Presence With Purpose. This February, CKA focused on what it means to show up with clarity, confidence, and intention. Across sectors and cities, we invested in leadership development and created spaces for Korean American leaders to strengthen both how they lead and how they are seen.
We hosted Impact Academy: Leadership Training for AAPI Civic Leaders, equipping participants with practical tools to sharpen executive presence, refine strategic communication, and lead with authentic confidence. Looking ahead, we announced that the 2026 CKA Envision Gala & Summit will return to Los Angeles on October 23-24. The event marks a milestone year as CKA celebrates 15 years, NetKAL marks 20 years, and the nation approaches its 250th anniversary.
We also celebrate members who are embodying purposeful leadership in their fields, including CKA Member Julie Kim, who recently delivered a keynote at the MIT Sloan Healthcare & BioInnovations Conference (SHBC) at the MIT Media Lab.
Join the Women’s Affinity Group Webinar: Give to Gain
In celebration of International Women’s Day, join CKA’s Women’s Affinity Group on Zoom for Give to Gain: How Women Leaders Build Power Through Community and Capital on Wednesday, March 11, from 6:00 – 8:00 PM ET.
This timely conversation explores Give to Gain, a leadership principle rooted in reciprocity, sustainability, and collective advancement. The webinar will feature Karen Choi, fixed income portfolio manager at Capital Group, and CKA Member Connie Chung Joe, President & CEO of Asian Americans / Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy. The discussion will be moderated by Lisa Yang, CKA Board Member and WAG Co-Chair and Managing Partner at LimNexus LLP.
Through candid reflections and practical insights, our speakers will challenge the idea that giving is a sacrifice, reframing it instead as a powerful strategy for growth, resilience, and shared success.
This conversation is designed for leaders committed to lifting others while building sustainable, values-driven careers. We look forward to having you join us.
Save the Date for the 2026 CKA Envision Gala & Summit in Los Angeles
Mark your calendars for October 23-24, as the annual CKA Envision Gala & Summit returns to Los Angeles at the Fairmont Century Plaza. The Envision Summit will take place on Friday, October 23, followed by the Envision Gala on Saturday, October 24.
Join us as we celebrate 15 years of the Council of Korean Americans, 20 years of the Network of Korean American Leaders (NetKAL), and the 250th anniversary of the United States during a meaningful weekend of connection, celebration, and community.
Details on honorees, sponsorships, tickets, hotel room blocks, and programming will be shared in the coming months. We look forward to gathering in Los Angeles for this milestone year.
Julie Kim Keynotes MIT Sloan Healthcare & BioInnovations Conference
CKA Member Julie Kim, CEO-elect of Takeda, recently delivered a keynote at the 24th annual MIT Sloan Healthcare & BioInnovations Conference (SHBC) at the MIT Media Lab. The flagship conference convened more than 350 leaders across biopharma, digital health, venture capital, and academia to explore how the healthcare ecosystem can evolve amid rapid scientific, technological, and policy change.
With three decades of global healthcare leadership and her upcoming transition to President & CEO of Takeda in 2026, Julie shared insights on innovation, resilience, and advancing patient-centered impact in a shifting landscape. Her participation underscored the importance of thoughtful leadership as the industry navigates breakthroughs in AI, health equity, and global health.
Korean American Leaders of Hollywood (KALH) Appoint Mark Kang as Board Chair
Television and Film Executive Mark Kang has recently been appointed as Board Chair of Korean American Leaders of Hollywood aka KALH. KALH’s mission is to empower and celebrate Korean Americans shaping the future of entertainment and media. Through advocacy, community, and collaboration, KALH champion emerging talent and leaders, and bridge Korea and the global market — advancing Korean voices, stories, and innovation on the global stage.
Eugene Cho Gives Closing Remarks at Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church on MLK Day
Eugene Cho was invited to offer the closing remarks and benediction at the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration Service at the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia. Rev. Dr. King, Jr. faithfully served as pastor of Ebenezer for many years until his tragic assassination. In a moment of deep division and uncertainty in our nation and world, Eugene joined others to speak about the importance of embodying lives marked by peace, rooted in love, and committed to justice.
