Wharton Asian American Business Conference

Empowering Asian American Leaders

March 20th, 2026

Huntsman Hall

Buy Tickets (Available 2026)

Join us on March 20th, 2026 for the inaugural Wharton Asian American Business Conference, presented by Wharton Asian American Association of MBAs (WAAAM).

Conference Overview

The inaugural WAAAM Conference, hosted by the Wharton Asian American Association of MBAs (WAAAM), is the first-ever MBA conference dedicated to Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) identities. This one-day event, Empowering Asian American Leaders, brings together MBA students, undergraduates, and professionals to address the critical issues and opportunities facing the AAPI community in business. 

Through inspiring keynotes, dynamic panels, and hands-on workshops, the conference will explore topics such as overcoming the bamboo ceiling, embracing cultural authenticity, and navigating intersectionality in professional environments. With a focus on amplifying the voices of Asian American women leaders, entrepreneurs, and cultural storytellers, the conference offers attendees actionable strategies, meaningful dialogue, and opportunities to build community and lead with impact.

WAAAM Mission Statement

The Wharton Asian American Association of MBAs (WAAAM) provides a forum for celebrating all AAPI identities while supporting members professionally, academically, and socially at Wharton and beyond. 

Our mission is to prepare our members to become successful leaders and mentors who can drive impact in their workplace, communities, and beyond.

2026 Keynote Speaker

Ida Liu

Former Global Head, Citi Private Bank

Additional Speakers

MAKE HISTORY AS PART OF THE FIRST WHARTON ASIAN AMERICAN BUSINESS CONFERENCE

For sponsorship inquiries, please contact Miki Takeshita at ytak8m1@wharton.upenn.edu

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Agenda

    • Opportunity to connect with peers and mentors.

    • Speaker: WAAAM EVP of Empowerment or WAAAM Conference Chair

    • Setting the tone and objectives for the day.

    • Discussing the challenges Asian Americans face reaching executive roles and strategies to overcome these barriers.

    CONFIRMED SPEAKER: Ida Liu WG’00 - Former Global Head of Citi Private Bank

    • Inspirational discussion on experiences, unique challenges, and strategies for success.

    • CONFIRMED PANELISTS:

      • Jinsook Han - Chief Strategy, Corporate Development & Global Agentic AI Officer, Genpact

      • Nilofer Vahora W’01 - Chief Marketing Officer, amika

      • Amy Wei WG’11 - Chief Operating Officer, OpenTable

      • Judy Kang WG’11 - Chief Financial Officer, Healthfirst

    • CONFIRMED PANELISTS:

      • Michael Lai WG’26 - Founder, AsianFeed

      • Heather Chen WG’25 - Founder, Moonbow Skin

      • Joyce Meng W’08 - Founder, FACT Capital

    • Celebrate insights from the day.

Speakers

  • Jinsook Han

    Chief Strategy, Corporate Development & Global Agentic AI Officer

  • Heather Chan

    Co-Founder and CEO of Moonbow

Logistics

Directions & Map

The inaugural Wharton Asian American Business Conference will be held on Friday, March 20, 2026, at Jon M. Huntsman Hall in Philadelphia.

Meet the Team

  • Miki Takeshita

    Conference Chair, Empowerment Committee

  • Mark Kim

    VP of Empowerment

  • Dee Dee Thao

  • Jioo Lee

Contact us

If you have any questions or are interested in partnering with us on this conference, we'd love to hear from you! Contact Miki Takeshita at (ytak8m1@wharton.upenn.edu).

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