SCHEDULE AND PROGRAMMING
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
DAVID ONO
OPENING KEYNOTE
JULY 15 | 10:00AM-11:00AM | MAIN BALLROOM
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David Ono is the anchor for ABC7 Eyewitness News at 4pm and 6pm, the top-rated newscasts in all of Los Angeles.
David joined ABC7 in 1996 and during that time has witnessed history worldwide, covering disasters including the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, the Haiti earthquake, hurricane Katrina, the firestorms in Los Angeles and Maui. David has also covered presidential elections, three Papal conclaves and two royal weddings.
He traveled across Europe and Asia chronicling brave acts of the Nisei soldier from World War II, creating an immersive stage show called Defining Courage, selling out theaters across the country including The Kennedy Center, Segerstrom Theater, Palace of Fine Arts, and the historic Hawaii Theater.
David has produced multiple award-winning documentaries, two of which have made their way to the Smithsonian Institution.
David has won 14 Edward R. Murrow awards, 32 Emmys, was named America’s anchor of the year in 2024, and he has been named journalist of the year by the LA Press Club multiple times. Ono has also received the Distinguished Journalist Award by the Society of Professional Journalists and was part of a team covering the LA Firestorm winning the prestigious Peabody Award.
David is honored to have received Japan’s Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette.
Ono is a member of the board of governors for the Japanese American National Museum, Go For Broke National Education Center and Asian American Journalists Association.
WORKSHOPS
BREAKING FREE | LEADING BEYOND THE SPELL
JULY 15 | 11:10AM-12:20PM | CALIFORNIA A/B
FACILITATED BY | DR. FATIMA BUSTOS-CHOY
INTENDED FOR | ALL PROFESSIONALS
This workshop explores the hidden beliefs, inherited narratives, and systemic influences that shape leadership beneath the surface. Using the “spell” as a powerful metaphor, this workshop invites participants to examine the “root of the root” of how fear, self-doubt, over-accommodation, and disconnection from identity can affect how they lead. Guided by the Five SoulSteps™ —Awareness, Acceptance, Awakening, Arising, and Actualizing—participants will begin moving from hidden conditioning toward more grounded, authentic, courageous, and conscious leadership.
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Dr. Fatima Bustos-Choy
Founder & CEO, R&F Holistic Services, Gaia Flow Consulting, and Imagine More Institute
www.drfatimalifecoach.com
| fbustoschoy@gmail.com
Dr. Fatima Bustos-Choy, known as “The Soulful Architect of Transformative Change,” is a transformational leadership consultant, educator, holistic life coach, speaker, and author with over three decades of experience guiding individuals and organizations toward meaningful, purpose-driven change.
She integrates organizational development with a heart-centered approach that unites physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being. Her work is grounded in the belief that each person holds inherent greatness—and that true transformation comes from recognizing and releasing the inner “spell” that obscures it.
Dr. Fatima developed the Five SoulSteps™ process, a framework for personal, professional, cultural, and leadership transformation. A passionate advocate of Brain Education, she integrates neuroscience, emotional intelligence, mindfulness, and intergenerational wisdom into her programs.
She has worked with organizations such as Citibank, IBM, Wells Fargo, Cisco, LEAP, SIPA, and Asian American Chambers of Commerce. She also serves as Program Director for a Master’s Degree Program in Integrative Brain Education and as a Senior Advisory Board member of COFACC.
She is a trusted mentor and educator dedicated to helping individuals reclaim their wholeness and lead with purpose, compassion, and conscious leadership.
DEVELOPING MORAL COURAGE | SPEAKING UP EFFECTIVELY IN MOMENTS OF BIAS, POWER IMBALANCE, AND INEQUITY
JULY 15 | 11:10AM-12:20PM | CALIFORNIA C/D
FACILITATED BY | HAYDEN LEE
INTENDED FOR | MID-SENIOR LEVEL AND EXECUTIVE PROFESSIONALS
Leaders often face moments where bias, privilege, and power dynamics emerge in real time. This interactive session equips participants with practical tools and strategies to recognize these moments, act with integrity, and speak up effectively. Through reflective exercises and scenario-based practice, leaders will build confidence, strengthen their moral courage, and develop skills to navigate high-stakes interactions while fostering inclusive, accountable, and high-performing teams.
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Hayden Lee is a Master Certified Executive Life and Leadership Coach, recognized as one of the “Top 20 Best Life Coaches in Los Angeles” by Expertise.com.
He has coached senior leaders at Fortune 500 companies and supports individuals and teams in strengthening leadership effectiveness, fostering inclusive cultures, and achieving growth. With over 5,000 hours of coaching experience, Hayden specializes in helping leaders navigate power dynamics, privilege, and high-stakes decision-making.
