Connecting with Prisca Bae

How have relationships influenced your professional development and leadership style?

Relationships have and continue to be everything for me. My current title is Chief Partnerships Officer - which can mean different things to different people. For some, it’s development and fundraising; but for me, it’s all about people and relationships. As Chief Partnerships Officer, it’s my job to develop and strengthen relationships with individuals and institutions on behalf of my organization - The Asian American Foundation.

It’s the role many of us who are “Connectors” are naturally drawn towards.?

But to answer the question directly - relationships have defined my professional journey and leadership style. Almost every job I’ve had is because of a relationship. And my leadership philosophy is all about maintaining and strengthening relationships with the people I work with. I find with my teams, the more I focus on our relationship, the more productive and engaged they are.?

Do you have any tips for maintaining and building strong relationships?

It’s all about connection and chemistry. Invest in those who want to invest in you.?

How have you intentionally built inclusiveness into your circles?

I’m not sure I have ever had a choice in this. I’m Korean American, a woman of color. I grew up in diverse communities, attended diverse schools and now have a career focused on diversity. The people I want to spend time with are people who have the same values. If I’m intentional about anything, I try to surround myself with people who are not only like-minded, but who are generous in their willingness to support others.?

What community or communities are you proud to be a part of?

Most of my career has been in the women’s space. From serving as the Director of the Women in the World Foundation to leading the external women’s strategy at PepsiCo, I love the women’s community and all that we have fought for and continue to fight for. More recently, I helped launch The Asian American Foundation, a new organization founded to combat the rise in anti-Asian hate and build belonging for the 23 million Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) in the U.S. As a Korean American immigrant, I am so proud to be a part of this important effort and am encouraged to see how the AAPI community has galvanized and organized in the last two years.

Who’s a Connector that's made a difference in your life??

One of the first Connectors in my life is the extraordinary Sharon Bowen, the Chair of the New York Stock Exchange. I was a young attorney when I met Sharon, who was one of the few Black women partners at our firm. She is the most generous mentor and has probably guided and advised every woman of color attorney in Manhattan. I know I owe my career to her. She is an incredible role model, and I strive to be like Sharon - successful, principled, generous, kind - every day.

Susan McPherson is a serial connector, seasoned communicator and founder and CEO of?McPherson Strategies, a communications consultancy focused on the intersection of brands and social impact. She is the author of The Lost Art of Connecting: The Gather, Ask, Do Method for Building Meaningful Relationships.

Follow Susan on?LinkedIn,?Twitter?and?Instagram?and order her new book,?The Lost Art of Connecting, also available on Kindle and Audiobook.