Leslie Nguyen-Okwu

Leslie V. Nguyen-Okwu is the author of the forthcoming memoir American Hyphen about balancing on the tightrope between Black America and Asian America as a first-generation Vietnamese Nigerian American. The award-winning journalist and professional storyteller has worked with major media outlets and the world's biggest companies, including The New York Times, BBC, National Geographic, The Economist, Harper's Bazaar, Google, Airbnb, and HTC. 

As the daughter of immigrants, Leslie focuses on borders and migration, racial equity and social justice, and decision-making in diplomacy and foreign policy. Previously, she worked as a technology reporter in Silicon Valley and as a foreign correspondent in Asia. Fluent in Mandarin, Leslie is an active member of the Black China Caucus and the National Association for Black Engagement with Asia. She holds a Bachelor's in International Relations from Stanford University and is pursuing a Master's in Public Policy at Harvard University, where she juggles both chemotherapy and coursework. She recently completed a yearlong battle with a rare, aggressive form of lymphoma and is a proud cancer survivor.