The Asian
American Leadership Accelerator

a 6-week online course on the unwritten rules of the corporate game

Join the waitlist for Spring '23 cohorts >

 

 

 

 

Break through and build a life of greater opportunity, impact and wealth

 

Meet your teacher

Joy Chen 陈愉


Joy knows exactly how companies choose leaders, because for seven years, she did the choosing, as an executive search consultant to Fortune 500 companies.

Before that, she served as Deputy Mayor of Los Angeles.

Now, she's CEO of the Multicultural Leadership Institute.

For her global leadership in unleashing human potential, Joy's been featured across:

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See Joy's story and bio >

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Many companies are struggling to develop Asian American leaders

 

Asian American corporate pyramid


Asian Americans comprise:

6% of the U.S. population,

13% of the professional workforce, but only

1.5% of Fortune 500 corporate officers.

Asian Americans’ promotion rate is less than that of whites, African Americans or Latinos.

So, the Asian American glass ceiling doesn't look like a slab of glass. It's more like air pollution, hard to see at first, but over time, it stifles the career of nearly every Asian American.

 

What's going wrong ?


Most leadership training programs are made by and for folks who were brought up with Western mindsets and behaviors.

That works well for most Americans, just not for Asian Americans. 

Wait. Aren't Asian American adults -- American? 

Yes, but...

Asian American immigrant stats


71% of Asian American adults over age 25 were born in another country, 
compared to 17% of all American adults.

So, the reason Asian Americans maintain the mindsets and behaviors from the old country is that ¾ of us are from the old country!

And most Asian Americans who were born in the USA are the kids of those immigrants. So, even if we speak native-level English, the ways of the old country are still deeply embedded. 

Since only 17% of all American adults are immigrants, most American companies are by Western norms.  

To succeed, one must behave according to unwritten rules that most Americans were trained in growing up, but which are very different from the way Asian Americans were trained growing up. 

For Asian Americans, one-size-fits-all leadership training programs often do more harm than good 


Well-intended leaders often offer Asian Americans the generalized leadership training they give everyone.

When the programs fail, leaders conclude the trainees lack leadership potential after all. The trainees end up further marginalized and the stereotypes of Asian Americans as lacking leadership skills end up further reinforced.

There is a better way...

Join the waitlist >

Disappointed Asian woman

The Asian American Leadership Accelerator


We offer a 6-week online course and social learning experience to help you learn and master the unwritten rules of the game. 

The Accelerator is created and taught by Joy Chen a child of immigrants who transitioned from outsider to the ultimate insider, as Deputy Mayor of Los Angeles and then an executive search consultant finding CEOs and board members for Fortune 500 companies.

Inside, you'll gain clarity on the unique workplace challenges which confront you as an Asian Americans. And you'll gain the tools you need to break through and build for yourself a life of greater opportunity, impact and wealth. 

Key features

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Shortcuts to success


Finally, understand the unique barriers that face Asian Americans and learn step by step how to overcome them more quickly and easily.

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100% success rate


Based on student feedback surveys, 100% of students said they achieved the results they desired from the Asian American Leadership Accelerator.

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Proven plan for growth 


Get tried and true steps based on cutting-edge research and the experiences of Joy Chen and  of 4,000 candidates she has interviewed as a global executive search consultant.


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Fully tailored resources 


All course content and materials are focused on helping you navigate your career as an Asian American in the workplace.

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Social and experiential 


Video content, engaging research, real-life stories, discussions, simulations, and actionable strategies.

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Network of peers


A network of rising Asian American leaders with whom to learn and grow and exchange resources together.


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
Hedi Cho
Before, I never knew how 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-1
Peter Yo
I highly recommend the Asian American Leadership Accelerator. It's filled with incredible API-tailored knowledge and many helpful takeaways. And I found so much value in the cohort interaction.
Bernice Chao
Bernice Chao
Everyone in our cohort was so open and candid, it was really empowering to see what hardships others are going through, and to be able to share and support one another.
Nidhi_Kharbanda
Nidhi Kharbanda
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
Brian Pang
The course 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
Heather Hansen
I've never seen anyone so clearly articulate the challenges for Asian Americans. Joy does it with such compassion and positivity, and always with clear steps for forward action.
Melissa_Yu
Melissa Yu
Joy nailed it with the unwritten rules! Throughout my career, I’ve been asking these questions and didn’t seem to get clear answers anywhere. This course has it and keeps echoing in my ears.
Carmen Kwong
Carmen Kwong
The course 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
Helen Ahn
Joy understands at the deepest level possible the challenges facing AAPI managers and leaders. She explains things in a way that resonates. I’ve benefited tremendously from her teaching.
Wen Nannen
Wen Nannen
The lessons are very well-organized and informative. Breaking the glass ceiling takes time and effort. I learned practical steps, and met a great group of people working toward this goal.
Changying Zheng
Changying Zheng
This program gave me insight into unique workplace challenges for the Asian community, gave me confidence, and helped me embrace what it means to be an authentic, quiet leader.
Jenny Yu
Jenny Yu
Our parents didn’t equip us for corporate America. There are no corporate programs dedicated to serving our needs. This program would benefit anyone of Asian origin.
Robert Chan
Robert Chan

Next launch: Spring 2023

 Sign up to join the waitlist