Celebrating AAPI Heritage Month: Canoe team members on culture, career, and collaboration
In honor of AAPI Heritage Month, three members of the Canoe team reflect on how their cultural backgrounds influence the way they colaborate, solve problems, and show up for each other.
Louis Ro is a Marketing Associate at Canoe. In this piece, he shares his own experience growing up across Asia and speaks with two colleagues about the cultural values that shape how they work.
If you asked me what growing up across multiple countries in Asia taught me, the honest answer is empathy. The kind you develop when you’re constantly learning how to read a new room, respect a new set of norms, and find common ground with people whose experiences look nothing like yours. I absorbed many different AAPI cultures along the way, and the distinction between understanding a culture and truly embracing it became clear early on. That lesson has followed me into my career more than I expected — I approach every conversation and project by first seeking to understand the people involved: their perspective, their context, what matters to them. It’s shaped how I collaborate in my work, and ultimately, how I ended up in the role I’m in today.
I’m not the only one at Canoe whose upbringing quietly informs how they show up at work. This AAPI Heritage Month, I sat down with two colleagues — Andy Feng (Sr. Engineer II) and Duyen Tran (Sr. Product Owner) — to talk about the cultural values, career lessons, and traditions that follow us into the workplace. Here’s what came out of those conversations.
Was there a moment growing up when you first became aware of your AAPI identity in a professional or academic setting? What did that teach you?
Andy Feng: There was a moment where my manager at the time, Wei, who also worked at Canoe, mentioned something to me during a one-on-one. He told me that as an Asian, he understood why I wasn’t inclined to put myself out there and display my accomplishments. But he recommended I push past that. He knew I was doing great work, but he also knew others in the company wouldn’t always see it on their own. Even though we were a much smaller company back then, he encouraged me to seek more opportunities to make my work more visible. That conversation stuck with me.
What’s something your cultural background taught you about problem-solving or collaboration that you think more people should know?
Louis Ro: In Korean culture, there’s a deep value placed on collectivism — prioritizing group harmony and shared responsibility over individual achievement. What that cultivates is a high degree of empathy and consideration for the people around you. In Korean communities, when someone is going through a hardship, people rally around them almost instinctively. I’ve carried that mindset into the workplace. I find myself looking for gaps I can help fill for my team, thinking about how I can contribute to the group’s success rather than focusing solely on my own. It’s a subtle shift in perspective, but it changes how you show up for the people you work with.
Andy shared a perspective on the same question that brings the concept of collectivism to life in a very tangible way.
Andy Feng: Something I always find a bit funny when eating out with friends and family from the same cultural background is that the last piece of a dish inevitably sits there, untouched — everyone refuses to take it. The point isn’t really about finishing that last piece. It’s the fact that even during a meal, there’s this constant awareness of making sure everyone has had a chance to try the dish before it winds down. I think collaboration should work the same way: you make sure everyone is actively participating, and you leave that last piece as leeway.
How has your identity shaped the way you think about building trust with colleagues or clients?
Duyen Tran: Building trust goes beyond identity alone, though I can see how it naturally influences relationships at work. Personally, I don’t think my cultural background should define my professional relationships, but it can be a meaningful way to connect. I’ll occasionally bring up holidays or cuisines from my culture, and that tends to open up genuine conversations. Whether a colleague is familiar with my background or not, it’s always a good entry point — especially because I recognize that everyone I work with brings their own unique perspective to the table. The willingness to share and embrace each other’s cultural differences is what builds respectful, lasting relationships.
What’s one thing you wish you’d heard earlier in your career, and what would you tell someone starting out today?
Andy Feng: Connections are important. A lot of connections were given to me through my community growing up, so I struggled to build my own once I was in college and entering my professional career. People came from many different backgrounds, and my usual common ground of shared first-generation Asian American experiences wasn’t always there. I still believe “who you know” plays a significant role in a career, and it wasn’t always emphasized in my household — my parents definitely prioritized grades above all else. In a world where AI is placing greater scrutiny on traditional credentials, learning to foster genuine connections may be more important than ever.
What’s a food, place, or cultural moment you’d love your colleagues to experience?
Duyen Tran: While Pho and Banh Mi have certainly gone mainstream [among Vietnamese dishes], my personal favorite is Canh Chua, which roughly translates to “Sour Soup.” It’s a light, tangy broth made with tomatoes, pineapple, elephant-ear stems, and a variety of proteins — from tofu and fish to short ribs. The sour flavor comes from tamarind. While it’s served hot, it’s surprisingly refreshing and works well in warm weather. For dessert, I’d recommend Đậu Hũ Nước Đường — silky tofu served in a warm ginger syrup, which can also be enjoyed cold. I don’t have much of a sweet tooth, but there’s something about Vietnamese desserts that stands apart.
The three of us come from different backgrounds — Korean, Chinese, and Vietnamese — but a shared thread kept surfacing in these conversations: the values that shaped us at home didn’t stay at home. They followed us into how we listen, how we collaborate, how we build trust, and how we think about the people around us.
AAPI Heritage Month is a chance to make those threads visible — not as a formality, but as an honest look at how culture shapes how we work and why that diversity of perspectives makes teams stronger. At Canoe, we’re proud to create space for these conversations and to keep them going well beyond May. Happy AAPI Heritage Month.
Interested in joining our team? Explore open roles at Canoe.
