BEEF SEASON 🥩

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Greetings 👋 

Hi, how was your weekend? 

We have officially entered our Beef Season 2 era where a single passive-aggressive text feels like the start of a lifelong feud. It’s that time of the week where we are all just one minor inconvenience away from a total 10 episode spiral.

Most of us are trying to act normal while secretly being ready to lose it over a stolen parking spot. If you feel like picking a fight with the world today, just know you’re in good company.

If you find this newsletter interesting, refer it to your friends by sharing this link and receive amazing gifts from AHN!

THIS WEEK: COLLECTIBLE AND TOY BRANDS

Are you an AAPI founder ready to elevate your brand alongside trailblazers like these? Join the AHN Directory today to increase visibility, connect with partners and customers, and get featured in AHN spotlights and community events.

Seoul unveiled a 2.7 trillion won or $1.9 billion plan to transform Chang-dong in Dobong District into a 24/7 K-pop-themed cultural hub. The project will be anchored by the Seoul Arena, a large-scale concert venue set to open in May 2027 with a capacity of up to 28,000 and around 100 major shows each year.

The broader development aims to turn the area into a year-round live entertainment district, with concerts streamed across nearby spaces and cultural programs running throughout the neighborhood. City officials also plan to connect the hub with key attractions like Dongdaemun Design Plaza to boost tourism, as Seoul works toward a goal of attracting 30 million foreign visitors annually.

Read the full article here.

The State Administration for Market Regulation will launch a six-month campaign to clean up China’s online advertising sector, marking the country’s first effort to regulate the broader digital ad ecosystem. The move targets risks such as the misuse of artificial intelligence and traffic-driven marketing tactics, alongside long-standing industry issues.

The push comes as the online advertising market has rapidly expanded in recent years, driven by data and new technologies. Estimates from QuestMobile previously projected the sector to reach 793 billion yuan, or about US$116 billion, by 2025, underscoring the scale regulators are now moving to oversee.

Read the full article here.

Lucy Liu opened up about struggling to understand English for years while growing up in Queens, saying it left her feeling isolated and unable to defend her mother when others mocked her accent. Speaking at the Locarno Film Festival, she recalled feeling excluded and voiceless during her early years as the child of Chinese immigrants.

Liu said those experiences shaped her performance in Rosemead and influenced her decision to take on a producing role to ensure the story’s authenticity. She added that she continues to pursue more nuanced roles, aiming to challenge stereotypes and bring immigrant stories to a wider audience.

Read the full article here.

For years, Vietnam’s story was told through a narrow lens that focused on war and little else. Leon Le set out to change that by turning his attention to what came after. In his work, the focus shifts to ordinary lives, quiet moments, and the reality of rebuilding.

In Ky Nam Inn, he tells the story without over-explaining, letting culture exist as it is. The film moves through memory, connection, and the small details people live with every day. Even without financial security, he continues to create because he knows these stories need to be told by those who lived them.

Read the full article here.

🚀 Anupong Tasaduak, CEO of NocNoc, was named E-Commerce Executive of the Year at the Asian Management Excellence Awards last week. He is leading the charge in digital home transformation by helping families in Thailand find easier ways to renovate and style their living spaces through a seamless online marketplace

🚀 Yogi Rizkian Bahar, CEO of LinkAja, took a major leap this April by securing the Financial Technology Innovator award for his work in Indonesia. He is focusing on expanding digital payment access to underserved communities, making it easier for local small businesses to handle transactions without needing traditional bank accounts.

🚀 Roselle Marisol Belleza Andaya, CEO of MR.DIY Philippines, was recently recognized for her leadership in retail expansion across the region. She is driving a massive growth strategy that brings affordable household essentials to more local neighborhoods, creating hundreds of new jobs for the community in the process.

🚀 Le Nguyen Trung Nguyen, CEO of Victoria School, achieved the Education Executive of the Year milestone in Vietnam during the third week of April. He is reimagining the classroom experience by integrating advanced technology and global curriculum standards to help students prepare for the international workforce.

Moving to paperless payroll can save you a lot of time and clutter, but it’s important to make sure you’re following the rules in your state to keep things running smoothly.

What You Need to Know

• Easy Access:  Most states require that employees can easily view and print their pay stubs for free.

• The Right to Choose: You often need an employee’s consent to go digital, and they usually have the right to opt back into paper at any time.

• State Rules: In places like California, Colorado, and Washington, you must provide physical copies if requested.

• Handling Opt-Outs: If an employee chooses paper, you must have a physical statement ready for them on payday.

Why It’s Worth It

1. Anytime Access: You and your team can check payroll info securely 24/7 from anywhere.

2. Fast Reporting: No more digging through files; you can pull up the data you need in seconds.

3. Better Security: Digital platforms are much safer than sensitive info sitting in a filing cabinet.

4. Flexible Options: There are even paperless ways to pay employees who don't have traditional bank accounts.

Rules vary depending on where your employees are located. To make sure you're covered, check your local laws or reach out to an ADP specialist to see which paperless options work best for your business.

Managing payroll, HR, and tax compliance requires time, accuracy, and constant attention to changing regulations. For many small and mid-sized businesses, these responsibilities can take focus away from strategic growth.

Through our partnership with ADP, SMB leaders gain access to reliable, cloud-based payroll and human capital management solutions designed to simplify operations while maximizing cash flow. 

How ADP supports your growth:

• AI-Enhanced Payroll: Reduce errors and late penalties with automated filings and AI-powered error detection that flags discrepancies before you pay.

• Maximum Tax Credit Recovery: ADP’s specialists use your payroll data to uncover valuable incentives—including R&D credits (now with expanded eligibility) and Work Opportunity Tax Credits (WOTC).

• Built-In Compliance: Stay ahead of 2026 regulatory shifts, including new retirement plan mandates and updated wage bases, with automated system updates.

• Scalable HR Infrastructure: From your first hire to your 500th, access integrated tools for recruitment, benefits administration, and 24/7 HR advisory support.

Strategic payroll management is a reinvestment in your business. Fill out our form to connect with an ADP specialist for a personalized review of your current payroll process or review of potential payroll tax savings.

HubSpot's ex-Head of Paid shares his 2026 playbook

Most paid media doesn't fail because of budget. It fails because of strategy. On Monday, April 27, we're going live with HubSpot for Startups to fix that. You'll walk away knowing:

• Which channels to prioritize and in what order (and why most people get this wrong)

• Why following up with leads within 1 minute can improve conversion by 391%

• How to set up tracking so your AI bidding actually optimizes for pipeline, not just clicks

• The top gotchas on Google and LinkedIn that quietly kill performance

Free to attend. Free ad credits for everyone who shows up live.

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