A Diversity Deduction

Chris Chen wants to assure us that we don’t have to compare our DEI progress to that of Europe or the USA or anyone for that matter.

- ZAT ASTHA

“What do you think is the biggest challenge facing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts in the APAC region today?” I ask Chris Chen, the VP and DEI lead (APAC) at Wells Fargo. He replies without hesitation, “An ageing population.”

It was a response for which I was completely unprepared. Gender imbalance, issues with accepting sexual orientations, racial bias — these are familiar challenges. But ageism? How very 2023. Chen explains that by 2050, 35 to 40 per cent of the population in some Asian and European countries, including Japan, South Korea, and Singapore, will be over 65 years old. “Are we prepared to integrate more older workers into our workforce?” he asks. “How will different generations within a company collaborate and understand each other?”

For all his fluency in the subject matter, surprisingly, the DEI maverick’s career trajectory didn’t start in this field. A University of Leeds law graduate, he spent five years working at Scoot in compliance before transitioning to DEI, first as an associate at Yara International, then as a DEI lead at Wells Fargo. His motivation for this change was personal. “My experiences as a cisgender gay man in Singapore profoundly influenced my career path. I’ve felt the difference it makes when I’m able to bring my whole self to work,” he shares. He notices that being open about his identity positively impacts his ability to contribute more effectively in the workplace.

DEI DIFFERENTLY