Inspiring Across Generations (IAG) Annual Conference
Transforming Tomorrow: Leading for Our Future
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Event Details
Date: Friday, May 9, 2025
Time: 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM CT
Venue: Amegy Bank Event Center, Walter Johnson Conference Center (9th Floor), 1717 West Loop South, Houston, TX 77027
Admission: Single Member: $150 I Single Non-Member: $175
Description
Ascend Houston Chapter invites you to join us for our annual Inspiring Across Generations (IAG) conference. Our theme for this year’s IAG is Transforming Tomorrow: Leading For Our Future and is scheduled to take place on May 9, 2025 (Friday) at Amegy Bank Event Center. Ascend IAG Conference reflects on our commitment to empowering our community as leaders. In a rapidly evolving world, it is crucial to equip emerging leaders with the skills, knowledge, and inspiration they need to drive innovation and positive change.
There will be giveaways and freebies up for grabs at various times of the conference.
Thanks to one of our speakers, we have surprise gift bags for the first 100 participants. Be sure to arrive early!
Agenda
10:00 AM - 10:30 AM:
Registration/Networking
10:30 AM - 10:45 AM:
President's Opening Remarks
10:45 AM - 11:15 AM:
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Tam Vo
11:15 AM - 11:45 PM:
Ascend Talks - "Developing Future Leaders"
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Speakers:
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Pauline Le - “Expand Your Sphere of Influence with Integrity and Authenticity”
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Darrion Nguyen - "Turning Passion into Purpose (and Purpose into Play)"
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11:45 PM - 12:45 PM:
Break/Headshots/Lunch
12:45 PM - 2:00 PM:
2:00 PM - 2:45 PM:
Ascend Talks - "Developing Future Leaders"
-
Speakers:
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Tung "Eric" Nguyen - “The Leadership Shortcut: Focus on What Moves the Needle”
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Kim Huynh - "The Courage to Lean In, the Safety to Speak Out"
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Sunny Zhang - "Take the Leap Beyond Borders and Limits"
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2:45 PM - 3:00 PM:
Break
3:00 PM - 3:45 PM:
Fireside Chat - "Driving the AAPI into the Future"
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Moderator: Wendy Nguyen
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Panel/Speakers:
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Dd (Catharina) Budiharto
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Bala Vaithyalingam
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Erika Vela
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3:45 PM - 4:00 PM:
Closing Remarks and Thank You
4:00 PM - 4:30 PM:
Network Reception
Speakers
Keynote Speaker
Tam Vo
Senior Director
Risk, Forensics & Compliance
Ankura
Ascend Talks - "Developing Future Leaders"
Pauline Le
CPA, CGMA, CITP, CFE, MBA
Founder & CEO
Athena Financial Alliance, Inc
Darrion Nguyen
Science Communicator
YouTube Educator
Connecting Circles Mentors
Vineet Anand
Senior Manager
RSM
Ankur Kataria
Director
KPMG
Juzer Vejlani
Director, Economic & Valuation Services
KPMG
Chi Chen
VP
Turnaround & Restructuring
AlixPartners
Anisha Malhotra
Manager
Internal Product Management
Zions Bancorporation
Lily Wang
CPA, Audit Partner
Crowe
Afsheen Hasan
Senior Manager
KPMG
Taimur Rehan Ghazi
Principal, Risk Consulting
RSM
Xin Xin
Tax Services Partner, CPA, CFP
Crowe
Sean Hong
Senior Manager
RSM
Adam Traweek
SVP
Middle Market Banking Manager
Amegy
Xiaohang Zhao
Senior Manager
PwC
Ascend Talks - "Developing Future Leaders"
Kim Huynh
CPA, Audit Partner
Crowe
Tung “Eric” Nguyen
CEO & Founder
Amazin Choices
Sunny Zhang, Ph.D.
Founder
TrueLeap Inc.
Fireside Chat - "Driving the AAPI into the Future"
Catharina “Dd” Budiharto
CEO & Founder
Cyber Point Advisory, LLC
Bala Vaithyalingam
Worldwide Leader for Data & AI
IBM Technology Expert Labs
Erika Vela
Technology Transactions Attorney
BakerHostetler
Speakers
Wendy Nguyen
Founder
NCTP CPAS PLLC
Moderator
Program Partners
Event Supporters
Parking
Directions to Amegy Tower & Parking Map
1717 West Loop S. | Houston, TX 77027
Note: You can enter the bank parking from the 610 feeder as well as on Post Oak Park Dr.
‐ Once you have parked, take the elevators to the Lobby.
‐ Once in the Lobby, take the elevators to the 9th floor for the Walter Johnson Conference Center
Traveling East On I‐10:
Travel east on I‐10 and merge onto I‐610 S via EXIT 763
Take EXIT 9A toward San Felipe Rd
Make a U‐Turn & Continue on West Loop S to your destination
Traveling South on Southwest Freeway 59 from Downtown:
Travel south and take the exit toward Interstate 610 N
Keep left and merge onto I‐610 N
Take exit 9 toward San Felipe Rd/Post Oak Blvd
Continue on West Loop S to your destination
Traveling North on Southwest Freeway 59:
Travel North and take the exit toward Interstate 610 N
Keep left and merge onto I‐610 N
Take exit 9 toward San Felipe Rd/Post Oak Blvd
Continue on West Loop S to your destination
Safety of our guests is paramount to Ascend. Attendees are responsible for monitoring their own condition and agree to comply with the safety, hygiene and CDC identified pandemic level communicable illnesses (including COVID-19) guidelines established by relevant health authorities. We request that attendees not attend an event should they test positive or if they experience COVID symptoms prior to the event.