Celebrating Resilience: Honoring AANHPI Heritage Month at Vagaro!

May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, a period to honor the contributions and cultural histories of the AANHPI communities. This year’s theme, "Advancing Leaders through Innovation," allows us to shine a vibrant spotlight on how individuals from these diverse backgrounds are pioneering change and leading advancements in today’s society. In the workplace, this theme encourages the celebration of AANHPI leadership and innovative spirit, offering a platform for employees to share their heritage and insights. Tune as we do just that, and chat with Vagaro employees, Rashmi Dixit, Technical Support Manager, and Le Liu, Technical Support Representative, as they share about their AANHPI inspirations, trials, and triumphs.

Rashmi Dixit: Technical Support Manager

Hi, Rashmi! This year's AANHPI theme is "Advancing Leaders through Innovation." Can you share a specific example of how an AANHPI leader's innovation or resilience has influenced you and your journey to where you are in your career now?

One remarkable example from the AANHPI community that has deeply influenced my career journey is the innovative approach of Indra Nooyi, the former CEO of PepsiCo. As a South Asian, seeing someone like Nooyi break barriers and rise to such prominence in a major corporation has been incredibly inspiring. Her strategic vision, resilience in navigating male-dominated spaces, and commitment to diversity and sustainability have impacted PepsiCo's success but also set a powerful example for aspiring leaders like me. Nooyi's ability to blend her cultural heritage with her corporate leadership style serves as a reminder that diversity and inclusion are not only valuable but essential for driving innovation and achieving long-term success in any industry. Her journey motivates me to embrace my own background and unique perspective as strengths in my career endeavors.

Can you share a bit about your cultural background and heritage? How has being part of the AANHPI community influenced your identity and experiences?

As a South Asian, my cultural background and heritage hold immense significance in shaping who I am today. Growing up, I was immersed in rich traditions, vibrant festivals, and the values of community and family.

Within the AANHPI community, there's a strong sense of solidarity and resilience in the face of challenges. I've been inspired by the stories of trailblazers like Kalpana Chawla, who defied societal expectations to become an astronaut, and Mahatma Gandhi, whose principles of nonviolence and civil disobedience continue to resonate globally.

Being part of the AANHPI community has instilled in me a profound appreciation for diversity, as I've had the opportunity to celebrate not only my own South Asian culture but also to learn from and connect with other Asian and Pacific Islander communities. This sense of unity and shared experiences has enriched my perspective and strengthened my sense of belonging.

AANHPI leaders have made significant contributions to various sectors, including economic prosperity and technological advancements. How do you think recognizing and celebrating these contributions during AANHPI Heritage Month can inspire future generations within our workforce?

Recognizing and celebrating the contributions of AANHPI leaders during AANHPI Heritage Month can inspire future generations within our workforce by providing role models, fostering a sense of pride, and promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

Reflecting on the theme of resilience, can you share a personal or professional anecdote where resilience played a crucial role in overcoming obstacles or achieving success in your career journey?

Resilience has been a cornerstone of my career journey. One notable example is when I faced a setback early in my career. Despite encountering challenges and setbacks, I persevered with determination and resilience. Through hard work, adaptability, and a positive mindset, I was able to overcome obstacles and ultimately achieve success. This experience taught me the importance of resilience in navigating the ups and downs of my career path and reinforced my belief in the power of perseverance to overcome adversity.

Can you share a memorable moment or experience where you felt a strong sense of pride in your AANHPI heritage while pursuing your career goals? How did this moment shape your outlook on your identity and career path?

A proud moment in my career journey was when I had the chance to mentor a fellow AANHPI colleague who was navigating similar career challenges. Sharing experiences and insights from our cultural heritage strengthened our bond and empowered us both to overcome obstacles with resilience and determination. This experience underscored the importance of solidarity within the AANHPI community and inspired me to continue uplifting others on their career paths.

How do you envision leveraging your unique cultural perspective and experiences to drive innovation and contribute to the success of Vagaro?

By offering unique insights, understanding diverse customer needs, promoting inclusivity, and guiding culturally sensitive expansion, I aim to contribute to Vagaro's success in a meaningful way.

What advice would you give to other AANHPI individuals who are navigating their professional journeys? Are there any insights or lessons learned from your own experiences that you believe would be helpful to share with them?

My advice to other AANHPI individuals navigating their professional journeys:

• Embrace Your Identity: Your cultural background is a strength.
• Seek Mentorship: Find mentors who can offer guidance.
• Advocate for Yourself: Speak up for your goals and aspirations.
• Network Strategically: Build a strong professional network.
• Be Resilient: Stay focused and learn from setbacks.
• Embrace Learning: Stay curious and invest in your development.
• Pay It Forward: Support and mentor others in the community.

Le Liu: Technical Support Representative

Hey, Le! Can you share a specific example of how an AANHPI leader's innovation or resilience has influenced you and your journey to where you are in your career now?

