Schedule

Thursday, May 22, 2025
6 p.m. Sushi Social
7 p.m. Book Talk

NBC News Daily anchor Vicky Nguyen joins Asia Society Texas to present her new memoir Boat Baby as we continue to celebrate the 10th season of AST's signature Bank of America Women's Leadership Series.

In 1979, Vicky Nguyen and her parents made their dangerous escape from Vietnam to a refugee camp in Malaysia and, eventually, the United States. Boat Baby chronicles her family’s immigrant journey, growing up bicultural, and how a refugee became a network journalist within one generation. A testament to the messy yet hopeful promise of what the American dream can be, Boat Baby is Nguyen’s tribute to her parents and her love letter to America and what it stands for.

One copy of Boat Baby is included with each ticket purchase and will be available for pick-up at check-in.

About the Speaker

Vicky Nguyen is an Emmy award-winning NBC News Senior Consumer Investigative Correspondent and anchor of NBC News Daily. 

Vicky’s reporting gives consumers valuable information for how to live healthier, wealthier and safer lives. She is a dynamic live reporter and engaging storyteller whose stories spotlight important issues across the country, leading to impactful changes. 

Vicky has been leading the way in covering the anti-Asian violence across the country. In March 2021, she hosted the one-hour primetime special, entitled "The Racism Virus", featuring a mix of community leaders including: Nobel Prize nominee Amanda Nguyen, basketball player Jeremy Lin, as well as actors Olivia Munn and Margaret Cho. 

Nguyen has received numerous awards for her reporting, including a National Emmy, the Gerald Loeb Award for Business and Financial Journalism, and the duPont Columbia Award for Broadcast Journalism. She graduated as valedictorian from the University of San Francisco. She is based in New York and when she’s not working, she enjoys spending time with her husband, their three daughters, and tiny dog Moose. She loves spending time outdoors and trying new foods.

About the Moderator

Bonna Kol is a nonprofit executive with more than 25 years of experience leading cultural, educational, and social service organizations. She has managed teams of 300+ and led efforts to raise more than $250M of private and public funds for capital projects, endowment campaigns, and operations. Kol has overseen the development and execution of several multi-million dollar capital projects resulting in a senior center, residential campus for children, low-income housing, and the resettlement of thousands of families impacted by Hurricanes Katrina and Ike.

Kol joined Asia Society Texas (AST) as President in January 2014. During her tenure at Asia Society, Kol has diversified the organization’s revenue sources, streamlined its operations, and led several capital campaigns including the creation of an innovative educational exhibition and digital learning platform for local and national K-12 students and educators. Kol has created a work culture supported by a strong board and staff leadership that is built on inclusivity, innovation, and high performance.

Kol was born in Cambodia and was with her mother and sisters visiting her father, who was earning his doctorate in the United States, right before the fall of Cambodia in 1975. She has a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and an MBA and has been recognized by several institutions including the World Affairs Council of Houston and the Houston Business Journal. Kol is married with two daughters and is a travel enthusiast.

Asia Society hosts today's leading voices, providing commentary on events in news, society, and culture. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect Asia Society views.

About the Women's Leadership Series

The Women's Leadership Series (WLS) celebrates influential, diverse women making a substantive impact in both the business and culture arenas, locally and globally.

Previous programs:

2025 | Dynamic Diplomats
2024 | Designing the Future
2024 | Building Inclusivity in the Workplace
2024 | Culinary Innovators Building Community
2023 | Women Leading the Evolution of Skincare
2023 | Houston's Leading News Anchors
2023 | Asian American Women in Law
2022 | Philanthropists Leading With Passion
2022 | Huma Abedin on Public Service and Private Legacies
2022 | Cooking at Home, Writing from the Heart with Priya Krishna
2021 | Asian American Leaders Standing Up for Racial Justice
2021 | Women in Space: Breaking Barriers on Earth and Beyond
2021 | Innovation and Investment in Climate Change Solutions
2020 | Building Black and Asian Solidarity: Women Leading Across Race, History, and Culture
2020 | Women Responding to COVID-19
2020 | Women in Journalism: Ann Curry
2019 | Leadership and Success: Conversation with Former PepsiCo Chairman and CEO Indra Nooyi
2019 | Women in Entertainment
2019 | Energy Executives on the Importance of STEM Education
2018 | Women in Culinary Arts: Christine Hà, Jenni Tranweaver, and Kiran Verma
2018 | Women in Fashion: Chloe Dao, Becky Hollands, Khanh Nguyen, and Naina Shah
2018 | Technology Trailblazers
2017 | Innovators in Medicine & Science with Keynote Dr. Huda Zoghbi
2017 | Women's Education and Empowerment with Keynote Cherie Blair
2016 | Women in Energy
2016 | Leading from the C-Suite with Keynote Lulu C. Wang
2016 | The Advancement of Women in Public Service with Elaine Chao
2015 | In Conversation: Dr. Anne Chao, Donna Cole, and Y. Ping Sun

The Women's Leadership Series Steering committee is chaired by Theresa Chang. Members include Dr. Anne Chao, Kathy Goossen, Dr. Ellen Gritz, Mandy Kao, Shirley Kwan, Anu Lal, Dr. Jody Lee, Phuong Levan, Niloufar Molavi, Sue Sim, Shazia Sultan, Y. Ping Sun, and Anthea Zhang.

Title Sponsor

Presenting Sponsors

Lead Sponsors
Nancy C. Allen
Anne and Albert Chao
Shirley and Peter Kwan
The Honorable Theresa W. Chang and Dr. Peter Chang
Sue and Randy Sim

Additional Support

Bank of Houston
Kathy and Marty Goossen
Heritage Auctions
Mandy and William Kao
Anu and Shirish Lal
Y. Ping Sun and David Leebron
Phuong and George Levan
Michael Hsu Office of Architecture
Page
Private Wealth Management U.S. Bank
Leslie and Shannon Sasser
Leigh and Reggie Smith
Shazia and Omer Sultan
Southwestern National Bank
Yan Anthea Zhang and Haiyang Li

About Asia Society Texas

Asia Society Texas believes in the strength and beauty of diverse perspectives and people. As an educational institution, we advance cultural exchange by celebrating the vibrant diversity of Asia, inspiring empathy, and fostering a better understanding of our interconnected world. Spanning the fields of arts, business, culture, education, and policy, our programming is rooted in the educational and cultural development of our community — trusting in the power of art, dialogue, and ideas to combat bias and build a more inclusive society.

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