This October, William Wang was honored with Lifetime Achievement at the 75th Annual Technology & Engineering Emmy Awards. As the founder of VIZIO, Wang has revolutionized the television industry, shattering the cost-related concerns about whether quality and pricing can go hand in hand. From a Taiwanese immigrant to a trailblazer, his journey is one of innovation and persistence.

Humble Beginnings and Pursuit of the American Dream

Born in Taipei, Taiwan, William Wang immigrated to the United States as a teenager with his family. Settling in Southern California, cultural barriers arose as a major problem for an immigrant teenager like Wang. However, his persistence shone through: he excelled academically, leading him to pursue engineering at the University of Southern California (USC).

After graduation, Wang was on his way to materializing his dream: starting a company in the tech industry. Yet, he failed multiple times, draining his resources and budget. However, each failure gave him the opportunities and lessons to grow his entrepreneurial endeavors.

The Turning Point: A Life-Altering Experience

But life comes with unheralded events. In 2000, the Singapore Airlines Flight 006 that he was on encountered a crash, and he was one of the few survivors of that fatal incident.

This disastrous event completely altered his outlook on life: he became more grateful for his relationships and the comfort they provide, such as families spending cozy time together watching TV. This newfound perspective catalyzed his entrepreneurial shift into his next venture, fostering an idea that would transform the consumer electronics market. He envisioned a future where the gap between top-tier technology and affordability disappeared—a vision that soon became VIZIO. In 2002, he launched VIZIO. 

By 2007, just five years after its founding, VIZIO had become the top-selling LCD TV brand in the United States—a monumental achievement in an industry dominated by global giants like Sony and Samsung.

Wang’s Humble Reflections on the Achievement

When receiving the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at the Emmy Awards, he couldn’t help but feel emotional about his near-death-inspired vision. At that moment, his survivor’s guilt had driven him to enrich lives, saying, “My life has been dedicated to bringing great technology to consumers in America.” As influential as he is, he expressed his gratitude for his team, stating, “This recognition is also a testament to the incredible team at VIZIO – it is our lifetime achievement. Together, we’ve challenged the status quo and have created new possibilities for the future of television. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished and excited for the journey ahead as we continue to push the boundaries of technology and entertainment.”

Featured Image Source: VIZIO

As an acknowledgment of Asian Hustle Network (AHN)’s contribution to the Asian and Pacific Islander (API) community, the California State Senate has extended its appreciation for AHN’s extraordinary efforts in fostering innovation and unity. Since its founding in 2019, AHN has continued to support and uplift the API community.

This year was a rewarding and progressive year for AHN, with numerous events and projects in the pipeline to build and strengthen the community while inspiring the next generation of future API leaders. 

One of the highlights was having our executive director Tristan Paule, and the AHN organization honored with a Certificate of Recognition from the California State Senate and Assembly for successfully hosting the 2024 Bloom and Harvest Market in San Jose, CA. In partnership with SHOPLINE, Flora Haven, and Hot Boi Chili Oil, the event truly aligns with our vision, creating a vibrant marketplace for local AAPI vendors, entrepreneurs, creatives, and influencers. 

In addition, we want to extend our gratitude to those who have contributed to the event’s success:

Community Partners and Sponsors

@nestleusa, @yelpbayarea, @yelpsiliconvalley, @drinklunar, @banhmioven_ca, @andy_nguyen_photography, @lovemeknots_bridal, @varoundtable, @aodaifestival.sj, @vietsteps, @steph.eatsntravels, @amberkimv, @angelinahong_

Retail Vendors

@daesignstudio, @behabbi, @oyucosmetics, @shop_farols, @thebillyguan, @muzmak.official, @ajarofpickles_, @jhcandleco, @thehungryslothco

Prepackaged Goods

@chartruffles, @thepategirl, @thisisbabas.house, @bonjerksnacks, @nokkifarm, @drinklivingflora, @drinknarra, @hotboichilioil, @helladacbiet, @myjinka

Food & Drink

@nhathecafe, @_hetsay_

Beer Garden

@matchpointbrewing

As we look back on this incredible month, we are grateful for the support and excited for what’s coming. Thank you to the local legislation for believing in and enforcing our mission. 

After years of working at odd jobs, Yang has found his first lead role and left Yu knocked back in tears during his audition.

A Lemon. The $1,500 Toyota Corolla with no power windows, a busted side door, and poor brakes is what Jimmy O. Yang rode around Los Angeles to prepare for his role as Willis Wu, an overlooked Asian American everyman in the series “Interior Chinatown.” 

The result? “Pull over, call whoever got you in here. If you can’t, you gotta go…” A rude remark from the studio’s guard as Yang recalled in a Zoom with the Los Angeles Times (LA Times) even though he was No.1 on the call sheet. 

The experience reminded Yang of his life story as a Hong Kong immigrant moving to the United States. Yang stated in the interview, “Willis’ journey is such a metaphor for the Asian American experience because we are the model minority, but at the same time we are invisible. People talk about Black and white, but where do we fall? You’re just not seen for who you are.” In an article by SCMP, the actor-writer-comedian further exemplifies, “Willis laments feeling like a background actor in someone else’s story and longs to be in the spotlight, but that’s hard if you look like me.”

At the age of 13, Yang relocated to Los Angeles feeling the intense culture shock. “My goal was to just assimilate so I don’t get made fun of,” Yang recalled. In the school’s locker room, he was mocked for wearing whities instead of boxers. During 8th grade, his peers had mustaches and dunked basketballs while he barely hit puberty. Using a fake address, he enrolled in Beverly Hills High School and immersed himself in American pop culture. Unable to rap, Yang learned to incorporate his violin into the hip-hop beats he made through a software named Fruity Loops.

Despite his parents’ harsh opposition, Yang acknowledges, “I don’t think they were, like, anti-art by any means. My dad probably wishes he could have been an actor or a musician. It just truly wasn’t a real job for him. He wanted me to be financially stable, and not be homeless.” Yang started working at a string of odd jobs from selling used cars to DJing at strip clubs. Stand-up comedy, which Yang has now become notorious for besides acting, became his informal acting, writing, and directing school. 

Persistent in his passion, Yang landed small speaking roles in series like “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” where he was misunderstood as a background actor for his ethnicity, and “Silicon Valley,” originally a one-off guest role or a one-note cliché. Yang’s fame finally came in Crazy Rich Asians. Yang claims, “If I botched an audition, I never blamed the fact that they weren’t looking for an Asian actor. It didn’t deter me. But looking back, we had very limited opportunities. Since ‘Crazy Rich Asians,’ I think there’s more.” The success has made Yang’s father, Richard Ouyang, proud – even helping him with commercial and acting gigs with his son. 

The series “Interior Chinatown” became an immediate connection to Yang. According to the LA Times, Charles Yu, creator of the series which was adapted from his National Book Award-winning novel of the same name, was inspired by, “people who have these backstories, but they don’t get to tell those stories”. He was astonished by Yang’s performance as he felt a connection between Yang’s multicultural background, multilingualism, and his natural ability for acting. 

Despite the grueling six months of shooting, doing comedy, drama, and Kung Fu every week, Yang happily states, “It was very grueling. But of course, it’s a beautiful story worth telling.” At the end of the day, whether it is for better or worse, Yang’s days of being a sidekick are finally over.

Featured Image Source: Mike Taing from The Wrap