Recognizing Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month: Featuring Lee Huang, M.P.A.

In commemoration of Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, the Chamber is proud of and grateful for all the essential work that AAPI leaders from our member companies have contributed to the strength, vitality, and growth of the Greater Philadelphia region. This year, we have the privilege of uplifting  Lee Huang, M.P.A., Principal, Econsult Solutions, Inc. We interviewed Lee to learn more about his journey, accomplishments, and advice for the next generation of AAPI leaders.

How has your identity impacted and helped shape you into the leader you are today?

Lee Huang, M.P.A., Principal, Econsult Solutions, Inc.

Everyone’s leadership persona is forged by both positive and negative childhood experiences, and I am no different. Happy memories for me include being taught about the importance of respecting our culture, our elders, and our unique lived experience. Unhappy memories for me include being labeled as “other” or otherwise not feeling that my identity was valued or even seen. Both influences have helped me to understand effective leadership as honoring everyone’s perspective. Which means being intentional about giving room for all viewpoints. Which I’ve found to be very powerful,  for each participant to feel like their voice is important, and for the whole to understand that it is stronger for giving space for every angle on an issue.

Why is it important that we cultivate a business environment that prioritizes inclusive economic growth? How will inclusive business strengthen the Asian community?

There is no sustainable economic growth that is not fundamentally inclusive in nature. After all, economic competitiveness demands that a region fosters an ethos of innovation. And, contrary to the myth of the solo inventor toiling away at his lab until the proverbial “eureka” moment, innovation in the real world is forged through a messy and incremental process involving many diverse actors. We cannot grow as a region if we are systematically excluding entire groups from contributing their ideas and efforts. Similarly, Asian businesses will not thrive if they are commercially and relationally isolated from the resources, activities, and consumption of other communities. We are truly stronger together, which takes work but pays dividends.

How can organizations and businesses create more space for Asian and Pacific Islander leaders to lead, thrive, and grow in the workplace?

A pernicious consequence of stereotypes is that they needlessly limit people from giving full expression to their talents, which is bad for individuals and for the group. Thankfully, we’ve made progress in how Asian and Pacific Islander leaders are perceived in the workplace, both in people’s attitudes and in organizational policies. But many of us have internalized those barriers, based on how we and others who look like us have been treated, co-mingled with cultural values that deemphasize standing out or showing off. Intentional efforts to encourage us to break out of those constraints can go a long way towards giving us the confidence boost we need to be our full selves.