Program

Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Finli, Inc.

Lori Shao is the CEO and Founder of Finli, a simple, secure, and cost-effective digital platform that financially lifts service-based small businesses. Finli is inspired by Lori’s unique perspective as an immigrant and her desire to create a premium, yet accessible solution that allows all entrepreneurs to easily receive, manage, and grow their finances.

For over two decades, Lori has built financial tech for small businesses at Wells Fargo, Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), MUFG, and most recently, served as Executive Director at JPMorgan.

Lori received a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and Management from the University of Florida and resides in Los Angeles with her husband, two children, and almost a dozen pets.

Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Singer/Musician/Actor/Host/Social Media Influencer

Matt Pablo has been a professional entertainer for 18 years and worked with Disney, Universal Studios and CBS. You can currently find him as an immersive actor/musician on the opening cast of Disney’s Star Wars Galactic Star Cruiser. You can also hear his solo recordings around the world at Disney’s Shanghai and Hongkong as well as Disney’s 50th Anniversary fireworks show in Orlando, FL.

Instagram | TikTok

President and CEO
Edison International

Pedro J. Pizarro is president and chief executive officer of Edison International, the parent company of Southern California Edison (SCE), one of the nation’s largest electric utilities. Edison International is also the parent company of Edison Energy, a portfolio of competitive businesses providing commercial and industrial customers with energy management and procurement services. He is a member of Edison International’s board of directors.

Pizarro served as president of SCE from October 2014 through May 2016, when he was elected president of Edison International. He was elected chief executive officer in October 2016. Previously, Pizarro was president of Edison Mission Energy (EME) and chaired its board of directors from 2011 until the sale of its assets to NRG Energy in April 2014. EME, a subsidiary of Edison International at the time, was an independent power producer that owned, leased, operated and sold energy and capacity from electric power generation facilities and engaged in hedging and energy trading activities in competitive power markets. Pizarro joined Edison International in 1999, moved to SCE in 2001 and progressed through several leadership roles before joining EME.

Before his work at Edison International and SCE, Pizarro was a senior engagement manager with McKinsey & Company in Los Angeles, providing management consulting services to energy, technology, engineering services and banking clients. There, he developed corporate strategy, handled mergers and acquisitions and oversaw operational and organizational engagements.

Pizarro earned a Ph.D. in chemistry from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and held National Science Foundation and Department of Defense graduate fellowships. He earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Harvard University.

Pizarro was elected as a vice chair for the Edison Electric Institute in June 2020 and serves on the boards of Electric Power Research Institute, Caltech and 3M. He served on the boards of the Analysis and Resilience Center for Systemic Risk, Argonne National Laboratory, Electric Power Supply Association, California Power Exchange, Colburn School, House Research Institute, Southern California Leadership Council and Western Energy Institute.

Pizarro serves on the Electricity Subsector Coordinating Council, which is the principal liaison between the federal government and the electric power industry to prepare for and respond to national-level disasters or threats to critical infrastructure. Pizarro represented the electric industry on the Secretary of Energy Advisory Board (SEAB) and co-chaired the SEAB Innovation Working Group. Pizarro also served on California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Task Force on Business and Jobs Recovery.

Website | LinkedIn

Vice President, Local Public Affairs
Southern California Edison

Larry Chung is vice president, Local Public Affairs, at Southern California Edison, one of the nation’s largest electric utilities. He leads the company’s organizational unit responsible for representing SCE before local and regional government officials and their staffs, including district offices of state and federal officials as well as local and regional business organizations.

Most recently, Chung served as director of Global External Affairs and Government Relations for the Walt Disney Company, where he oversaw domestic and international policy and stakeholder engagement strategy across Disney Parks, Experiences and Products. He previously led philanthropic efforts and local strategic initiatives for Disneyland Resort, focusing on community engagement in Orange County, California.

Chung formerly held senior agency roles and specialized in large-scale corporate legislative and public affairs campaigns. Earlier in his career, Chung worked in local and state government in California, focusing on energy policy and promoting electric vehicle infrastructure installations statewide.

Chung maintains his commitment to building strong communities through service on several local nonprofit boards, including Public Media Group of Southern California (PBS SoCal, KCET, Link TV) and APIs Mobilize. He is also a trustee for the University of California, Riverside. He is a native of Southern California, earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Riverside and is a graduate of the Coro Fellows Program in public affairs.

.Website | LinkedIn | Twitter

Mayor, City of San Bernardino

Helen was sworn in as the 35th Mayor of the City of San Bernardino on December 21, 2022. She is the 1st Asian American elected in the City of San Bernardino and the 1st Vietnamese Mayor in the United States.

Helen Tran is a public servant, non-profit leader, and mother of three. The daughter of Vietnamese refugees in search of the American Dream, Helen

grew up in San Bernardino. After graduating from Cajon High School, she became the first person in her family to graduate from college, earning her bachelor’s degree from UC Santa Cruz.

