Mission

Asian Leadership Collective exists to amplify ESEA voices within conversations around diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the UK. Whilst our focus is on the East and Southeast Asian community, Asian Leadership Collective advocates for social equity for all, through leading by example and collaborating with other communities to uplift one another.

Our work involves:

Championing East and Southeast Asian people by normalising an intersectional approach to leadership (i.e. taking multiple social factors like race, class and gender into account).
Providing services and resources, leveraging the skills and knowledge to push through barriers for equal representation within executive and C-suite positions.
Highlighting the importance of authentic and culturally competent representation in media and culture - from television and film to literature and theatre.

Our story

From online hashtag to community movement

Changing the narrative

Our story began in November 2020, when reported East and Southeast Asian (ESEA) hate crime was at an all-time high during the Covid-19 pandemic.

This shone a light on longstanding systemic issues, such as the historic lack of accurate ESEA representation in UK census data, studies and reporting. Due to this, ESEA people are easily misrepresented, and at worst, ignored as a group in need of support and resources. These beliefs can lead to harmful stereotypes, unconscious bias, and the perpetuation of system racism against the ESEA community.

To counter the abuse and damaging misconceptions surrounding ESEA people at the time, founder Anna Chan (ALC) and podcast host Georgie Ma (Chinese Chippy Girl) sought to switch the narrative around cultural heritage to one of celebration and storytelling about the one thing all ESEA communities have in common:
their passion for food.

Thus, on 30th November 2020, #ESEAEats was born, calling ESEA community members, allies and food lovers alike to share their appreciation of ESEA food stories and memories.

Championing the cause

On 23rd December 2020, ALC was launched as a social enterprise to address the lack of positive ESEA representation in the UK - especially in positions of power and executive level roles.

5 years later, #ESEAEats has gained over 16,500 uses on social media platforms and what started as an online movement now takes place as an annual flagship event featuring panel sessions with ESEA leaders and a rich celebration of food and culture.

Alongside the #ESEAEats flagship, ALC’s work has expanded into a range of award-winning strategic services around diversity, equity and inclusion, and is continually evolving.