New Leadership

July 17, 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: pr@standwithasianamericans.com

Stand with Asian Americans Appoints New Leadership and Board to Spearhead Expansion of Legal Advocacy;
Launches First $1 Million Workplace Justice Fund to Combat Discrimination

July 17, 2024 (San Francisco, CA) – Stand with Asian Americans (SwAA), the nation’s first legal civil rights organization focused primarily on fighting anti-Asian workplace discrimination, today announced a significant leadership transition and the launch of its Workplace Justice Fund.

This unprecedented fund aims to provide comprehensive legal support and resources for Asians in America facing workplace discrimination, marking a significant escalation in SwAA’s fight for equality in American workplaces.

New President, COO and Board

SwAA welcomes a dynamic new leadership team and board to drive its mission forward:

  • Michelle Lee, President, General Counsel and Board Chair
  • Brian Pang, COO and Head of Partnerships
  • Justin Zhu, Co-founder and Board Member
  • April Moh, Board Member

(For full bios and quotes, see Appendix)

“I’m honored to lead SwAA into this new chapter. By harnessing the power of law, we aim to create lasting change and ensure equal opportunities for our community. With our dedicated team, board and supporters, I’m confident that we can make a real difference in the lives of Asians across the country,” said Michelle Lee, President, GC and Board Chair of SwAA.

Launch of Workplace Justice Fund

The Workplace Justice Fund, a cornerstone of SwAA’s expanded mission, is a first-of-its-kind initiative designed to provide comprehensive legal support and education for Asians in America facing workplace discrimination.

With a goal to raise $1 million by year-end, the fund has already secured $100,000 from anonymous donors over the last month, with growing interest from independent contributors.

The launch of the fund comes at a critical juncture. Recent studies1 show that AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) employees consider lawsuits at higher rates than other employees of color. Nearly one-third report having contemplated or discussed filing a lawsuit against current or former employers due to identity-based mistreatment.

SwAA’s 2023 joint survey with Blind uncovered that fear of retaliation and skepticism about effecting change are the primary deterrents for Asian employees reporting discrimination.

The Workplace Justice Fund aims to address these challenges head-on.

“Our Workplace Justice Fund will be a game-changer for our community. It represents our commitment to not just raising awareness, but also actively and directly fighting for the rights of Asians in the American workplace,” commented Brian Pang, COO and Head of Partnerships of SwAA.

Key features of the fund include:

  • Direct Legal Action and Advocacy: Building an in-house team of legal experts to offer direct pro bono and affordable representation, focusing on cases with potential to create social justice impact or set important precedents in workplace discrimination law for Asian Americans.
  • Education, Research and Training: Developing comprehensive resources and programs to educate both employers and employees about workplace rights and issues affecting Asians in America. Funding in-depth studies on systemic workplace discrimination against Asians in America to inform policy recommendations and corporate best practices.
  • Community Services and Support: Establishing a robust support platform for plaintiffs and the wider community, facilitating incident reporting, community building, therapy, healing, and ongoing learning.
  • Partnerships: Collaborating with nationwide law firms, corporations, and civil rights organizations to amplify the fund’s impact and extend its reach.
Looking Ahead

With its new leadership and the launch of the Workplace Justice Fund, SwAA is poised to significantly expand its impact.

Amongst a series of ambitious targets, the organization aims to counsel at least 25 potential plaintiffs in 2025, with the goal of supporting them through their legal actions.

“This is just the beginning,” said Justin Zhu, co-founder, board member and out-going executive director. “With the Workplace Justice Fund and our new leadership team, we’re building a consequential movement that will empower the Asian community to stand up against discrimination and reshape the American workplace. None of this would have been possible without the dedication of my co-founders Dave Lu and Wendy Nguyen, who also served on the board. As they pass the baton to our new leadership team, SwAA is poised to catalyze unprecedented change for Asians across the nation.”

To support the Workplace Justice Fund and get involved in SwAA’s mission, interested individuals and organizations can donate by contacting donate@standwithasianamericans.com.

About Stand with Asian Americans

Stand with Asian Americans (SwAA) is America’s first legal civil rights organization focused primarily on fighting anti-Asian workplace discrimination. Through the power of law, education and community, the organization aims to protect and advance the rights of Asians in America.

