Committee of 100 Announces Next Generation Leaders Class of 2024 - New Generation, New Role Models!
Committee of 100 Announces Next Generation Leaders Class of 2024
New York, NY (April 11, 2024) – Committee of 100, a non-profit U.S. leadership organization of prominent Chinese Americans, today announced its Next Generation Leaders (NGL) Class of 2024, comprised of 21 individuals across the arts, business, technology, and finance. The new class will be formally introduced at Committee of 100’s annual Conference & Gala taking place April 19 in New York City.
Launched in 2014, Committee of 100’s NGL program convenes an exceptional group of change-makers and rising leaders from diverse sectors, leveraging a collective sense of service and purpose to elevate the impact of each individual. With this new class, there will be more than 200 NGLs across a multitude of sectors who make up a vibrant and diverse community.
"We are thrilled to introduce our newest class of 21 exceptional young leaders to the Next Generation Leaders program. At Committee of 100, we are dedicated to empowering the next generation of change-makers, encouraging them to channel their passion and energy into creating positive change," said Cindy Tsai, Interim President and Executive Director, Committee of 100. "As they embark on this journey, we look forward to witnessing their commitment to advancing our organization's dual mission in action.
Becoming a member of Committee of 100’s NGL program comes with the exclusive opportunity to join a vibrant community of like-minded leaders, motivated to work toward a more diverse and inclusive U.S. society and a more productive U.S.-China relationship. NGLs will engage with Committee of 100 and its Members to develop initiatives and content tailored to the NGL community. NGLs also receive special access to exclusive Committee of 100 programming and events. Additionally, NGLs will work on year-long impactful service projects as change-makers for positive social impact and community-building.
As part of an open application process, Committee of 100 accepted applications from exceptional young professionals and rising leaders from all sectors who are passionate about the organization’s dual missions to promote the inclusion of Chinese Americans in all aspects of American life and to advance constructive dialogue and relations between the U.S. and Greater China. Individuals who demonstrated a remarkable history of professional and personal excellence and aged forty years and younger were encouraged to apply. The full list of criteria can be reviewed here on the Committee of 100 Next Generation Leaders homepage.
The 21 new members of the Committee of 100 Next Generation Leaders 2024 class:
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Dr. Keisha A. Brown is an Associate Professor of History at Tennessee State University in the Department of History, Political Science, Geography, and Africana Studies. Professor Brown is interested in modern understandings of what she has termed Sino-Black relations. Dr. Brown’s research into Sino-Black relations examines networks of difference in China used to understand the Black foreign other through an investigation of the social and political context that the Black diaspora navigate in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as evidenced in her article “Blackness in Exile: W.E.B. Du Bois’ Role in the Formation of Representations of Blackness as Conceptualized by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)” and other related scholarship. Dr. Brown was in cohort VI of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations Public Intellectuals Program, co-founder and co-CEO of the Black China Caucus (BCC), and Co-Editor of Siyabonana: The Journal of Africana Studies.
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Dan Chen is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Richmond. She is affiliated with the University of Virginia East Asia Center and serves on the board of the Association of Chinese Political Studies. From 2021 to 2023, she was a Public Intellectuals Program Fellow at the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations. In 2018, she was a visiting fellow at the University of Sydney China Studies Centre. Dan’s research examines authoritarian rule. Focusing on China, she studies the dynamics between local forces and central power in popular culture, public opinion, news media, and local governance. Her work has been published in more than a dozen peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters. Her first book, Convenient Criticism, was published by SUNY Press in 2020. Dan grew up in Jiangsu and received a college education in Beijing, before moving to the U.S. to pursue postgraduate education and an academic career.
