Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, also called AAPI Heritage Month, is dedicated to honor and celebrate the many diverse cultures, contributions, and communities across the country. The term “Asian or Pacific” encompasses all the Asian continent and the Pacific islands of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. May was selected to be the month of remembrance and celebration of the AAPI community due the impactful historical moments that took place during this month. The first Japanese immigrants came to the United States on May 7, 1843. Another monumental contribution by the AAPI community took place on May 10th, 1843, which “mark[s] the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad…the majority of the workers who laid the tracks were Chinese immigrants” (Congress et al.).

It is important to reflect on AAPI heritage month and the historical contributions belonging to the AAPI community. Learn more about this celebration of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month here.

The objective of this initiative is to get to know some of our fellow employees by learning their stories and to spark intentional conversations with one another about what we can do to continue promoting inclusion inside and outside our workplace. According to the Society for Human Resource Management, companies can extend their support to fight against bigotry that exists presently in the workplace by addressing toxicity in the following ways (Deichler, 2021):

1. Make sure employee’s voices are heard. Employers need to give employees a platform, so they feel empowered to speak out whenever an incident occurs.
2. Listen intently. Every time employees speak out, the organization’s leadership should hear them. Take their statements seriously and try to understand what they’re feeling.
3. Ensure a clear path to resolution. Once leaders understand where employees are coming from, they should act, treating each issue seriously and with respect.

Intentionally cultivating an inclusive work place through mindful conversations and reflection will allow all employees to enjoy participating in a comfortable and welcoming company culture. What better way to reflect than to take time to show appreciation and spotlight the members within our own MTech family!

Meet Maggie Lin, Financial Controller

Tell us about yourself personally and professionally

I am originally from Taiwan, but I came to the United States to pursue my MBA degree when I was 25. Originally, I planned to return to Taiwan, but life didn’t happen as I planned. I received my MBA degree in finance and became a licensed CPA in Georgia. I have been in the accounting and finance profession for more than 26 years. I joined MTech as the financial controller in 2014. I am married to my husband, I have two adult children, and now have lived longer in the United States than I have lived in Taiwan.

What lead you to choose this career path and how does your role give you self-fulfillment?

I went through many changes, and it took a long time for me to find my strength and passion. When I was in high school, I always thought I would become a Chinese teacher. I originally majored in Chinese for two years but later decided to transfer to business school where I found my passion in accounting. I often tell the younger generation that it may take time to find what you truly like. I found my strengths in accounting and finance in graduate school. My first job in the United States was with Bloomberg Financial Markets where I analyzed and organized international financial statements into a uniform database for the users to compare financial results. I reflected on what I like and what I am good at, and I was convinced that this would become my passion based on my job performance. After Bloomberg, I was lucky to have the opportunity to work on significant projects that built up my skillset to become a financial controller. After 20+ years of work, I still continue to learn from my coworkers, CPAs, lawyers, and other professionals in my life. I respect my job and give my best to each job I have had. I am blessed to work in a profession I truly enjoy. 

What advice do you have for other Asian American women professionals on entering spaces where they feel excluded, othered, or just different?

Personally, the journey was not easy. As an international student, I first needed to overcome my language barrier. English was a subject taught to me when I was in school in Taiwan, but it was never an everyday language. I needed to learn to understand people and how to make people understand me. I have worked with people who made fun of my accent in a disrespectful tone, but I have also met people who told me they were very impressed by me when they learned I started to speak English when I was 25. I couldn’t let people’s comments or bias affect my life. Therefore, I accepted my differences. I trained myself not to be bothered by people who judge by differences. I can’t change people with bias, but I can manage my own mindset. I would advise other Asian American women/professionals to focus on professional skills and embrace our differences. Differences don’t mean negative. Often times, they can be very positive. At MTech, we have a high percentage of minority employees from various cultural backgrounds and countries. Our differences make us a great MTech family. If a workplace makes you feel constantly uncomfortable, it is the wrong workplace for you. I would encourage young professionals to not be afraid of expressing and presenting your thoughts and ideas. Work hard, be proactive, be confident, be professional and you will shine.

Sources

Congress, The Library of, et al. Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, asianpacificheritage.gov/about/.

Deichler, Andrew. “Addressing Anti-AAPI Discrimination in the Workplace.” SHRM, SHRM, 7 July 2021, www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/hr-topics/behavioral-competencies/global-