PRESS RELEASE

November 12 , 2018

NAAAP Detroit Inaugural Community Conversations: Emerging Careers Event Resounding Success with a Packed House!

DETROIT, MI – On November 10, 2018, the National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP) Detroit Chapter held its inaugural Community Conversations event in the beautiful Beacon Space at One Woodward in Detroit. Addressing the disruptive changes of our times and attendant Emerging Careers, NAAAP presented an interactive panel discussion with highly accomplished and dynamic keynote speakers Linglong He, Chief Information Officer of Quicken Loans, and leading Organizational Development innovator Chris Groscurth, PhD, author of recently published book “Future-Proof Leadership: The Fourth Industrial Revolution”, and inventor/entrepreneur Sanjay Dhall, founder of Detroit Flying Cars, and moderated by leading Midwest VC, Chris Olsen, Co-founder of Drive Capital. Cyndy Yu-Robinson, Executive Director, NAAAP National also shared the rich programing and network resources available to us through the 30 chapters strong NAAAP National organization.

The event drew a very diverse audience from the Greater Detroit area ranging from seasoned professionals with leading companies, community leaders from the various Asian American communities, educators, entrepreneurs, and many young professionals and students from area universities. NAAAP Detroit is truly grateful for the overwhelmingly positive audience response to this Inaugural Community Conversations: Emerging Careers program. We are also very grateful to the amazing speakers, all our wonderful sponsors who supported us with funding and participation, and the engaged participants who embraced our interactive panel discussion with enthusiasm.

As we considered the why, how and what of our dynamically changing environment, and the skills required to be successful, the stories and insights from personal journeys of our intriguing speakers pointed us to a shared understanding perhaps different than what many may have expected. Yes, it is increasingly a data-driven world, and data science professionals are in high demand. But we heard caution not to be reactive to chase in-demand jobs of the moment, only to find that AI and Machine Learning equipped robots can do math and engineering better than humans. Key takeaway was that we must be “adaptive”, retooling our mindsets in addition to retooling skills, and above all invest time and effort on understanding our true value as individuals and boldly step out of our comfort zones and move forward with courage, working in our passion and on our dreams. These are timeless human qualities and skills.

This event was possible through generous support from leading sponsor companies: Quicken Loans Inc., General Motors, Chrysan Industries Inc., ACRO Services Corp., Slalom, Michigan Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission (MAPAAC), Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and BDO USA, LLP. Partner organizations included: Asian Pacific American Chamber of Commerce (APACC), Association of Chinese Americans, Inc. (ACA), Council of Asian Pacific Americans (CAPA), Chinese Association of Greater Detroit (CAGD), Young Professional Network (YPN), and Asian Pacific Islander American News Network – Parent of Dragon Eagle TV. And the selfless, hard-working, all volunteer team at NAAAP Detroit.

NAAAP is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and leading organization in North America that cultivates and empowers Asian American leaders through professional development, community service, and networking. NAAAP has a long tradition in the US and Canada, and the NAAAP Detroit Chapter, founded in 2016, is led and supported by dynamic and committed volunteers with diverse professional backgrounds. NAAAP Detroit Chapter encourages members and friends to join to provide and experience leadership and professional development programs and service experiences to grow personally and to contribute to the growth of others in NAAAP and where they work and live.  Go to www.naaapdetroit.org and www.naaap.org for more information.