- Jan 23
- 4 min read
Updated: Jan 26
Since 2018, the Rising Star Awards have recognized young, dynamic leaders under 40 who are blazing trails in their industries. These women represent the next generation of changemakers, innovators, and leaders— inspiring others with their dedication, creativity, and impact.
Past Rising Star winners have gone on to lead companies, scale social impact organizations, and shape public discourse across sectors. Learn more about past honorees on our Honoring Pioneers page..
The Serica AAPI Trailblazers Gala 2026, taking place on Thursday, April 30, 2026, proudly invites nominations for the Rising Star Awards, honoring aspiring and accomplished women under 40 who are making remarkable contributions across the following categories:
This prestigious recognition celebrates women whose professional excellence, leadership, social impact, and innovative thinking are driving positive change within their industries and communities.
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for nomination, candidates must meet the following criteria:
Identify as a woman and be under 40 years of age
Demonstrate a strong commitment or allyship to AAPI and/or Asian communities
Exhibit a track record of professional excellence and impact
Work within the selected category:
Entrepreneur: Individuals who have founded a business, or achieved notable success through their own ventures, including authors, creators, and innovators.
Corporate: Professionals in sectors such as technology, healthcare, consulting, finance, media, banking, and beyond.
Non-Profit: Leaders in philanthropy, non-profit organizations, academia, or think tanks making a difference through social impact and community engagement.
Awards & Recognition
Winners will receive:
Exclusive Ticket: Complimentary access to both the Gala on April 30, 2026 and the Conference in October 2026, offering high-value networking opportunities.
On-Stage Recognition: Award presentation in front of distinguished peers and industry leaders.
Publicity: Featured in event materials, promotional content, and post-event highlights.
Professional Network: Connection to a vibrant network of mentors, industry leaders, and fellow trailblazing women.
Preferred Access to the Mentorship Program as mentee!
Judging Criteria
Nominations will be evaluated by a distinguished panel of four judges based on the following criteria, rated on a scale of 1 to 5 (5 being the highest):
Professional Achievements
Leadership Qualities
Social Impact
Innovation & Forward Thinking
2026 Rising Star Judges
Sheila Lirio Marcelo brings more than two decades of leadership experience in internet consumer marketplace businesses. She is the Co-Founder and CEO of Ohai.ai, a generative-AI startup supporting families, and the founder of Care.com, which she took public in 2014 before its acquisition by IAC. She has served as a Venture Partner at NEA and is a founding board member of The Asian American Foundation. Ms. Marcelo has been honored with numerous accolades. She was just on Forbes 50 Over 50. She was one of Fortune’s "Top 10 Women Entrepreneurs" and appeared at Fortune's Most Powerful Women Summit. She is a Henry Crown Fellow with the Aspen Institute, a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum, and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Kathy Hirata Chin retired in 2024 from Crowell & Moring LLP after a distinguished legal career. A graduate of Princeton University and Columbia Law School, she has served on numerous judicial, civic, and advisory bodies including the NYC Planning Commission and the NYC Commission to Combat Police Corruption (where she currently serves as Acting Chair). She has received multiple leadership and diversity awards and was honored with the Daniel K. Inouye Trailblazer Award by NAPABA. She currently travels around the country producing reenactments of famous civil court cases to law schools and communities to combat misinformation and discrimination.
Amy Chua is the John M. Duff, Jr. Professor of Law at Yale Law School. She is an internationally bestselling author of several non-fiction titles, including her 2011 memoir Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, which was a runaway international bestseller that has been translated into over 30 languages. Shortly after, Amy was listed as was named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world. She graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College and cum laude from Harvard Law School. After practicing on Wall Street for a few years, she joined the Yale Law School faculty in 2001. The Golden Gate is her fiction debut.
Shau Zhang is the Leader of Americas China Overseas Investment at Ernst & Young LLP (EY). She is responsible for serving the dynamic needs of cross-border investors and businesses from China operating in the Americas. Starting from the ground up, Shau has facilitated cross-border trade activity in the tens of billions, including some of the largest inbound transactions in history. On these transactions, she has advised clients at the C-suite and Chairman level on the cooperative and business practices that will facilitate sustainable value creation. Under Shau’s leadership, EY has become a recognized market leader among Chinese inbound investors.
The first Asian-American reporter to win a Pulitzer Prize, Sheryl WuDunn has journeyed through several industries, from banking to journalism and book writing, pulling together critical insights to bear upon her work. She has co-authored 5 best-selling novels with her husband, Nicholas Kristof. Most recently, she has written a new book, A Path Appears, about spreading opportunity and making a difference in the world. Previously, she was co-author of Half the Sky, about the oppression of women and girls around the world. She was listed by Newsweek as one of the 150 Women Who Shake the World.
Nomination Submission
Do you know a remarkable woman who embodies leadership, innovation, and impact? Nominate her today to shine a spotlight on her outstanding contributions to the AAPI and Asian communities.
Deadline for Submissions: March 27, 2026
Let's celebrate the voices, achievements, and leadership of AAPI women rising together!