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Tina Cheung is a first-generation college graduate and professional from the San Francisco Bay Area. She has worked at the intersection of community development, affordable housing, social impact, DEI, and technology. As a Global Program Manager in Talent Acquisition at Visa, she leads initiatives to attract diverse talent and create pathways for marginalized individuals. Tina also serves as the Co-Lead of Visa Asians Standing Together Employee Resource Group's Bay Area Chapter and North America Community Engagement Lead, driving community engagement, culture, belonging, business impact, and professional development for the Asian and Asian American community. Before joining Visa, Tina managed projects for Twitter's global business resource groups and provided DEI strategy, driving programs for 80+ partner companies at AnitaB.org. As a former community organizer, her dedication to low-income communities and advocating for equitable access to resources reflects her passion and commitment to creating a more equitable and inclusive workplace and world.
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Virginia Cheung is a first-generation American daughter of refugee immigrant parents. Through her family’s experience, she recognizes the sacrifices and choices that shape the journey of parenthood. As a devoted mother to her 8-year-old son, she is driven by a deep commitment to ensuring a bright future for every child. With a career rooted in service and education, Virginia has emerged as a steadfast champion for marginalized children, families, and communities. In her role as Director of Advancement at Wu Yee Children's Services, Virginia has played a pivotal role in propelling the organization's funding from $20M to $80M within a span of seven years. Beyond her professional endeavors, Virginia co-founded Give a Beat Foundation, serving as Vice President, harnessing the power of music to facilitate healing in communities affected by mass incarceration. Virginia believes that early engagement, education, and forging connections across sectors is essential for all communities to thrive.
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Philip Du is a U.S Army veteran who is recognized for his significant contributions to the veteran service industry. Currently serving as the National Deputy Director of Benefits & Claims at The American Legion, Philip leads a team of 30 VA-accredited appeals officers and he provides guidance to over 3,000 VA-accredited American Legion service officer in the United States and abroad. Under his leadership, American Legion was able to help veterans and families receive more than $19 billion dollars in 2023. With expertise in various VA matters such as disability compensation, pension, appeals and overseas veterans benefits, Philip is recognized as one of the subject matter experts in the veteran service field. Philip’s commitment to serve veterans began when he was discharged from Army in 2016. Started as a volunteer at local VA hospital, he later became a professional veterans service officer accredited by the VA. In addition to his professional expertise, Philip holds certification as a Project Management Professional (PMP). Philip is actively pursuing a Juris Doctor (J.D) at Vermont Law & Graduate School. He has a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from CUNY John Jay College and a B.A in Education from Arizona State University.
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Yankun Guo is a partner in Dinsmore & Shohl LLP's business acquisitions and securities practice group. Yankun specializes in providing expert guidance to a diverse clientele, including emerging companies, venture capital funds, multinational corporations, and family offices. Her advisory services encompass a wide range of critical areas, such as entity formation, day-to-day business operations, governance of boards of directors, mergers and acquisitions, debt and equity financing transactions, fund formation, corporate venture capital initiatives, and joint ventures. Yankun’s comprehensive approach ensures that her clients are well-equipped to navigate the complexities of their business landscapes. Yankun is a frequent speaker on venture capital investments, trends in emerging companies, and cutting-edge technologies including blockchain, cryptocurrency, and artificial intelligence (AI). She lends her expertise as a mentor at programs such as Techstars and the University of Chicago's Polsky Transform accelerator. Yankun's deep understanding of evolving legal matters and her forward-thinking insights have made her a frequent source for journalists, highlighting her as a pivotal voice in her field.
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Dr. Teresa Hsu is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and the Founder and Executive Director of SPEAK (a Supportive Place for Empowering Asian Americans and Kin), an organization committed to the mental health of Asian Americans, providing education, research, and services. Dr. Hsu has 20 years of clinical experience, 7 years of leadership experience, and 9 years’ experience dedicated to program development, evaluation, and implementation. As a former Assistant Director of the Behavioral Health Integration Program (BHIP) at Montefiore Medical Center, she helped establish one of the largest pediatric-integrated behavioral health programs in the nation. Dr. Hsu has a dual appointment as an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and her research focuses on collaborative care, racism, and population health in marginalized communities. Dr. Hsu has been interviewed by The New York Times, WHYY PBS & NPR, and Modern Healthcare, amongst others.