He is an Enneagram master coach and has trained over 300 coaches and HR leaders. He co-created an ICF-accredited training program and serves on multiple advisory boards.
A sought-after speaker, Hayden has presented at TEDx, UC Berkeley, and international conferences. His work bridges neuroscience, leadership development, and practical strategy to help leaders act with clarity, courage, and integrity.
STRATEGIC FRAMING FOR INFLUENCE AND LEADERSHIP IMPACT
JULY 15 | 11:10AM-12:20PM | MAIN BALLROOM
FACILITATED BY | CHINGCHA VANG
INTENDED FOR | NEW TO MID-LEVEL PROFESSIONALS
This interactive workshop introduces framing as a way to clarify intention, audience, and impact while also developing greater awareness of organizational power, informal influence, and decision-making pathways. Participants will learn how to apply framing not only to communicate more effectively, but to navigate complex environments with greater strategic awareness and intention.
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Chingcha Vang is a leadership facilitator and program leader with LEAP, where he designs and leads learning experiences for Asian American and Pacific Islander professionals in the nonprofit and public sectors. His work focuses on culturally responsive leadership development, identity-conscious facilitation, and helping leaders strengthen their voice, presence, and influence. He is especially passionate about creating spaces where leaders can integrate their lived experiences, values, and cultural identity into how they lead.
RIDING THE CURRENT: AI AS A FORCE FOR INCLUSION, AND WHY IT NEEDS US
JULY 15 | 11:10AM-12:20PM | SIDE BALLROOM
FACILITATED BY | NANDITA GUPTA
INTENDED FOR | ALL PROFESSIONALS
AI is not neutral. It moves in the direction we build it to move, and without intention, it will replicate existing exclusions faster and at greater scale. Drawing on two decades navigating the tech industry as a woman of color, the speaker has witnessed both sides of this current: AI quietly encoding old exclusions, and AI becoming one of the most powerful equalizers we've had, from assistive wearables to voice technology breaking down language barriers.
This session explores both sides, examining where AI expands access and belonging, and where it quietly encodes exclusion. It makes the case for a leadership imperative beyond representation: ensuring diverse voices are heard, centered, and actively shaping what gets built. In the spirit of LEAP's commitment to full participation and Cisco's principle of inclusion for all, attendees will leave with concrete ways to show up as an intentional force in this current of change.
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Nandita Gupta is a TEDx speaker, Product and Accessibility Leader , and Author with over ten years of experience building products and AI experiences where inclusion comes first. She holds a Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering and a Master's in Human-Computer Interaction, & combines deep technical grounding with a mission to ensure AI works for the 1.3 billion people with disabilities worldwide.
Nandita has served on various non-profit boards, including Lime Connect, and has been featured in Forbes, Business Insider, Fortune, and NASDAQ. She has spoken at the United Nations (Vienna, Austria), Grace Hopper Celebration, UX Talks Tokyo, and M-Enabling, among others. She was inducted into the Susan M. Daniels Disability Mentoring Hall of Fame and named ADCOLOR in Tech 2024. Her intersectional lived experiences drive her commitment to amplify voices that are often left out of the room.
NAVIGATING CROSSCURRENTS | BRAIN EDUCATION-BASED SELF-LEADERSHIP FOR CLARITY, EQUITY, AND ADAPTIVITY
JULY 16 | 12:00PM-1:10PM | CALIFORNIA A/B
FACILITATED BY | HOPE IHM
INTENDED FOR | ALL PROFESSIONALS
Designed for leaders at all levels, this session provides accessible, practical tools that can be immediately applied in professional and community contexts. By strengthening internal competencies such as self-awareness, self-regulation, and self-motivation, participants will be better equipped to navigate complexity, build trust, and lead with authenticity and effectiveness in times of change.
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Hyeran (Hope) Ihm is the Chief Academic Officer at the Institute of Brain Education, where she leads academic programs, faculty development, and institutional accreditation. She brings over 20 years of experience as an educator, leader, and practitioner in Brain Education, mindfulness, and mind-body training, with a focus on developing human-centered leadership and internal competencies.
Dr. Ihm has designed and delivered workshops for diverse audiences — including educators, healthcare professionals, corporate teams, and community organizations — integrating practical tools for stress management, emotional regulation, and leadership development. Her work emphasizes inclusion, self-awareness, and the cultivation of resilience and empathy in times of change.
Before transitioning into education and leadership development, Dr. Ihm earned a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Texas at Austin and conducted research in nanoscience and catalysis. This scientific background informs her evidence-based, integrative approach to leadership and well-being.
Dr. Ihm is passionate about empowering individuals and communities to develop greater clarity, purpose, and capacity for meaningful change through embodied and neuroscience-informed practices.
