Asian Women In Business

Founded in 1995, Asian Women In Business (AWIB) is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization which assists Asian women professionals and business owners to achieve success and become leaders. AWIB sponsors frequent workshops, conferences, and networking events throughout the year and is supported by membership dues, program fees, and corporate sponsors.

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The AWIB office was buzzing with conversation the entire evening. Everyone was excited to mingle with the crowd and was wowed by the selected three AWIB members who were happy to "tout their own horn." Zelle, Lin, and Libing all had the audience laughing as they shared humorous accounts of their journeys as they promoted their businesses to the audience. Attendees were also invited to enter a raffle to win fabulous door prizes, which were provided by Tigerstars and AWIB. The winners were all smiles as they received their prizes, which ranged from an evening bag to an Indian cookbook and condiment set.  Upon departure, all our guests received very useful Google branded bags.

We thank the many people who joined us - see you soon!

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Join Asian Women In Business (AWIB) for a reception at the Eileen Fisher Soho Store in New York City. We will have a chance to shop and network over champagne and lite bites.

Shoppers will receive 10% off their purchases and 10% of the total sales that evening will be donated to AWIB.

AWIB Members receive priority reservations; all others will be confirmed depending on availability.

Eileen Fisher 395 West Broadway New York, NY 10012 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm

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Our highly-acclaimed public speaking workshop, “Speak Up and Speak Out: The Art of Public Speaking,” received extraordinary ratings raving about the practicality of the workshop, as well as how interactive it was - both with Robyn and other attendees. Similar to past years, many wished that they had more time! Participants all left feeling that the skills they learned with enable them to communicate and speak better in public. Robyn Hatcher, Owner of SpeakEtc., led a  dynamic and interactive session with  group exercises which encouraged everyone to practice their newly-learned skills and provide constructive feedback. Attendees asked many questions and shared their public speaking goals. Among the questions which were discussed included how to use your voice to overcome the biases that assertive  women face in the workplace - such as being called "aggressive" for speaking up; what is the best “power color," other than red; what is the appropriate dress on stage where you are the only woman with a group of men, the latter of which Robyn explained depends on what makes YOU feel confident and strong; and how to project your voice when you have a naturally high pitch.

As the evening came to an end, everyone left excited to utilize all that they had learned, whether it be in their next panel discussion, public speech, or every day conversation.

AWIB thanks IESE for hosting us at their facility and Robyn Hatcher for sharing her brilliant expertise with everyone!

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Wednesday, February 21, 2018 GYBO Livestream: Open for Business

Held in partnership with Google’s Get Your Business Online (GYBO) program, AWIB hosted another Livestream workshop at our office. Attendees heard from the Small Business Administration, Square, Google, Facebook, and Constant Contact and learned how to optimize their businesses for the increasingly digital population of shoppers. In an age where 40% of online transactions are conducted through a mobile platform, the small business owners in attendance eagerly noted down the strategic approaches offered by the digital experts. Upon conclusion of the livestream, attendees discussed all that they had learned, and how they plan to incorporate these lessons in their respective business models moving forward.

We thank Google, the Small Business Administration, Facebook, Constant Contact, and Square for the illuminating livestream.

Please see the event invitation and photos.

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Tuesday, February 20, 2018 Lunar New Year Reception at The Metropolitan Museum of Art

AWIB members were invited to attend the highly-anticipated Lunar New Year Reception at the Met, which featured a private viewing of the exhibit Streams and Mountain without End: Landscape Traditions of China. The exhibit focused on the many uses of landscape in the Chinese visual arts and showcased more than 120 Chinese landscape paintings, in addition to textiles, ceramics, bamboo carvings, and objects in other materials. 1,000 guests enjoyed savory Asian hors d’oeuvres in the magnificent Temple of Dendur while a breathtaking dragon dance was performed to welcome the Year of the Dog. AWIB President, Bonnie Wong, a part of the Met’s Multicultural Audience Development Initiative, made it possible for AWIB members and supporters to be a part of the Met celebration of Lunar New Year.

Please see the event invitation and photos.

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AWIB Winter Open House Thursday, January 18, 2018

It was cold outside, but members and supporters were happy to stay warm in our office for the AWIB Winter Open House, our first event for 2018! The air was buzzing with conversations amongst attendees as they networked the evening away over wine and lite bites. As always, everyone was excited to reconnect with old friends and make new connections, and newcomers were thrilled to become better acquainted with the AWIB community. Yu, an AWIB member, met Karen at our last open house and that connection led to a job offer for her! Although that may not happen for everyone, the positive effects of networking can never be underestimated.

Thank you to all who joined us – see you soon!

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Conquer your fear of public speaking and become a more dynamic and confident communicator. Whether you have an upcoming speaking engagement or just want to give a presentation that leaves a lasting impression on your colleagues, this workshop is designed for you.

Our inspirational instructor, Robyn Hatcher, Founder and CEO of SpeakEtc, will lead an intensive session where you will practice and develop techniques to improve your public speaking skills, learn to communicate effectively with small as well as large groups and receive constructive feedback.

