Students reflect on representation for Asian Heritage Month

To recognize Asian Heritage Month, the DeGroote Commerce Society (DCS) asked students to reflect on leadership and representation.

Five Asian-identifying student leaders, Aarthi Thommandram, Qiucheng Chen, Leonardo Lu, Wenjing Ding and Anne Llanora, answered the question: “What does representation mean to you in a leadership setting as a business student of Asian heritage?”

Through their answers, each student reflected on the impact diverse representation has in leadership, such as inspiring and creating a space for underrepresented voices, ensuring leaders have unique outlooks driven by heritage and values and fostering a sense of community.

DeGroote proudly celebrates the diverse cultures, heritage, achievements and contributions of Asian identifying students.

Here’s what they had to say:

“Representation in leadership means making success visible and attainable for those who haven’t traditionally seen themselves in those spaces. It’s about members of the Asian community stepping into leadership roles with authenticity, drawing strength from their background and heritage while inspiring others to do the same. Representation means using your platform to amplify voices and empower the communities you represent.”

– Aarthi Thommandram, Integrated Business and Humanities student, Level V and JDCC DeGroote Co-Captain

“I think representation is as simple as just showing up. My goal is to take on various leadership roles so that it makes it easier for future Asian students to do the same. Additionally, I think representation is also being a good team member and supportive attendee. For example, going to other club events, speaking up in group settings, and sometimes just existing. There is beauty in pianissimo, piano, forte, fortissimo, and somewhere in between”.

– Qiucheng Chen, Integrated Business and Humanities, Level III and 2025/26 Co-chair of DeGroote Impact

“Representation means the responsibility to bridge cultural gaps by looking beyond the ‘tip of the iceberg’. As a business student of Asian heritage, I believe leadership must recognize the deep-seated values and ‘why’ behind diverse cultures to ensure every individual feels understood. True representation ensures leadership is not a monolith, but a reflective environment where cultural expression is genuinely valued and supported”.

– Leonardo Lu, Commerce, Level II and President of the DeGroote Asian Student Association (DASA)

“Representation in leadership means creating space for voices and experiences that are often underrepresented. As an Asian international student leader, I see representation as both visibility and responsibility. It means helping students feel seen, supported, and confident sharing their perspectives in the community”.

– Wenjing Ding, Commerce, Level IV

“As a Filipino-Canadian, community is everything – especially when it comes to representation! This manifests in the way of supporting underrepresented voices in the room and showing up everyday as your most authentic self. To be a leader who keeps representation in mind, it’s about being someone that others can see themselves in. It always goes back to openness, authenticity, and community.”

– Anne Llanora, Commerce ‘26

See the original DCS Instagram post