Q: What is it like to be an Asian American in a field that AAPIs do not typically pursue?
A: Coming from California, I didn’t really “feel” my race and ethnicity until I came to Washington, DC. Not many people here have that shared experience of growing up Asian American, since it is a small community. So microaggressions are real and that exists both in the workplace and out in social spaces.

It wasn’t easy getting used to being often the one of the few or, sometimes, lone Asian American in a room, but “you have to be assertive and take up your space…because if you don’t speak up for yourself and for your community, no one else will. Don’t forget that we add value by existing in this space – providing a perspective and way of problem solving unique to you. Don’t feel intimidated to own it, be visible, and be vocal.”

Q: What made you fall in love with communications and speechwriting?
A: I wanted to be a lawyer for most of my life, but working in the 2012 Obama campaign with the speechwriting team was what got me thinking there might be something better out there that uses those same skills. Instead of arguing a case in court you are making a case to voters in the court of public opinion – persuading and engaging folks to come together towards a common cause, that’s magic. But Everyone’s journey is different, but no matter what you do, always be purposeful.

Q: What are some differences between working on a campaign and working in an elected office?
A: They are both very fast-paced environments in very different ways. On the Hill, the focus is serving your constituents and making decisions on policy and legislation based on how it impacts those whom you serve. That means fighting for your district’s priorities thru making decisions on legislation/policy and providing services to those in your district – like helping someone get their VA benefits or help navigating another federal agency.

On campaigns, the goal is to win and make your case to the voters on your campaign’s vision for what you hope to accomplish if elected. So it is very much like building and growing a start-up. You are raising money and building out an operation to sell that vision to voters, and growing it out very quickly. So it requires you to be scrappy and think on your feet.

Q: How do you go about networking and finding mentors?
A: Don’t be afraid to ask for coffee meetups. No one does the job alone. If you see someone you might learn something from, don’t hesitate to reach out to them and introduce yourself. When you ask for coffee, you have to have very few clear (1 or 2), specific asks. In meeting someone, at the very least, ask for connections to other people you can potentially learn from. Make sure you leave a coffee with a contact for another coffee.

Q: How do you strike the balance between your work and personal life?
A: This line of work tires everyone, because there is always so much you have to keep track of. Learn to anticipate. Think three to five steps ahead – whether that is what you think your boss will need or how a situation plays out. You can then better manage your time since you did a lot of work ahead of time.