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Andrew Lee has produced award-winning documentaries, scripted features, and series projects that have been released theatrically, digitally and/or broadcast by MGM/Orion Pictures, IFC Films/Sundance Selects, Gravitas Ventures/WarnerBros Digital, PBS, etc. His latest features include co-producing on Slamdance Film Festival 2019 documentary Seadrift about the Vietnamese refugees that settled in Texas that broadcast on PBS's Reel South series and producing on Jump Shot: The Kenny Sailors Story, executive produced by Steph Curry, about the inventor of the basketball jump shot which premiered at SXSW 2019 and released on VOD in 2020. During the pandemic, he also produced on Gold Futures Challenge winning short film “Stories Within” which is now available for educational and community screenings through Third World Newsreel. He’s now working on film and education projects covering the history of Chinese immigration to Mexico in the late 1800s and escape from persecution to Texas during the Mexican Revolution.
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Lillian Qian Lin is a senior vice president and portfolio manager in PIMCO. She was a member of PIMCO’s Americas portfolio committee for eight years, and she had also been a rotating member of the emerging markets portfolio committee. Lillian currently serves on the PIMCO Women steering committee as well as the PIMCO LEAP (Leading and Engaging as Asian Professionals) engagement committee. Prior to joining PIMCO in 2014, Lillian worked in fixed income portfolio analysis at Harvard Management Company and was a FICC (fixed income, commodities, and currencies) derivatives trader at UBS. She was named a Wall Street rising star in 2023 by Business Insider. She was awarded Role Model of the Year by ASCEND OC in 2023. She was named the Next Generation Leader of the Year in 2022 by Women in Asset Management, and was named a Rising Star at Markets Media's 2020 Women in Finance Awards. She has 11 years of investment experience and holds an MBA from MIT Sloan School of Management and an undergraduate degree in mathematics from Peking University. She ranked top out of more than 100,000 students in Beijing 2007 College Entrance Examination Gao Kao Zhuang Yuan.
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Philip Lu is a policymaker and naturalist who works at the intersection of biodiversity conservation and civic engagement. He focuses on enhancing the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to make wildlife trade sustainable, legal, and traceable. In all his interactions with wildlife, he aims to improve human-wildlife coexistence and increase public understanding of the natural world. He also serves as a Climate Change and Environment Committee member for his village government of Friendship Heights, Maryland, where he plans ways to strengthen nature-based solutions (NBS). He holds a joint MPA/MPP from Columbia University and the National University of Singapore as an Asian American Government Executives Network Scholar and a BA in Environmental Studies from Brandeis University as a Miriam and Sidney Stoneman Endowed Scholar.
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Rongfei Lu is a leader at the intersection of entrepreneurship, AI, and law. He is the co-founder and CEO of Paraply, a legal tech non-profit. Motivated by his own challenges as an immigrant, he created Paraply to provide 24/7 legal assistance with AI to underserved communities. At Uber, Rongfei leads global marketing privacy and legal compliance product strategies. He also serves on the advisory board of the International Association of Privacy Professionals. Previously, Rongfei was a researcher at Stanford AI Lab, published research and served as a reviewer at top AI conferences. He also worked on technology and national security strategy at the Hoover Institution, and the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI. He began his career at McKinsey & Company in Washington DC. Rongfei has worked in four continents and speaks five languages. He holds a master’s degree in aerospace engineering from Stanford and a bachelor's degree from Dartmouth.
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Shawn Ma is the Director of Asian American Affairs at the Office of New York Governor Kathy Hochul since 2024. He has passionately advocated for the Asian American community and quickly emerged as a shining new star. His tenure as the Special Assistant at the New York State Executive Chamber and as the Director of Operations & Strategic Projects at the New York City Mayor's Office has endowed him with substantial experience in community engagement and project management. In his role, Shawn is dedicated to strengthening connections with the Asian American community, ensuring their voices and perspectives are woven into the fabric of state policies. His commitment to the Asian American community is a testament to his belief in a more equitable and just society where every voice is heard and every culture is celebrated. Shawn holds a Master's degree from Hult International Business School and a Bachelor's degree from the University of Toronto.
