2026 Agenda

Saturday, November 7, 2026 · 8am to 5pm
MCLE Conference Center in Boston, MA
Meet the Speakers → |
Tickets →
Leading with Voice, Purpose, and Impact
In an Age of AI, Change, and Collective Action
HOW THE DAY WORKS
Round 1: Personal Personal Awareness, Voice, and Purpose
Round 2: Take Action, Voice, and Impact
Round 3: Real World Complexity and Impact
Each round builds toward this year’s theme, moving from personal awareness, to taking action, to real-
world impact. In every round, choose one of four sessions: three Core Sessions or an Executive Workshop.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
General Admission & Student
Welcome breakfast, keynote, and networking lunch, plus one Core Session in each round. Core Sessions are open to all attendees.
Executive Access Pass

Everything in General Admission, plus all three Executive Workshops: small-group sessions of 20–25. Pre-registration required.
THE DAY AT A GLANCE
FULL AGENDA
8:00
to 8:45
Registration & Welcome Breakfast
Check in, grab breakfast, and start connecting.
8:50
to 9:15
Welcome & Conference Opening
Opening remarks from ASPIRE’s Chair and Conference Co-Directors, celebrating 25 years of ASPIRE and our 15th AAWIL.
9:30
to 10:45
PERSONAL AWARENESS, VOICE, AND PURPOSE
Breakout Round 1
Core Session | Panel
From “Am I Enough?” to “I Belong Here”
Sophan Smith | Jensa Ouch | Lysa Men
Many accomplished women carry a quiet question into every room: Am I enough? Imposter syndrome often gets loudest when we step up to a new role, a bigger stage, or a room where few people look like us. Read more →
Core Session | Panel
Making Meaning: Asian American Art in a
Generative Age
Emma Na-Yun Downs | Sneha Shrestha | Trish Fontanilla (moderator)
As generative AI changes how images and stories are created, what remains uniquely human about making meaning? Two Asian American artists, one from the stage and one from public art, share how identity, culture, and lived experience shape their work. Read more →
Core Session | Interactive Presentation
Navigating Power Dynamics as an Asian American Woman
Power shapes how we lead, influence, advocate, and advance—but it is not experienced equally. This highly interactive session will explore how power dynamics uniquely show up for Asian American Women and how to navigate them with greater awareness and intention. Read more →
Executive Workshop | Interactive Activity
The Improv Mindset: How Leaders Can
Influence and Command a Room with
Confidence
Great leaders don’t just manage—they adapt, connect, invite collaboration, and inspire. The Improv Mindset equips leaders with practical improv-based tools to navigate uncertainty, build trust, gain buy-in, encourage accountability, and communicate with greater clarity and confidence.
11:00
to 12:15
TAKE ACTION, VOICE, AND IMPACT
Breakout Round 2
Core Session | Interactive Presentation
From Corporate to Fashion Founder:
Reinventing Your Career Across Cultures,
Expectations, and Change
What happens when the career you built no longer feels like the career you want? Vienne Cheung Brown shares her path from corporate America to fashion founder, and what that transition taught her about risk, reinvention, and starting over.
Core Session | Interactive Workshop
Using Data & AI in Community-Based
Work: Strengthening and Upskilling Asian American Women and Girl Leaders
This interactive session will explore how research, data, and AI can become practical tools for community leadership. Read more →
Core Session | Panel
Real Talk on Real Estate: Buying a Home in Today’s Market
Back by popular demand after a favorite session at AAWIL 2024, Real Talk on Real Estate returns with a candid look at buying a home in today’s market. Realtor Bonnie Lai and real estate attorney Nancy Lee bring both sides of the deal to the table. Read more →
Executive Workshop | Interactive Workshop
Leading in the Age of AI: The Human Skills That Matter Most
AI can execute. It can’t walk into a struggling team and tell you why it’s struggling. That’s still a human skill, and it’s increasingly the one that separates people who get promoted and recognized as true leaders from people who stay where they are. Read more →
12:15
to 1:30
Networking Lunch
Lunch is part of the program. Find your corner and meet someone new.
- Networking Bingo
- YLP & Mentoring Corner
- Theme Tables
- Lunch & Watch
1:45
to 2:45
Keynote Fireside Chat
Leading with Voice, Purpose, and Impact
Danielle Kim, Executive Director, Asian Community Fund at The Boston Foundation
Naoko Funayama, Sports Reporter, NBC Olympics & The Snow League
In conversation with Sandra Ma, Co-Founder, Jovial
3:00
to 4:15
REAL WORLD COMPLEXITY AND IMPACT
Breakout Round 3
Core Session | Panel
Beyond the Room: Connecting and
Amplifying Our Communities
Q.J. Shi | Elysia Rodriguez | Windy Pham | Trish Fontanilla (moderator)
Greater Boston is home to many Asian American organizations, leaders, and changemakers. Too often, though, they work side by side without truly connecting. Our communities are not one story. Read more →
Core Session | Interactive Workshop
Practical AI Tools for Professionals
AI is changing how we work faster than most of us can keep up. With new tools launching every week, it’s hard to know where to start or what’s actually worth your time. This interactive session skips the hype and gets hands-on. Read more →
Core Session | Activity
Ancient Wisdom, Modern Mind: A Yoga and Soundbath Experience
Join Gigi for a one-hour session on yoga philosophy, gentle movement, and a Tibetan singing bowl soundbath. Explore how yoga’s ancient wisdom helps us stay connected to our true selves and spark creativity in the modern age of Artificial Intelligence; this is an immersion created to hold space and support Asian women.
Executive Workshop | Interactive Workshop
Go With Your Flow: Designing & Sustaining a Fulfilling Portfolio Career
In this hands-on executive workshop, Grace Tkach draws on her own career journey and professional expertise to introduce F.L.O.W. — a practical framework for building a portfolio career with intention, resilience, and purpose. Read more →
4:30
to 5:00
Closing Remarks & Reflection
Reflect on the day together, and stay for the raffle drawing: every session survey you complete is an entry. You must be present to win!
Program subject to change.
