December 21, 2018Year in reviewDear Ascend Canada members,I’m very proud of the success that we have achieved together this year to advance our mission of partnering and progressing with Canadian organizations to develop and advance pan-Asian talent. We continued to expand, lead important conversations, and learn from each other.One of the big moments this year was when we launched “Fitting in at work”, our whitepaper that challenged readers to consider how “Covering” — the downplaying of our differences in order to fit in to real or perceived workplace norms – has high costs. It continues to be an important conversation that we’re having with each other, and at the places where we work, and I hope that it has sparked some self-reflection for you as well.I think about the inspiring words we heard this year from role models who define our theme of the year: Leadership without ceilings. World champion figure skater Patrick Chan showed us that a true leader shows strength of humility in acknowledging accomplishments of others. When Tina Lee, the CEO of T&T Supermarkets accepted the TD Executive of the Year Award at our annual Ascend Canada Leadership Awards gala, she told us that “leadership is about being purpose driven and people oriented.” (By the way, nominations for the 2019 Leadership Awards are now open).I’m also grateful to our tireless volunteers who are leaders in their own right.As 2018 draws to a close, I would like to thank all our members, sponsors, and partners for your dedication and commitment to Ascend Canada and what we stand for. I’m excited to welcome Scotiabank and CIBC into the Ascend family, and working with our existing network to create meaningful opportunities for positive change.I could not be more excited about the year ahead — Ascend Canada is brewing up an exciting initiative. Watch this space and make sure you add Ascend Canada to your Address Book so you never miss an update or invitation.Happy holidays and warm wishes for a fantastic 2019!Kelvin TranFacebookTweetPinLinkedIn
