Candid Panels: Navigating Career Pivots and Staying True to Yourself at Work

Career Pivots? Values at Work? Is That Even Possible? We have heard the same concerns again and again from our friends, colleagues, and peers: Can I really pivot? I’m bored with my field, but the thought of changing careers feels exhausting. I’m worried about where my career is headed... and with AI rapidly reshaping work, will my job even exist in the future? And then there is another set of questions: Why does it feel so hard to make a difference at work? How do I find fulfillment in what I do? What does it actually mean to stay true to my values when I face opposition, difficult tradeoffs, or a system that feels fundamentally broken? These are not abstract questions. Whether you are restless in your current field, considering a major change, worried about the future of work, or trying to build a career that still feels like you, this conversation is for you. On October 28, Cameron House NextGen is bringing together professionals and community leaders for two candid panel conversations about navigating change, uncertainty, ambition, and purpose. This event is designed for young and mid-career professionals—including those who are currently employed, seeking work, between roles, or considering a career transition. Panel One: Can I Really Pivot? How do you know when it is time to leave—and what does it actually take to start again? Our panelists will share how they moved between industries, translated existing skills into new careers, navigated fear and uncertainty, and built lives that better reflected what they wanted. We will also explore what career reinvention looks like at a time when AI is rapidly changing how, and whether, many jobs will exist. Rebecca Okamoto Rebecca Okamoto is a clarity consultant, TED speaker, and the founder of Evoke Strategy Group. She is on a mission to change the way unheard, overlooked and misunderstood voices are seen, heard, recognized and rewarded.  Rebecca calls herself the champion of Lost Einsteins – super smart people with something important to say, but struggle to say it. She’s obsessed with creating messages that keep people on the edge of their seats, crafting the perfect 20-word sound bite and hearing audiences say, “tell me more.” Forrest Liu Forrest Liu is a San Francisco community organizer and political consultant. Before entering politics, he worked in finance, making his career a compelling example of professional reinvention and values-driven change. He later co-founded Dear Community, which grew from pandemic-era efforts to protect Asian elders, support Chinatown businesses, and respond to anti-Asian violence. Forrest has worked on local political campaigns and is part of the founding team behind Garry’s List by Garry Tan, CEO of Y Combinator. Hwang Hah Jeong Hwanghah Jeong is the owner of Jilli SF, a modern Korean makgeolli and tapas bar in San Francisco that Bar Magazine recently named one of the city's 10 best bars. Before entering hospitality, she worked as a user-experience designer at Airbnb and several AI companies. Her move from screens to spaces grew out of a belief that experience design doesn't stop at the interface. At Jilli, she applies a holistic UX approach to physical space, designing every touchpoint of the guest journey, from lighting and flow to menu, sound, and service, as one connected experience rooted in Korean culture, food, and human connection. Panel Two: Can I Stay True to My Values at Work? What does it actually mean to have values at work, and what happens when living by them comes with a cost? Our panelists will explore how they navigate pressure, power, institutional resistance, and imperfect systems. We will talk honestly about finding fulfillment, creating change from within, deciding when to speak up, and holding on to who you are when the easiest choice may be to stay quiet. Danielle Lam Danielle Lam is Uber’s Head of Local California Policy and Communications, leading the company’s local government and regulatory engagement across the state. She works with policymakers, partners, and communities on transportation issues affecting mobility, affordability, and access. A San Francisco native, Danielle recently returned home after nearly a decade in New York City. There, she worked at Crown Castle, Mastercard, and the Council on Foreign Relations, advancing public-private partnerships and foreign policy initiatives and supporting engagements at the UN General Assembly, World Economic Forum, and Munich Security Conference. Norman Yee Norman Yee is a longtime educator, community advocate, and former San Francisco elected official. He served on the San Francisco Board of Education and later represented District 7 on the Board of Supervisors, including serving as board president. His public service has included advancing universal childcare, free City College access, pedestrian safety, and support for underserved children and families. Jimmy Hua Jimmy Hua is a Principal Software Engineer at Salesforce and the Co-Executive Director and co-founder of the Asian Leaders Alliance (ALA). Throughout his career in enterprise software and entrepreneurship, Jimmy has focused on organizing from within corporate systems and building coalitions across sectors. At Salesforce, he founded Asiapacforce to build sustained community and advocacy internally. Through ALA, he works nationally to align employee resource groups, nonprofits, and civic partners to address institutional challenges and community needs. Helen Ma Helen Ma is the National Partnerships Director for Project by Project, a national nonprofit that mobilizes Asian American professionals through community service, leadership, fundraising, and advocacy in LA, NYC, and the Bay Area. Helen built her career in human resources and event planning but community service has always been an integral part of her life. She now draws on that experience to build relationships, bring people together, and connect volunteers and partners with opportunities to support Asian Ameri