Workshops
Our workshops are connected to our theme, "Dare to Envision," and they are broken into 3 Breakout Sessions:
Motivation: What's Your Why?
Making an Impact
Creating your Brand
This Breakout Session will contain workshops circulating around the concepts of planning. Our speakers will discuss the importance of planning and determining your goals. These interactive workshops will help you better develop your personal or career oriented goals by becoming more aware of timelines and setting objectives.
This Breakout Session will have workshops focused on the ideas of creating an impact, whether it be within the the workplace, in an organization, or during your career. Our speakers will talk to you about subjects such as Lean Six Sigma, Asian Americans in Leadership, and taking action in your passion.
This Breakout Session has workshops focused on the concept of creating and maintaining your brand. These speakers will talk about the vitality of protecting your brand online, in the workplace, and among colleagues. Within these workshops, you will hear about the speaker's experiences and learn about how to obtain opportunies by preserving your brand.
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Short Term and Long Term Goals
Speaker: Christopher Lee
Profession: Occupational Therapist, Fitness Specialist/Strength & Conditioning Intern at Penn Athletics and Drexel Recreation
Is it difficult to find your motivation to complete school assignments? Are you struggling to get out of bed on Monday morning? Lack of motivation is an obstacle in school and the workplace producing hampered results. Learn how to find grounding resolve to reach your most ambitious goals. This session will provide practices for establishing determined thought patterns and behaviors to achieve successful outcomes. By the end, participants will leave having a renewed drive for their daily responsibilities.
Army Medicine
Speaker: Brigadier General John M. Cho
Profession: Deputy of Chief of Staff for Support, United States Army Medical Command
One team...One Purpose! There are myriad opportunities and benefits to serving the nation as an Army Medical Department (AMEDD) healthcare professional. From medical school scholarships to graduate medical education residencies and internships to post board certification assignments, Army Medicine provides tremendous opportunities to receive a top-tier education and to serve and care those who provide for the national defense. As the US Army is known as the nation's premier organization for leader development, AMEDD personnel gain valuable leadership and team building skills- skills which can be utilized to lead change while in uniform and to enhance one's ability to lead civilian healthcare organizations post military service. This workshop will highlight opportunities and benefits which in many ways are unique to Army Medicine.
Planning for Life After Undergrad
Speaker: Rose Holandez
Profession: Acting Regional Administrator for the Women’s Bureau of the U. S. Department of Labor
With at least 10 years of experience in public policy and government relations, Rose Holandez has great experience and stories to share for planning for life after undergrad. What can you do now to prepare for undergrad, such as getting a good internship or building relationships with your professors, and how do you get there? She will also discuss important after graduation topics, such as volunteering, salary negotiations, and international vs. domestic careers, and how they can shape your life after graduation.
Thinking Beyond Professionalism: How Do We Exist as “Model Minorities” in the Workplace?
Speaker: Melody Lam
Profession: Consultant at Booz Allen Hamilton
Talks of racial identity have been perpetually intertwined in the current political climate. But that’s OK! As an Asian American, you may have been told to disregard it. You may have even heard about the Tiger Moms, or the Asians who are good at math and science (hence why you are probably pursuing STEM), and believe that it applies to you. In the professional world, you may be encouraged to embrace such characteristics of the model minority myth. But do you really have to? Come join this workshop as we explore how we can tackle the model minority myth while also exploring how race can intersect with your profession and your branding. This goes beyond the goals you can make. It’s about how you will make your identity a part of your brand.
The Four “P”earls of My Acquired Wisdom
Speaker: Michael Mau
Profession: Diversity Program Chief of the CIA
The Four P’s of My Acquired Wisdom is an individual's perspective on career assessment, tracking, and creating your Life story. Have you ever taken the time to examine what fate and factors brought you to where you are today. How do you want them to lead you tomorrow? The presenter will share the experiences of his 25 year journey through the CIA in a thoughtful and often entertaining fashion. The presentation will touch on a variety of themes such as; chartering your life and career path, preparing to succeed, the power of networking, and finding and satisfying your passion. The Four P's is not a “How to have a successful career”, but a presentation on identifying and understanding the signposts along the road that can lead to a rewarding career and the fundamentals for building your personal story.
Three Ways Mentorship and Service Can Inspire Your Own Success
Speaker: Michelle Myers
Profession: Associate English Professor, Faculty Advisor Spoken Word Poetry Club, Host, Two-Time Emmy-nominated "Drop the Mic" TV Show on CCPTV
In this interactive workshop, participants will learn three ways that helping others can contribute to their own success. Through story-telling, discussion, and other activities, participants will identify and consider practical and tangible ways that giving back can help to inspire their own passion for learning new ideas, meeting other people, and seeking to be a self-identified “better person.” Some attention will also be given to issues specific to being AAPI as it relates to this topic (for example, addressing the real pressures imposed on AAPIs as a result of the Model Minority Myth). The workshop will end with reflection and a take-away activity.
Things I Wish I Had Learned Earlier in my Career
Panelists: Ken S. (CIA), Albert Sze (GE) LTC Steve Chang (US Army), Major Sun (Marines)
Sponsors: CIA, GE, US Army, Marines
In this interactive panel, our sponsors will draw on their experiences to raise awareness of common mistakes people make early in their careers. You will gain insight on what you can do differently to steer your career in a fulfilling way. These talented speakers share with you the things they wished they had learned on their path to achievement.
