May 21 marked a glorious celebration for Asian diaspora culture. The 2023 Asia Society Southern California Annual Gala, presented at the Skirball Cultural Center tucked away in the hills of Los Angeles, brought an amazing group of attendees together in commemoration of Asian achievement in Art & Culture. It was truly one for the books.

Promptly at 7:00 PM, our emcee, Kara Wang, took the stage with a graceful opening to start an already wonderful night. Wang graciously introduced Dana Settle, a long-time business partner and friend of “Hotel Visionary” honoree Sonia Cheng, to introduce Sonia Cheng. Not only did we hear a beautiful story unfold, but we also caught a glimpse of true friendship.

Sonia’s acceptance speech was followed by astounding remarks from Asia Society’s Chief Operating Officer, Debra Eisenman, about the work we do to uplift, foster, and embrace cultural growth between Asia and the US. We were delighted to have Eisenman and fellow Asia Society board members with us tonight.

To present Noriko Honda Chen with the “Asian Women Empowered” award, Advisory Council Member of ASSC Yiwen Li spoke about Chen’s inspirational tutelage and the years they spent together at Capital Group. In her acceptance speech, Chen reflected on the trials and tribulations of human life, work, and how to just keep swimming when times are tough.

“If I can do it, so can all of you,” said Chen.

There was no better way to embrace Asian empowerment than to follow Chen’s speech with a great remark on Asia Society’s honorable battle against racial issues engendered by the COVID-19 pandemic. Michael Gisser, ASSC Advisory Council Member, embraced the work of Asian advocates, supporters, and allies of the community addressing anti-Asian hate.

Brian Lee, Co-founder and Managing Director of BAM Ventures and lifelong friend, introduced our "Business Visionary" honoree, Toni Ko. Following an impressive introductory video, Lee had big shoes to fill, but his speech rose to the occasion. He delivered an inspirational address aimed at young entrepreneurs, portraying Ko not only as a diligent professional but also as a remarkable friend. Ko, humble and gracious, gave a powerful speech that expressed deep gratitude to the ancestors who endured harsh journeys across seas, uniting generations of Asians to forge something extraordinary.

Continuing the night with our Sports Tribute, Asian American Olympic Duo, Maia and Alex Shibutani honored three recipients who have dedicated their lives to representing Asians in the fields of athletics: Ali Riley, Jun Endo, and Lydia Bai. These athletes create tremendous impact for our community through the representation they present in soccer and athletic entertainment.

After dinner, Joya Kazi Entertainment, a Los Angeles-based choreographer and dancer, performed a beautiful and cultural dance performance representing the art of Bollywood. Joya Kazi captivated the audience, sharing a cultural experience from South Asia.

Later, Founder and CEO of Social Capital, Chamath Palihapitiya, introduced “Tech Visionary” honoree and CEO of Palo Alto Networks Nikesh Arora, speaking to Arora’s innovative leadership in the technology industry. In his acceptance speech, Arora acknowledged the tremendous progress that has been made in the tech industry. As the future of AI unfolds, Arora embraces the promising future AI will expand in the next 30 years.

Our final honoree of the evening, Awkwafina, received the "Culture Visionary" honor. An introduction from Lisa Ling and videos of congratulations from Destin Daniel Cretton, Lori Tan Chinn, BD Wong, and Paul Feig made for a heart-wrenching tribute to our incredible honoree. Awkwafina, with a comedic grace like no other, embraces her Asian-American childhood experience and how it propelled her to the heights and achievements she has had to this day.

Emcee Kara Wang offered a final acknowledgment to our sponsors for their significant contributions to an unforgettable event. As the Asia Society Southern California Annual Gala concluded with closing remarks from ASSC Chair Katie Soo, we reflected on the commitment and hard work dedicated to celebrating the accomplishments within our small yet vasty community. We extend our deepest gratitude to all our honorees and attendees for making the event spectacular, and we eagerly anticipate our next gathering.