I’ve always admired the story of Justin Kan, co-founder of the livestreaming platform Twitch. He is a few years younger than me and also from the San Francisco Bay Area. The idea of television via the internet was not new, but his tactics to build his own channel included strapping a camera on his head and airing that footage 24/7. It seemed like a completely ridiculous setup back then, which was 2007 when I was working in the entertainment industry. By the time he formally launched Twitch and then sold it to Amazon in 2014, I had gone through some career changes and was considering software support as a long-term path. Needless to say, my final decision to pursue tech was heavily influenced by the ridiculousness and success of engineers and entrepreneurs like Kan.

Can you share a bit about your cultural background and heritage? How has being part of the AANHPI community influenced your identity and experiences?

I was born in Southeast China and immigrated to the San Francisco Bay Area at the age of 4, and grew up with many AANHPI peers. As many of them came from similar backgrounds, this provided me with a social network in which I felt a sense of belonging. With that said, sharing my experiences with individuals of other cultures and upbringings has become an important aspect of my identity because it is often the most effective way to support and learn about other communities.

AANHPI leaders have made significant contributions to various sectors, including economic prosperity and technological advancements. How do you think recognizing and celebrating these contributions during AANHPI Heritage Month can inspire future generations within our workforce?

It is human nature to seek out peers in a group or setting with whom you are able to establish a connection, and cultural and ethnic identity may be one such form of connection. More importantly, promoting AANHPI Heritage within a given company and industry instills confidence in AANHPI youth that their voices will be heard and that their ideas will have an opportunity to be brought to life within that space. Celebrating our contributions and making our community more visible helps to break down stereotypes that AANHPI talent does not or cannot exist in certain professions.

Reflecting on the theme of resilience, can you share a personal or professional anecdote where resilience played a crucial role in overcoming obstacles or achieving success in your career journey?

I was once an avid hiker prior to going through a decade of physical inactivity due to asthma and other reasons. Then, COVID-19 hit and I was stuck at home for a year. Coming out of quarantine and shelter-in-place, I decided I would find a way to get back into hiking. Although my asthma never went away, I stayed resilient, and started small with easy hikes. After a year of practice, I conquered Yosemite’s Half Dome and numerous other summits. This perseverance and mindset have helped shape and guide my career journey significantly over the last few years.

Can you share a memorable moment or experience where you felt a strong sense of pride in your AANHPI heritage while pursuing your career goals? How did this moment shape your outlook on your identity and career path?

I once worked at a software company which had just been sold by the founder when I got hired. This meant I was coming into the company with brand new leadership who immediately implemented many changes. These rapid changes presented many challenges across all departments, and I had to learn to be adaptable while prospering and helping my team prosper. In this capacity, I managed to advance through two promotions within my first two years at the company.

During my time there, I thought a lot about my upbringing as a Chinese immigrant because my family arrived to the United States without knowing any English and with hardly any money. My parents held minimum wage jobs for years where they took the bus to and from work, and were out of the house 12 hours a day 6 days a week. I walked to and from school by myself when I was as young as 7 or 8. In short, no matter what new challenges surfaced, we had to find a way to adapt and prosper. And I ultimately brought that same mentality with me into any professional situation I faced as an adult.

How do you envision leveraging your unique cultural perspective and experiences to drive innovation and contribute to the success of Vagaro?

In my personal life, I strive to use my own cultural background to better understand and have more sensitivity towards other communities. I feel that this would be a critical quality to have at Vagaro given the diversity of the businesses we support as well as their clientele. First and foremost, our customers must feel that their experiences, both as a business and a community, are valued, respected, and represented on our platform. I would apply my own AANHPI experiences to guide me in how I treat, communicate with, and support our customers, and expect that such efforts would significantly enhance their loyalty to Vagaro.

What advice would you give to other AANHPI individuals who are navigating their professional journeys? Are there any insights or lessons learned from your own experiences that you believe would be helpful to share with them?

In my case, my father discouraged me from pursuing many different professions because he thought that Chinese or other Asians could never work in those fields. Obviously, ignore such advice. Aside from that, nurture the relationships within your network by paying attention and learning as much as you can from the paths that your peers are taking. As cliché as it sounds, don’t be afraid to try anything. I’ve held dreams that ended up crashing down because it just didn’t work out, or perhaps I pursued them at the wrong time in my life. On the flipside, at other points in my career, I discovered and developed skills that I never thought would’ve been possible for me. You just never know until you dive in!

Thanks for sitting down with us, Rashmi and Le! It was a pleasure learning more about you, as well as the broader AANHPI community and its significant contributions throughout history. As we continue to celebrate the remainder of AANHPI Heritage Month, we invite everyone to join us in fostering a workplace that champions inclusivity, creativity, and diversity. Let’s work together to ensure these values remain at the heart of our culture, enhancing productivity and innovation.

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