5 Questions with Prosekians in Honor of AAPI Month 2026

In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, three of our colleagues shared personal stories about their upbringing and cultural experiences, and suggested ideas for how everyone can support the #AAPI community year-round. Here’s what they had to say…

Jullieanne Coupe, Vice President, Public Relations (NYC)

1. Tell us about your background. Where did you grow up? And what would you like to share about your culture, heritage, etc.?

I was born in California and moved to Pennsylvania when I was seven, where my family still lives. I come from a large extended Filipino family; my dad is one of seven and my mom is one of six. My younger brother and I are first-generation Americans; my parents immigrated to the U.S. in the early ’90s with my two older siblings.

Growing up, they made a strong effort to keep us connected to our Filipino roots, speaking Tagalog at home, cooking traditional dishes, and watching teleseryes (Filipino drama series), which definitely helped me understand the language – though I’m unfortunately not fluent. Most of my dad’s side of the family is also in the U.S., and we grew up very close which made our celebrations especially meaningful and deeply rooted in Filipino culture. My mom’s family still lives in the Philippines, and I was lucky to visit just before the pandemic. My parents are planning to retire there soon, so I’m looking forward to visiting more often.

2. What brought you to Prosek?

Before joining Prosek, I worked at a smaller communications firm. I primarily supported real estate startups, a fast-moving, high-turnover space. What drew me to Prosek was the opportunity to support its real estate clients while gaining exposure to a broader range of industries. I’m happy to say I learn something new every day.

3. What are you best known for amongst friends and family, and what do you want to be known for at Prosek?

Among friends and family, I’m known as the planner. If there’s a trip, I’m the one mapping out each day and making all the reservations. At Prosek, I hope to be known as a dependable and approachable colleague, someone people can trust to follow through and deliver strong work.

4. What’s a “fun fact” about you?

I’m a huge Family Feud fan – so much so that I built a full PowerPoint version complete with the actual music, scoring system, Fast Money timer, and buzzers. It’s become a yearly Christmas game night tradition in my family.

5. What’s one thing you wish people would know, and/or one thing you recommend Prosekians engage with (i.e. one movie, one newsletter, one podcast, etc.), in observance of AAPI Heritage Month?

I’d definitely recommend exploring Filipino food. It doesn’t always get as much attention as other Asian cuisines, but it’s incredibly flavorful and diverse. For those in New York, I’d suggest checking out NAKS!

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Karis Cheng, Account Supervisor, Paid Media (NYC)

1. Tell us about your background. Where did you grow up? And what would you like to share about your culture, heritage, etc.?

I was born and raised in New York City, mostly in Chinatown and the Lower East Side and spent all my school years in the city. If you’re ever on the M15 or the 6 train around 3pm on a weekday… feel free to side-eye, but please be understanding.

My mother is Malaysian Chinese and my father is Chinese, so as a first-generation ABC, I grew up speaking Mandarin, Cantonese, and English at home (sometimes all in the same conversation). My parents made a strong effort to keep my sister and me connected to our roots, whether that was putting us in Chinese school on the weekends or keeping traditions alive like celebrating Chinese New Year, the Dragon Boat Festival, the list goes on.

Like many AAPI families, we’re a very food-centric family, bonding over food, whether that’s cooking together or sharing meals. Growing up in Chinatown and the Lower East Side meant being surrounded by incredible Asian groceries and food, which made that part of my culture feel very present day to day. Being raised in New York City ultimately shaped how I see the world: fast-paced, diverse, and rooted in community.

2. What brought you to Prosek?

I was drawn to Prosek for the opportunity to build my career in paid media and gain exposure across different channels. I liked the idea of being in a fast-moving environment where you’re constantly learning in real time.

3. What are you best known for amongst friends and family, and what do you want to be known for at Prosek?

Among friends and family, I’m known for being dependable, thoughtful, and easygoing. Someone who shows up and stays connected. At Prosek, I’d love to be known as someone reliable, thoughtful, and proactive. Someone who’s willing to dig in, ask questions and figure things out.

