In celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Stark & Stark’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee are shining a spotlight on some of our AAPI employees.
We sat down with Lara Weber, a senior human resources specialist in our Hamilton office, to discuss her favorite cultural traditions, and what AAPI Heritage Month means to her.
Stark & Stark (S&S): What is your cultural identity?
Lara Weber (LW): Indian
S&S: What is your favorite cultural tradition?
LW: The clothes, the food, and the family connections.
S&S: What does AAPI Heritage Month mean to you?
LW: An opportunity to highlight all the contributions that this population has brought and all we have gained as a culture.
S&S: The theme for Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month this year is advancing leaders through opportunity. How do you think we can all work to achieve this goal?
LW: Ensuring everyone receives an equal opportunity to grow, feel empowered, encouraged, and comfortable with being different.
S&S: How do you think your culture has influenced you in your professional life?
LW: Workplaces and culture in the early 2000s and likely before were very different than now. There was little or no consideration given to anyone with a different background, language, culture, religion, or upbringing. Everything was geared toward the mainstream culture alone. That has slowly changed, and it is wonderful to see true diversity all around be celebrated. It is enriching for everyone.
S&S: What do you hope to see for the AAPI community in the future?
LW: I hope that we continue to be more inclusive in the future, create understanding, and recognize the tremendous value of diversity.
