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Stories

July 5, 2023

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In the bustling world of Hollywood, where dreams are forged and narratives come to life, Korean American screenwriter William Yu has emerged as a rising force.

Hailing from Philadelphia, Hong Kong, Boston, and New York, and now based in Los Angeles, William has taken the leap from having a successful advertising career into the world of screenwriting, fueled by a desire to create ambitious stories with vibrant and nuanced characters and to challenge the boundaries of Asian American representation.

William writes sharp, biting stories about witty underdogs who rise to upend the systems that they’ve been held back by.

Projects like “Good Boy,” a dramedy exploring the clash between personal dreams and familial expectations, and his feature romantic comedy “It Was You,” recognized by the esteemed Black List, showcase William’s talent and ambition. As an alum of the prestigious Sundance Episodic Labs and the NBCU Launch TV Writers Program, his work not only contributes to the larger conversation on Asian American representation in the entertainment industry but also pushes the boundaries of storytelling.

In an interview with Asian Hustle Network, William gives us a front seat on his journey as a screenwriter. Join us as we delve into his inspiring story.

TRANSITIONING FROM HIS ADVERTISING CAREER TO BECOMING A SCREENWRITER

Before becoming a screenwriter, I worked in advertising as a Creative Strategist for some years. Having this professional background not only gave me the structure and discipline that I’ve carried over to writing but also instilled a self-starter mindset that gets excited by creative ideas that go against the grain.

Two things happened. The first: I hit a quarter-life crisis after finding a list of goals I had written down after I graduated college. I realized that I had accomplished most of these milestones, but was finding my mental health was quickly deteriorating to the point where I had to make a change.

The second: I had recently created a project called #StarringJohnCho that sparked a viral, global conversation about Asian representation in media. Seeing so many communities engage in this movement demonstrated to me that a profound cultural shift was happening. I could either sit on the sidelines in advertising and continue to critique Hollywood from the outside, or I could dive into this world, participate in the craft, and write the stories I wish I knew. So, I took the leap.

CHALLENGES OF BEING A SCREENWRITER FROM AN UNDERREPRESENTED BACKGROUND

I entered Hollywood because I wanted to expand the definition and labels that have traditionally been assigned to the Asian American community, to go from “good” and “bad” to “awkward” and “messy” and “joyful” and “gut-wrenching.” But as much as I want to create characters and narratives that are rooted in my experience, I need to write stories that are first and foremost–entertaining.

As a screenwriter from an underrepresented group, there is always a well-intentioned instinct to cast our people in a soft, non-offensive glow. But who wants to watch that film or TV series? Part of the representation that I want to add to is demonstrating that as much as we are brave and tenacious, we are also flawed and dangerous, whether that’s in a small indie project or a massive studio tentpole. I believe that the faster we can jump into that conversation, exciting stories are destined to follow.

ABOUT THE DRAMEDY “GOOD BOY”

The short film is a proof of concept for a TV series I’m developing that’s been workshopped through the Sundance Episodic Labs. It’s a personal story that’s loosely based on my time working at Bodega – the world-famous sneaker shop started in Boston – and various conversations and feelings that I’ve had with exes, best friends, my family, and other people that I love.

Streetwear is a world where the clash of cultures is the point. There is no “right answer” – It’s funny and ugly and inspiring. Isn’t that the case for life as well?

‘Good Boy’ was my way of reflecting on moments in my life when I’ve felt cared for, hurt, joyous, and lost. I tried to not just depict what I was feeling, but also reflect on why I felt those feelings. When I first started writing the original pilot script in the Fall of 2019, I was simultaneously embracing my own agency in my life. My hope is that this story might nudge others to also own their journeys moving forward.

MORE OF WILLIAM’S PROJECTS

I’m extremely proud of ‘It Was You,’ my feature romantic comedy that’s like if Nora Ephron’s ‘You’ve Got Mail’ was set in Manhattan Chinatown. The script was voted to the annual Black List – a compilation of the most well-liked unproduced scripts in Hollywood – and ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ director Jon M. Chu is attached as a producer. I’m such a massive fan of those ‘90s-era rom-coms and this story was such a light to write during the pandemic. 

My latest TV project is a political scandal drama called ‘Koreagate’ which is based on the true story set in the 1970s of a charming swindler in Washington D.C. known as “The Asian Gatsby” who was found to be bribing U.S. Congressmen in the name of South Korean interests. It’s a wild, pulpy, fast-paced tale in the vein of The Wolf Of Wall Street and The Post that showcases America at its best and its worst. And it all really happened!

