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CAREER | PERSONALITIES | FEATURES | NEWS
NEW MILENNIUM OPPORTUNITIES
But those not constrained by timeworn formulas for kicking off a media career will find that opportunities abound. Among them are the programs offered by the Walter Kaitz Foundation. The WKF was founded by leaders of the cable and broadband industry to ensure continued industry vitality in the global marketplace by attracting a diversity of management and professional talent, including Asian Americans. Its hiring programs connect qualified applicants with over 400 companies offering positions in the fast-growing cable/broadband industry in both management and entry-level positions.
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For professionals without management experience the WKF also offers programs to get started in the industry at the entry- to mid-level. Positions range from engineering to marketing to sales. There's also a growing demand for engineers and IT professionals with experience in data, internet and telecom areas. "Most Asians are pretty market-oriented in terms of knowing what degree will make money," says Dr Fred Luk of UCLA's economics department. "Computer science was once one of the most popular careers for Asians. Not anymore." "The medical field has gotten oversaturated," says UC Irvine student Chris Yee. "The same with engineering. Maybe ten years ago, engineering was stable, but now it's not." Just ask any one of the thousands laid-off from aerospace and defense companies. That stereotype of the Asian doctor or computer engineer--the nerd with the pocket protector or the stethescope--may soon be replaced by a new stereotype--the Armani-clad Asian financier, the high-powered Asian stockbroker and the smooth Asian Hollywood mogul. "Investment and financial services are the next big fields [for Asian Americans]," says a headhunter who recruits for one of the world's leading high-tech companies. "Business is the hottest major for Asian Americans," says one university professor. "There's a tremendous demand for executives and managers with a bicultural background," says a partner at the world's oldest executive search firm. "Asian Americans will be in high demand in any industry." Indeed, our research has pinpointed three hot careers that will soon be facing an enormous demand and influx of Asians:
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The glass ceiling still exists. The number of Asians in the top ranks of top corporations is still below the Asian representation in the population. Historically, most Asians with ambitions simply went around the glass ceiling. Rather than fighting bureaucracy and incipient racism, a smart young Asian simply started his own company, sometimes earning tens or hundreds of millions in the process. Bill Mow of Bugle Boy did just this. So did David Chu of Nautica, and David Lee of Qume Corporation. But the corporate world may be changing its tune. The glass ceiling may be opening for Asians while closing for the traditional WASP "old boy" that was once the mainstay of international business. Kiuchi "Kris" Aoyama is a partner at Heidrick & Struggles, the world's oldest, most prestigious executive search firm. With 35 offices around the globe, Heidrick & Struggles is the place where corporations go when they want to fill their top slots. They're headhunters for $150K-and-above execs. Aoyama sees the future for Asian executives as bright indeed. "There's a tremendous demand for executive managers with a bicultural background," he says. With the right qualifications, in fact, Aoyama feels an Asian executive in any corporation "can write their own ticket." 
There's more to it than simply an Asian last name, of course. "We did a survey of 4,000 CEOs last year," says Aoyama, "asking them what they were looking for in an executive or manager, or what was needed to succeed." All the CEOs, regardless of race, named the same laundry list of dream qualifications:
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