It's a long climb up the corporate ladder from receptionist to corporate president, but it's a trek that National Geographic Channel President Laureen Ong has made—several rungs at a time. A third-generation Chinese-American, Ong delivered the 2003 Asian Pacific American Heritage Month keynote address at the Library of Congress on May 5.
Laureen Ong
"I could not have done it myself without a talented team of people," said Ong. "It's never about the individual. It's about the group."
By her own definition, Ong comes from "a traditional Chinese-American family" and was expected to enter a "respectable female career," such as teaching. But along the way, she took a job as a receptionist for a small independent television network and "fell in love with that profession."
When the opportunity to advance to station traffic manager presented itself, she jumped at the chance, but was nearly a victim of her own success. When she overheard a conversation in which it became clear that she was too highly regarded to be spared from the typing pool, she knew she had to take action.
"First I apologized for overhearing the conversation," said Ong, and, with all the humility she could muster, thanked her boss "for recognizing my stellar receptionist skills." But her ace in the hole was offering to train her replacement to perform at the same high level.
"The deal was done and the rest is history," said Ong.
Looking back on this pivotal moment in her early career, Ong recalled believing that "I could achieve anything. After all, this was America where anything was possible if you worked hard."
Referring to this year's Asian month theme, "Salute to Liberty," Ong said, "I am a walking example of what liberty means. It's the state of being free. It's what my ancestors and yours expected to find here."
Armed with this belief, Ong spent the early days of her career traveling the country on business. While managing syndication sales for MTM Distribution in the Midwest region of the country, Ong was told by many station managers that she was the first Asian American woman ever to make a sales call.
"Why not make your first purchase from an Asian American woman?" quipped Ong. Before long, many did.
After more than 25 years of experience in television programming, Ong became president of the National Geographic Channel in 2000.
"I salute liberty every day by educating and enlightening people about the world's cultures and how they impact us today. At the National Geographic Channel, we believe that America is not just a melting pot but a mosaic consisting of unique, distinct and ever-present pieces. The channel provides a global sensibility that helps us better understand our collective experience."
By way of example, Ong shared several film clips from National Geographic Today. One clip focused on historic Angel Island in San Francisco Bay, which, during the late 19th century, was the site where thousands of Asians were processed and often detained prior to entering the United States. Angel Island stands as a living memorial to these immigrants, many of whose mournful poems are literally carved into the walls. The site attracts approximately 46,000 people annually.
The second clip featured cellist Yo Yo Ma, who founded the Silk Road Project (www.silkroadproject.org) to connect different cultures through music. The clip included a performance by the Silk Road Ensemble comprising artists from many different cultural traditions.
"The artistry of Yo Yo Ma in this country is made possible by the wave of immigration that passed through Angel Island," said Ong. "From centuries ago to modern day events, Asian culture continues to influence our experience."
