Speeches by Secretary Elaine L. Chao

Printer-Friendly Version

Remarks Delivered by
U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao
5th Annual Asian Pacific American
Federal Career Advancement Summit
Washington, D.C.
Wednesday, May 3, 2006

Thank you, Sam [Mok, Chief Financial Officer, DOL, and Master of Ceremonies].

And welcome, everyone, to the 5th Annual Asian Pacific American Federal Career Advancement Summit!

We have quite a crowd here today! In fact, I'm pleased to announce that not only do we have more attendees today than ever before, but we also have more federal government partners than ever before. I would like to thank our partners for their support, including the Departments of Agriculture, Defense, Education, Energy, Homeland Security, Health and Human Services, Interior, Justice, Transportation, Treasury, the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and the Social Security Administration.

I would especially like to thank the Office of Personnel Management and the Federal Asian Pacific American Council — our partners for five years. Thank you for your hard work ensuring the success of this Summit.

It is wonderful to look out across this ballroom and see so many people. Every year, the number of people who attend is larger and larger. As you may already know, President George W. Bush has appointed more than 300 Asian Pacific Americans to the highest levels of the federal government. This includes, for the first time, two Asian Pacific Americans in the President's cabinet. And I'm especially proud that the U.S. Department of Labor has the highest number of Asian Pacific American appointees in the federal government. Let me take a moment to recognize some of the appointees who are with us today:

Jimmy Lee, Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders; Paul Jhin of the Peace Corps; Tim Wang of the U.S. Department of Commerce; Jeff Pon of the U.S. Department of Energy; Stephen Fong of the Federal Transit Administration; and Chiling Tong, Associate Director of the Minority Business Development Administration at the Department of Commerce.

And from the Department of Labor: Sam Mok, Chief Financial Officer; Shinae Chun, Director of the Women's Bureau; Alice Joe, Senior Legislative Officer in the Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs; Peter Hong, Special Assistant in the Office of Public Affairs; Cesar DeGuzman, Special Assistant in the Office of Administration and Management; Angie Tang, Regional Representative in New York City; and Anna Hui, Special Assistant in the Department's Office of Public Liaison.

I would also like to thank Karen Czarnecki, Director of the Office of the 21st Century at the Labor Department, the Summit's Planning Committee and the volunteers working here today. Year after year, these teams dedicate so much time to making this Summit as helpful as possible for the attendees. I know there are many creative changes to the Summit this year, and I would like to thank all those involved for their dedication and their initiative.

This Summit is designed to help Asian Pacific American federal employees access the training and skills necessary to advance to leadership positions within the federal government.

And since the Summit began five years ago, it has become such a wonderful resource. It has become a place to meet new people, to network and to learn new skills. It has become an opportunity to meet one-on-one with experts in the fields of communications, human resources and training. And it has helped many to gain the skills necessary to further their careers in federal government management.

Last year, we received very helpful feedback from participants on how to make this Summit even more useful and responsive to your needs. And I am happy to share with you the new initiatives and programs that we are offering today, in addition to some popular sessions that have been brought back.

Today, many of you will have the chance to take part in the "Myers-Briggs" test. This is the first year we have offered this resource and — having taken this test before myself — I hope you'll agree that it is a real eye-opener! The test helps you to discover your strengths as a leader in this society, and how you can use those strengths to work effectively with other people. I am so happy we were able to incorporate this session into our program, and hope you enjoy it, as well.

We have included a leadership program, which defines the five core competencies needed for Senior Executive Service — or SES — candidates. And we have added an SES Candidate Development session, designed to help participants navigate the process of entering the Senior Executive Service. This is a very important session, because it reminds us that it is not possible to jump to the top of the ladder. The climb to the top is a series of steps. And this workshop prepares participants not just for the Senior Executive Service, but for the steps needed to get there.

In addition, we have added a "Pay for Performance" plenary workshop. As many of you know, some federal agencies are moving away from the general schedule pay system toward a system based on performance. This method provides greater flexibility and accountability in the way employees are paid and evaluated. It is important to understand this system, so I am glad we were able to incorporate this workshop into today's events.

