4th API: Adapting & Advancing

Beyond Survival: How to Build the Future While the Ground Shifts

Conference intro

Policies change. Technology accelerates. Headlines scream. How do we stay grounded while moving forward? Join us as we explore how to adapt without losing our roots. Whether it’s protecting communities, pivoting careers, or predicting the future of food, our speakers prove that in a chaotic world, the best way to predict the future is to lead it.
 

Event details

📅 Friday, Feb 13, 2026 | 12:30–6:00 PM ET

📍 Corner Commons for Conference, 12:30–4:00 PM ET

📍 Good Time Charley’s for after-party, 4:00–6:00 PM ET
 

Conference agenda

12:30–1:00 Registration and lunch!

1:00–1:10 Opening welcome and agenda by Professor Soojin Kwon

1:10–1:40 Session 1:  Roots & Rights: Educating & protecting Michiganders in 2026 with Senator Stephanie Chang (MSW/MPP ’14) — the first Asian American woman elected to the Michigan Legislature. Moderated by Soojin Kwon.

1:45–2:25 Session 2: How to make big decisions with Jason Park (BBA ’98, MAcc ’99) — Chief Transformational Officer, DraftKings Inc.; former McKinsey and Bain Capital leader. Moderated by Sunny Huang.

2:30–3:10 Session 3: How AI Decides What's for Dinner with Mike Lee (BBA ’02) — the prominent food futurist, innovation strategist, and author of Mise: On the Future of Food, known for his work in reimagining the global food system. Moderated by Andrea Manalac.

3:15–3:55 Session 4: Who are you off-camera? with Richard Lui (MBA ’01) — the first Asian American male to anchor a daily, national cable news program in the U.S., author, caregiver advocate, and tech entrepreneur. Moderated by Brian Vu. 

Please register here, and pay via bogeum@umich.edu (zelle) or this link (Go to 1. Personal Detail -> Choose "4th Asian Pacific Islander Leadership Conference - Non-AABA member - $5" -> continue to payment page.)

Have friends outside of Ross you want to bring? Use this link (https://forms.gle/mUbxKFWNAGcW3pf17) and follow the same payment!

Free for Asian American Business Association club members. $5 for non-members.

For any further information, please feel free to contact Gunn Lakdee, Vice President of Engagement of Ross AABA, at nlakdee@umich.edu