May is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) and South Asian American Heritage Month. Isabel Kim (LeadBoston Class of 2017), Chief Financial Officer at the Asian American Foundation, spoke with YW Boston about AAPI Month, her career, advice for young professionals, and her experience with LeadBoston.  

What does AAPI and South Asian American Heritage Month mean to you? 

May is the month where our community actively celebrates and convenes. However, every day should be an opportunity to promote a sense of belonging and prosperity for our community in this country. 

What is a family tradition you wish to pass down to the next generation? 

Creating and maintaining the sense of community and family through gatherings at the dinner table. 

What advice would you give to young AAPI and South Asian American professionals who are looking to get into your field? Or what advice would you give to your younger self? 

Be the individual who is a valued contributor not just within your immediate team, but throughout the entire organization. This will be recognized at some point and will lead you to become a trusted colleague and leader. 

What were your reasons for joining LeadBoston and what was your biggest takeaway from the program? 

 The diverse alums within LeadBoston are noteworthy. The program allows exposure to different sectors of the local community and working with compassionate and mission driven leaders within Boston. 

What are you reading, watching, or listening to right now? Do you have any AAPI and South Asian American Heritage Month book, documentary, or podcast recommendations?  

• Asian American Dreams: The Emergence of an American People by Helen Zia 

• The Making of Asian America: A History by Erika Lee 

• Fighting to Belong!: A History of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders by Amy Chu 

About LeadBoston

Our signature leadership program, LeadBoston, supports all individual participants as they create and implement a leadership commitment. This leadership commitment is an action plan that confronts some of the systemic inequities they’ve learned about and that are showing up in their organization. This plan, and the collective LeadBoston experience, empowers leaders to create meaningful change in their workplaces, in their communities, and in the city of Boston itself. Staff work alongside alums for a year following the program to ensure participants have what they need to see their plan through. Click here to learn more.