Jennifer Lau on Shaping the Future of Triathlons and Elevating Women in Sports - AHN Media Group
Contact
  • HOME
  • / MEDIA /
  • Jennifer Lau on Shaping the Future of Triathlons and Elevating Women in Sports

Stories

April 1, 2025

SHARE:

In celebration of Women’s History Month, we shed light on the incredible women transforming the world and driving the community forward. This month, we are honored to interview the visionary at the helm of the world’s toughest multi-course race—the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon: Jennifer Lau. As the Vice President of Action Sports Events at IMG, Jennifer is a proud Chinese American who has constantly stayed at the forefront of the sports and entertainment industry for over 25 years.

PIONEERING CHANGE IN SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

It’s the era of women making big moves and solidifying their status in society. Jennifer is also part of the movement. Fueled by a passion for storytelling and inclusivity, Jennifer made her way into the sports and entertainment industry through determination and a vision for change. “I always knew I wanted to work in sports and entertainment,” she shares. “Growing up, I loved reading and watching movies, TV shows, and sports that featured stories I could relate to. Regardless of economic class, gender, or ethnicity, these stories resonated with me, and I wanted to be part of that creative process.” And what is her goal? It has always been through storytelling that she wants to connect and uplift others.

Jennifer has been dreaming of a narrative where she could pave her own path in the male-dominated industry, earn the top ranks with her own talent, and she did just that. She rose through the ranks at IMG and earned her place at some of the world’s most iconic sporting events—the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon.

Jennifer Lau Vice President of Action Sports Events at IMG
From dreaming of change to leading it, Jennifer Lau is making waves in the sports and entertainment industry.

Reflecting on this, Jennifer shares:

The sports and entertainment industries have historically been male-dominated, presenting challenges in leadership and visibility for women, particularly women of color. Throughout my career, I’ve had to advocate for myself, push boundaries, and challenge preconceived notions about what leadership in sports looks like. I’m grateful to the executive team at IMG. Over the last 25 years, they have always supported me and continue to encourage me to pursue new business opportunities and ideas, which has allowed me to grow and evolve.

FOSTERING INCLUSIVITY IN THE ESCAPE FROM ALCATRAZ TRIATHLON

The Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon has roots in this stretch of odds, which holds a powerful claim of Jennifer’s commitment to inclusivity. The race, known for its strenuous course—plunging into the ice-cold waters of San Francisco Bay, biking on steep and bumpy hills, running through the dirt and rocks—pushes the envelope for many athletes. What makes the 2025 race special is that this year, an impressive number of 405 women will take part in this challenging race, exemplifying the growing influence of women in endurance sports.

This marks a significant milestone as women have long been underrepresented in the sports industry. Jennifer recognizes the need for greater Asian representation in the triathlon space. 

Asian females, like many women, are underrepresented in sports and entertainment—whether behind the scenes, in management, as athletes, or as content producers. Growing up, I rarely saw stories that reflected my identity in the industry, which motivated me to push for more representation. The perspectives and stories from the Asian community are essential in shaping the future of the industry, not only for visibility but for driving meaningful business and cultural impact.

EMPOWERING ATHLETES AND FUTURE GENERATIONS

Beyond race day, Jennifer’s commitment is a reminder of sportsmanship, which is unity and camaraderie. She aims to highlight the human connections behind the competition, with a focus on the fact that the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon is not about elite athleticism. The race is a beacon of people connecting, sharing, and uplifting each other. “The camaraderie that emerges as athletes cross the finish line makes the achievement even more meaningful. It’s a celebration of resilience, determination, and unity.”

Companionship at the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon
Sportsmanship is not just about health and fitness, it’s also about unity and camaraderie.

“With the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon, we’ve noticed that not many Asians participate in the sport,” she explains. “While many run or bike, swimming opportunities are often limited in Asian communities due to a lack of access to pools or open water environments. Our priority is to engage with Asian communities and other underrepresented groups, creating opportunities for them to experience this incredible sport.”

