Every weekend in May, we will highlight a very special friend of Old Skool Cafe as we celebrate the Asian-American Pacific Islander heroes in our community. Join us as we learn, celebrate, and enjoy each living legend's favorite meal!
Old Skool Cafe (OSC): Ilaria Chan, thank you so much for letting us celebrate you during AAPI Heritage Month! Will you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Ilaria: I am Chairperson of Tech For Good Institute (think tank founded by Grab) and the Group Advisor for Tech & Social Impact for Grab. Grab is the leading Tech superapp that operates in 8 countries in SE Asia valued at $12 Billion. I was formerly an Executive Director at Goldman Sachs New York. I am currently also a global keynote speaker, a private investor, serves on the Board of Trustees of humanitarian organizations CareForChildren and Emancipaction, an Operating Advisor to Owl Ventures (largest Education Tech focused venture capital fund in the world), an advisory board member to GlobalSF's Women Empowerment Initiative and British real estate development firm Kinrise. I hold a B.A. from Stanford University. I am also a freelance singer, concert pianist, food critic & restaurant judge, culinary school graduate, actress in musicals & plays, and an avid scuba diver. I am dedicated to building bridges in the business and humanitarian work realms between East & West with a mission to further mass flourishing.
OSC: Who is one AAPI historical figure who has inspired you?
Ilaria: Sun Yat Sen (founding father of the modern republic of China). He overturned the corrupt Qing dynasty and imported the best human-centric leadership ideas from USA & Christianity into forming a new China (which later developed into the founding of Taiwan). He was a statesman (and not a politician), selfless enough to step down once his revolution was successful because he did not crave power, and lived a life of exile and sacrifice in order to liberate China from years of enslavement/ colonization from other countries.
OSC: What is one piece of wisdom/advice that you would like to impart to this generation of young people?
Ilaria: Humility throughout life is key. "Knowledge is proud that he has learned so much; Wisdom is humble that he knows no more" - William Cowper
OSC: Why do you support the mission of Old Skool Cafe?
Ilaria: Old Skool reinvents a troubled young person's life by teaching them how to fish (rather than feeding them fish) where the skillset is self-sustainable. More importantly, Teresa founded Old Skool with the love of a mother's heart- which is key to any social service, it is love (and not capital or knowledge) that transforms people permanently.
OSC: You chose Chawanmushi as your favorite meal. Tell us more about that!
Ilaria: Chinese/ Japanese style steamed egg (also called Chawanmushi) with rice. It is healthy, wholesome and reminds me of home everytime I have it. The key is mix beaten eggs with equal portion of broth/ water.
