Leadership Academy

The FACL BC Leadership Academy is the first of its kind for Asian Canadian lawyers and was created in 2023 to develop the next generation of leaders in our Asian Canadian legal community.  This program has been uniquely designed to equip future leaders with key tools and strategies for leadership growth while allowing participants to form authentic connections with peers within the profession. 

In particular, Leadership Academy fellows will:

  • Learn about the fundamentals of authentic leadership  

  • Develop practical and tangible skills for growth and success  

  • Form meaningful connections with future leaders 

  • Gain a clearer sense of identity and purpose in their personal and professional lives

Qualifications

The program is designed to accelerate junior to mid-level Asian Canadian lawyers through their careers. Enrolment in the program is limited to up to 12 lawyers. All FACL BC members are encouraged to apply. 

The selection committee will focus on the following:

    • Experience: This year’s program will prefer candidates with 2 to 5 years of experience, but others are welcome to apply for consideration.
    • Membership: Applicants must be full members of FACL BC. For more information on how to join, please visit our page (full member fees are $80 annually).
    • Background: FACL BC is a pan-Asian organization celebrating the diversity of our Asian communities - we explicitly encourage lawyers who self-identify as South Asian, Southeast Asian, East Asian, West Asian and other Asian Canadians to apply.

Fees

FACL BC will provide the facilitators, guest speakers, materials, and venue. If accepted, attendees are expected to commit a program fee of $250 and provide their own travel and accommodations, where required. Financial support is available upon request to info@faclbc.ca.

Program

All sessions run in person from 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM in Vancouver, unless otherwise noted. Schedule is subject to modification.

Session One (Saturday, March 15): Leadership Redefined 

    • Authenticity, Identity and Storytelling

Session Two (Saturday, April 5): Growth Strategies

    • Habit Formation and Visioning
    • Building a Support Network

Session Three (Saturday, May 31): Active Leadership

    • Communication and Active Listening for Leadership
    • Team Building and People Management

Session Four (Saturday, September 20): Leadership Realized

    • How to Build Your Personal Brand
    • Crisis Management as Identity Management

Program Leads

  • Mark Leung (Founder & CEO of Interhouse)
  • Steven Ngo (FACL BC Past President 2022-2023, FACL BC & Sr. Counsel, Rivian)

Past Guest Speakers

    

      

  • Aleem Bharmal, KC (Law Society of BC Bencher, CBABC 2022-2023 President)
  • Gigi Chen-Kou (CEO/Executive Director of LSBC)
  • Miranda Lam, KC (CLO and Vice President, Business Development at Acuitas Therapeutics)

2024 Leadership Academy Alumni

Aaron Pan, Anita Fung, Arjun Hair, Jason Birring, Lucy Sun, Lynn Muldoon
Navpreet Chhina, Rachel Wong, Rashim Sharma, Sabrina Chang, Serena Cheong, Wen He

2023 Leadership Academy Alumni

Daniel Lee, Edmond Lo, Flora Wu, Janice Lu, Jessica Chung, Jim Wu 

Khalil Jessa, Natalie Chan, Sadaf Kashfi, Shanna Gu, Sunny Chiu, Tiffany Ho 

Past Photos

Testimonials


The Leadership Academy stands out as one of the best leadership programs I’ve ever attended. The speakers are phenomenal, and the atmosphere is very welcoming and supportive. Whether it’s your first leadership program or your tenth, you’ll feel right at home.

- Wen He, 2024


Being part of the Leadership Academy was a one-of-a-kind experience that I couldn’t have found anywhere else. It focused on the kind of leadership that’s essential for leading yourself—developing self-awareness, resilience, and personal growth.  

It also helped me build a strong peer network. You’ll truly get to know your cohort on a deeper level, form meaningful connections and lasting friendships.

- Lynn Muldoon, 2024 


The Leadership Academy was one of the most rewarding experiences of my year. Not only did I have the opportunity to meet incredible people, but I also gained insights that reshaped my understanding of leadership.

If you’re hesitating to apply because you don’t think you’re a leader yet —this program is exactly for you. Leadership isn’t reserved for those in senior positions. It’s a mindset and skill that anyone can develop, and starting early means you’ll have more time to grow into the kind of leader you aspire to be.

- Rachel Wong, 2024


The Leadership Academy was a transformative experience that helped me build my leadership skills and confidence - I gained invaluable insights and expanded my professional network. The mentorship and networking opportunities were unparalleled, and I feel more confident in my capacity to contribute to my community.

- Tiffany Ho, 2023


The Leadership Academy was a safe space to think about one’s next step while connecting with others who were pondering the same. I encourage those who want to reflect on their career journey to apply. 

- Sadaf Kashfi, 2023


The Leadership Academy provided me with a platform to learn from other members and guest speakers in a non-judgmental setting, offering tools to break through the glass ceiling and reach my career, professional, and personal goals. 

It is designed to help Asian Canadian lawyers accelerate their careers by equipping them with the necessary tools (not taught in law school or law firm) to succeed - and it has helped me achieve my professional goals. 

- Daniel Lee, 2023

 
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