Last week, CAUSE hosted an Asian American Civic Leadership event, bringing together a diverse range of Asian American leaders from various fields including civic advocacy, law, and politics. The event provided an opportunity for my peers and me to connect with these leaders and gain valuable insights into their journeys and accomplishments. Each leader shared their unique experiences and perspectives on leadership, the importance of representation, and the challenges they faced in their respective fields. They also offered words of encouragement and advice to aspiring Asian American leaders. One common theme that emerged from the discussion was the panelists' belief in the power of mentorship. They emphasized the importance of finding mentors who can provide guidance and support, especially during times of uncertainty or self-doubt.
During the network sessions, I was able to connect with several Asian American leaders involved in a variety of fields, particularly law. I was especially grateful to hear their personal stories and insights. They provided me with reassurance in my goals and capabilities and helped me understand that it is possible to pursue a career that combines my passion for cybersecurity with my interest in law and policy.
As a proud Trojan, I was also excited to learn about the ways in which other Trojans were leveraging the resources at the University of Southern California to build their networks and advance their careers. Several panelists and attendees shared advice on how best to utilize the various resources available at USC, such as the Viterbi School of Engineering, the Gould School of Law, and the Sol Price School of Public Policy. They emphasized the importance of building relationships, seeking out opportunities, and continuously learning. I also got advice on joining a sorority, which I did not want to hear, but fortunately, the mentor had other ways for me to network, so I can have a good start in my advocacy work after college.
The Asian American Civic Leadership event was a valuable opportunity for me to connect with and learn from a diverse group of accomplished Asian American leaders. It reinforced my belief in the power of mentorship and encouraged me to continue pursuing my goals in cybersecurity from a policy and law perspective. I am grateful for the support and guidance I received from the panelists and attendees, and I am excited to continue building my network and advancing my career.
Lastly, we had the endorsement panel for our mock campaign. I was very excited but extraordinarily nervous as I did not know what was to come and hoped I did my part well for my team and our candidate. At one point, one of the financial statements was incorrectly presented by the panel, and I was nervous to correct them as I did not want to be impolite and was confused about what would be the inappropriate time to interject.
However, I quickly overcame my skepticism and chimed in, which ended up being beneficial to the understanding of the finances for the campaign and made it easier for our candidate to focus on her policy prescriptions.
Overall, the networking event was an incredible opportunity for me to connect with and learn from a diverse range of accomplished Asian American leaders. This event not only reaffirmed my belief in the power of mentorship but also provided me with reassurance in my goals and capabilities. It was encouraging to hear that it is possible to pursue a career that combines my passion for cybersecurity with my interest in law and policy. The day’s end also did not disappoint as I got to put my speaking skills into practice. I am grateful for the support and guidance I received from the panelists and attendees, and I am excited to continue building my network and advancing my career.
The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author and do not reflect the views or positions of CAUSE or the CAUSE network.
Written by Naya Dukkipati, Leadership Academy 2023 Intern.
The CAUSE Leadership Academy (CLA) for students is a nine-week, paid, internship program that prepares college undergraduates to lead and advocate for the Asian Pacific Islander community on their campuses and beyond.