Zeng Lai
It took me 10 years to figure out what I wanted to do with my life – I was in business school, worked finance jobs, enrolled in architecture school, and designed office buildings and museums. Now, I am a User Experience Designer for Autodesk Construction Cloud, a product I actually used back in my architecture studio days. You never know where life’s going to take you, but it’s always worth embracing new challenges.
Outside of my day-to-day role, I’m also a member of the Autodesk Asian Network (AAN) employee resource group (ERG) and the AAN Site Lead in Toronto, where I live. I’m a home-based employee and enjoy working fully remotely as it offers tremendous flexibility. However, it can occasionally lead to feelings of isolation, especially since most of my team is spread across 10 different cities in the United States. But thanks to AAN, I’ve been able to foster an Asian community within our Toronto office.
Celebrating Asian heritage and impact
I was born and raised in Shanghai, China, where I spent the first 16 years of my life. In this racially homogeneous society, the concept of “Asian-ness” was completely foreign to me. Everyone around me was either Chinese or labeled a “foreigner.” Moving to Canada was a profound culture shock, and transitioning from being part of the majority to a racially marginalized group was a painful and traumatizing experience that demanded significant adjustments. The experience convinced me of the critical need to recognize, celebrate, and support community diversity in multicultural societies like the United States and Canada, and in our increasingly globalized world.
At Autodesk, we recognize and celebrate Asian Heritage Month globally in partnership with Autodesk Asian Network. May is also Autodesk’s Global Month of Impact, so in light of this, AAN hosted a series of events throughout the month designed to encourage Autodeskers to pursue their passions and aim to make a lasting impact, all under the theme “Inspire Change.”
Celebrating Asian heritage at Autodesk isn’t just limited to the month of May – we participate in various festival events throughout the year, such as Lunar New Year, Mid-Autumn Festival, and Diwali, and by sharing beloved cultural foods and games like Hong Kong-style pineapple buns, bubble tea, moon cakes, and mahjong with the broader community. I’ve connected with many coworkers at these events who, although working on completely different products, share similar backgrounds to mine.
I truly feel a sense of connection within Autodesk, confident that engaging conversations await whenever I visit our office. I believe that if Asian heritage had been recognized at the school I attended as a teenager, or if there had been celebrations for Asian Heritage Month that showcased my heritage and culture, it would have greatly boosted my confidence and sense of belonging.
Embracing diverse futures
Representation and recognition are crucial factors in inspiring and empowering individuals. Watching Simu Liu as the main character in a Marvel superhero movie encourages us to envision ourselves as the protagonists in a society where white privilege persists. Queer children who see LGBTQ+ characters on the big screen are reassured that their love is valid. Similarly, in a corporate setting, when we observe more members from racial minority groups like ours advancing to leadership roles — like Raji Arasu as Autodesk’s CTO — it confirms that the glass ceiling, though formidable, can be shattered. Having such role models can inspire countless individuals in the community to dream big, work diligently towards their goals, and embrace the possibility that anything is achievable.
If I could offer any advice to young Asian professionals starting out in their careers, I would say to go talk to people – as many as you can! When I first started at Autodesk, I wish I had made more of an effort to schedule one-on-one meetings with team members or people from both related and unrelated product teams. In large corporations like Autodesk, you’ll find numerous specialized teams where everyone is an expert in their domain but often focuses on the narrow and isolated issues of their own areas. It’s incredibly valuable for young professionals to piece together these seemingly unrelated puzzles. Doing so gives you a comprehensive view of the broader challenges that require collaborative solutions. Gaining this perspective can be immensely beneficial for your career.
Learn more about Autodesk’s employee resource groups here.