Leadership Development Seminar

Asian–Pacific Americans face a unique set of difficulties in contemporary American society. Though their families may have lived in America for generations, they’re routinely assumed to be recent immigrants. In the workplace, their Caucasian colleagues often mistake their culturally-learned reserve for a lack of assertiveness.

Speaking at a leadership development seminar for Asian–Pacific American professionals at The Korea Society, Linda Akutagawa, vice president for resource and business development at Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics, Inc. (LEAP), said that the most effective way to overcome these misperceptions is for Asian Americans to make it a point to share information about their communities with their friends and colleagues.

The seminar, co-organized by the Korean American League for Civic Action (KALCA) and the Young Korean Americans Network (yKan), reviewed the common stereotypes of Asian Americans and how they might be countered. Akutagawa said that many Americans see Asian Americans as a part of a large, homogenous population. They also tend to stereotype Asian Americans as wealthy, disciplined and highly educated. She urged her audience to correct these attitudes by stressing the enormous diversity of Asian American communities.

The audience then discussed their thoughts on the most pressing issues facing Asian Americans today. Many in the audience felt that they faced a glass ceiling at their companies, were frustrated by the lack of Asian American representation in the media and were concerned that Asian Americans were too fragmented and competitive to speak with a single voice.

Akutagawa noted that educating non-Asians about the history and diversity of Asian Americans can be a way to make progress on all these issues. “If we all come together as a single Asian American community,” she said in closing, “we’ll be able to make America a better place.”

Wednesday, March 26, 2008 

About the Speaker

Bridging the Gap: Understanding Asian Pacific Americans

Leadership Development Seminar 

with

Linda Akutagawa
Vice President for Resource and Business Development
Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics, Inc. (LEAP)

Linda Akutagawa is the Vice President for Resource and Business Development at Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics, Inc. (LEAP). She is responsible for LEAP’s overall fundraising and business development. She also manages and maintains relationships with LEAP’s diverse constituents ranging from Board members, program alumni, community organizations, corporations, student organizations, universities and employee network groups. Previously, Ms. Akutagawa was the Director of External Relations developing and implementing LEAP’s marketing & sales strategy for its programs and services.

Envisioned as a vehicle to develop future leaders, Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics, Inc. (LEAP) is a national, nonprofit organization founded in 1982 to achieve full participation and equality for Asian Pacific Americans (APAs). Unmatched in vision and scope, LEAP offers leadership training, publishes original public policy research, and conducts community education to advance a comprehensive strategy of APA empowerment.

LEAP has grown steadily from its roots as a volunteer organization offering community training, into a national organization with a current clientele of nearly 500 nonprofit, community and student organizations; federal, state and local government agencies; colleges and universities; and Fortune 1000 companies.

For the past twenty years, LEAP has been intent on "growing leaders." LEAP programs encourage individuals to assume leadership positions at work and in the community, to be informed and vocal about policy issues relevant to APAs, and ultimately, to become role models for future leaders.

Linda speaks and presents nationally on topics such as leadership, Asian Pacific American issues, employee network groups, diversity and networking and relationship building to a range of audiences such as corporations, student groups and community and professional organizations. Previous to joining LEAP, Linda was the Marketing Manager for Japan and Orient Tours, a tour operator specializing in Asia and the Pacific. In her 11th year at LEAP, Linda received her B.S. in International Business with a minor in Economics from California State University at Los Angeles.