Helen’s professional experience started in high school, when she worked as a grassroots organizer, helping to elect candidates across Southern California. In 2006, Helen began working for the City of San Bernardino as the Executive Assistant to the Director of Human Resources. Ten years later, Helen became the youngest Director of Human Resources for the City of San Bernardino.

Helen has always been passionate about giving back to her community, and she understands the importance of reciprocity and engagement. She devotes much of her spare time to civic leadership, taking on numerous roles in the city, including: School Site Councilmember for Bob Holcomb Elementary; member of the Verdemont Revitalization Project (VRP); member of the San Bernardino League of Women Voters; member of the National Women’s Political Caucus; member of the Rotary Club of San Bernardino; member of Kiwanis; and Board Member of the Habitat for Humanity San Bernardino Area.

Helen previously served as a member of the San Bernardino County Trails Committee and a member of San Bernardino’s Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Commission.

Website | Facebook | Instagram

Public Affairs Manager, Southern California Edison
Mayor Pro Tem, City of Monterey Park

Thomas Wong is a Public Affairs Manager on the Policy Engagement Team at Southern California Edison, where he works to advance clean energy, climate and environmental policies for one of the nation’s largest electric utilities.

Thomas also serves on the boards of Climate Resolve, the San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership, and Nature for All, and is a co-chair of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce's Energy, Water and Environmental Sustainability Council.

He served for ten years as an elected boardmember for the San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District until his election in 2022 to the Monterey Park City Council, where he currently serves as Mayor Pro Tem.

He received his Bachelor's degree in Economics from Univerity of California, Los Angeles and his Master of Public Administration from Universty of Southern California.

Website | LinkedIn | Instagram

Writer and Speaker

Canwen Xu is a writer and speaker focused on covering AAPI issues. As someone who grew up in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Idaho, she aims to portray the Asian-American experience in a nuanced and authentic light.

Her TEDx talk, titled "I Am Not Your Asian Stereotype," has over 3 million views. Her writing has appeared in the Washington Post, Kansas City Star, Areo Magazine, Chalkbeat, and more. She has delivered keynote speeches at CU Boulder, Bentley University, Choate Rosemary Hall, and many other institutions. Canwen is a graduate of Columbia University and currently works at a healthcare startup.

Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter | Ted Talk

Journalist/Spokesperson/Host/Reporter/Actress/Model

Cynthia is a modern day polymath whose life has been one of perseverance and breaking boundaries, and being at the top of her field as a journalist, actress, model and recognized entrepreneur.

Cynthia is three-time Emmy award-winning journalist, Star Trek actress, keynote speaker and an award-winning journalist who’s covered Asian American issues and has been a life-long supporter and philanthropist of the APA community.

She has interviewed everyone from Oprah Winfrey to being chosen as a selected eyewitness to an execution at San Quentin's infamous prison. Cynthia has worked in the major media markets of Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas, Philadelpia, and reported internationally, covering a wide swath of issues such as globalization from Asia, immigration challenges in Latin America and street gangs in California.

As an actress, Cynthia’s portrayal of Romulan Ambassador “Caitlin Dar” in the movie, Star Trek V, earned her Trekkie fans worldwide. She has been a Cover Girl and top model for more than 40 years, as she continues to shut down stereotypes about women over 50. With more than 250K social media followers, Cynthia is a versatile storyteller who crafts stories with passion, humor and authenticity.

As a recognized entrepreneur, Cynthia was instrumental in helping co-found a hugely successful Philadelphia school-based entrepreneurship program aimed at inner-city youth.

As the national TV spokesperson for L’Oreal, Cynthia accrued millions of dollars in sales in live TV spots, establishing her as a sought-after communicator. She has been honored to emcee hundreds of Asian American community gatherings, as well as for top foreign policy groups featuring General Colin Powell and Henry Kissinger, National Bar Association Galas and Hollywood Women’s Groups. She has spoken at Bar Association events as a panelist on implicit bias and diversity.

She received her BA in Political Science/International Relations from UCLA and her JD from UCLA's Graduate School of Law. Back 1984, she was named Miss Chinatown USA.

Website | Facebook | Instagram @Cynthia_Gouw | TikTok @CynthiaGouw | YouTube | IMDb

Author/Spokesperson/Blogger

Celebrity Chef Katie Chin is an Award-winning cookbook author, caterer, Culinary Ambassador to the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation, Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Regional Ambassador and Co-chair of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’ #AAPILA Task Force.

Katie has been featured in many publications such as USA Today, O Magazine, Cooking Light, Bon Appetit, Elle, Real Simple, The Wall Street Journal, HuffPost and Epicurious. Her numerous appearances on national television include The Kelly Clarkson Show, Live with Kelly & Ryan, The Real, The Today Show, Hallmark Channel, Cooking Channel, Cutthroat Kitchen, Beat Bobby Flay, ABC's Localish and as a guest judge on Food Network’s Iron Chef America.

