About
the MLI

Above head shot of group working around a table on laptops

Developing leaders for a world without borders

At the Multicultural Leadership Institute, we cultivate the leaders of tomorrow by delivering unparalleled leadership training today.

We believe that leadership should not be an elite club.

Leadership is a human capacity.  Every person has the potential to be a leader.
And underdogs, in particular, can rise through adversity to become some of the most potent leaders. Our team is living proof of that philosophy.

We’re more than a training institute. We're an innovation powerhouse helping you cultivate leaders who can unlock the power and potential of every team member.

The MLI is a WBENC- and NSMDC-certified woman- and minority-owned business enterprise.
Headshot of Multicultural Leadership Institute CEO and former Deputy Mayor of Los Angeles Joy Chen
Joy Chen
CEO

Joy Chen is CEO of the Multicultural Leadership Institute and a former Deputy Mayor of Los Angeles.

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Headshot of Melissa Koay, Learning Experience Director of the Multicultural Leadership Institute
Melissa Koay
Learning Experience Director

Melissa Koay brings over 13 years of expertise to the learning and development sector.

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Headshot of Sophia Toh executive leadership coach of the Multicultural Leadership Institute
Sophia Toh
Executive & Leadership Coach

Sophia Toh has coached and served as a leader at two of the best-run companies in the Fortune 200.

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Trusted by:

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Asian American Leadership Accelerator

Invest in your Asian employees, unlock the world's fastest-growing consumer and business markets

Joy Chen, CEO of Multicultural Leadership Institute and former Deputy Mayor of Los Angeles addresses large Asian crowd

Keynotes & Events With Joy Chen

Engage Joy Chen to enable your people to become even more effective global leaders