall resonated and touched me – there were several moments where I felt incredibly uncomfortable because I felt so SEEN. The reality is that there are several nuances with being Asian in the American workforce and it has honestly been a struggle trying to navigate it as a second generation millennial (+ being female). I thoroughly appreciated the anecdotes and reminders that you shared today – I wish more of these conversations were being had when I was younger!”

This is the first month since I’ve started my coaching business where I’ve been so focused on speaking and teaching around Asian American leadership. It’s been incredibility gratifying and I’ve found it to give me a sense of belonging. We teach what we most need to learn. Being with like-minded people helps us existing systems including negotiation as a BIPOC (black, indigenous, people of color).

If you haven't already seen it, check out my TEDx talk on How Asian American Women Claim Their Leadership.

Onwards!
​

My Writing in Harvard Business Review: 5 Strategies for BIPOC to Negotiate Equitable Pay

A client of mine recently shared a conversation she overheard at a coffee shop.

Person 1: The recruiter gave me a reasonable offer. I’m happy with it, but I’m going to ask them to double the equity.

Person 2: Why double?

Person 1: I don’t know. Seems like a good negotiation tactic. Honestly, I’m excited about the offer already.

When you hear this story, what do you think Person 1 looks like?

Keep reading to learn 5 strategies for BIPOC to use in salary negotiation

​

The Asian American Foundation Report: Attitudes towards Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

A research report as part of AAPI Heritage month showed that nearly 80% of Asian Americans feel that they fully belong, largely due to their experiences of discrimination. This is both true in the larger world as well as in corporate workplaces. When I ran a workshop for a large tech company last week, 34% of the group had personally experienced racism at work while 63% had experienced sexism.

​

While these numbers are disappointing, I feel optimistic by how willing everyone has been to share their own experiences— the level of vulnerability has been remarkable! Without the open conversations, we often blame ourselves for personal failings instead of recognizing that systemic racism and sexism are built into the collective belief systems. These conversations help everyone realize that we are not alone in these experiences. That is the first step towards belonging.

Read the full report or listen to an interview about the research​

Enjoy the rest of your AAPI Heritage Month!

Wishing you space,
Tutti

​Website | LinkedIn | Instagram​
Feeling overwhelmed by busyness? Check out my book Make Space to Lead

I share this newsletter every 2-4 weeks. It serves as an extension of the leadership & growth conversations I’ve had with many of you. Please unsubscribe below if they're extra spam in your overstuffed inbox. If you’ve gotten this email forwarded to you and want to receive regular updates, you can check out the archives or subscribe.​