Committee of 100 Newsletter

Inaugural C-100 Leadership and Mentoring Program Successfully Concludes in Southern California; Applicants for Next Six-Month Mentoring Round Solicited

The Southern California region of the Committee of 100 graduated its first class of mentees on July 9, successfully concluding a six-month mentorship by Committee of 100 members for 15 young professionals. This new program to cultivate leadership and dedication to community service was designed to help foster a new generation of Asian American leaders.

Mentees are under 40, come from a variety of professions and businesses, and are seeking to further their career as well as give back to the community. During the mentorship, they meet together with mentors both in group sessions and individually and volunteer for a Committee of 100 project.

Speaking at the July 9 session at the Asian Pacific American Legal Center in Los Angeles were mentors Charlie Woo, John Chiang, Julie Fong, and Stewart Kwoh (pictured at left), with mentors Brian Sun, Herman Li, and Teddy Zee joining the discussion. California State Controller Chiang spoke about his pride as the son of immigrants from Taiwan and suggested to the mentees that the best work improves the lives of others.

Southern California Members Mentor Young Professionals to Nurture Career Success and Community Service

 Fifteen young professionals in the fields of entertainment, law, business, government service, and entrepreneurial start-ups are being mentored by Southern California members in both individual and group sessions over a six-month period. C-100 Vice Chair Stewart Kwoh said that the goal of the mentorship program is “to develop strong leaders who are both successful in their careers and involved in the community, including U.S.-China relations.” Mentees also volunteer for a C-100 project, such as the regional conference now being organized by the Southern California members, “Mandarin in the Schools,” and the annual conference, which will be in Los Angeles in 2012.

Southern California Members Mentor Young Professionals to Nurture Career Success and Community Service

Fifteen young professionals in the fields of entertainment, law, business, government service, and entrepreneurial start-ups are being mentored by Southern California members in both individual and group sessions over a six-month period. C-100 Vice Chair Stewart Kwoh said that the goal of the mentorship program is “to develop strong leaders who are both successful in their careers and involved in the community, including U.S.-China relations.”  Mentees also volunteer for a C-100 project, such as the regional conference now being organized by the Southern California members, “Mandarin in the Schools,” and the annual conference, which will be in Los Angeles in 2012. 

Mentees Now Being Selected for Six-Month Committee of 100 Mentorships in Southern California

October-November 2010 | By Bernice Hong

Southern California regional members have inaugurated their Leadership and Mentoring program with thirteen mentors who will provide a six-month mentorship for young professionals (under age 40) from fields including business, law, the nonprofit sector, entertainment, entrepreneurship, and politics. Final candidates are now being selected, with attention paid not only to their career paths to date but evidence of commitment to the dual mission of the Committee of 100. The mentorships will begin and end with group gatherings, and mentors will meet from one to three times with their mentees. The mentors are Andrew Cherng, John Chiang, Julie Fong, Ming Hsieh, Ming Hsu, Stewart Kwoh, Herman Li, Charlie Sie, Brian Sun, William Wang, Charlie Woo, Debra Wong Yang, and Teddy Zee.

  
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Tsinghua University Site of 2011 C100 Leadership Scholarship Awards Ceremony and Symposium on U.S.-China Issues

October-November 2010 | By Su Cheng Harris-Simpson

Tisnghua University and the Committee of 100 will co-host the 2011 Leadership Scholarship Program awards ceremony in Beijing on April 25. A half-day symposium will precede the awards dinner and examine issues facing the U.S. and China. Gu Binglin, President of Tsinghua University, is the keynote speaker, with panels on Entrepreneurship and Technical Innovation and Sino-American Public Diplomacy for a New Era.

The symposium speakers will be Committee of 100 members and Chinese and American dignitaries. Winners of the Leadership Scholarships will be special guests at the symposium, which will be held at the Tsinghua Science Park International Conference Center.

Nanjing Site of Committee’s Fifth Scholarship Awards Ceremony in China

April – June 2010 | By Su Cheng Harris-Simpson

The fifth annual C-100 Leadership Scholarship Program (LSP) Awards and Ceremonial Dinner was held June 8 at the Golden Eagle Summit Hotel in Nanjing, co-hosted by the Golden Eagle International Group and Nanjing University. Over 180 people attended the evening’s competition and awards ceremony, with many U.S. based C-100 members in attendance including C-100 Chairman John Chen, Adeline Mah, Linda Yang, and C-100 Executive Director Angie Tang. The LSP fund awards scholarships to distinguished students in China who demonstrate academic and professional excellence.