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Won Palisoul is a VP of Compliance and Board Member of Asian Professional Network at SG. In 2021, she was appointed to serve as the Special Assistant to the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness. Won supported STEM talent management and collaborated with the Dept. of Labor, Veterans Affairs, Small Business Administration and the National Economic Council on supply chain and military transition programs. Prior to the Pentagon, she was an Associate Director at UBS and served in the U.S Navy and Navy Reserve. Won is Chair of Veterans Roundtable at CFANY and a Board Member of Women Veterans and Families Network. Won holds an M.A. in IT Management from Webster University and M.S. in Nonprofit Management from Columbia University SPS. She is an adjunct associate faculty of the M.S. in Human Capital Management Program. Won is married to a military veteran, and they have two children.
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Dr. Shaun Pan is currently Chief Commercial Officer at Nazdar Company, a 100-year-old leading global ink manufacturer and distributor of printing equipment and supplies. Being the first Asian executive at Nazdar and a member of the diversity, equity and inclusion committee, Shaun advocated for the value of diversity and supported the advancement of minorities and women. Prior to his current role, Shaun held a variety of P&L, sales, marketing and R&D roles at PPG, IBM and BASF, including mostly recently as Commercial Director at PPG. Shaun has broad sales, marketing, operation and team leadership experience, with a track record of business transformations, restructuring and revenue/EBIT improvements across a variety of sectors. He also had experience leading growth in the Chinese market amid a complex geopolitical landscape. Shaun holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Cornell University, a Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical Engineering from Princeton University and an MBA from New York University.
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Carl Tong is a global ultra-high net worth private banker, strategic investor, and restauranteur. He is a passionate connector of dots for his clients and loves to see people winning together. An entrepreneur and creative at heart, he also finds great joy in supporting/investing in early-stage startups and through the creation of his innovative restaurant concepts in Southern California. Carl sits on the Board for Pretend City and served previously on the Selection Committee for EvoNexus and on the Board for the Asian Pacific Community Fund. He has a bachelor’s degree from UC Irvine and lives in Irvine with his wife, Karen, and two daughters, Kayla and Chloe.
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Simon Twu is an award-winning international actor and a visionary in both educational and entertainment sectors. His professional training in vocal performance was guided by mentors from the Manhattan School of Music and the Metropolitan Opera House. Simon’s work has led him to win prestigious awards worldwide, including Oscar qualifying Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia, and showcased at Berlin International Film Festival, Beijing International Film Festival, among others. Simon has also hosted major events, from shows in Vegas, Shanghai International Film Festival, and various food shows. As a dedicated philanthropist, Simon contributes to the Boys and Girls Clubs in the advisory committee. Through Simon Technique Studio, he helped students to perform on platforms like Netflix and TED Talks. He spoke as a cultural ambassador for CCTV, underscoring the importance of global empathy between the U.S. and Greater Chinese Cultures. His song, 'We Will Win,' touched millions worldwide during the pandemic.
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Jackie Wong is an Associate Partner and Senior Expert in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at McKinsey & Company. He leads McKinsey's Race in the Workplace research study, including Asian American workers: Diversity outcomes and hidden challenges. He works with organizations across the private, public, and social sectors in DEI and culture, and leads McKinsey’s LGBTQ+ talent attraction in North America. He is also the founder of Rocker Skating, a leading figure skating analysis and news site, and is a contributing figure skating analyst for NBC. Jackie holds an MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, a Master of Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania School of Design, and a B.A. in economics and urban studies from Stanford University. Prior to McKinsey, he was a senior design architect at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and visiting faculty at the University of Pennsylvania. He is a Board member of Reaching Out MBA, a non-profit that convenes the largest network of LGBTQ+ MBA students.
