Wharton Asian American Business Conference

Empowering Asian American Leaders

March 20th, 2026
The Study at University City

Buy Tickets (Available Feb)

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 conference, hosted by the Wharton Asian American Association of MBAs (WAAAM), is the first 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

Chief Executive Officer,
HSBC Private Bank

Additional Speakers

Agenda

  • Breakfast opportunity to connect with professionals, peers, and mentors.

  • WAAAM Conference Chair

    Conference overview and objectives for the day.

  • Ida Liu - Chief Executive Officer of HSBC Private Bank

    Challenges Asian Americans face in reaching executive roles and strategies to overcome these barriers.

  • Inspirational panel discussion on experiences, unique challenges, and strategies for success as Asian women executives.

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

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

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

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

    Moderated by:
    Tiantian Yang - Assistant Professor of Management, the Wharton School

    • Michael Lai WG’26 - Founder, AsianFeed

    • Heather Chen WG’25 - Founder, Moonbow Skin

    • Joyce Meng W’08 - Founder, FACT Capital

  • Join us for a networking lunch opportunity.

    • Edward Pokropski - Senior Writer/Producer, NBCUniversal

    • Dylan Huynh - YouTuber & Digital Content Creator

    Moderated by:
    Mark Kim WG’26 - WAAAM VP of Empowerment

  • Nathinee Chen - Senior Associate Director & Lecturer, Communication Program at The Wharton School

  • Celebrate insights from the day.

Sponsors

Logistics

Directions & Map

The inaugural Wharton Asian American Business Conference will be held on Friday, March 20, 2026, at The Study at University City in Philadelphia.

Meet the Team

  • Miki Takeshita

    Conference Chair, Empowerment Committee

  • Mark Kim

    VP of Empowerment

  • Dee Dee Thao

    Empowerment Committee

  • Jioo Lee

    Empowerment Committee

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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