WILLIAM’S CONTRIBUTION TO ASIAN AMERICAN REPRESENTATION IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY

My main goal as a storyteller is to create ambitious stories with vibrant and nuanced characters. If I can hold up my end of the equation, I believe the representation conversation will only expand and grow in complexity.

What’s so exciting is that this is a LARGE conversation, there are so many voices and stories from our community that have yet to come to the forefront. And when we all overlap and intersect and discuss, that’s when the magic happens.

WILLIAM’S ASPIRATIONS LOOKING FORWARD AS A SCREENWRITER

First off, my biggest hope right now is that the WGA strike ends soon and that the studios pay us writers what we deserve.

What excites me is continuing to push my ideas to new heights in terms of scale and wonder. Stories that push the boundaries of the imagination. That wink at you while flipping you off. I’ve been working on a family adventure blockbuster and romance crime drama lately, and have a romantic comedy feature script that takes a surprise turn into a thriller in the works next. Right now, I feel drawn to stories that feel twisted and that showcase characters brushing up against the extremities of who they are.

ADVICE TO THOSE WHO WANT TO START A CAREER IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY

I can only really speak for the screenwriting side of things. This industry may seem like it’s an image-driven business, but it’s actually a product-driven one.

Everyone has an idea for a story, so make sure you’re the one that has a script (or scripts!) ready to go when someone asks. Know that there are lots of stories of those who follow the “rules” or those who are “exceptions”, but know that there is no “right way” of making it in this industry. Lastly: Be kind.

CONNECT WITH WILLIAM

Instagram: @its_willyu

Twitter: @its_willyu

Website: itswillyu.com

Stream Good Boy

Good Boy Instagram: @goodboyteevee

Good Boy Twitter: @goodboyteevee

Good Boy Website: goodboytv.com

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Stories

Building Meraki: How Vivian Kwan Turned Passion into Purpose

The first time Vivian Kwan realized she could build something on her own terms was during her college years in the U.S. — a time that completely shifted her perspective on what a career could be.

She found herself surrounded by students who were running side hustles, freelancing, and starting companies before graduation. It was a stark contrast to her upbringing in Hong Kong.

“Back home in Hong Kong, the path was pretty clear: study hard, land a stable job, and climb the corporate ladder,” she recalls. “But in the U.S., I met people who were building something entirely their own. That inspired me to think differently.”

Curious and driven, Vivian began experimenting — running a small photography business and creating content for fun. That experiment grew into Meraki Group, a boutique talent management agency representing a diverse roster of lifestyle creators — and now a 7-figure business built entirely from the ground up.

Redefining Success as a First-Generation Founder

When Vivian launched Meraki Group in 2021, she had no network, no outside funding, and no PR machine behind her, just the belief that creators deserved better representation.

As a first-generation Asian immigrant, Vivian was raised to stay quiet and keep her head down. “But entrepreneurship requires something different,” she says. “I had to learn to advocate for myself and my talents loudly and unapologetically.”

Without big teams or resources, she leaned into what she could control: being hands-on, transparent, and relationship-driven. That boutique approach became Meraki’s unique selling point: brands and creators know they can reach Vivian directly, and that trust has allowed Meraki to thrive against the odds. Today, Meraki has closed 300+ brand campaigns with brand partners like HOKA, REI, Shark, Columbia Sportswear, Libman, Google, and UGG.

The Challenge of Balance

Motherhood has always run parallel to Vivian’s entrepreneurial journey — two worlds that demand her heart in equal measure. In the early years of Meraki, she often found herself caught between deadlines and bedtime stories, client calls and school drop-offs. The guilt was relentless: every hour spent growing the business felt like time borrowed from her children.

But over time, her perspective shifted. She began to see that showing her kids what fulfillment looked like was one of the greatest gifts she could give them. Building Meraki wasn’t just about proving something to the industry — it was about showing her children what resilience, purpose, and self-belief looked like in real life.

“My kids deserve a mother who’s confident and happy,” she says simply. “That thought keeps me grounded when things get hard.”

A Year of Growth and Gratitude

In October, the Meraki community came to life in a way that no Zoom call ever could. Vivian and her team hosted their annual NYC dinner — an intimate gathering of creators, brand partners, and friends who had helped shape the agency’s journey. The room buzzed with laughter, warm reunions, and stories that stretched back to Meraki’s earliest days.

For Vivian, it was a full-circle moment. Many of the guests were creators she had signed during the uncertainty of the pandemic — people she had championed from afar before ever shaking their hands in person. Watching them share a table, swapping stories and ideas, felt like witnessing the agency’s spirit materialise in real life.