POWER, GATEKEEPING, AND ACCOUNTABILITY
JULY 16 | 12:00PM-1:10PM | SIDE BALLROOM
FACILITATED BY | FARAH BALA
This is a crucial topic to explore and measure our relationship to power and build equitability and inclusive system. All leaders use power in different ways as they become gatekeepers of their teams, divisions or organizations. It covers the key concepts of decision making that creates either an inclusive or oppressive organizational culture. A conscious use of Power can be used as a force for good, deepening inclusion and psychological safety for all.
INTENDED FOR | EXECUTIVE PROFESSIONALS
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Farah Bala is a Leadership EDIA Executive Coach, Consultant, and Speaker, and the founder of FARSIGHT. Her mission is to support organizations and leaders in redefining leadership by making Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Anti-Oppression core competencies.
Her clients include C-suite executives, creatives, entrepreneurs, and organizations across a wide range of sectors. She also serves as a faculty coach at multiple learning and development institutions. Farah believes equity and inclusion are foundational to effective leadership and communication.
She is a recipient of the Diversity Award from the World Zoroastrian Organization for her work advancing gender, cultural, and racial equity globally. She has been featured in Forbes and is a member of the Forbes Coaches Council. Farah is also the co-creator of Wonder Women, an invite-only leadership development community for executive women of color.
Her speaking engagements include the Forum for Workplace Inclusion, Yale University, the Ford Foundation, and numerous national conferences. She is also the creator and host of the leadership podcast FARSIGHT Chats.
Farah holds an MFA in Theater from Sarah Lawrence College and is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) through the International Coach Federation. She is certified in the Energy Leadership Index (ELI), EQ-i 2.0, EQ 360, and Character Strengths Intervention. She is also featured in Green Card Stories, an award-winning book profiling recent immigrants.
With a background as a performing artist and producer, she brings storytelling and social-emotional learning into leadership development across global industries.
CURRENTS OF CHANGE | ARE YOU LEADING THE CHANGE OR JUST SURVIVING THE DAY?
JULY 16 | 12:00PM-1:10PM | CALIFORNIA C/D
FACILITATED BY | STEVE TERUSAKI
INTENDED FOR | ALL PROFESSIONALS
In an era of relentless disruption, leaders often mistake activity for progress. This high-impact, 50-minute "sprint" workshop empowers participants to move beyond reactive firefighting and reclaim their strategic edge. Utilizing the Importance x Urgency Matrix, leaders will audit their current decision-making habits and engage in a high-pressure simulation to master the "Strategic No." By connecting internal prioritization with external horizon scanning, participants will build the cognitive capacity required to navigate uncertainty, ensuring they lead the change rather than simply surviving the day.
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Steve is an Executive Business Coach and Business Strategist working with C-level executives to help them achieve greater success through a process of dynamic enquiry. The process is grounded in “active listening” and works to uncover the assumptions and beliefs that become the deterrents that prevent each of us from being our very best.
His practice, SEIDO Consulting, LLC, is one to which he pivoted after 30+ years in the architecture/planning/ engineering industry. Steve held multiple C-level positions: Chief Administrative Officer; Chief Operating Office and Chief Executive Officer, personally experiencing the challenges that C-level leaders face. He brings that experience to his new-found passion as an Executive Business Coach, sensitive to the need for the “coaching experience” to be both a sounding board and a cushion for topics that cannot be discussed in any other place nor with any other person.
Steve holds an MBA from the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley; an MLA (Landscape Architecture) from the School of Natural Resources & Environment from the University of Michigan; and a BA with High Honors in Asian Studies and Environmental Biology from UC Santa Barbara.
He is certified as a Business Coach by Resource Associates Corporation Academy; is certified to offer a suite of behavior assessments from Innermetrix; and is also certified as a Total Quality Institute trainer by Resource Associates Corporation.
He is active in his community, sitting on several non-profit boards; member of the Oakland Chinatown Coalition; Chair of Development Committee for the Buddhist Churches of America Endowment Foundation; and one of four co-presidents of the Haas Alumni Network - East Bay Chapter.
Steve enjoys his free time participating in US Masters swimming, cycling and playing piano and other keyboards. He is married with two sons who have recently completed their graduate and undergraduate degrees.
LEAP LAB | LEADERSHIP SIMULATION
LOST PAWS | A COOPERATIVE LEADERSHIP ACTIVITY
JULY 15 | 1:40-4:10 PM | MAIN BALLROOM
FACILITATED BY | JESSICA LI AND ALEX CENA
INTENDED FOR | ALL PROFESSIONALS
Teams each lead a distinct sector of an animal welfare system and quickly discover that every decision that strengthens their team creates pressure somewhere else.
