ACE Board Chair Dr. Karen Eng Featured in Forbes: The Important Role Business Plays In Combating Hate

The Important Role Business Plays In Combating Hate: A Conversation With Dr. Karen Eng, Board Chair Of The Asian/Pacific Islander American Chamber Of Commerce And Entrepreneurship

March 29, 2021

Excerpt from interview:

Buttle: Sadly, there is a great deal of misinformation about the AAPI community. How does this impact small business owners and others?

Dr. Eng: One upsetting misperception has been that AAPIs do not need any assistance, financial or otherwise, and I have just laid out numerous facts explaining why this is simply not true. Unfortunately, this type of misinformation has helped lead to AAPIs being excluded from many of the diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives that have been undertaken in the past year. 

While I applaud many corporations’ focus on stronger DEI programming internally, I’d encourage them to make sure AAPI’s have a seat at the table. 

Through my work with National ACE, we celebrate the progress that has been made on racial inequity and we applaud leaders who have stepped up to address inequalities in their communities. Our concern is how easy it is for AAPIs to seemingly slip through the cracks in conversations around inequities. AAPIs are victims of the model-minority myth, suggesting that what is true about some AAPIs (in terms of success and prosperity) is the case for all AAPIs. AAPIs are often less likely to be promoted to executive positions within their companies and represent only a small share of Fortune 500 companies. It is imperative that our business and community leaders elevate AAPI leaders in spaces where decisions are being made and for the members of our community to help make sure their voices are heard. 

Buttle: What efforts have been undertaken and what would you like to see others do?

Dr. Eng: National ACE has asked lawmakers, corporate business leaders, and the media to unite together and support the safety and security of AAPI small business communities. We have also instituted a campaign called #AAPIStrong to address the emotional and physical distress caused by the attacks and discrimination against AAPI small business communities and are already hearing from many organizations that want to join. We will also plan a roundtable discussion series with elected officials, policymakers, and AAPI business owners to provide a full understanding of the severe damage these acts of anti-Asian bias and hate have had on the business leaders and their employees.

Going forward, I ask that top leadership in corporations and organizations be deliberate and conscious to be inclusive and equal in their diversity initiatives. Asian American and Pacific Islanders deserve a seat at the table alongside the Black and Hispanic communities. Collectively, this is how to build successful and thriving communities.

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