CONNECT WITH JENNIFER LAU

“One of my proudest achievements is seeing the events I’ve helped create continue to provide opportunities for athletes, inspire future generations, and entertain global audiences. Witnessing athletes who started in our events go on to compete at the Olympic level is incredibly rewarding.”

Instagram: @jenwlau 
LinkedIn: Jennifer Lau

Related Articles

Image Source istock

Uncategorized

New Report Says There Is Still A Talent Crunch In Southeast Asia Amidst The Layoffs

One of Southeast Asia’s biggest job platforms, Glints, just put out a report that shows the situation may not be as severe as they seem.

Glints co-founder and CEO Oswald Yeo told TechCrunch that there has been a lot of funding injected into the IT business. This is a response to the two-to-three-year bull run, and as a result, several firms grew swiftly. 

Yeo said that Singaporean firms seemed to adapt fastest to macroeconomic changes and that this wasn’t a terrible thing because other firms wanted to move swiftly, too. 

Operations, finance, HR, and certain sales and marketing teams have been hit hard, while businesses turned to Vietnam and Indonesia, which have fewer layoffs, for top-tier technical personnel. Moreover, the pandemic has created a decentralized-minded workforce.

Yeo observed that the pandemic had made remote work more convenient, necessitating cost-cutting measures. Many firms turn to remote employment to optimize their human and financial capitals. 

They have seen that remote work prospects on Glints have expanded tenfold in a year. Some regional firms in Malaysia continue to hire foreigners, while others only hire Malaysians. According to Glints, mid-to senior-level employees’ compensation won’t diminish, but junior talent may.

One-year fixed-term contracts are another trend that helps firms predict their financial destiny, as employers are wary about signing long-term contracts. 

He believes that not everything was awful — the need for technological and product skills on Glints favored job seekers.

Layoffs help startups build core teams. Yeo said that because there is less rivalry for talent, it’s a fantastic moment for organizations in a strong position to hire top managerial talent.

  • 2 min read
Image Source generocity.org

Uncategorized

Founder of Penn Asian Senior Services Im Ja Choi Passed Away At 73

A well-known supporter of Asian American seniors and the founder and emeritus CEO of the nonprofit Penn Asian Senior Services, Im Ja Choi,  passed away on Wednesday, June 22, from lung cancer in a South Korean hospital, she was 73. 

A memorial service will be conducted on July 16 at 3:00 pm at the Evergreen Center in Philadelphia. Contributions in her name will be appreciated.

Ms. Choi was born in Seoul, South Korea in 1948, majored in literature, and graduated from Korea University. She moved to Philadelphia after marrying her childhood friend Jung Choi in 1971, where she studied organizational dynamics at the University of Pennsylvania. She was a top-producing real estate agent in the 1980s and 1990s. 

She started Penn Asian Senior Services in 2004 to help Asian American elders with linguistic and cultural obstacles. Because she couldn’t get home care for her mother, and after hearing horrible experiences from other caregivers, she founded the charity that provides in-home care and homemaking services in over two dozen languages.

She undertook the fundraising efforts and strategic planning of the nonprofit, for which the charity received grants from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and numerous organizations. 

Moreover, she has also opened an adult day care for immigrants with language and cultural barriers, a state-licensed vocational school for entry-level Asian health-care workers, and a seniors community center. 

In 2013, she received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor from the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations. The Independence Blue Cross Foundation president Lorina Marshall-Blake wrote that the region needed more health visionaries like Im Ja Choi. Ken Yang, CEO of Penn Asian Senior Services, said Ms. Choi’s care, generosity, and love for her family and community matched her innovative leadership.

She was also recognized by the governor as a 2014 Distinguished Daughter of Pennsylvania for her “extraordinary service and achievements to the Commonwealth.” In the same year, she gave the commencement address at Penn State Abington where she quoted “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”

  • 2 min read