Anyone can get involved in creating a world where Asians in America are empowered to exercise their civil rights and constitutional liberties.

Join the fight, visit https://standwithasianamericans.com/ to learn more.

You can also engage with SwAA on the following platforms:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/stand-with-asian-americans/
Instagram, Threads, Facebook: @standwithasianamericans
X: @StandwithAAs

Press contact: pr@standwithasianamericans.com

Appendix

Bios and Quotes:

Michelle Lee has been named President, GC and Board Chair, effective immediately. Michelle has volunteered at SwAA over the last two years, focusing primarily on building the Workplace Justice initiative. A seasoned attorney, she has previously served as General Counsel at Portfolio Advisors, a private investments firm with over $40 billion in assets under management. She has also worked at Latham and Watkins. Michelle is based in the New York area.

Quote from Michelle: “I’m honored to lead SwAA into this new chapter. The launch of our Workplace Justice Fund represents a significant step forward in our mission to combat workplace discrimination against Asian Americans. By harnessing the power of law, we aim to create lasting change and ensure equal opportunities for our community. With our dedicated team, board and supporters, I’m confident that we can make a real difference in the lives of Asians Americans across the country,” said Michelle Lee, President, GC and Board Chair of SwAA.

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Justin Zhu, co-founder of SwAA, has transitioned from his role as Executive Director to board member. Justin has led several national mobilizations including co-leading the publication of an open letter in the Wall Street Journal in 2021, in the wake of the Atlanta spa shootings, to demand resources and systemic change amidst the crisis of anti-Asian hate and discrimination. This open letter garnered over 9,000 signatures, including from CEOs of Zoom, Alphabet and Doordash. Prior to SwAA, Justin co-founded and served as the CEO of Iterable. Over his eight years as CEO, he grew Iterable to over 400 employees and a valuation of $2 billion.

Quote from Justin: “As I transition to a board member role, I’m incredibly proud of what SwAA has accomplished in just three years. With Michelle, Brian and April’s leadership and our new Workplace Justice Fund, we’re poised to make an even greater impact in defending the rights of Asian Americans in the workplace. This evolution of our organization reflects our commitment to addressing the urgent needs of our community through targeted, impactful action,” said Justin Zhu, co-founder and board member of SwAA.

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Brian Pang has been appointed COO and Head of Partnerships, effective immediately. Brian has volunteered at SwAA since its inception in 2021, leading its partnerships strategy. An experienced product, people, and operations leader, Brian previously worked at Electronic Arts (EA) and currently serves as board member and advisor for several organizations, centered on accelerating the Asian American equity and justice movements.

Quote from Brian: “I’m excited to leverage my expertise to accelerate our equal opportunity and justice movement by expanding SwAA’s reach and impact. Our partnerships are crucial in amplifying our mission and creating systemic change. By collaborating with diverse organizations and leaders, we can build and sustain a more robust ecosystem to support Asian Americans in the workplace and beyond. I look forward to partnering with Michelle, April, and Justin to forge new alliances that will strengthen our ability to advocate for our community,” said Brian Pang, COO and Head of Partnerships of SwAA.

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April Moh has been appointed to the board of SwAA, effective immediately. A three-time CxO at high growth B2B SaaS companies, April has led award-winning rebrands, navigated mergers and acquisitions, and played a key role in the largest software IPO of Europe in 2021. She was also recognized as one of Campaign US’ ‘Most Inspiring Women’ in 2023. A passionate champion of women in technology and Asian Americans in business leadership, April will bring her expertise in scaling growth and managing complex transitions to advance SwAA in this new chapter.

Quote from April: “Joining the board of SwAA is a natural extension of my commitment to championing Asian Americans in business leadership. As someone who has navigated the challenges of being an Asian American executive, I understand firsthand the importance of SwAA’s mission. I’m excited to apply my experience in scaling organizations to help SwAA grow its impact and effectiveness. Together, we can create meaningful change and open doors for the next generation of Asian American leaders,” said April Moh, board member of SwAA.

1 Inclusion@Work 2023/2024 Executive Leadership Risk Report