A bridge is more than just a connection. It’s a career strategy.

Throughout my career, I’ve seen how bridges—built through curiosity, collaboration, and allyship—open doors to growth and opportunity that no single path could offer.

This year’s 2026 AANHPI Heritage Month theme “Power in Unity: Strengthening Communities Together” calls us to leverage our collective strength, share community stories and individual journeys, and act as bridge-builders who foster resilience and drive innovation.

At Schneider Electric, that idea of bridge-building is particularly meaningful. Bridges connect people to opportunity. They connect ideas to impact. And they link innovation to the real world where businesses grow, communities thrive, and future generations see what’s possible when facing the impossible.

As the leader of the U.S. Asian Professionals Network (APN) Employee Resource Network, I’m proud that our mission is rooted in creating an environment where employees and allies feel valued, respected, and empowered to bring their authentic selves to work while we actively listen, celebrate achievements, and cultivate a culture of support, understanding, and long lasting allyship.

So, this year, I want to highlight a powerful message: Asian Americans have strengthened business and society by building bridges through Innovation and Allyship. And when we activate these together, the impact on performance increases and the outcome is tangible.

Innovation: Turning curiosity into real-world progress 

Innovation isn’t just a breakthrough, it’s a bridge from curiosity to mastery, problem to solution, and idea to action, reflected across technology and leadership.

Within APN, our purpose includes embracing the unique perspectives and talents of our colleagues because doing so enriches collective knowledge, drives innovation, and strengthens our community.

That’s not just a statement; it’s the blueprint for success. When employees feel empowered to contribute fully, innovation becomes more than invention; it becomes shared progress. Diverse teams learn faster, collaborate better, and solve problems together.

“Our differences are among our greatest strengths, equipping equips us with the resilience to navigate challenges, learn from them, and lead to meaningful change. Together, we are shaping the path we want to experience.”

– Alejandro Fung, Inside Sales Manager

At Schneider Electric, this shared progress extends beyond the technology we build—it shapes how our people grow. Innovation here is a career experience, where curiosity is encouraged, learning never stops, and employees are supported to turn ideas into impact as their skills and confidence evolve over time.

Allyship: Turning intention to impact 

Innovation sets the what, collective creativity powers the how, and allyship defines the who, ensuring access, visibility, and support for all.

APN’s charter is clear: advocacy and allyship are at the heart of our mission, and through collaboration with peer ERNs, APN helps overcome intersectional challenges while extending impact beyond our walls through impactful initiatives.

Through mentorship, collaboration with peer ERNs, and access to development opportunities, APN helps create pathways for growth—enabling employees and allies alike to build relationships, expand their perspectives, and navigate their careers with greater confidence and support.

Allyship matters because unity isn’t automatic. It’s nurtured. It’s organically built through thoughtful choices, especially in everyday moments: who we listen to and who we encourage to speak.

This commitment to allyship reflects Schneider Electric’s belief that people perform at their best when they feel included, cared for, and supported. Allyship creates the conditions for belonging—where employees are encouraged to show up authentically, contribute confidently, and know their voices matter in shaping both culture and outcomes.

In APN’s vision, we aim to cultivate an environment where everyone’s voices are heard, valued, and amplified, fostering belonging and contributing to our collective success, and we commit to “build bridges, break down barriers, and inspire impactful change.”

Bringing it together: The bridge-building flywheel 

Here’s the powerful connection between these ideas: 

• Innovation creates solutions that turn into opportunities and move business forward. 
• Allyship ensures opportunity is shared and that people feel safe, seen, and supported as they contribute. 

That combination is how communities strengthen business and society together. And it aligns directly with APN’s purpose: fostering inclusion and care, championing voices, supporting professional development, and extending impact through community engagement and collaboration.

Experiencing allyship through community and growth

My experience with the ERN has been a meaningful chapter in my ongoing career journey. Through APN, I’ve seen allyship come to life—enabled by support from peer ERNs and development opportunities that helped me build new skills, strengthen collaboration, challenge my assumptions, broaden my perspective, and grow as a leader.

As we celebrate AANHPI Heritage Month, we celebrate the accomplishments of Schneider Electric Electrifiers. The Electrifiers program is the “bridge” where Innovation and Allyship intersect – bringing together employees from different backgrounds, disciplines, and career stages to collaborate, learn from one another, and solve real business and sustainability challenges. It’s one example of how Schneider Electric creates purposeful opportunities for talent to grow while contributing to meaningful impact.

For those exploring life at Schneider Electric, bridge‑building isn’t just a metaphor—it’s how careers are shaped here. By combining innovation, allyship, and purpose, we aim to create an environment where people can grow, contribute fully, and build futures they’re proud of.

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About the author

Alejandro Fung, Inside Sales Manager

Alejandro Fung is the Inside Sales Manager for the Industrial Automation business at Schneider Electric and currently serves as President of the U.S. Asian Professionals Network (APN) Employee Resource Network.

Since joining Schneider Electric, his lived experience as an Asian immigrant, combined with a profound commitment to Inclusion and Care has shaped his leadership journey and inspired his involvement in employee advocacy.

His engagement with APN since 2021 has been a defining chapter in his career, providing opportunities to lead with purpose by expanding access to resources, fostering professional development, and cultivating inclusive, community-driven experiences that support and empower employees across the organization.