On November 5, members of The Serica Initiative’s CEO Dinner Series gathered for an intimate evening of dialogue and discovery with Epoch Foundation Professor of Global Economics and Management MIT Sloan School of Management Yasheng Huang, a leading scholar whose work explores the intersections of economics, governance, and innovation between the United States and China.

The evening began with cocktails and networking at the wonderful offices of Akin Gump in Midtown, followed by a family-style Chinese dinner catered by Blue Blossom—an apt setting for the kind of thoughtful, cross-cultural conversation that defines the CEO Dinner Series.

Professor Huang opened the discussion by sharing his personal journey: growing up in Beijing as an avid reader, and later becoming one of the early students recruited to Harvard University in 1981 as China reopened to the world. He spoke candidly about his academic path—from research assistant to tenured professor—and how his experience in both American and Chinese institutions shaped his nuanced view of global systems.

Through his signature analytical clarity, Professor Huang broke society into three essential pillars—government, corporations, and households—emphasizing that progress depends on the balance among them. He noted that while China’s government has fueled rapid modernization, its next great challenge lies in scaling back to empower individual and entrepreneurial households to drive innovation.

The group also discussed a bit of politics and the state of US-China relations, and in doing so Yasheng mentioned his hopes for a better future for the researchers and scientists in America losing funding due to policy changes.

Yasheng also has a been dedicated to educating the public on the history of Asian American pioneers and scholars who have made transformative contributions to our country and the world. He showcased a video to the group about the Asian American Scholars Forum (AASF) in response to rising suspicion toward Chinese scholars in academia, and its mission to showcase the vital contributions of Asians in science and technology.

The video recaped their annual Pioneer awards ceremony, which recognized top Asian scholars and technologists who helped build the digital age—names like Teresa Meng (pioneer of Wi-Fi), Frank Cheng (wireless connectivity), Dawon Kahng (flash memory), and Simon Sze (semiconductor breakthroughs).

As a preview of his ongoing dedication to this work, Professor Huang announced an recently released PBS documentary Builders of the Silicon Dream and how it will have a showing at MIT on December 3rd. This film weaves the tales of influential Asian immigrants who were instrumental in Silicon Valley's semiconductor supremacy. Their personal and professional triumphs are underscored by the obstacles of cultural resistance and the need for embracing a more inclusive society that recognizes and benefits.

Watch on PBS

The evening closed with lively conversation among attendees, reflecting on how cross-cultural collaboration and trust are vital to shaping a more inclusive future for science, innovation, and policy.

🎥 Watch below the exclusive video interview responding to questions from our CINGS members capturing their reflections on the night and Professor Huang’s insights into the future of U.S.–China relations and social advocacy.