Join the hundreds of professionals who have become better and more confident speakers thanks to AWIB’s highly acclaimed "The Art of Public Speaking" workshop.

AWIB Members: Register here. General Admission: $50.00

Light refreshments served; limited seating

IESE Business School 165 West 57th Street New York, New York 10019 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm

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Enjoy a relaxing networking event at the AWIB office.  As always, lite bites and great company.

AWIB members: Free General Admission: $20.00

Asian Women In Business 42 Broadway, Suite 1748 New York, New York 10004 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm

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Happy Holidays from Asian Women In Business!

Thanks to all our members and supporters for another great year - see you in 2018!

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AWIB’s 2017 Holiday Party was held at Carma Asian Tapas in the West Village, where members and supporters gathered to celebrate the holiday season together. We filled the restaurant to capacity, mingling and networking the night away over a buffet dinner of Asian fusion dishes and an open wine bar. Anjali Desai, daughter of AWIB member Dharti Desai, sang for the audience and wowed them with her performance, and even sang an Indian song upon request!

In addition to enjoying the festive atmosphere, attendees anxiously awaited AWIB’s extensive raffle draw. People were all smiles upon winning prizes, which included two weekend getaways to Honor’s Haven Resort and Spa, a basket of Sisley Paris beauty products and lunch and facials at Neiman Marcus, dinner for two at Vaucluse, classes at Exhale Spa, gift certificates to Brooks Brothers, Chinatown Ice Cream Factory, Lady M’s, and more. The air was full of joyous cheer and full-bellied laughter, and everyone parted ways upon the evening’s end having made new connections and catching up with longtime friends.

We thank our generous donors for their participation.

Happy Holidays from Asian Women In Business!

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Monday, November 13, 2017 Reinventing Yourself: Career & Life Pivots

While making major changes in your career can be a leap of faith too intimidating for some, our impressive panel of speakers dared to pivot in their career trajectories and successful businesses in the process. Attendees were inspired by their stories, eager to learn more from them and hear about their experiences.

Michele Fino, AWIB Member, Chief Marketing Officer of DoSomething.org, and moderator for the evening, introduced the evening’s speakers: Alice Cheng, Founder and CEO of Culinary Agents; Chitra Agrawal, Founder of Brooklyn Delhi; and Shunan Teng, Founder & CEO of Tea Drunk. Panelists introduced themselves with short stories of how their journeys to entrepreneurship had unfolded, following long-time careers in vastly differing fields. Alice shared her experience of having been a  13 year IBM employee who decided to pursue her culinary passion and build a career out of it. She was able to raise over $4 million from venture capitalists, for her company, Culinary Agents, an online networking and job matching site for food, beverage and hospitality professionals.  Chitra talked about having worked in environments in which she was surrounded by people who weren’t passionate about their careers. Always returning home to cook for and with her family, Chitra started documenting her family’s recipes. These recipes were not only shared amongst the “Brooklyn underground homestyle cooking food community,” but also on her blog which soon caught the eye of Random House, and launched her career as an entrepreneur and published author. Shunan had the audience in constant streams of laughter as she told the audience about her childhood dreams to be a pirate, and how the decision to found Tea Drunk stemmed from a conversation in which a longtime friend’s encouragement was the push that Shunan needed to leave the world of finance to start her own tea shop. In founding Tea Drunk, Shunan’s annual trips to the most famous tea regions in China has helped her not only to branch out and make meaningful lifetime connections, but also to fulfill the sense of adventure she has always sought out from a young age.

While the panelists agreed that the process of making a job out of their passions was not without its obstacles, they also agreed that not one of them regrets their decision to reinvent themselves.

We thank the speakers for their participation, and Microsoft for allowing us to use their space.

Please see event invitation, speaker bios, and photos.

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Despite the inclement weather, we had a full house at our Diwali Celebration at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. AWIB members and supporters excitedly gathered in the Uris Center, where they learned about the cultural significance of Diwali through dance and digital storytelling, before heading upstairs for a private guided tour of the South Asian Art Galleries, led by Dr. Kurt Behrendt.

AWIB thanks Pocket Box Office (PBO) for the video and for arranging the live performances, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art for sponsoring our celebration of the festival of lights!

For the full event recap and photos, please visit http://www.awib.org/pastevents2017.

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November 13, 2017 Reinventing Yourself: Career & Life Pivots

Join AWIB and hear from Asian women who have refused to be stuck in a place or career and dared to take risks to change their lives.

This year, we will feature Chitra Agrawal, a corporate marketing manager who launched a line of Indian condiments; Alice Cheng, an IBM executive who went on to found a startup for culinary professionals; Gurjot Sidhu, a management consultant who now has a collection of professional clothes for women; and Shunan Teng, CMA, a financial manager turned tea shop owner. Come and learn how they created new and more satisfying careers for themselves by taking the first step towards reinvention. 

