Asian Hustle Network SF Heritage Week
When I first envisioned collaborating with Asian Hustle Network for Beyond Tradition, I knew I wanted it to be more than just another event on the calendar. I wanted it to feel different — something more personal, more honest. Not a celebration of identity for identity’s sake, but a platform for a deeper conversation about what it really means to pursue a path that breaks away from expectation.
As Asian Americans, so much of how we’re often perceived — and how we sometimes perceive ourselves — is tied to a specific narrative of success. It’s a well-worn script: doctor, lawyer, engineer. Respectable, stable, safe. But what about those of us who hear a different call? Those who dream of creating in ways that aren’t traditionally endorsed or understood?
Beyond Tradition was born from that idea — the belief that we need to make room for stories that aren't typically told, especially during moments like Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. I didn’t want the event to be about checking a box or fitting into a one-dimensional celebration. I wanted it to be about honoring the courage it takes to step off the expected path and trust your own instincts.
That evening in San Francisco, surrounded by an incredible group of founders — Denise Tran (Bun Mee), Wendy Lieu (Socola Chocolatier), Christopher Wu (Paper Culture), Mailynh Phan (RD Winery) — and with Andrew Lam guiding the conversation as moderator, it felt like we had created exactly that kind of space. These weren’t just business owners; they were storytellers, risk-takers, and visionaries. Each of us came from different industries — food, fashion, wine, tech — but we shared a common thread: a deep passion for what we do, and a willingness to take the harder road to pursue it.
We talked openly about what it means to redefine success on our own terms. About the pressure to live up to family expectations. About the fear that comes with choosing the uncertain over the safe. And perhaps most importantly, about the fulfillment that comes from staying true to yourself, even when the world around you doesn’t quite understand your choices.
For me, sitting on that panel wasn’t just about sharing my journey — it was about seeing reflections of my own struggles and dreams in the people sitting next to me. It was about feeling less alone. And it was about offering that sense of connection and possibility to everyone in the audience who might be standing at the edge of their own unconventional dream, wondering if they’re allowed to step forward.
Partnering with Asian Hustle Network made all the difference. They didn’t just give us a platform — they understood the heart behind it. They understood that heritage is not just about where we come from, but also about where we dare to go.
Beyond Tradition wasn’t a one-night conversation. It was a call to action. A reminder that the future we want isn’t handed to us — it’s built by those bold enough to imagine it differently.
And if there's one thing I took away from that night, it’s this: honoring our heritage doesn’t mean staying within the lines others have drawn for us. It means carrying our histories forward — not as limits, but as launchpads.
Here’s to those who go beyond tradition — not just during Heritage Month, but every day.
xoxo,
Chau