In 2013, Katie was a featured chef at the annual Easter Egg Roll at the White House under the Obama administration. Her fifth cookbook "Katie Chin's Global Family Cookbook" was released in June 2021.

Katie will be performing her one woman show entitled “Holy Shitake: A Wok Star is Born” at AAPI Theater Mu’s New Eyes Festival in her hometown of Minneapolis in May 2023.

Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest
LA Based AAPI Events ft. Chef Katie Chin
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Calvin Wong, Co-Owner

C&J Gardening Center is an Asian-owned business founded in 2019 by Calvin, Jason, and Wing, who have over 30 years of experience in the horticulture industry.

Starting as an online business that allowed its customers to browse for different plants from the comfort of their homes, the company has established itself as a service the community wants and enjoys. They have since opened their first store in Rancho Cucamonga, CA to provide a more traditional walk-in experience as well.

They offer a vast selection of high-quality plants, trees, and shrubs, along with a wide range of fruiting plants. Ordered online and delivered straight to your door, C&J Gardening Center has everything you need to create and maintain a beautiful outdoor space.

What sets C&J Gardening Center apart from the competition is its exceptional customer service.

The knowledgeable staff members are passionate about helping customers find solutions to their landscaping needs. They offer personalized advice and guidance, ensuring that every customer feels confident in their gardening decisions.

C&J Gardening Center is committed to sustainability, using eco-friendly practices and gardening techniques. The company is dedicated to creating a greener community, one home at a time.

Website | Facebook | Instagram

Singer/Songwriter/Acoustic Performer

After accumulating over 1.9 million streams on Spotify and SoundCloud, releasing three albums independently, being featured at the top of Amazon’s playlist and on billboards across the country, Jessica Louise is excited to be back on the scene preparing to release her first full-length album in Fall 2023. Her upcoming album titled. “Saturn Return,” is inspired by her own spiritual journey and showcases themes of love, loss, and a return to self.

In addition to being a recording artist, Jessica also owns and runs an online singing school for up-and-coming artists called, The Indie Artists’ Studio. The Indie Artists’ Studio’s mission and vision is to empower over 20,000 people around the globe to discover confidence, freedom and full self-expression through their voice.

Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | Tik Tok

CEO/Choreographer/Performer/Instructor
Bollywood Step Productions

Yogen is a Bollywood choreographer and dancer based in Pasadena, California, with over 20 years of experience in the entertainment industry in India (Bollywood) and the United States. He is a co-founder of Bollywood Step Productions, which was established in 2005. Throughout his career, Yogen has trained and worked with A-List Bollywood and Hollywood celebrities, including Priyanka Chopra, Shahrukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Aishwarya Rai, Salman Khan, AR Rahman, Tara Reid, Parminder Nagra, John Stamos, and Ellen DeGeneres, among others.

Yogen's credits include choreography for DreamWorks animation, YouTube movie Ghostmates (Smosh), as well as directing and designing Bollywood pieces for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Ellen DeGeneres Show, Hollywood Bowl, and Planet Hollywood (Las Vegas), among others. His exceptional work has been featured in The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, In Style, and various international publications.

Yogen has been recognized for his contribution to the arts community in Los Angeles and has received a proclamation from the City of Los Angeles. He also made history as the first Bollywood Dance Director to bring Bollywood shows to Disney theme parks, producing over 200 live stage shows for Disney's California Adventure.

He shares his expertise by teaching Bollywood dance on Monday evenings in Pasadena. Aside from his passion for dance, Yogen is also a Civil Engineer by profession.

LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | UrleBird
Instagram (Bollywood Step Productions)

Harpist

Tomoko Sato has been playing the harp professionally for twenty years in the Los Angeles/Orange County area. As an active chamber musician, she has frequently performed in a harp/cello duo at various venues, including the Philharmonic Society of Orange County, the Nixon Library, Hosen House, and several charity concerts and disaster relief funds. As a co-founder of Harpsody Duo and Harptet, Tomoko was invited to perform for the American Harp Society Institute. She was also a featured guest musician in such publications as The American Harp Society and edible: Orange County. She is a multiple-time recipient of the Best Business of Irvine award in the category of Musicians. She provides recordings through the platform 'Fiver' and her works can be heard in multiple films and recordings.

As an educator, Tomoko teaches students from ages 5 to 70. She has been invited several times to be an adjudicator for scholarship auditions and coaching at masterclasses at the Orange and Los Angeles Chapter of the American Harp Society. Currently, she is a harp coach at Woodbridge High School in Irvine, and a harp faculty at Concordia University Summer Music Camp, as well as a Treasurer of Orange County Chapter of American Harp Society.

Tomoko is a graduate of Chapman University, Manhattan School of Music, and holds a DMA from the University of Southern California. She is a member of the American Harp Society, Pi Kappa Lambda, the National Music Honor Society, and the Music Teachers Association of California.

Website | Instagram | Yelp | YouTube | YouTube