The 4th Annual Asian Leadership Awards
PDJ Salutes our Fourth Class of
Asian Leadership Award Winners
For more than two decades, Profiles in Diversity Journal® has honored outstanding individuals who have blazed new trails, welcomed challenges, mentored others, advanced diversity and inclusion in the workplace and the community, and excelled in their chosen fields. We are honoring Asian Leaders with our fourth Asian Leadership Awards.
The 18 profiles that appear in this issue recognize and celebrate the hard work and impressive achievements of these Asian Leaders. Some of our recipients come from humble first generation immigrant roots. Others have not. But nearly every winner talks about how they are motivated to improve the lives of young people and others who are less fortunate in their communities.
Each award recipient has also provided us with thought provoking answers to some interesting questions and a personal essay that gives you more insights into the thinking of these multitalented and trailblazing individuals.
Welcome to PDJ’s fourth annual Asian Leadership Awards.
2024 Asian Leadership Award Winners
- Akin – Kapil V. Pandit – Partner
- Akin – Thomas Yang – Partner
- Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider LLP – Kail J. Jethmalani – Partner
- Better Business Bureau Serving the Pacific Southwest – Faustine Chan – Community and Business Programs Director
- Dechert LLP – Darshak Dholakia – Partner
- Fannie Mae – Linda Tai – Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Senior Vice President
- FordHarrison LLP – Geetha N. Adinata – Partner
- Freddie Mac – Judy Huie – Vice President and DEI Business Officer
- Freddie Mac – Ameez Nanjee – Vice President of Asset and Liability Management and Corporate Treasurer
- Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear, LLP – Rosaleen Chou – Partner
- New York Life – Dave Jachym – Vice President, Head of Experience Strategy for NYL Foundational Business
- Norton Rose Fulbright – Helen B. Kim – Partner
- Robins Kaplan LLP – Li Zhu – Partner
- Sanford Heisler Sharp, LLP – Qiaojing Ella Zheng – Managing Partner, Palo Alto and San Francisco offices, Asian American Litigation and Finance Practice Group Chair.
- Union Pacific Railroad – Naomi Deines – AVP Risk Management
- Webster Bank – Ray Guanlao – Senior Managing Director/ Group Head – Property Management, HOA, and 1031 Specialty Banking
- Webster Bank – Sumakshi Vali – Senior Management Director, Market President
- WilmerHale – Nora Passamaneck – Partner
