It’s been more than 30 years since President George H.W. Bush formally declared the first Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Today, the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community is in the spotlight once more. 

Nearly one year ago, the killing of George Floyd and other Black Americans cast a spotlight on the urgent need for business and others to do better – much better – to combat racism and advance racial diversity, equity and inclusion.  

At Zeno Group, ‘fearless’ is one of our core values. We embrace the unexpected and push the boundaries of traditional thinking. This year, Zeno moms (and moms everywhere) have been nothing short of fearless. 

Once relegated exclusively to whispers in the hallway far away from the boss, mental health has become one of the most pressing issues for CEOs and their leaders to address, as broader movements to bring such conversations to the mainstream have grown. 

It’s undoubtedly one of the most asked questions from our clients this last year: “How do we do TikTok?” Traditional ads and scripted influencer content have flopped on the platform, while the likes of acne patches and Kesha content prosper. 

As I watch the rise of anti-Asian hate crimes, I reflected on my own experiences as person of Japanese descent growing up in America. I thought of what I could have done differently to change racist encounters that happened to me.