Online Class Notes (Jesse)

Tell us about your background and how you got to Bloomberg.
How has the rise in anti-Asian sentiment and violence impacted you? And what are your thoughts on the broader impact, both where you live and around the world?
It was heart-breaking to see how people are getting hurt because of the ignorance of the others. And it is disappointing when you see that the government is not taking enough responsibility and action to tackle the issue. It is a fact that people are more similar than they are different, and it’s clear that we still have a long way to go to ensure that the masses understand this fact and are willing to attempt to reach common ground where possible. 

Have you faced any challenges as a person of Asian descent, and how did you overcome them? I was lucky to spend four years in New York, where people embrace diversity. However, just like everyone else who first enters a new environment, it took time for me to adapt to the new culture and social practice day to day. One of the mindsets that I found very helpful is to stay curious and look for the reasons behind the differences that I see. Blindly assimiating may risk us losing our own identity, but leaving the door closed entirely may in turn bring isolation.

What strengths do you believe your identity as a person of Asian descent brings to your professional and/or personal life? – how has being asian benefited you in your professional and personal life? 
I don’t think any of my strengths are a direct result of my ethnic group or gender. It’s always a combination of both nature and nurture. For example, one of my biggest strengths is my ability to empathize. But this is not only because I’m an Asian female, but more importantly, someone who has opportunity to connect and speak with people from different backgrounds.

What can our colleagues to do be better allies to our Asian colleagues in all regions?
To tackle discrimination, one of the obstacles we face is the polarized media in different regions which exaccerbates biases, which has been aggravated by the current geopolitical environment. I would look forward to hearing the personal experience of my Chinese colleagues in the US. By exchanging information and ideas, we can all form a clear picture of the issue and a ensure a stronger bond which may help us to better cope with the situations we face.