Featured Stories, Elevate Women In STEAM+

Sheena Yap Chan: Elevating Women’s Leadership and Self-Confidence through Media and Empowerment

by Shruti Sood

Sheena Yap Chan is a Wall Street Journal bestselling author, keynote speaker, strategist, and award-winning podcaster renowned for her expertise in elevating leadership and self-confidence through media. She is the founder and host of the acclaimed podcast, The Tao of Self-Confidence, where she interviews women about their journeys to self-confidence. With over one million downloads, her podcast ranks among the top 0.5% most popular shows globally and features over 800 interviews, including conversations with celebrities and eight-figure CEOs. Sheena’s influence extends beyond podcasting. Her debut book, The Tao of Self-Confidence: A Guide to Moving Beyond Trauma and Awakening the Leader Within, published by Wiley, is a Wall Street Journal and Publishers Weekly bestseller. It is also recognized as one of the top 20 best self-confidence books of all time by Book Authority, the world’s leading site for book recommendations. ···

Miss New York USA Marizza Delgado to Young Girls in STEM: “You Deserve a Seat at the Table”

by Celine Lagundi

Regardless if it’s a matter of crunching numbers or earning crowns, for Filipino-American beauty queen and data scientist Marizza Delgado, the possibilities are endless.

A typical morning for the newly crowned Miss New York USA starts like this: she gets ready for work as a data scientist at Rent the Runway, where she uses her skills to collect data for smoother user experiences. Then, depending on what the day calls for, the beauty queen switches codes and prepares for interviews and speaking engagements as Miss New York USA, or packs for an actual runway or shoot as a fashion model. For a generation who grew up with Barbie movies and Hannah Montana, it seems natural to live vicariously through women like Marizza Delgado: someone who enjoys the “best of both worlds.” ···

Feminist Activist Feature: Amanda Nguyen

by Feminist

Amanda Nguyen is about to make history as the first Vietnamese woman and the first Southeast Asian woman to go up to outer space. Growing up, Amanda dreamed of becoming an astronaut, but her dreams were derailed when she was sexually assaulted while pursuing her degree at Harvard University. After this experience, Amanda became a champion for the rights of survivors, helping to pass sexual assault survivor rights in the United States and United Nations. She also ignited the Stop Asian Hate movement, was nominated for the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize, and is a 2022 TIME Woman of the Year. Now, Amanda is back on track to pursue her dream of flying to outer space in the upcoming Blue Origin launch. ···

This SA survivor is making mental healthcare more equitable and accessible for Pan-Asian communities

by Feminist

Carrie Zhang, founder of the Asian Mental Health Project, is an advocate for mental health equity, focusing on the intersections of her identity. A bisexual, cisgender woman and survivor of sexual violence, she is dedicated to creating inclusive care spaces for AANHPI and LGBTQIA+ individuals, as well as survivors of sexual and gender-based violence. Carrie grew up in Southern California and is the daughter of Taiwanese and Chinese immigrants.

Currently, Carrie also works in public policy research at a civil rights organization, helping everyday people write laws. Carrie's work has been featured in Vogue, TIME, and CNN. Her work has been recognized by A24, through an auction by the Academy Award-Winning movie, Everything Everywhere All at Once.. ···

Kyla Zhao, two-time published author at age 25, wants you to open up about imposter syndrome.

by Saw Yone Yone

Cloistered in California, Kyla was depressed and homesick. With the widespread Asian hate in the United States then, she wanted to see Asians like herself portrayed more joyfully. Writing The Fraud Squad was an imaginative escape amidst the pandemic reality.

“I crafted this glamorous fantasy high society. That was fun to write about when we were all stuck at home during lockdown in our pyjamas,” she recalled. “Writing about my favourite places in Singapore, my favourite foods, I could stay connected to home at a time when I didn't know when I would be home again.”

The Fraud Squad was sold to Penguin Brenham House in 2021 and published in 2023.

It was the first time she ever wrote a book. ···

Beyond Expertise: Women 2.0 and Girl Geek X Founder Angie Chang

by BenQ

The slash entrepreneur Angie Chang shares her career path and her efforts in creating a positive female working environment in the tech industry.

Starting her journey as a web designer in high school and later transitioning into a social welfare student at UC Berkeley, Angie Chang explored many different career opportunities during her youth. Following these experiences, she started her first engineering job at a venture-funded startup in Palo Alto, California. She’s since gained experience in a number of different roles, from engineering to product management and business development.

In 2008, Angie co-founded Women 2.0 and Girl Geek X, both of which aim to create connections between women and technology. She also started hosting Bay Area Girl Geek Dinners at tech companies like Google and Facebook to further the connections and opportunities she is creating for women in technology. ···

‘Take Me Home’ Director Liz Sargent on a New Kind of Disability Storytelling (Guest Column)

by Liz Sargent

When I set out to make my short film Take Me Home, I wanted to raise questions about our responsibilities to family as we grow older. The film captures a feared transitional moment for families that include a loved one who cannot live on their own: What is inherited? How do we navigate the hurdles of the American health care system when we are living on the margins of life?

I grew up as the middle child of 11. My adoptive parents had four biological children, then adopted seven more - six of whom are Korean, several with disabilities. We grew up in a John Hughes-esque suburb of America on a picturesque street. Our family stood out whether we liked it or not. Inside the house, however, adoption and disability were the norm. Everyone was the same, because everyone was different. ···

Sarah Bond Makes History As The First Black Woman President At Xbox

by Sara Keenan

Microsoft has appointed Sarah Bond as the president of Xbox. According to Black Girl Gamers, Bond is the first Black woman to hold such a role at a major multinational gaming company.

Bond has been with Microsoft for almost seven years. In 2017, she joined the company as a Corporate Vice President of Gaming Partnerships and Business Development.

While in this role, she led business development, partner management, and M&A for the Xbox Division while also being the executive sponsor of Blacks @ Microsoft Employee Resource Group.

She then led the product and experience for game creators across all Microsoft software, including Xbox, Azure, and Microsoft 365, in her new role as Corporate Vice President at Xbox.

She was responsible for helping to improve the gaming experience and bringing the expertise and ecosystem to more gamers. ···

Bianca Bustamante joins the McLaren Driver Development programme and will represent McLaren and ART

by Biancabustamante.com

18-year-old racing driver from the Philippines, Bianca Bustamante, has signed with the McLaren Driver Development programme for the upcoming 2024 F1 Academy season. Bustamante is set to drive for ART Grand Prix in her second year in the all-women junior formula category, proudly representing McLaren Racing and sporting their iconic “Papaya” team livery throughout the year.

Being the first female driver to be enrolled in McLaren's esteemed driver development initiative marks a significant milestone for the Filipina teen, not only in her professional racing career but also on her journey up the motorsport ladder. The programme creates a potential talent pipeline for not only McLaren Formula 1 Team, but also the Arrow McLaren Indycar Team and the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team. By joining the McLaren Driver Development programme under the guidance of former McLaren test driver, Formula 1 driver, and Le Mans winner, Emanuele Pirro, Bustamante's racing career will reach new heights as the team is fully devoted to helping her unlock and maximize her true potential on and off the track. ···