We need more diverse representation in the marketplace, especially in the public eye.

But becoming that representation yourself can feel intimidating — especially when the systems and institutions where we work aren’t typically designed for people like us.

That’s why I’ve brought together journalist Gia Vang, reporter and anchor Laura Lee, and anchor Chenue Her who are incredibly visible in the public eye to share their stories and insights on how to become the representation that’s needed.

We explore why it’s so important for them to be representations of the broader AAPI community, how investments from others in the form of money and time supported their careers, and how the type of legacy they want to build for themselves, the AAPI community, and the world.

Tune in to hear how they navigate representing the AAPI community in the public eye being Hmong and get inspired to become that representation yourself, too.

Listen on your favorite podcast app.

You think to yourself, "Okay, to be successful, I need to be a certain way. I need to make myself smaller as an Asian person. I need to be quieter about Hmongness. I need to have my hair and makeup a certain way. I need to be this and that."

It was a lot of losing myself and then coming back to myself. Coming back to yourself isn't easy, especially when these institutions aren't familiar and aren't created for people like us.

Tune in for:

04:21 — What inspired each of these media members to build such a public-facing career

16:29 — How we sustain representation in the marketplace

18:49 — What has been the biggest opportunity or challenge that you have faced being an AAPI, Hmong public figure in the media?

28:34 — Do you think of yourself as a brand?

34:57 — If you were to fast forward your career, 10+ years from now, what would you want your legacy to be?

39:13 — What's the best advice would you give someone to stop being the best-kept secret in their local town?

In This Episode:

GIA VANG:

Gia Vang is an award-winning journalist, co-founder of the Very Asian Foundation and currently anchors and reports for NBC Bay Area.

A daughter of Hmong refugees from Laos, Gia’s work and passion centers on exploring and documenting New American stories and amplifying marginalized voices that have historically been erased in traditional media. She is the first news anchor of Hmong descent in a major US news market and has covered stories in Eugene, Oregon, Kansas City, Missouri, Phoenix, Arizona, Fresno, California, and Minneapolis, Minnesota prior to her current role.

Gia was born and raised in California and received her B.A. in journalism from Sacramento State. She is an active member of the Asian American Journalist Association. Gia currently resides in Oakland with her partner and dog Teddy.

Social Media: https://instagram.com/giavang

LAURA LEE:

Laura Lee is a seasoned reporter and anchor. She is an anchor for NBC’s Northern News Now in Duluth, MN with more than a decade as an evening anchor for ABC 6 News in Rochester, MN. Award winning and Emmy nominated reporter, with her investigations winning first place by the Associated Press and the Society of Professional Journalists.

She is a University of St. Thomas graduate and a ThreeSixty journalism Alumna, helping to get high school students of color from underprivileged homes into newsrooms across the country.

Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/laura.lee

CHENUE HER:

Chenue Her is an anchor "Good Morning Iowa" for WOI-TV (ABC) in Des Moines, IA. He's the first Hmong male news anchor in mainstream news media in America. Chenue's a long-time advocate for AAPI journalists and an active member of the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA). He was recently awarded the 2022 Community Impact Award by AAJA. Chenue was born and raised in St. Paul, MN.

Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/chenueher or instagram.com/chenueher

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