“I don’t shine if you don’t shine.” - Aminatou Sow

AANHPI Women Empowered began with a conversation.

In the fall of 2019, four friends and community leaders- Margaret Abe-Koga, Michele Lew, Naomi Nakano-Matsumoto, and Jennifer Torai gathered for lunch in Mountain View. With strong bonds of friendship and trust already established, they spoke candidly about the challenges of professional and civic leadership for AANHPI women.

Inspired by the principles of Shine Theory, a practice adopted by female staffers in the Obama administration to support and highlight one another, they envisioned a community where AANHPI women could connect, develop as leaders, and create positive change through civic engagement and community service.

That vision became AANHPI Women Empowered (AWE), a volunteer-led organization dedicated to advancing engagement, leadership, representation, and mutual support of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) women by fostering opportunities for civic engagement, leadership development, professional networking, education, and community service in Silicon Valley and beyond.