Asians in Advertising Hosts ‘Breaking Barriers’ Summit

By Kyle O'Brien 

Asians in Advertising (AIA) was founded in March 2021 as a free platform and community to help create opportunities and elevate Asians and Asian Americans to higher leadership positions. Now entering its second year, the nonprofit is hosting a two-day virtual conference called “Breaking Barriers,” which is billed as the first-ever summit for AAPI folks in advertising, comms and media.

The event will take place during AAPI Heritage Month on May 5-6 and will address the challenges Asian Americans face in the advertising industry through panels and workshops to help them level up in their professions.

The organizers state on the website that Asian Americans face unique challenges, “whether at work or working on themselves. Whether they want to break in, breakthrough or break out, taking control of their career means breaking critical barriers in the process.”

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Entrepreneur, public speaker and former agency executive Cindy Gallop, founder of MakeLoveNotPorn, will be the keynote speaker at the Breaking Barriers summit. There will also be presentations from Stop AAPI Hate, Slant’d, The Cosmos, 3AF and many more AAPI leaders and organizations.

“Fellow Asians and everyone who believes in diversity, equity and inclusion in advertising, I expect to see you at Asians In Advertising’s Breaking Barriers virtual conference,” Gallop said in a statement.

Asians in Advertising was founded by industry veterans Bernice Chao and Jessalin Lam, who wanted a venue where the AAPI advertising community could connect in order to advance its goals and careers. can help answer questions, offer advice and have discussions about issues that the Asian community faces as a whole or in their respective careers.”

Tickets for Breaking Barriers are $50, with an early bird discount for $35 and 50% off for students. Get tickets at the organization’s website.

Asian Americans saw an uptick in racial violence during the pandemic, leading Asian American marketers to come together to discuss actions that need to be taken, along with discussing the traditional challenges the community faces and steps that can be taken within the industry and among allies to amplify the community.

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