Bridge Cultures,
Grow Markets

Enabling your people to rise faster and lead smarter
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Global Leadership MasteryInclusive Leadership MasteryCross-Cultural Sales AcceleratorAsian Leadership Accelerator

Maximize Your Ability
to Lead Across Cultures

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As AI transforms every industry, meaningful human interaction grows ever more essential. The foundation of business growth rests on a team's capacity to connect and build trust across cultures.

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The Multicultural Leadership Institute is your partner in this nurturing these skills. As a leading cross-cultural leadership training firm, we equip your leadership teams to engage and mobilize every colleague and client.

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Our Distinctive Approach

Led by Joy Chen, former Deputy Mayor of Los Angeles and executive recruiter for Fortune 500 leadership, we combine global leadership expertise with innovative insights from across the social sciences. Utilizing premier psychometric assessments, we equip your teams with the tools to enhance their cultural understanding and competencies.

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Together, we navigate the complexities of worldwide markets, transforming potential challenges into potent drivers of growth. Join our network of visionary organizations shaping the 21st century.

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Joy Chen keynote speaker former Deputy Mayor of Los Angeles CEO of Multicultural Leadership Institute headshot
Meet your lead trainer

JOY CHEN

A trailblazer in global leadership and cross-cultural market engagement

Joy Chen, CEO of the Multicultural Leadership Institute (MLI), is a trailblazer in global cross-cultural leadership development. A former Deputy Mayor of Los Angeles and executive recruiter for Fortune 500 CEOs and Board members, her leadership has spanned three continents and been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, Financial Times, The Economist, and Vogue China.

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As Deputy Mayor of Los Angeles, Joy led economic and workforce development for a culturally diverse city whose workforce speaks 90+ languages. Her initiatives, aimed at equipping Angelenos with the necessary skills for global economic success, endure as policy benchmarks. Transitioning to the corporate sphere, Joy joined Heidrick & Struggles and over seven years recruited global leaders across North America, Europe, and Asia.

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The pivot to leadership development was serendipitously sparked by the success of Joy's leadership blog in China, launching her there as a keynote speaker, author, and training organization founder serving millions in Asia and the Americas.

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At the Multicultural Leadership Institute, Joy and her team deliver training that integrates global leadership expertise with insights from across the social sciences, enabling audiences to connect across cultures to achieve ambitious growth targets.

See Joy's full bio, backstory and media features

Decoding Corporate America’s Unwritten Rules

A Free 5-Day Email Course for First-Gen Corporate Professionals
Unlock the insider strategies your parents never knew and school never taught you. Joy Chen—former Deputy Mayor of Los Angeles and Fortune 500 CEO headhunter—shares how to win in today’s corporate world.

Tailored Programs for Market Growth

Our programs, available both in-person and online, range from engaging keynotes to in-depth training programs. Designed to transform cultural challenges into market opportunities, they equip you to drive growth across global and domestic markets.
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FOR  LEADERS AND MEMBERS OF GLOBAL TEAMS
Global Leadership Mastery

Empower your teams to deeply engage, motivate and mobilize colleagues and clients from all backgrounds.

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FOR ALL LEADERS AND MANAGERS
Inclusive Leadership Mastery

Enable your teams to recognize and leverage cultural differences as catalysts for innovation and growth.

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FOR ERG LEADERS AND HI-PO MULTICULTURAL TALENT
Multicultural Leadership Accelerator

Equip your high-potential multicultural talent with the customized development they need to succeed in corporate leadership roles.

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FOR ASIAN PROFESSIONALS
Asian Leadership Accelerator

Empower your Asian professionals to navigate Corporate America’s unwritten rules and build the Western EQ skills to advance.

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FOR ALL AUDIENCES
Keynotes by Joy Chen

Engage and empower your audiences to greater leadership effectiveness across all global and domestic markets.

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JOY CHEN SPEAKER REEL
Watch Joy Chen in Action

Experience how Joy inspires and elevates leaders and teams worldwide.

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Trusted by:

Voices of Success

"Joy is captivating! She brings a unique blend of cutting-edge research, real-life stories and practical insights. I’d recommend her as a leadership speaker for any leadership setting."
—Ngan Nguyen
Senior Vice President,
Citi
"I highly recommend the Asian Leadership Accelerator by Joy. It was filled with incredible API-tailored knowledge and many helpful takeaways. I found so much value in the cohort interaction."
—Bernice Chao
Creative Lead,
R/GA
"This course made a huge difference in how I approach work. I’ve been sharing the techniques and lessons with coworkers who would find them useful."
—Hedi Cho
Supervisor,
Dominion Energy
"The program contains practical advice and tools we can use to succeed in corporate America. All are specific to the AAPI community and backed by research and data. It is really great!"
—Helen Ahn
Associate Director,
Merck
"The program provided me knowledge of roadblocks that I didn’t know existed, and that I can now overcome by being purposeful with my actions."
—Heather Hansen
Global Consultant,
Allstate
"Joy's program helps us to unlock the competencies we need to advance our careers, and to connect with other rising Asian leaders, so that we can uplift one another and others alongside us."
—Brian Pang
Development Director,
Electronic Arts
"I’ve done a ton of leadership training, seen many courses that rehash the same ideas, or are less actionable, or really long. Joy’s lessons are novel, and they cut to the chase, giving us only what we need to know. I’m super grateful for that."
—Lian Huang
Senior Counsel,
Genentech
"Before this course, I never really knew where to start unraveling my own invisible barriers to advancement. Through this course, I’ve found my roadmap. Now, I can confidently take back control and drive my career."
—Peter Yo
Vice President,
Robert Half
"Joy connects deeply with the hearts and minds of every audience member, inspiring and equipping us all to stronger leadership."
—Mia Newell
Director,
Pfizer
"Joy Chen is a strong and clear voice onstage. Her thought leadership is grounded in research and lived experience that makes for a compelling (and often, humorous!) listen. Her tailored content has propelled thousands of learners. The Multicultural Institute is a must-have resource for those committed to the development of leaders."
—Angela Cheng-Cimini
Chief Human Resources Officer,
Harvard Business Publishing

Bridge Cultures, Rise Faster - Get Joy's Newsletter

An insider guide to success for first-gen corporate professionals. Joy Chen—former Deputy Mayor of Los Angeles and Fortune 500 CEO headhunter—shares how to win in today’s corporate world.