4. What’s a “fun fact” about you?

I don’t have any allergies, I have never broken a bone, and I genuinely love durian (I’d say my tolerance level is pretty high across the board). Bonus “fun fact,” my “fun fact” for when I joined Prosek two years ago was that my favorite snack is a spam, egg, and condensed milk sandwich, and that still rings true today.

5. What’s one thing you wish people would know, and/or one thing you recommend Prosekians engage with (i.e. one movie, one newsletter, one podcast, etc.), in observance of AAPI Heritage Month?

I highly recommend checking out Kuih Café in Chinatown! There is no shortage of desserts in the city but if you’re looking for something new, this is one of the few places in the city serving Malaysian desserts that I grew up eating, with flavors like pandan, coconut, mung bean, peanuts and corn.

On a more everyday level, I think it’s worth paying attention to how much Asian culture already shows up in your life. Whether it’s the food you eat, words like “umami,” or even trends that make their way into the mainstream. Once you start noticing those small things, it gives you a different level of appreciation and makes it easier to feel more connected and intentional about how we engage with each other.

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Priya Dutta, Account Executive, Public Relations (Los Angeles)

1. Tell us about your background. Where did you grow up? And what would you like to share about your culture, heritage, etc.?

I grew up in Albany, NY, before moving to Los Angeles for college. I’ve stayed here ever since, and my family moved out (followed me) here, too! My parents immigrated to the U.S. from India in the ‘90s, a few years before my older sister and I were born, and growing up, they made it a point to bring us to India most summers. Looking back, I’m glad I got to travel from such a young age and stay close to extended family so far away.

My hometown and school weren’t the most diverse, but we did have a strong Indian community – a nearby Hindu temple and cultural center, and monthly potlucks with family friends. It wasn’t always easy being part of a first-gen American family, trying to navigate American culture while also staying connected to my parents’ roots. Because of that, I grew up doing traditional Indian classical and Bollywood dance alongside tap, ballet, and pointe (best of both worlds). My parents also raised us on movies, both Bollywood and Hollywood, which definitely shaped who I am today – I love talking about anything and everything entertainment.

2. What brought you to Prosek?

I first heard about Prosek through The LAGRANT Foundation – of which I was a two-time scholar! Through my interviews and conversations with Prosekians, I really loved how people-oriented the culture felt, and I was impressed by how many people have long-term careers here – it’s not something you see at a lot of agencies.

I’m a very relationship-oriented person, which is what drew me to PR in the first place. At Loyola Marymount University, I majored in marketing and minored in public relations, and I also interned at Charles Schwab, so making the jump to Prosek felt like a natural next step. I’m happy to be coming up on my two-year mark after joining as an apprentice right out of graduation.

3. What are you best known for amongst friends and family, and what do you want to be known for at Prosek?

Among friends and family, I’m known for being energetic, observant, and having a sharp memory. At Prosek, I’d hope to be known for bringing that same attentiveness, along with my reliability, positivity, and curiosity.

4. What’s a “fun fact” about you?

I had an Instagram fan account for The Office in high school that peaked at around 46,000 followers. It started off small – just posting quotes from my favorite scenes – but it definitely took off. I even wrote about it in my college application essays and how it sparked my interest in marketing.

5. What’s one thing you wish people would know, and/or one thing you recommend Prosekians engage with (i.e. one movie, one newsletter, one podcast, etc.), in observance of AAPI Heritage Month?

As mentioned, I grew up watching Bollywood movies, so if I had to recommend one that really captures it all – action, romance, thriller, comedy – I’d say Om Shanti Om (it’s on Netflix). It’s a fun way to get a glimpse into Bollywood storytelling and culture. My cousin once described it as “the Avengers: Endgame of Bollywood movies” because so many actors and actresses make cameos.