It wasn’t a night of flashy sponsors or curated photo ops, but of genuine connection — the kind that has quietly fueled Meraki’s success from day one. “What I’m most proud of isn’t the growth,” Vivian reflects. “It’s loyalty. Many of my creators have been with me for three or four years. In an industry where talent often comes and goes, that kind of long-term commitment means everything.”

What Comes Next

As Meraki continues to grow, Vivian is laying the groundwork for a new chapter — one that strengthens the agency’s foundation while amplifying its impact. She’s focused on expanding her team and refining systems to preserve Meraki’s signature boutique quality, even as it scales.

“I’m being intentional with this next chapter,” she says. “Before stepping deeper into consulting and mentorship, I want to make sure the agency continues to run with the same care and creative integrity it was built on.”

With that foundation in place, Vivian plans to open limited consulting slots and launch educational programs for creators and emerging talent managers. Her goal is to nurture the next generation of creative leaders — empowering them to build with heart, purpose, and the courage to redefine what success can look like.

Follow Vivian’s journey:
 📍 LinkedIn | Instagram

  • 4 min read
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Stories

The Founders Behind Anise Health: How Two Women Are Reimagining Mental Health for the Asian Community

When Nisha Desai and Alice Zhang met at Harvard Business School, neither of them expected that a casual conversation about their frustrations with therapy would spark the idea for something much bigger.

As they juggled graduate school and their own mental health, they often felt therapy wasn’t built for people like them – they spent more time explaining their background to their therapists than actually healing. 

They realized it wasn’t just them – there’s a gap in mental healthcare that left many in the Asian and multicultural community feeling unseen and misunderstood.

That shared realization became the seed for Anise Health: a platform built to make therapy culturally attuned, accessible, and truly effective for the AAPI community.

A Problem They Both Knew Too Well

Before their paths crossed, both founders had already seen the same issue from different directions.

Nisha, who grew up in Florida in a family of healthcare entrepreneurs, had always been drawn to questions of access and equity in care. After studying finance and marketing at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and earning her MBA from Harvard, she worked in healthcare investing and later in digital product management at Humana. It was there, while helping build a mental health app, that she started hearing a troubling pattern from thousands of users – the same barriers she had personally faced.

Nisha recalls that people weren’t saying therapy didn’t work. They were saying it didn’t fit, that they didn’t feel understood.

Alice, meanwhile, came to the same conclusion through her own deeply personal experiences. Born in China, raised across Japan and Canada, and now based in New York, she calls herself a “third culture kid.” Her multicultural background gave her adaptability, but also a sense of never fully belonging anywhere.

That feeling resurfaced when she sought therapy during business school. Despite being fluent in English, she found herself translating her own emotions for her therapist – explaining why criticism from parents felt like love, or why pursuing excellence felt non-negotiable.

Alice remembers feeling exhausted after each session, explaining her background again and again, and leaving each time feeling unseen.

Alice Zhang (left) and Nisha Desai (right)

Building a Culturally Grounded Model of Care

After that pivotal conversation at Harvard, the two women began mapping out what culturally attuned mental health care could look like. They spoke to clinicians, patients, payors and community leaders, testing how cultural nuance could be integrated into evidence-based therapy and coaching.

They envisioned a new kind of care model: one that didn’t require clients to educate their therapists or set aside their cultural identity at the door. Instead, therapy would start from a place of understanding.

“Alice and I really built Anise to be what we believe our community has needed during our upbringing. What we kind of wished for ourselves through our own personal journeys with therapy.”

But building what didn’t yet exist came with challenges. They had to prove — to investors, clinicians, and even the broader healthcare system — that cultural context wasn’t just a “nice to have,” but essential to effective care. Many mental health professionals hadn’t been trained to deliver culturally adaptive therapy, so Anise Health had to design that framework from the ground up: provider training programs, accurate diagnostic tools, tailored care plans, curated resources and a scalable model for personalized, culturally attuned care.

Their persistence paid off. What started as late-night brainstorming sessions between classes evolved into a fully fledged mental health platform that blends clinical rigor with cultural empathy.

Growing the Movement

Since its founding, Anise Health has facilitated over 10,000 paid appointments and built a network of 60+ licensed providers across multiple states. The company is now expanding through insurance partnerships that make culturally attuned care more affordable and accessible.

Behind the scenes, Nisha leads operations and product design, while Alice drives partnerships and provider training.

Their complementary strengths, coupled with a shared sense of purpose, have helped Anise Health raise $6.4 million in funding and gain recognition as one of the top 10 most innovative Asian Pacific-led companies to watch by NYSE, Y Combinator, and Gold House.

