May 9, 2024
5:00 pm - 7:30pm
The Merage School's Asian/Pacific Islander Initiative and Ascend OC
Present
"Aspiring to Ascend Above & Beyond"
Join the Merage School's Asian/Pacific Islander (API) Initiative and Ascend Orange County for a special collaborative panel and networking event. This event seeks to empower early career professionals and soon-to-be professionals with tangible tips for career success.
Distinguished panelists will share their personal experiences, challenges, and triumphs encountered throughout their careers as API professionals. Through candid conversations and engaging dialogue, gain invaluable guidance on navigating the ever-changing landscape of the professional world and perspectives on how the corporate workplace has evolved for API-identifying individuals.
Topics addressed include:
- Early career tips
- Cultural identity in the workplace
- Overcoming challenges
- Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)
- Career advancement
- Personal branding
- Mentorship, and more!
Following the panel discussion, attendees are welcome to join a networking reception to expand and develop meaningful professional connections.
Ascend is powered by a network of accomplished professionals and executives from Fortune 500 companies who generously volunteer their time in order to advance the state of API equity at work. Launched in January 2019, Ascend Orange County serves the third-largest Pan-Asian population in the U.S. The Chapter provides members with opportunities to enhance their leadership skills, to strengthen and develop business opportunities, and to create a legacy for future generations.
ascendoc.org
Speakers
Felicia Peng
Vice President
Experian
As Vice President of Strategic Housing Sales, Felicia Peng leads a sales team focused on collaborating, innovating and solving challenges to deliver growth with our strategic mortgage and rental partners. She is a versatile, results-driven and goal oriented sales and product marketing professional with more than 20 years of experience in the competitive and highly regulated information and financial services industry. Prior to her current sales management and business development focus at Experian Mortgage, Felicia was responsible for product management and development of Experian’s prospecting and acquisition suite of credit services. She led a team focused on product innovation and go-to-market programs that helped lenders refine their credit marketing strategies and exceed their acquisition and prospecting goals. Before joining Experian in 2004, Felicia spent four years in the investment management industry in Toronto, Canada, and Connecticut. She holds a Master of Business Adminstration, Marketing and Strategic Management degree from Pennsylvania State University, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada.
Kaamini Sheth Srinivasan
Strategic Sourcing
Capital Group
Kamini Sheth Srinivasan - Strategic Sourcing Lead at The Capital Group Companies (CG) – Strategic Sourcing and Procurement (SSnP) partners with senior leaders across Client Groups and suppliers as a trusted advisor for 3rd Party Sourcing and Vendor Management. Her passion for DE&I within CG spans as a Global Lead to CG SPICE [BRC - Business Resource Community] and member/lead to various other CG DE&I communities Kamini serves as VP National Programs, Co-VP Sponsor Relations and Chief of Staff for Ascend OC Chapter. Kamini lives in Irvine, CA with her spouse and 7-year-old daughter. She enjoys cooking, walking, traveling, and listening to music.
Cindy Tjoe
Partner
KPMG
Cindy Tjoe is a Partner in KPMG’s Securitization practice with over 20 years of experience in the banking and finance industry including extensive experience in capital markets for structured finance products. Cindy has led numerous engagements across a broad range of capital markets needs for consumer and commercial lending clients including leading attestation and advisory services to securitization-related business operations and regulatory compliance. Her area of focus includes securitization transaction execution and operational review on various capital markets lifecycle.
Cindy is a people leader in her organization. She leads, mentors, coaches, and develops leadership programs for KPMG professionals in their pursuits of having successful careers with the firm. Cindy sits on the board of Orange County chapter of ASCEND – largest global network for advancing Pan-Asian professionals in the workplace. She also leads KPMG API BRG chapter and a DEI champion within KPMG’s Deal Advisory community. Outside work, she juggles life with her husband and three teenagers, serving both as soccer mom and volleyball mom.
Michael Tsai
Senior Director
EY Parthenon
Michael is a passionate advocate for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) working at Ernst & Young. At EY, Michael identified a crucial need for targeted DEI initiatives. He spearheaded the development of a successful recruiting program offering focused coaching and support to diverse candidates. This program resulted in a remarkable 150% expansion of DEI focus recruiting, demonstrating the power of tailored solutions to level the playing field.
At this event, Michael is eager to share his journey as an experienced management consultant. However, his primary focus is on fostering open dialogue and learning from the diverse perspectives of the audience. He encourages attendees to share their experiences navigating the recruitment landscape, with the goal of collectively exploring challenges and successes in building a more inclusive recruiting environment.
VJ Panaguiton MFin '21
Senior Consultant
Deloitte
Venture Capital Fellow
MODERATOR
VJ has previously had experience in Investment Banking M&A and now M&A Consulting at Deloitte Consulting. VJ services Private Equity and TMT clients on all things sell-side and buy-side activities such as M&A strategy, due-diligence, value capture / creation, and more. VJ is also very active in the DEI community being a part of the M&A DEI and Ascend External Partnerships in Deloitte Consulting. Additionally, he is also an active member of the Ascend OC Social Committee.
March 4, 2024
5:30 pm - 8:00pm
The Power of Influenc(ers)
Presented by
FILAM (Filipino Influential Leaders and Mentors)
Hosted by
UCI Paul Merage School of Business
February 28, 2024
Breaking Barriers, Empowering Voices
Join us for the inaugural API Summit hosted by The Asian/Pacific Islander (API) Initiative. This event aims to showcase the inspiring journeys and accomplishments of API leaders who are boldly breaking barriers and using their voices to drive meaningful change.
The summit will provide a dynamic and thought-provoking exploration of the challenges faced by API leaders and the resilience they exhibit in overcoming obstacles. From business and technology to arts and activism, distinguished speakers will share their personal narratives, shedding light on the diverse ways in which they have paved the way for progress within their respective fields.
This summit is not only an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of API leaders but also a platform to engage in meaningful discussions, exchange ideas, and foster meaningful connections.
All identities are welcome to attend this event!
Wednesday, February 28, 2024
2:30pm – 6:30pm
Merage School Auditorium
Simon Loo, FEMBA '17
Sherry Main, FEMBA '09
Anita Tsa, FTMBA '20
Carine Ye, FTMBA '14