And we've also added a concurrent session for Asian Pacific American professionals seeking to enter the federal government for the first time. We will have experts on hand to help participants navigate the online federal application process, discuss the qualities sought after by federal managers and the nuances that make an application stand out among hundreds — perhaps thousands — of other qualified applications. Representatives from several federal agencies will discuss employment opportunities at their agencies. And participants will also be able to visit the 32 exhibits in the Exhibit Hall to learn about potential job opportunities.

And, by popular demand, we've brought back the Executive Coaching sessions. These sessions pair participants with senior managers who can answer specific questions about advancement and career development, based on their own experiences. This is a very special resource, so I hope many of you are able to take advantage of this special opportunity.

In addition to these one-on-one sessions, we have also brought back workshops on conflict resolution, management strategies, and how to apply for positions at higher grade levels. And we have professional trainers here to help you strengthen your leadership, interview and communication skills.

Two years ago at this Summit, the Labor Department released the first-ever Federal Career Guide. The guide is designed to help those seeking to enter and advance within federal government service, and it is especially designed for Asian Pacific Americans. It explains the structure of the Federal government, the qualifications and skills required for certain jobs and the professional training available to further advance in one's career.

Today, we will be releasing an updated guide with new data and grade levels. This new version is available to you here today, and is also available on the DOL Web site, www.dol.gov, and the APA Summit Web site, www.apasummit.gov.

There are so many sessions to choose from today. In fact, we have packed nearly a week's worth of workshops and training sessions into one day. And if you miss any of the plenary sessions today — don't worry. For the first time ever, today's events will be Web-cast and available to you year-round, beginning approximately one month from today, on the APA Summit Web site. So you can pursue additional training from home, at your own convenience!

One of the best aspects of this Summit is that it provides each person with the ability to customize the day to fit his or her own special needs. There are so many different pathways to success, and this Summit will help you design a program that fits your own personal goals.

The federal government employs nearly 1.8 million people, making it the single largest employer in the entire United States. New job opportunities open up almost every single day. In fact, in the next 10 years, 60 percent of the federal workforce will be eligible for retirement. And chances are that many of these jobs are an opportunity for you to take another step toward reaching your management goals if you have the right skills and are prepared. So, always be looking for new opportunities and don't be afraid to take risks and try something new.

Each of us learns something new every day. So today, let me share with you some thoughts on the skills that this Summit is designed to strengthen.

First of all, this Summit is designed for advancement. And the key to advancement — no matter what stage of your career — is leadership. Leadership skills are absolutely essential to success in managing large, complex organizations like the government. Technical proficiency is the foundation for advancement. But it is not enough.

So, look for opportunities to practice leadership. I cannot stress this enough. There are so many places outside of the workplace to develop leadership skills. Volunteering in the community is a great way — at schools, in amateur sports organizations, at places of worship, in community centers. All are resources for leadership development.

Also, it is helpful to understand the value of teamwork. Leadership is not simply taking charge. Leadership is gaining the respect of peers and persuading them to follow you. It requires building trust and the ability to motivate and inspire others.

The workforce is comprised of so many different backgrounds, different cultures and different traditions. Bridging these cultural gaps requires strong communication skills. Communication is absolutely essential to career advancement and becoming a leader.

Learn to be assertive, but in a positive way. In the Asian culture, we are often taught to defer to others and to wait our turn to speak up. But America is a much more informal culture, in which the robust exchange of ideas and opinions is welcomed. It is especially important to learn how to disagree without threatening others and with grace and tact.

And as current and future leaders, make ethics a core value. Leaders, regardless of whether they are in the public, private or non-profit sectors, are expected to maintain the highest standards of ethical conduct. Today, more than ever before, transparency and accountability are the foundations of public trust. Once earned, it gives leaders the ability to accomplish great things. But once lost, it is very, very difficult to recover.

Also, don't be afraid to seek out advice and look for mentors in the workplace.

If you make a mistake, don't be discouraged. Learn from each experience, strengthen your confidence and try again!

And finally, set clear goals and then take steps every day, no matter how small, to accomplish them.

One of the wonders of the human spirit is the ability to learn and to adapt. Asian Pacific Americans are the beneficiaries of a culture that represents some of the most valuable core assets for success: strong families, an appreciation for higher education and a dedicated work ethic. These qualities are a strong foundation upon which to build a career path — no matter what direction your path may take you.

I am so happy to be here with you today. I hope you find this Summit engaging, educational and rewarding. Have a great conference and a great day!