Redefining the Future of Mental Health for Asian Communities

For both founders, Anise Health’s success goes beyond numbers. It’s about shifting how mental health is understood and delivered, starting with a community that has long been underserved and stigmatized.

“Our goal isn’t just to make care available,” Nisha says. “It’s to make it effective, culturally relevant, and sustainable within the healthcare system.”

By creating a new gold standard of culturally attuned care, Nisha and Alice aren’t just helping Asian Americans access therapy that finally feels like it speaks their language – they’re reimagining what inclusive mental health care can look like for everyone.

Learn more about Anise Health at anisehealth.co

  • 5 min read
Angel Zhen Built a $500K Solo CPA Firm and Redefined Success

Stories

Angel Zhen Built a $500K Solo CPA Firm and Redefined Success

From Public Accounting to Personal Freedom

For most people in the accounting world, success looks like a corner office, a big team, and an endless stream of clients. For Angel Zhen, CPA, MST, success meant something entirely different — independence.

“I wanted to build something that valued freedom, quality, and impact,” he says. “After years in public accounting, I saw how the system rewarded long hours over real results. I knew there had to be a better way — to build a high-performing firm without sacrificing your life.”

That clarity led Angel to found Pasadena Tax CPA, a one-person practice that now generates over $500,000 in annual revenue and serves more than 300 clients nationwide. Angel’s work has earned national recognition from both CPA.com and the AICPA, including being named a 2025 Innovative Practitioner Award Finalist and 2025 Leadership Academy Selectee.

From Public Accounting to Personal Freedom

Turning Loss into Leadership

Angel’s story didn’t begin with business success. It began with loss.

“In April 2020, my dad passed away unexpectedly,” he recalls. “Because COVID hit and I was deep in tax season, I didn’t get to see him one last time. That moment changed everything — life, time, and purpose.”

Like many in Asian families, Angel describes his father as the pillar — the provider and decision-maker everyone looked up to. When he passed, Angel knew it was his turn to step up.

He moved back home to Rosemead, California, to take care of his mom and rebuild his life. What began as a moment of grief became a defining transformation. “Starting over during a pandemic forced me to innovate to survive,” he says. “I turned loss into fuel and fear into focus.”

Five years later, that focus became a thriving solo CPA firm built on innovation, strategy, and heart.

“There’s a Chinese saying, 苦尽甘来 — after bitterness comes sweetness,” Angel says softly. “Every struggle built the clarity, strength, and mindset that led me here today.”

Challenging the Traditional CPA Model

Angel’s biggest challenge wasn’t the market — it was his own mindset. As an Asian CPA, he grew up with messages about safety and stability: work hard, follow the rules, don’t take risks. But entrepreneurship demanded something different.

“I had to unlearn the belief that success required a big team, long hours, or a corporate ladder,” he explains. “I built systems, automations, and pricing models that gave me confidence and time back.”

Those systems didn’t just make him efficient — they made him exceptional. Today, Pasadena Tax CPA is recognized as one of the most efficient solo CPA firms in the nation, a model of what’s possible when technology meets intention.
His book, The Profitable Solopreneur Playbook, expands on that mission — teaching other CPAs and solo business owners how to build practices that generate both profit and freedom.

Challenging the Traditional CPA Model

Redefining Success in the Modern Asian American Dream

Angel’s success challenges a long-held cultural narrative — that stability and ambition are mutually exclusive. His mission is to show Asian professionals that they can have both.

“For the Asian community, I want to normalize the idea that you don’t have to choose between stability and ambition,” he says. “You can honor your roots while building your own path.”

Through mentorship, education, and storytelling, he’s helping others reclaim the idea of financial independence — not as a luxury, but as a form of empowerment. His philosophy is simple but powerful: “Build with intention, clarity, and courage.”

A Beacon of Innovation and Leadership

Angel’s recognitions from CPA.com and the AICPA are more than professional honors — they’re milestones in a larger movement to modernize the accounting industry.

“Being recognized by CPA.com as one of the most innovative practitioners isn’t just about accounting,” he says. “It’s about leadership, legacy, and resilience.”

His nomination for the 2025 Innovative Practitioner Award celebrates his ability to merge technology and empathy — running a fully remote, tech-driven practice that still feels deeply personal.
🗳️Vote for Angel Zhen, CPA → cpa.com/innovative-practitioner

Rooted in Legacy, Driven by Purpose

What drives Angel today isn’t just revenue or recognition — it’s the promise he made to himself after his father’s passing: to live with intention.

“I’m proud of building a $500K+ one-person CPA firm from scratch — without a team, referrals, or outside funding,” he reflects. “It’s proof that with clarity, systems, and consistency, one person can do extraordinary things.”

