Character Honors

May 1st, 2026
The London West Hollywood

Join us for an intimate evening welcoming AAPI Heritage Month and celebrating eight visionary community leaders. Character Honors marks the debut of the reimagined Character magazine and brings together a highly curated community of founders, investors, and global leaders.

As Character expands its lens beyond entertainment into business, innovation, and culture, this gathering celebrates individuals whose work is shaping the future of leadership and influence. Honorees will be featured on the cover and throughout this special editorial issue.

Honorees

JIRO EGAWA
Senior VP,
Xumo

The Innovation Leadership Award honors an individual who leads with forward-thinking ideas and continues to shape the future through innovation.

BOBBY HUNDREDS
Global Creative Director, Disney

The Global Trailblazer Award honors an individual who has pioneered new pathways at a global scale, building ideas, brands, or creative platforms that transcend borders and redefine the landscape of their industry.

LISA LING
Renowned
Journalist

The Global Impact Award honors a visionary who has driven measurable social change through advocacy, philanthropy, or community leadership.

NANXI LIU
Co-CEO,
Blaze.tech

The Emerging Visionary Award honors a next-generation leader whose early achievements signal transformative influence across industry, culture, or innovation.

ALLY MAKI
Founder, Asian American Girl Club

The Community Builder Award honors an individual who is actively creating and strengthening community, building spaces that foster a sense of belonging.

THAI NGUYEN
fashion
designer

The Design & Culture Award honors a creative force redefining aesthetics, identity, and cultural expression through design, fashion, architecture, or visual arts.

VICKY TSAI
founder,
tatcha

The Toyota Call Your Shot Award honors an individual whose bold vision embodies the spirit of Toyota’s Call Your Shot campaign – inspiring others to pursue their ambitions and create new possibilities for the next generation.

ALBERT YANG
CEO, din tai fung North America

The Cultural Game Changer Award honors an individual whose vision and influence have elevated tradition and created lasting cultural impact.

HOSTS

Helen Hong

Helen Hong is a stand up comedian, actress, director, and producer. She has made notable appearances on popular TV shows like “Jane the Virgin” and “Parks and Recreation.” Helen is a regular panelist on NPR’s “Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me!” and co-hosts the podcast “Go Fact Yourself,” where she brings her sharp wit to audiences nationwide.

Gene Kang

Gene Kang is an Emmy Award-winning TV reporter who has conducted impactful interviews with many world leaders such as President Barack Obama and the 14th Dalai Lama. He has covered major breaking news stories across Los Angeles and continues to keep communities informed with timely news coverage, both on and off camera.

benefiting

Character Honors is not only a celebration of leadership and achievement. It is also an opportunity to invest in the future of the community. Proceeds from the event, along with 100% of the silent auction, will support Make Noise Today, a nonprofit initiative focused on empowering AAPI youth through storytelling as a catalyst for equity and cultural change. Through hands-on opportunities across media, the arts, and community programming, it provides young people with the platforms and tools to amplify their voices and shape their own narratives.

By partnering with organizations that champion education, mentorship, and community development, Character Honors aims to help create pathways for future generations to thrive, lead, and shape the world ahead. Because honoring visionary leadership also means investing in those who will lead next.