The 28 winners of the 2010 Leadership Scholarships, selected from 14 of China’s top universities.

Special guests included Secretary Zhu Shanlu, Standing Member of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Jiangsu Provincial Committee and Secretary of the Party’s Nanjing Municipal Committee; Hong Yinxing, Party Secretary of Nanjing University; Zhu Shanlu, Standing member of CCP Jiangsu Provincial committee and Secretary of CCP Nanjing Municipal Committee; and Christopher Beede, Deputy Principal Officer, U.S. Embassy.

Southern California Members Inaugurate Six-month Leadership and Mentoring Program for Young Professionals

April – June 2010 | By Bernice Hong

On June 12, the Southern California Region of the Committee of 100 kicked off its first Leadership and Mentoring Program with a panel discussion on leadership. Over 150 young professionals attended the morning event and received wisdom, encouragement, and direction as they strive to become leaders in their respective fields. Stewart Kwoh, Debra Wong Yang, William Wang, and Teddy Zee were panelists. The panel discussion focused on the panelists' paths to success and their involvement in the community. Following the panel presentation, audience members asked the panel about numerous topics. C-100 Members John Chiang, Herman Li, and Charlie Woo also attended.

Mentees line up for this first-time event.

This is the first event in the Southern California Committee of 100 Leadership program, which will match C-100 members with mentees for a 6-month mentorship. At least 12 C-100 members will mentor one to four mentees each. Mentees also will be required to take part in a C-100 project, based on their interests. The Asian Professional Exchange (APEX) has been helping to administer the program.

Leadership Development Forum Offers C100 Career Coaching to Mid to Senior Level Professionals at San Francisco Annual Conference

March 2010 | By Jane Leung Larson

Mid- and senior-level professionals with at least six years of experience who seek advice on career advancement are invited to participate in the Committee of 100 Leadership Development Forum on April 10 in conjunction with the C-100 Annual Conference in San Francisco. Committee members—all leaders in business, high tech or government—will mentor small groups of five or six mentees in a roundtable setting. Mentees will be matched to mentors according to their career interests.

Annual Conference Co-Chair Lawrence Low, Partner, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, said, “Studies show that Asian Americans do not have a hard time getting into entry level positions, but encounter problems moving from mid-senior level to executive positions. Our hope is that our members will be able to provide insights and help these professionals develop strategies on how to move into upper management positions.”

Lawrence Low, Partner, Orrick	Steve Westly, Managing Partner of The Westly Group	Ken Xie, Founder, President and CEO of Fortinet

Mentoring at the 18th Annual Conference in Washington, D.C.

June 2009 | By Jane Leung Larson

Watch the video of the Mentoring Event at the C-100 18th Annual Conference

Each annual conference features a large session bringing together young professionals and students with Committee of 100 mentors. A mentor is a “loyal advisor,” a mentee a “faithful student,” said Wells Fargo Executive Vice President Iris Chan, corporate sponsor of the session. She joked about John Podesta, moderator of the previous panel on public service, warning that taking a job in the public sector can mean a 40% pay cut for those who quit a private sector job. “Today, if you stay in the private sector, especially in banking, you will probably get more than a 40% pay cut!”

Iris Chan, Michelle Kwan, Nancy Yuan and Ben Wu at the C-100 Mentoring Event

Asian Pacific Americans in Public Service: Featuring Julie Chon, Christopher Lu, and Karen Narasaki

June 2009 | By Jane Leung Larson

Watch the video of the Asian Pacific Americans in Public Service panel at the C100 18th Annual Conference

“All joking aside, when people ask me my career advice, it’s easy to say if you go to law school with the president, it helps!” said Christopher Lu, White House Cabinet Secretary, who has been working for his Harvard Law School classmate since joining Senator Obama as his Legislative Director and Acting Chief of Staff in 2005. Lu was one of three notable Asian Americans who have chosen public service over corporate ladder-climbing, a choice that in each case has meant a large cut in pay. Julie Chon, International Economic Advisor to the Senate Banking Committee Chairman, left the financial sector in 2004 to begin work advising Senators on economic and financial legislation. Karen Narasaki, President and Executive Director of the Asian American Justice Center, comes from the world of corporate law, as does Lu, and is now a nationally-respected advocate for civil rights.