Beyond his business, he continues to inspire thousands of professionals across CalCPA, Asian Hustle Network, and beyond — showing that even in an industry built on rules, creativity and freedom can lead the way.

Rooted in Legacy, Driven by Purpose

About Angel Zhen, CPA, MST

Angel Zhen is the founder of Pasadena Tax CPA, a one-person firm serving clients nationwide with a focus on tax strategy, clarity, and efficiency. He has been recognized by CPA.com as a 2025 Innovative Practitioner Award Finalist and by the AICPA as a 2025 Leadership Academy Selectee. Angel is also the author of The Profitable Solopreneur Playbook, helping others design businesses that create both wealth and freedom.

🗳️Vote for Angel Zhen, CPA as the 2025 Innovative Practitioner

https://www.cpa.com/innovative-practitioner

Connect with Angel Zhen

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/angelzhencpa 

Website: www.pasadenatax.cpa

  • 5 min read
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Stories

Singapore’s Snack Revolution: How The Golden Duck Turned Salted Egg Yolk Into a Premium Global Phenomenon

Chris Hwang (left) and Jonathan Shen (right) – founders of The Golden Duck
Chris Hwang (left) and Jonathan Shen (right) – founders of The Golden Duck

Growing up with Asian snacks like salted egg yolk chips meant savoring flavors that felt both comforting and unforgettable. Yet when Jonathan Shen and Chris Hwang turned their eyes to the global market, they saw a different reality: these beloved treats were undervalued, underpriced, and largely overlooked by international consumers.

Back in 2015, Singapore’s FMCG market was crowded, dominated by established Western brands. Asian flavors were largely seen as niche, affordable snacks rather than premium products you’d gift or showcase in events.

Jonathan and Chris quickly recognized a gap: millennial consumers craved adventurous, culturally rooted flavors, but no brand was presenting them in a way that made people proud to share them.

They founded The Golden Duck with a vision to elevate Asian snacking to a globally aspirational experience.

Today, The Golden Duck has sold over 20 million packs worldwide, and is stocked in 650+ Woolworths and Metro stores.

How It Began: Inspiration from a Familiar, Unlikely Flavor

Jonathan Shen and Chris Hwang didn’t start with a massive budget or fancy offices. What they had was complementary expertise, and a shared passion for snacks. 

Jonathan, with a keen eye for branding and marketing, looked at salted egg yolk and asked: what if salted egg yolk could feel luxurious? 

While ubiquitous in Asia, it was rarely found outside hawker stalls or home-cooked dishes.

Chris, a stickler for quality and craftsmanship, understood that getting the recipe and packaging right could make all the difference.

When it launched, crowds queued for hours, wanting to get their hands on chips that tasted like home but looked like luxury. The Golden Duck’s Salted Egg Yolk later earned Jonathan & Chris recognition on Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia.

How It Went: Bold Flavors, Relentless Hustle

Entering a competitive FMCG market without big funding meant bootstrapping everything—from sourcing ingredients to hand-packing orders. They had to balance daring flavors with high-quality production, ensuring every snack met premium standards.

It wasn’t just about product innovation. Breaking into a market dominated by Western brands meant shifting perceptions: convincing consumers that Asian snacks could be modern and premium. Every unconventional pairing, every new flavor, was a calculated risk.

Chris ensured every ingredient and recipe exceeded expectations, while Jonathan told the story in a way that resonated with millennial snack enthusiasts.

They launched pop-ups, engaged directly with customers, and refined details one by one. Salted egg yolk became their signature flavor, but it was only the beginning. The Golden Duck now offers a growing range of gourmet Asian-inspired snacks, from Chilli Crab Seaweed to Tom Yum Goong and Spicy Mala Hot Pot.

What’s Next For The Golden Duck?

The Golden Duck isn’t slowing down. In 2025, the brand launched a new line of canister chips for Western markets including Australia, the United States, and Canada, with bold flavours like bold flavours like Truffle Wagyu, Kombu Seaweed Butter, and Sour Cream & Sriracha. At the same time, the company is actively entering new markets such as the UK, Europe, and China.

Innovation and sustainability remain at the heart of The Golden Duck’s strategy. The company continues to explore new flavors and formats while sourcing real ingredients to deliver premium, authentic taste experiences.

With every new flavor and product, Jonathan Shen and Chris Hwang are proving that Asian snacks can be premium and globally celebrated. Every bite is a story of heritage, innovation, and taste waiting to be told.

Connect With The Golden Duck

Website: https://www.thegoldenduck.co/

IG: @thegoldenduck.sg

@thegoldenduck.au

  • 3 min read