Women In NAAAP (WIN)

We make leaders! The National Association of Asian-American Professionals (NAAAP)-Seattle is a provider of leadership opportunities for Asian-americans living in and around Seattle. And I am very privileged to be working with outstanding leaders on the NAAAP Seattle Board of Directors. Today, I want to focus on women and their contributions to our community and to share about an exciting new program NAAAP has addressing women's issues women experience in their journey into leadership roles.

Nine women, leaders in their own right, sit on the 2010 board with new and creative ideas. Just to name a few, Jen Phan, VP or operations, and Marian Liu, VP of external affairs lead me through discussion on the challenges and opportunities within the organization. It's an opportunity to get feedback and a different perspective. So far, my interactions with them test my own leadership abilities. Through them, I'm growing and stretching myself.

With that I want to share about the Women in NAAAP Program. This a national program launched as a pilot program at last year's NAAAP Convention in Denver. It's mission is to:

• Strengthen members in NAAAP through specific leadership programming addressing stereotypes, strengths/weaknesses and a holistic perspective of oneself from work/career to friends, co-workers, family and community.
• Stress the importance of work-life balance and one's personal journey in life from the perspective of being a woman and an Asian American woman in society today.
• Create a plan to help women accomplish their goals and objectives.
• Build competencies and skills that will carry women beyond their current conditions and into a more productive, efficient, and satisfying tomorrow.
• Support the Asian Pacific women leaders of tomorrow.

NAAAP Seattle is playing a major role in the development of this program and as it is still in it's infancy it will have many opportunities to grow and develop. I am excited about this program that I am playing a personal role by sitting on the committee that develops this program. Whether you're an Asian-american man or woman, this is an opportuntiy for us to show the diversity of our community. For more information, please visit the WomenInNAAAP (WIN) website at http://www.naaap.org/programs/WomenInNAAAP.aspx.

Regards,
Gil Gido
NAAAP Seattle
President

Additional links:

• Seattle's women in leadership luncheon series - Women of color empowered - http://womenofcolorempowered.com/
• About Microsoft Diversity - http://www.Micrsoft.com/about/diversity/default.mspx
• About American Family Diversity - http://www.amfam.com/about-us/diversity/in-the-community.asp