Fareed Zakaria, CNN GPS host and author of Age of Revolutions, joins Selina Wang, ABC News Senior White House Correspondent, at the 2025 Ascend A-List Awards to discuss today’s complex geopolitical landscape and share insights for global business leaders navigating unprecedented challenges.

Basketball’s impact goes beyond the court—it’s about community, culture, and connection. Christopher Helfrich, CEO of Eat. Learn. Play. (Stephen and Ayesha Curry’s foundation) joins Golden State Valkyries' head coach Natalie Nakase and CEO Jess Smith to explore leadership and social impact in sports. From Natalie’s groundbreaking coaching career to Jess’s role in building the Valkyries franchise, this conversation dives into the future of basketball and its power to drive change.

Olympic gold medalist Kristi Yamaguchi—who made history as the first Asian American to win the achievement—joins Golden State Warriors hype man Franco Finn for a conversation about resilience, legacy, and giving back. Kristi shares the dedication behind becoming an Olympian, what it felt like to win gold, and the surprising first meal she had after. She also dives into life after the Olympics, from founding Always Dream, a nonprofit dedicated to children's literacy, to winning "Dancing with the Stars."

Join Jyoti Chopra, Chief People, Inclusion & Sustainability Officer at MGM Resorts International, and Lisa Chang, EVP & Global Chief People Officer at The Coca-Cola Company, for an insightful conversation about what it means to be a “people person.” Together, they explore the characteristics and strengths that foster success, growth, and inclusion in the workplace. Don’t miss this inspiring episode celebrating the power of people and unique perspectives on shaping the future.

Misa Chien, Founder & CEO of The Authentic Asian, is joined by Vanessa Dew, Co-founder of Health-Ade. Together they share candid stories of missteps, tough lessons, and pivotal moments that redefined their paths. Navigating the entrepreneurial rollercoaster is one that requires resilience, learning from failure, and ultimately building a strong support network–which they agree has been their greatest asset. Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or simply looking for motivation to tackle challenges head-on, this conversation unlocks invaluable insights and inspiration to help find strength in setbacks.

To mark the release of Ascend’s final report in a 3-part series on API mental health and well-being, Dr. Jenny Wang, clinical psychologist and founder of Asians for Mental Health, joins David Doan, Senior Manager at EY Nexus for Health Solution Architect, for a discussion on workplace mental health challenges for API professionals. Ascend’s mental health series provides crucial data on the unique experiences and cultural stressors faced by APIs, ensuring their voices and are understood and represented. Dr. Wang, known for her social justice and trauma-informed approach, explores with David how companies can better support API professionals beyond performative measures.

Maulik Pancholy, actor, author, and activist, faced cancellation by a Pennsylvania school board after being scheduled to speak to students about anti-bullying. Following community backlash, the decision was reversed, and his speech, supporting LGBTQIA+ students, was reinstated. Meanwhile, Dr. Saju Mathew, physician and CNN medical analyst, came out to his family and broke off an arranged marriage. Both Maulik and Saju share their experiences as LGBTQIA+ South Asians, discussing their personal journeys in career, family, culture, and coming out to the public.

How do we answer to the call of intentional leadership? Join Jerry Won, Founder and CEO of Just Like Media in conversation with Marissa Pagnani McGowan, Chief Sustainability Officer of L’Oréal Groupe, North America, as they discuss building sustainable communities that can impact business and society. Both Jerry and Melissa share their experiences of how they show up for others inside and outside of the workplace and how recognizing Asian American success should not be overlooked.