Dare to be Different
Speaker: Dee Luo
Profession: Research scientist at Harvard Med School/Brigham and Women's Hospital
In STEM fields, there is an illusion that there are defined paths to success - you get a certain number of degrees, work for a certain number of years in a company, and you should succeed. However, despite the fact that Asian-Americans are highly educated and top performing, they are often missing from management positions. Maybe it’s time to veer off the broken path. In this interactive workshop, you will be challenged to define what makes you unique, given the tools and inspiration to develop those unique traits, and then taught how to use your particular strengths and weaknesses to reach your goals, your way. Even if you’ve found your path, there are about 50 million people aged 18-29 years old competing for limited jobs, promotions, and grants in the US. Can you outwork these numbers, or will you just have to find your edge?
Breaking The Bamboo Ceiling - Asian Americans in Leadership
Moderator: Jin Wen: Professor at Drexel University of the Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering
Panelists:
1. Dr. Grace Hsuan, Ph.D., P.E.: Professor at Drexel University (the Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering);
2. Dr. Chris Pak: President & CEO at Molecular Targeting Technologies, Inc., Molecular Targeting Technologies, Inc. is a privately held biotechnology company primarily focused on the identification, evaluation, acquisition and development of novel technologies for diagnosis and treatment of human diseases;
3. Dr. Lung-Yang Lai, Ph.D., P.E., S.E.: President at SPECIALTY ENGINEERING, INC., which is a multi-discipline structural engineering consulting and research firm focusing on Highway and Railroad Bridge Design, Analysis, Rehabilitation, Inspection, and related engineering services.
Although being considered as “model minorities”, Asian Americans are greatly underrepresented in leadership positions, which is referred to as the “bamboo ceiling” phenomenon (Harvard Business Review, December 2016). In this workshop, we have invited several successful scientists and/or engineers who are currently in leadership positions as our panelists. They will share their success stories, learned lessons, and also to discuss the challenges they have encountered. An interactive panelist-audience discussion session will confer topics such as key leadership skills to possess, major mistakes to avoid, and other topics that the audiences are interested in.
Dare to Make an Impact: The 6 E's of Leadership
Speaker: Matt Diaz
Do you think goals are important? Are you able to achieve on command? Are you aware of the impact that you are already creating?
Join SASE’s own Collegiate Program Coordinator, Matt Diaz, in this interactive workshop where he shares a simple system for achievement that you can apply to any area of your life. You will utilize the SASE 6E Leadership Self Assessment to help develop your awareness of where your current skillsets are relative to those needed to accomplish your goals.
The SASE 6E LSA is a tool that allows the participant to track and measure progress over time. It challenges the participant and coach (if applicable) to focus on a few key areas to help the participant grow their leadership capacity to create more impact.
What is your story? Lieutenant Colonel Steven Chang will talk about his story as a son of immigrants and first generation soldier. Learn about his experience leading on the front lines, and how his experiences taught him important elements of success. He will also discuss the implications of STEM in the U.S. Army. What is the impact of science and technology in war? What’s the importance of STEM to National Security? What are the aspects of a traditional education versus a non-linear path? These are all questions he will address in this workshop, and will discuss what opportunities to lead in a STEM field in the army, such as cyber security, communications, and R&D.
Speaker: Lt. Col. Steven Chang
Profession: Commander of the New England Recruiting Battalion of the U.S. Army
An Army Story, as a Son of Immigrants and First Generation Soldier
Are you pursuing pre-med or a health profession? Then you need attend this workshop with Dr. Tracey C. Vlahovic, a dermatologist and clinician associate professor at the Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine. Dr. Tracey will walk you through how to assess a patient’s history and diagnose the problem. Every medical professional, from family practitioners to emergency physicians or even podiatrists, know the simple mnemonic algorithm of questions to quickly assess any medical issue. Attend this workshop to get a leg up on your first day of medical school and breeze through those emergency room visits!
Speaker: Dr. Tracey C. Vlahovic, DPM FFPM
Profession: Clinician Associate Professor at Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine
Patient History Taking Amongst Health Care Professionals
Social media platforms are a staple for any company that wants to spread and develop their brand by reaching out to and interacting with their base. Your SASE chapter should be no different. This workshop will aim to teach chapters how they can best utilize existing social media platforms to create and further their brand while growing and retaining their membership. Chapters will also have the opportunity to learn about best social media practices from each other, and to implement new strategies when NERC2017 is over. All, especially chapter marketing heads, are highly encouraged to attend!
Speakers: Omer Bakshi and Alex Chen (Northeast Regional Marketing Representatives)
Your Brand and Social Media
Overcome CommunicASIAN Challenges - Manage & Lead
Speakers: Deonne Francisco - Manager, Process/Operations Improvement
(Comodo Group), Francine Nieva - Engineering Supervisor, GOLD rotational program
(Con Edison)
Having the opportunity to be a manager or leader early in your career is both rewarding and challenging. A majority of us desire to be more successful, make more money and move up the organizational chart; but it is important for us to understand the challenges that are ahead, the expectations we need to meet and the communication skills needed in order to be successful at managing or leading a team. This interactive workshop will go through the many challenges young professionals in management and leadership positions face. Learn important soft-skills people look for in a manager or leader. This workshop will teach you how to overcome difficult situations, communicate more efficiently and be seen as a successful manager or leader by your boss, your peers and direct reports. Hear from SASE volunteers that have leveraged SASE opportunities for their career advancements.
This workshop will focus on introducing students to the power that participants have to make an impact on their schools and local communities. This workshop will introduce students on how to identify what inspires them and what they are passionate about. Furthermore, how to leverage their strengths and talents to create change in their schools and local communities. Students will learn foundational and advanced advocacy strategies and discover how they can truly make an impact in their communities on the issues that matter most to them.
Speaker: Tiffany Lawson
Profession: Executive Director of the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs