May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and at iProspect, we're excited to celebrate the diverse cultures and traditions that make up the AAPI community. As a company with rich Japanese heritage, we're especially proud to honor the contributions of our iProspect employees, and to recognize the impact that they have on our industry and beyond.
For May's edition of #iProud, we hear from some of our own AAPI team members: Lily Mangkhalakhili, Senior Manager of SEO; Ali Haider, Display Associate; Dana Lam, Planning Manager; and Patricia Nhan, Addressable Trading Manager, on topics ranging from cultural traditions that bring them joy, to the ways that companies can create more inclusive workplaces. We hope that by sharing these stories, we can not only celebrate AAPI Heritage Month, but also inspire others to learn more about the rich history and diversity of the AAPI Community.
How has your heritage positively influenced your personal and professional journey?
- As a first-generation American with refugee parents, I grew up watching their hard work, which instilled the work ethic I have today. However, my upbringing was not typical, and I learned a sense of independence and problem-solving at a young age. These qualities have shaped the way I approach both my personal and professional life on a day-to-day basis.
- Lily Mangkhalakhili
- Growing up, my parents made sure to keep us connected with our cultural traditions, such as paying respects to our ancestors and elders or giving thanks during the Autumn Festival. These experiences have influenced my perspective in numerous ways, such as instilling in me the values of resourcefulness, avoiding waste, and putting in 100% effort to reap the rewards of my labor. Additionally, I've learned to be more understanding and respectful towards others as I may not know the circumstances they are facing.
- Patricia Nhan
- Becoming more educated and in tune with my heritage has helped fulfill many of the steps on my Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, namely social and self-actualization needs. Being aware and proud of my heritage has helped me to set my priorities to protect traditions that are most important to me, such as taking the day off for Eid (a holiday celebrated by Muslims around the world) or speaking on my heritage to provide additional context or sensitivity to a business discussion.
- Ali Haider
What is one cultural tradition or practice that brings joy to your life?
- Food has been a great way for me to connect to my culture and it’s something that I love sharing with others!
- Lily Mangkhalakhili
- Communal cooking and eating. As a kid I never understood why it was so taboo for me to miss a meal with my family, but now I understand the significance that food has in Pakistani culture as a communal and sacred artifact. Since moving into my own apartment, I have taken great joy in inviting people over to cook and dine with me. There’s something about your hands working together to make something that you then savor together over a hearty conversation that can’t be matched by any other feeling.
- Ali Haider
In what ways do you see the AAPI community making an impact in the media industry?
- Growing up, I didn’t know anyone in my community that worked in the media industry. I believe as more AAPI professionals join the field, the more empowered future generations will become to follow their dreams. When you do what you love, you create meaningful work.
- Dana Lam
- With increased representation of AAPI communities in the media, there is now more autonomy in the way AAPI stories are told, with the stories being told by people within those communities. For many decades, AAPI and other underrepresented communities have been perceived through an Anglo-centric framework, or through caricatures of their cultures, like Apu from The Simpsons. But as media now highlights the many different cultures, traditions, and nuances that exist in Asia and the Pacific, the expectation of fitting into western stereotypes has diminished, allowing people in AAPI communities to hold more power.
- Ali Haider
- I think the most visible impact in the industry is seeing AAPI representation on-screen and within leadership roles across major companies. As we see more representation, I hope that this will encourage the next generation of young professionals to find their voices and be involved in continuously changing media perception.
- Patricia Nhan
What steps do you think companies can take to create a more inclusive workplace, particularly for underrepresented groups?
- To create a more inclusive workplace, especially for underrepresented groups, we should increase our awareness and education on the qualities that make a good leader. While celebrating AAPI Heritage Month and recognizing the positive impact of our heritage is essential, we also need to have honest conversations about how it has affected us, including any negative impacts on our professional lives and those of others.
- Lily Mangkhalakhili
- I believe that a company’s infrastructure plays as much of a role in inclusion as a company’s public statements and resources do. For example, there could be structural changes that allow workers to participate in cultural holidays without using their limited paid time off.
- Ali Haider
- Companies can provide spaces for underrepresented groups to form networks and ensure their multi-cultural resources are more widely known across the board.
- Dana Lam
What can we do to support and uplift the AAPI community beyond Heritage Month?
- It is important to become aware of the common stereotypes and biases that impact the community, as well as the harm they can cause.
- Dana Lam
- I highly recommend connecting with local organizations in your area and attending year-round events, such as those hosted by JACCC, which aim to share cultural knowledge through virtual/live workshops. Additionally, shopping at your local AAPI-owned businesses is another great way to show your support.
- Patricia Nhan
Who is one person in your life who has been instrumental in helping you connect with your cultural identity?
- My professor in undergrad at TCU, Dr. Rima Abunasser, who taught my Non-Western World Literature, Middle Eastern and North African Literature classes and encouraged me to submit my research paper to a scholarship festival which later got published. Not only did she fuel my passion for postcolonial and diaspora literature but helped me reframe how I perceived my identity as a child of Pakistani immigrants, as she encouraged me to draw many parallels with my experiences with those of the people and stories I wrote about during my research.
- Ali Haider
- My mom has been amazing at helping me stay connected to my roots.
- Dana Lam
In what ways have you seen iProspect actively work to promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace, and what impact has it had on you and your colleagues?
- I’ve seen DEI promoted through the creation and encouragement of participation in BRGs such as Asian@dentsu and I’ve also had the pleasure of participating in McKinsey’s Asian Management Accelerator program via dentsu as well. These groups foster such a great sense of community and provide a good way to connect amongst a unique group of people with a shared identity.
- Lily Mangkhalakhili
What role do you think our BRGs can play in promoting diversity and inclusion both within dentsu and in the wider industry?
- It’s great to see our BRGs connecting us to organizations outside of dentsu that hold similar goals to promote diversity and inclusion! The relationships we build within these communities are invaluable to our personal and professional growth.
- Dana Lam
- Something I’ve chatted with my peers about at length during an AMA was how to show up as your authentic self in a corporate environment. I think sometimes we are pressured to conform to roles and expectations rather than celebrating differences. BRGs are a great reminder that we should do just that.
- Lily Mangkhalakhili
- With the new hybrid/virtual workspace, it can be beneficial in connecting with others from different walks of life, helping us understand one another a bit more. Being able to have a sense of community can foster confidence and support to drive innovation and change.
- Patricia Nhan