Gene Hong Featured in Heroic Public Speaking Publication on Strategic Leadership and Communication
Gene Hong, Target Director and Founder of Aperture North, was featured in Heroic Public Speaking’s national publication for his work in mastering strategic communication. By refining a repeatable framework for audience-centered storytelling, Gene strengthened his executive presence in high-stakes environments, contributing to expanded leadership responsibilities at Target and a major speaking engagement at J.P. Morgan’s Business Leaders Symposium for Asian American founders. The feature highlights how investing in communication craft can unlock influence, authority, and new opportunities across both corporate and entrepreneurial platforms.
Tammy Kim, Executive Director of the Korean American Center, Featured on the Front Page of The New York Times
As Executive Director of the Korean American Center, Tammy Kim was featured and quoted on the front page of The New York Times (February 2, 2026) in a national story examining the surge in Korean language learning across the United States. In the article, she addressed the growing national demand for Korean language education, noting that the organization is limited only by its own capacity in meeting this moment. The feature underscores her leadership and the expanding national influence of the Korean American Center in advancing Korean language and cultural education in the United States.
Jeannie Park Honored by New York City Council at its Annual Lunar New Year Celebration
The Proclamation awarded at the Lunar New Year Celebration to Jeannie Park, board chair of Korean American Community Foundation, read, “A longtime leader and executive in the areas of media, nonprofit work, and advocacy, Jeannie Park has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to supporting Asian Americans and other communities of color, advancing collective philanthropy as a driver of equity.”
Junna Ro Named Chair of Taproot Foundation
Taproot Foundation, a national nonprofit that connects social causes with skilled volunteers to strengthen organizations and communities, named CKA member Junna Ro as Chair of the Board of Directors. Junna has served on the board since 2024. Taproot has worked with 19,000+ organizations and over 150,000 skilled volunteers since its founding in 2001, delivering 1.9 M hours of pro bono service worth over $300 M in value.
James Rhee Appointed Yale Cultural Innovation Lab Artist-in-Residence and Elected Trustee of National Humanities Center
Yale Ventures has named CEO, author, investor, and systems thinker James Rhee as its inaugural Artist-in-Residence for Cultural Innovation Lab at Yale (CILY). James was also elected as Trustee to the National Humanities Center. On January 15, James debuted the workshop version of the musical adaptation of Red Helicopter (entitled Red Helicopter: An American Rock Opera) at Yale School of Music. Created, produced, and written by James, this will be performed in Seoul in early April in partnership with various civic, media, educational, and business institutions.
Grant Kim Launches Independent Arbitrator Practice
Grant Kim has launched his own practice as an independent arbitrator, after working for over 35 years at leading law firms in San Francisco, Seoul, and Tokyo. Grant recently retired from LimNexus LLP, which was founded by former CKA Chair John Lim and whose other partners include current CKA Director and Secretary Lisa Yang, as well as CKA Members Phil Shinn and Pio Kim. Grant previously served on the CKA Board of Directors. Grant’s grandparents were among the first wave of Korean immigrants to the U.S. in the early 1900’s. He learned Korean while working in Korea as an English teacher and later as a lawyer, where he helped to build the international arbitration practice of a top Korean law firm in the early 2000’s. Grant looks forward to continuing to interact with the many amazing CKA members in his new role as an independent arbitrator.
Impact Academy Equips AAPI Civic Leaders with Executive Presence Skills
On February 28, CKA hosted Impact Academy in Washington, D.C., at the Korea Economic Institute of America (KEI), in partnership with H Street Group and The Congressional Korean American Staff Association (CKASA).
Made possible in part through the generous support of the Heinz and Liselotte Nehring Stiftung/Foundation, this full-day leadership intensive brought together an exceptional cohort of high-impact AAPI civic and business leaders. Participants included eminent lobbyist