SAMOSA is the first of its kind professional development & networking association for South Asians, created to connect South Asians to mentorship, opportunities & speaking engagements. South Asians are often underrepresented in these professional development spaces & SAMOSA strives to bridge this gap.
The Case of South Asian Underrepresentation in Conferences
In June 2020, a conference for women of color in communications had 27 speakers, of which 0 were South Asian. The executive board of this organization has 19 members, of which 0 are South Asian.
A conference held by a magazine for diverse women has 19 speakers, of which 1 is a South Asian woman. There are 2 white male speakers on the speaker lineup.
$10
Monthly Membership
Membership profile
Collaborative workspace access to communicate & network with other members
$99
Annual Membership
Membership profile
Collaborative workspace access to communicate & network with other members
Monthly profile feature on SAMOSA social media
#AsianLeadersConnect is a collaborative project between ChaiConnect and the Council of Asian Pacific Americans – Michigan. This initiative addresses Asian American representation in leadership roles & leadership development programs. Studies have found that “Asian Americans are the least likely group in the U.S. to be promoted to management…[and] because Asian Americans are not considered an underrepresented minority, they are given little priority or attention in diversity programs…” [@HarvardBiz, 2018] Please use the hashtag #AsianLeadersConnect to share your stories of leadership in the classroom, workforce & beyond. Representation matters & it’s so important for people to see Asian American leaders in action.