PRIDE 🏳️‍🌈

Hi, how was your weekend?

We’ve officially stepped into one of the most vibrant months of the year: Pride Month. As we celebrate with the queer community, it also serves as a meaningful reminder to uplift the marginalized and amplify underrepresented voices.

PS: Missed our last edition? Catch up here!

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UPLIFTING STORY 📖

Breaking Boundaries and Making Laughter with Julie Kim

Julie Kim didn’t begin her career in comedy—she initially followed the stereotypically ‘Asian’ path of stable jobs in academia and office work. Born and raised in Toronto to a Korean immigrant family, her upbringing took place in a tight-knit, two-bedroom apartment above her family’s grocery store. “At one point, there were seven people in the apartment,” she recalls. “And for a solid six or seven years, I slept on the pull-out sofa bed in the living room.”

LAST WEEK, ASIAN LEADERS DID 🎉

🚀 Marcia Lee announces her new role as Founder and CEO of Leea, a companion for your skincare journey with advanced skin health metrics and hyper-personalized recommendations.

🚀 Asian Tech Collective launches its first-ever newsletter, creating a space to uplift and connect Asian leaders across the tech ecosystem.

🚀 Brad Hiranaga joins Marriott International as Senior Vice President of Global Experience Design, bringing his brand expertise to elevate customer experiences across the company’s global portfolio.

🌟 The Elevate Prize Foundation has named Bing Chen, Founder and CEO of Gold House, a 2025 Elevate Prize winner for his work uplifting Asian Pacific leaders through storytelling, business, and visibility.

🌟 Billboard CEO Mike Van was featured on CBS Mornings, where he shared his personal journey and what's ahead for the brand.

📄 Ida Liu, former Global Head of Citi Private Bank, is featured in Forbes, sharing insights on breaking the bamboo ceiling and redefining inclusive leadership in global finance.

💸 SNITCH, led by founder and CEO Siddharth Dungarwal, has raised $40 million to accelerate growth. The D2C men’s fashion brand plans to double its retail presence, expand into new categories and quick commerce, and pilot entry into international markets with the fresh funding.

Thailand’s Pride Power: Bangkok Festival Generates THB 4.5 Billion (~$123 million USD) 🏳️‍🌈

Bangkok Pride 2025 Festival has officially kicked off at the heart of Bangkok–the Siam district, amassing more than 300,000 attendees and is expected to create more than THB 4.5 billion (~$123 million USD) for the Thai economy. 

Choosing "Born This Way: The Continuing Fight from Marriage Equality to Identity Recognition” as this year’s main theme, the festival has solidified Bangkok’s position as an ideal travel destination for the LGBTQ+ community. 

Major sponsor Siam Piwat Group—with flagship malls like Siam Paragon and ICONSIAM—is hosting events throughout June. Bangkok Pride is now officially recognized as a national festival and ranks among the top 10 Pride events in the world, with the city aiming to host Bangkok World Pride in 2030.

Adoptees Push Back on 'Gratitude' Narrative Amid Identity Struggles and Systemic Adoption Critiques

Cosette Eisenhauer-Epp, a Chinese transracial adoptee, reflects on the emotional complexity of her identity, especially following events like the 2022 Atlanta spa shootings, where racial violence clashed with her familial and cultural reality. She and many other adoptees are pushing back against the harmful notion that they should feel "grateful" for being adopted, especially in light of systemic adoption fraud and the political framing of adoption as an alternative to abortion. 

Through platforms like TikTok and adoptee-led organizations such as Navigating Adoption and Sisters of China, adoptees are amplifying their voices and challenging the adoption industry's narratives. Advocates argue that adoptees, like other trauma survivors, deserve empathy—not forced gratitude—and that the system often prioritizes agencies and governments over the well-being of the children.

Presented by Citrus

Who We Are

Citrus is a culturally rooted marketing studio working at the intersection of community, storytelling, and strategy. Our debut campaign supported The Ancestral Home (Nhà Gia Tiên), a Vietnamese supernatural drama that opened in 140+ theaters across the U.S. and Canada, with over 30,000 tickets sold during its Mother’s Day weekend premiere.

Why We Do It

We believe multicultural marketing isn’t just about visibility—it’s about power. Films carry political weight—not in a partisan sense, but in meaning. They reflect who matters, whose stories are told, and which narratives are deemed worth preserving.

What We’re Looking For

We’re here for the stories that say something; that teach, inform, and reflect the depth and dynamism of our communities. We want to work with filmmakers telling bold, beautiful truths: stories that seek visibility as the first step toward deeper understanding. If your project is rooted in meaning and impact and ready to do the important work of connecting, we’d love to help bring it forward in ways that feel true.

For newsletter sponsorship opportunities, please reach out to [email protected] 

List Your Event for Free With Asian Heritage Week 2025! 🇨🇦🔊

To mark Asian Heritage Week’s second year, we are excited to announce our return to Canada across two cities: Vancouver and Toronto.

Asian Heritage Week (AHW) is an annual celebration that amplifies your events through our network, embracing and honoring the cultural heritage of Asian communities.

To unfold the beauty and creativity of the Asian community, we would love for event hosts to join us on this journey through two beautiful cities:

• Vancouver | Jun 2 - Jun 8

• Toronto | Jun 9 - Jun 11

Join The Medicine Muse: Microdose Collective for a one-time-only 10-week journey (June 18–Aug 20, 2025) to nourish, root, and expand your mental health—pre-register by June 4 with code H10 for 10% off.

Got deals to share with the community?

Fill out this form if you have any deals or perks you would like to share with the community!

COMPANIES DISCOVERED ✅

Zen Coast
Zen Coast University (ZCU) and Asian Hustle Network (AHN) have partnered to empower Asian entrepreneurs, creatives, and professionals. The collaboration aims to provide actionable insights, mentorship, and growth opportunities. 

To join, complete the form on our website.

Paired
Paired helps businesses find the top overseas talent for as low as $5/hour. Our intensive search and outreach processes help us find amazing rockstars in places like Indonesia, LATAM, and South Africa within two to three weeks!

WORKPLACE ESSENTIALS 🌟

Stressed about office life and looking to make it more fun? Here are our editors’ weekly top picks for workplace amenities to uplift your hustle workspace.

Mini Scroll Wall Art With Calligraphy or Haiku

A mini scroll with calligraphy or haiku is like a wise little roommate for your desk—quiet, classy, and always dropping poetic truth bombs. It adds just enough zen to balance out your chaotic inbox.

🌈 It’s Pride Month, but the need for inclusivity needs to be encouraged all seasons. According to BCG, companies with great diversity policies are likely to outperform their competitors. Whether as a leader or a coworker, it’s important to make sure that each person in your team feels appreciated and welcomed.

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Creating Websites That Connect With Asian Hustle Solutions

A good website goes beyond just its visual design. Its effectiveness hinges on user experience: the ease of navigation, the seamlessness of their journey, and the ability of the site to build brand trust and connection.

If you want to explore our services more, visit the Asian Hustle Solutions website at AHS.