AWIB Members: Free  General Admission: $45.00 Light refreshments provided 

Microsoft  11 Times Square New York, NY 10036 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm 

 Read more about our speakers and register at www.awib.org/events!

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The venue was filled to its capacity as guests gathered at Bonchon to learn from the evening's panel of speakers, who shared their insights and experiences on the franchise business. The space was buzzing with excitement and lively conversation, and everyone enjoyed learning from our speakers just as much as they enjoyed the delicious dinner provided by Bonchon!

Mariel Miller, Franchise Advisor at The Franchise Advisor LLC, served as moderator and kicked off the evening by giving a brief overview of franchising before introducing the panelists. Bonchon Franchise Sales Manager, Lin Luo, then spoke about the different franchising opportunities available with Bonchon, emphasizing the support provided to incoming franchisees by franchisors. Echoing Lin's statements, Grace Wen, Owner of 5 Sylvan Learning Center locations in Queens and Brooklyn, highlighted the training, supervision, and support provided to her by the Sylvan Learning franchise. She shared a very honest account of the ups and downs throughout her journey to becoming a successful franchisee, ending by saying, “If you don’t have any problems, you don’t have any business.” Michelle Murray-Bertrand, Corporate Attorney at Richard L. Rosen Law Firm PLLC, advised that those interested in becoming franchise owners know their budget and do their due diligence prior to making the initial investment, as these preparations will go a long way. Caleb Beckford, National Franchise Manager at TD Bank, elaborated on Michelle’s advice from a financial perspective, also providing an in-depth framework of the different approaches that TD Bank takes when it comes to veteran franchise owners versus newcomers. Once everyone was well-informed on the basics of franchising, Joann Lee, Managing Director at The Lam Group and longtime AWIB Member, educated the audience on the differences between franchising and licensing. Her company has a master license agreement with Starbucks and will be opening her second location over the next few months.

All of our speakers emphatically agreed that there was no correlation between the initial investment in a franchise and a franchisee’s potential to earn; rather, it was up to the individual to drive their own success. Attendees asked thoughtful questions and engaged in dialogue with the speakers, and networked the night away.

We thank the speakers for their participation, and Bonchon for sponsoring the event and providing a tasty selection of food!

Please see event invitation, speaker bios, and photos.

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Many of us talk about starting a business and we look at the exciting start-up scene in the northeast. However, we should not overlook an option that has made thousands of business owners wealthy. While it sounds old-fashioned, owning a franchise is a proven model and might be the answer for many of us itching to go out on our own. If you are thinking of buying a franchise, understanding the marketplace, the legal ramifications and costs involved is critical to becoming a success. But before you make a decision, get first-hand information from those who are already in the business.

AWIB's must attend workshop features a panel of franchisees, franchisors, and legal and financial experts who will share their experiences over a delicious Bonchon dinner. As you may know, Bonchon is a fast growing franchisor, specializing in Korean cuisine, and they will welcome us with a special dinner menu designed for our group. This unique event provides you with an opportunity to tap into the minds of those who have experienced the franchise business from different perspectives, be it legal, financial, or as a franchisor or franchisee. Learn from the experts! We have also allocated time to network which will allow you to meet like-minded entrepreneurs.

General Admission: $45.00 Special Bonchon dinner included. Learn more and register here. BonChon 207 West 38th Street, 2nd Floor New York, NY 10018 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm

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For our Fall 2017 Success Stories series, we featured Amy Ling Lin, the twenty-something Founder and CEO of sundays studios. Since opening sundays in March of 2017, Amy has been featured in Vogue, the New York Times, Elle, InStyle, and Wall Street Journal, to name a few. AWIB members and supporters gathered in her NoMad studio, listening intently as she shared her story to success.

Amy described sundays' concept as encompassing "more than just nail painting"; emphasizing the experience of coming to the salon to relax and meditate. The nail care products used at her facilities and sold online were developed by Amy and are all non-toxic, cruelty-free, and vegan, ensuring an environment free of harmful chemicals. The environment she has created protects the customers as well as the workers. As she moves forward, Amy indicated that one of sundays' next steps in wellness and meditation would be to develop signature-scented candles, which would make a good addition to her nail polish line of 50 different shades. There is no doubt that Amy will continue to make a splash in the world of health and wellness.

Towards the end of the evening, we had a raffle draw where three attendees received gift certificates for signature sundays manicures, and five others received both gift certificates and a selection of three sundays nail polish.

We thank sundays studio for sponsoring the event and providing delicious and healthy lite bites.  And, most of all, we thank Amy for sharing her story with us!

Please see the event invitation, speaker bio, and photos.

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AWIB members were invited by Christie's to their Emerging Collectors program, which curates art market experiences and educational events for individuals interested in developing an art collection. Attendees enjoyed an elegant cocktail reception before gathering to learn about collecting with Christie's Chinese Art specialists. Following the educational session, we all moved to the auction room to experience a mock auction, through which a Christie's specialist guided the audience with explanations of the process.

Want to join in on exclusive events such as this one? Join AWIB as a member today, and support Asian women professionals in the process!