AAGEN

Asian American Government Executive Network

An Interview with our Chair

Dr. Jiashen You joined the government after he had earned his PhD degree in Statistics at UCLA, California. He worked for a few government agencies over the past few years. Now he serves as the Chief Data Officer and Director of Enterprise Data and Analytics at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). He often characterizes his office as the “data brain” of the EEOC, as it is responsible for nearly all evidence-building and reporting activities to support an agency of about 2,300 FTEs dedicated to protecting Americans’ employment rights. How long have you been a member of AAGEN? I joined AAGEN in October 2016, shortly after starting as a GS-14 statistician at the Department of Homeland Security. At the 2019 AAGEN Leadership Workshop, I met several Board members, including the charismatic Ellen and AAGEN’s co-founder, Bel. They convinced me that it was never too early or late to get involved and contribute to AAGEN's growth and continued success.

Dr. Jiashen You

Why did you join AAGEN?

AAGEN’s mission resonates deeply with me. It is exceedingly heartening to know that over 30 years ago, a small group of Asian American government executives, despite their diverse cultural, educational, and occupational backgrounds, recognized the critical need for a unified voice for all Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander senior leaders in the highest echelons of the federal government. Fun fact: AAGEN has the longest history among its peer affinity groups.

Fast forward to today, we have graduated 13 cohorts of the AAGEN Senior Executive Service Development Program, and hundreds of AAGEN champions and SES DP alumni amplify the message of diversity, equity, and inclusion, making the federal government a little bit better everyday. To me, the best way to honor our founding members’ legacy is to continue building on and expanding AAGEN’s success, adapting to the evolving leadership needs of a mid-21st century modern federal workforce.

What is your leadership focus as AAGEN Chair?

I value the leadership opportunity and strive to support as many committees as possible. For the past five months, I have focused on the Program and SES Development Program Committees. We successfully completed the annual leadership workshop with a theme of “Identity, Integrity, and Influence - How to Lead in Uncertain Times”, and graduated 2023-2024 SES DP cohort in May. In the next 5-6 months, I plan to shift my attention to the Membership, Outreach, and Communication Committees. We just finished the one-day strategic retreat discussingAAGEN missions and strategic goals. Stay tuned for a series of coming membership events.

If you could choose anyone as a mentor, who would you choose and why?

If I could choose anyone as a mentor, I would choose Norman Mineta. He was the first person of Asian descent to achieve the title of Secretary, serving as both the U.S. Secretary of Transportation and Secretary of Commerce. Remarkably, he served in both Republican and Democratic administrations, showcasing his ability to transcend partisan divides. Mineta's distinguished career in public service, resilience, and visionary thinking are incredibly inspiring. His pioneering efforts in promoting diversity and inclusion, along with his profound impact on policy and community, make him an ideal mentor. I would particularly value his tips on bringing people together and fostering bipartisan collaboration, as these skills are essential for making a meaningful and lasting impact in one’s career and society.

What advice would you give to someone if you were their mentor?

This has always been a reliable piece of advice: regardless of your grade level, I advocate for having a personal Board of Directors.

1. Mentor: A person one grade level above you who can advise on navigating the agency's culture and career advancement in general.
2. Sponsor: Someone 2-3 levels above who knows about your professional achievements and is willing to use their influence to advocate for you.
3. Coach: A peer, family member, or friend who is a good reflexive listener, willing to spend time with you and help identify solutions to career and life issues.
4. Advocates: Peers and champions who speak highly of you in places outside your immediate office.
5. Lastly, I believe it's valuable to include a therapist in the mix. Leading people at work (while balancing everything else in life) can be challenging, especially when facing resistance to change. An outside voice can help you filter out the noise and focus on what truly matters to you.

We wish AAGEN success in achieving its mission under Dr. You’s leadership, and are looking forward to another great new year!