The core challenge mirrors real leadership: you can't optimize your part of the system without understanding the whole. Teams must negotiate trade-offs across competing priorities, align on decisions with incomplete information, and watch the consequences of mis-coordination play out in real time on a shared dashboard.
The debrief surfaces the moments where earlier communication, systems awareness, or a different negotiation would have changed the outcome — and translates those moments directly into leadership practice.
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Jessica (Ayden) Li is a nonprofit strategist and certified executive coach who helps organizations navigate complex leadership challenges and build cultures rooted in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB).
She is the Co-Founder and Principal Consultant of Healing Equity United, where she partners with nonprofits to strengthen leadership, transform organizational culture, and navigate pivotal moments of change. Jess also serves as the CEO of Vets in Vans, a nonprofit bringing accessible veterinary care directly to pets and families in lower-income communities. Jess is often called upon during pivotal moments—leadership transitions, financial instability, organizational conflict, or staff burnout—helping nonprofits stabilize, rebuild trust, and move forward with greater clarity and resilience. -
Alexander Cena is the Chief Programs Officer for LEAP (Leadership Education Asian Pacifics), where he is responsible for the efficient, cost-effective, and timely delivery and coordination of community and corporate leadership development programs, workshops, and events. He is a leadership development professional specializing in diversity & inclusion work and community organizing in the Asian Pacific Island Desi American (APIDA) community.
Mr. Cena has over 11 years of service in the APIDA community. In 2009, as a Programs Manager for a youth development organization called Asian American LEAD, co-created the first Asian American youth summit in the Washington DC area. Between 2013 and 2016, he served as the Director of Asian Pacific Islander American Affairs at the University of Florida and opened the first Asian Pacific Islander American student center on a college campus in the southeastern United States. After moving to Virginia, he joined the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities as their Community Outreach Coordinator and later became the Center Director for Higher Achievement. He maintained his commitment to the APIDA community by holding positions such as Vice President and founder of the Asian American Association at Virginia Commonwealth University, and as a member of the education subcommittee for the Asian Advisory Board of Virginia.
Mr. Cena also serves as the Board Treasurer of the Asian American Justice+ Innovation Lab (AAJIL). AAJIL is a volunteer organization that positions itself as a community racial justice incubator committed to education, community-building, and innovation to promote justice, radical love, and emergence.
PANELS
ANCHORED IN MOTION | WAYFINDING
JULY 16 | 1:20PM-2:30PM | MAIN BALLROOM
PANELISTS | HEIDI CHARGUALAF-QUENGA, DR. NIRA SINGH, HINA AHMAD, SEYRON FOO
This conversation brings together distinguished leaders whose work reflects the evolving landscape of leadership today. Grounded in lived experience and community impact, the panel explores how leaders are navigating complexity, holding tension, and leading with intention in rapidly shifting environments. Through reflection and real-world insight, panelists will share how identity, responsibility, and collective leadership shape the decisions they make—and the futures they are helping to build.
ACTIVATIONS
FUEL UP WITH MARIMIX
Power comes in all forms. Snack while your devices powers back up. Because every current needs its energy.
MAKE WAVES WITH HANALEI
Leadership looks good on you! Stop by for a touch-up at the beauty station to make sure the world sees exactly who's making waves.
CURRENT SIPS WITH KIMLYPARC
Take a sip, catch your breath. Slow down and savor a handcrafted latte from KimlyParc, the perfect pause to refuel before riding the next wave.
REFLECT AND REFINE WITH REBELLION AGENCY
After final looks at the beauty station, step into the spotlight for your professional headshot. Capture yourself in a photo as bold as the change you're making.
LIVING THE CURRENT WITH LTCC
A neighborhood has always been a current of culture, resilience, and community. Explore Little Tokyo's story, landmarks, and living legacy right in the heart of Downtown LA.
PLAN WITH PURPOSE | PASSION PLANNER
Change happens by design. Work through a self-guided passion roadmap on Day 1 and return on Day 2 to build an energy routine with Passion Planner. You’ll leave with a real plan to keep moving.
PLUS MANY MORE FUN ACTIVITIES!
TABLE TALKS
LEADERSHIP REFLECTION AND PRACTICE
JUNE 16TH | 2:40PM-3:50PM | BALLROOMS & CALIFORNIA A/B
This set of conversations focuses on the internal and relational dimensions of leadership. Participants explore how they navigate uncertainty, conflict, identity, well-being, and collective responsibility as they lead through complexity. The discussions are designed to deepen self-awareness, strengthen leadership capacity, and help participants make meaning of the personal and professional challenges that arise in times of change.
LEC 2026 WORKSHOPS ARE GENEROUSLY SPONSORED BY
Please note that schedule and programming may change at any time. Refer to this website for the most updated information. If you have any questions, please contact AV Phan at aphan@leap.org.