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Simon Wong is the leader of GXO Logistics Inc.’s Transformation team, and he also leads the firm’s Global Operation Support division. He partners with other executives and leaders across functions to develop and execute a transformation roadmap and also strategically directs a group of ~300+ colleagues to support GXO’s cross-functional leaders in areas of finance, HR, procurement, analytics, IT application, and infrastructure. Simon is also an impact investor and mentor to growth-stage entrepreneurs that are solving global problems and creating measurably positive social or environmental impact that is baked into the DNA of their products, services, and profit model. As part of that, he served as an unreasonable mentor under Unreasonable Impact Americas 2023 in collaboration with Barclays and has advised over 15 unreasonable companies. Simon is an avid alpinist, polar explorer, and ultra-endurance athlete (run, cycle, and swim). He is a member of the Explorers’ Club and the Milken Institute's Young Leader Circle.
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June Xu is a dynamic advocate for Chinese Texans, celebrated for her fervent opposition to discriminatory legislation such as SB147 and her efforts to combat anti-AAPI hate. Through her self-initiated project, Roots Unveiled, June illuminates the vibrant life and culture of Chinese Texans, raising awareness and fostering understanding through multimedia storytelling and community engagement. With a background in events organizing, June is dedicated to amplifying voices and mobilizing support for marginalized communities. Her passion for social justice and cultural preservation continues to drive her impactful work in advocacy and grassroots activism.
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Henry Yuan is a venture capitalist, policy advocate, and advisor to high-growth tech startups who has vertical sector expertise in enterprise technology, fintech, reg-tech, and frontier technology. He has advocating for minority small business owners and had experience leading startup accelerators that helped more than 50 technology startups fundraise, scale, and grow through Techstars, Founder Institute, and Loyal VC. Born in China and educated in the U.S., he held various roles in working with Fortune 500 companies and business consulting firms such as General Dynamics and The Cohen Group. He was a co-founder of the Nexus Global Youth Philanthropy Forum in China, where he worked with next-generation wealth holders and family offices to support the growth of social enterprises and early-stage startups that enhance social impacts. Henry currently serves as a member and Business and Trade Committee Chair for the Virginia Asian Advisory Board that advises the Governor to improve issues affecting the AAPI communities in the Commonwealth and improving economic engagement with Asian countries.
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Tian Zeng is the founder of Nirvana, a hedge fund that focuses on macro investing of Credit Derivatives, Fixed Income and Equities. He also founded a crypto fund called Phoenix Digital, which invests in event-driven opportunities in the crypto ecosystem. Tian started his career at Citigroup in Structure Credit Trading, before heading the Credit Derivatives Trading desk at age 26. He subsequently worked at Citadel Securities, Deutsche Bank and Jefferies before founding Nirvana and Phoenix Digital. In 2018, Tian was named in “Rising Stars in Finance” by Business Insider. Tian lived in Beijing until the age of 10 before relocating to the United States and grew up in Virginia, He speaks fluent mandarin and has a deep-rooted connection to the Asian community as a first generation Chinese American.. Tian served on various Asian American committees in the workplace promoting representation and cultural exchange while organizing various charity events. Through Committee of 100, Tian wants to help amplify Chinese American voices, experiences, and contributions in America today. Tian graduated from the University of Virginia and lives in New York City. He enjoys Muay Thai kickboxing and yoga during his free time.
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About Committee of 100’s Conference & Gala
For more than three decades, Committee of 100’s Conference & Gala has convened distinguished academics, policymakers, businesses, and next-generation leaders from across the U.S. for a series of discussions, debates, keynotes, and networking sessions. Participants share a common goal of advocating for and promoting the full participation of all Chinese Americans in American society. This year, Committee of 100 is doubling the number of curated sessions with three general sessions and two concurrent tracks – one on U.S.-China issues and the other on Asian American issues. The event will be topped off by a celebratory black-tie Gala. View the full agenda and register to attend here.
About Committee of 100
Committee of 100 is a non-profit U.S. leadership organization of prominent Chinese Americans in business, government, academia, healthcare, and the arts focused on public policy engagement, civic engagement, and philanthropy. For over 30 years, Committee of 100 has served as the preeminent organization committed to the dual missions of promoting the full participation of Chinese Americans in all aspects of American life and constructive relations between the United States and Greater China. Visit https://www.committee100.org/ or follow Committee of 100 on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for more information.
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