Maggie Chui is the co-founder and COO of Asian Hustle Network (AHN), which aims to empower and uplift entrepreneurs and allies in the Asian community. AHN was created with the mission to increase Asian representation in mainstream media and to support Asians in the investment and corporate spheres.

After earning a finance degree in college, Chui worked in tech, city and local government, and staging and interior design, where she grew intrigued by entrepreneurship. In 2019, Chui co-founded AHN with a vision of global impact for the Asian entrepreneurial community to amplify their voices, empower them, and claim their heritage. AHN now boasts an online community of more than 100,000 members worldwide.

Read more below to find out what Chui learned from the pandemic and why she continues to advocate for women of color in the workplace.

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What are the biggest lessons you are taking with you out of this pandemic?

One of the biggest lessons that I took with me out of this pandemic is that we’re all closer and more alike than we think. On top of embracing our unique cultural differences, we must understand that we have the power to make a larger and more positive cultural impact when communities rally to support each other. In growing Asian Hustle Network, I have seen our community become more united and am reminded that no one is powerless when we come together and demand to be seen.

What is the most meaningful part of your job?

The most meaningful part of my job is being able to witness the growth of this community and how proud our members become of their cultural roots simply by learning a bit more about our history as Asian Americans. It is empowering to see the members look deeper into and reclaim their cultural heritage. To know that the members in our community have a safe space to share their stories, connect with others who have had similar experiences, and have a sense of belonging — this is what makes my work so meaningful.

Every person faces their own challenges and women of color are certainly no exception. What contributes to your resilience as a professional woman of color?

As a professional woman of color, I often found that my own challenge, especially while I was working in corporate, was finding my voice. I constantly battled with feeling like my voice wasn’t being amplified enough when I was the only petite Asian woman standing just below 5’0″ in each of the meeting rooms.

As I began to work on my own business and grow Asian Hustle Network, I learned the most important aspect to finding your voice is making sure you place yourself in an environment where you can thrive. To know that I am doing fulfilling work in creating a movement for not only people of color but also women of color, I understand that I have a platform to use my voice and inspire other women of color to do the same. What contributes to my resilience is that I now recognize that I can be just as powerful as anyone else, including my male counterparts, if I demand to let my voice be heard.