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Join us for an engaging conversation with Michelle Krusiec, who played the first Chinese-American movie star Anna May Wong, in Ryan Murphy’s HOLLYWOOD (Netflix), along with Pankti Patel, Workers Compensation Compliance Analyst, and Bao Nguyen, Manager of Culture and Inclusion Communications at Netflix. Join us as we amplify voices in the Asian American and Pacific Islander community and talk about the intersection of identities, our current climate of constant change, and what success looks like as creators at Netflix. Come early as we'll start with a DJ set by one of our very own Neena Dass, HR Business Partner also known as DJ Dass.
For previous episodes, visit @WeAreNetflix on YouTube and stay tuned on future events here!
Webinar will be hosted via Zoom. On the day of the event, please tune in here.
Michelle Krusiec’s entrance into the industry was through her critically acclaimed solo show Made in Taiwan, presented by HBO at the USA Comedy Arts Festival. Michelle was named one of Hollywood’s Top Ten Rising Stars (THR). She landed a talent deal at ABC/Touchstone and has become a trusted veteran actress of films, TV and stage. NY Post described Michelle as “the Asian American Sandra Bullock.”
Michelle can be seen recurring as the first Oscar nominated Asian actress, Anna May Wong, in Ryan Murphy’s HOLLYWOOD for Netflix. She is perhaps best known for her role opposite Joan Chen in the lesbian romantic comedy Saving Face, directed by Alice Wu. She was rewarded with the Best Actress Nomination for the Taipei Golden Horse, the Chinese Language Oscar. Michelle has been recognized by the White House, State of California, Museum of Chinese Americans for her work as an Asian American artist.
A multi-platform storyteller, Michelle created her original digital series Scenes From A Real Marriage, which she wrote and directed. It was awarded Best Web Series by the New Digital Media Film Festival. She is in production to complete the season. Michelle recently starred in the Off-Broadway play Wild Goose Dreams at the Public Theatre, helmed by Tony Award Winning director Leigh Silverman. She can next be seen starring in the supernatural thriller The Uncanny by the Vang Brothers (Nicholls Winners,) and in the comedy drama The Gift, directed by Anna Chi.
Pankti Patel is the Work Comp Compliance Analyst on the Risk Management team at Netflix. Her team collaborates with cross-functional partners company wide, leveraging technology and analytics to better service our production and corporate employees.
She was born and raised in Cerritos, a predominantly Asian-American populated suburb of Los Angeles, before going to UC Santa Barbara and obtaining her B.A. in Film and Media Studies. After college, she worked in Risk Management in the Auto Industry for 4 years before accepting a role at Netflix that combined her professional and personal passions. She also works with the Asian Employees at Netflix ERG leadership team to program engaging events that cultivate and challenge meaningful thought in the workplace.
When she’s not working, Pankti is always with her family and friends (now virtually), and can’t wait for when she can safely plan her next vacation. Until then, she’s buried in a book (currently Black Skin, White Masks by Frantz Fanon), bingeing old seasons of reality TV (currently Love Island UK), or panicking over her houseplants (currently alive, but barely).
Bao leads Culture and Inclusion communications at Netflix. His team shares what Netflix has learned building a workplace culture of openness, inclusivity and freedom. Through a mix of earned press and employer branding, they show how different communities thrive at Netflix so people can see themselves reflected in the company’s workforce. Before this role, he covered corporate, investor and public policy communications for Netflix, spanning the U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand (with a fun, all-too-short stint in Singapore). Bao graduated from the University of Southern California, and volunteered for the Gay Asian Pacific Alliance Foundation and Asian Pacific Islander Wellness Center in San Francisco. Born to Vietnamese entertainers in California, his pop culture references are part Paris by Night, part Paris is Burning.
DJ Dass is always the first on the dance floor, and now she sets the dance floor vibe. DJ Dass born and raised in Hawaiian Gardens, CA grew up from Indian immigrant parents that were looking to start a new life in the US. Her house was full of curry spices, Bollywood music, and easy listening, think Bryan Adams, Whitney Houston, songs with no foul language. DJ Dass broke away from easy listening when her middle school crush shared his love for Bone Thugs. DJ Dass purchased Crossroads her first introduction to hip hop and she has been on a musical journey since then.
While attending UC Berkeley, DJ Dass took her first salsa lesson and the hobby became a huge part of her life. Traveling through different states, she has danced on salsa teams performing and competing at various locations across the world. Today, this translates into blending hip-hop, R&B, trap, with Latin, salsa and bachata sounds. Neena prides herself on not discriminating against any type of music. DJ Dass is an energy generator.
DJ Dass graduated from Scratch DJ Academy and is passionate about constantly working on her DJ craft. She is also passionate about partnering with other female DJs and creating a professional support network. Her goals are to circulate through the LA lounge and club scene and infuse her love for international flavors on the dance floor.
