2026 CKA NextGen Summit

Lead the Future. Connect with Purpose. 🚀 CKA 2026 NextGen Summit | October 23, 2026 Building a career is rarely a straight line—and standard professional networks rarely address the unique realities of the Korean American experience. How we work, lead, and build our careers is shifting rapidly. While global appreciation for Korean culture and heritage is at an all-time high, dedicated spaces to explore how identity, voice, and culture shape modern leadership remain exceptionally rare. Navigating career transitions, overcoming burnout, breaking into competitive industries, and finding authentic community are challenges no one should have to figure out alone. As the only national organization dedicated to Korean American leadership development from C-suite executives to emerging trailblazers, the Council of Korean Americans (CKA) is proud to launch the Inaugural 2026 CKA NextGen Summit. Designed exclusively for emerging Korean diaspora young leaders, creators, entrepreneurs, and changemakers, this high-impact gathering is a space to rethink what is possible for your career and leadership journey. Whether breaking into tech, law, civic engagement, healthcare, creative fields, or entrepreneurship—or simply seeking a community that truly gets it—this space was built for you. Designed For You, By Listening To You This summit was not created behind closed doors. To design a experience that deeply reflects the real-world needs of our rising generation, CKA spent four months on a national listening tour, gathering direct insights from 150+ young professionals, students, recent graduates, and community leaders across the country. The mandate was clear: emerging leaders want candid mentorship, real conversations about navigating failure, tools for mental health and resilience, and guidance on how to step boldly into their Korean American voice. Welcome to a day built around those pillars—a space to ask hard questions, embrace new challenges, and forge lifelong friendships. More than just a gathering of young professionals, this summit offers direct access to CKA’s broader executive network, with CKA members and C-suite leaders meeting right next door and joining throughout the day. Coinciding with CKA’s 15th Anniversary and 20 years of NetKAL, the NextGen Summit turns years of vision into reality—bringing 15+ years of organizational learning into an empowering, home-like space where the next generation can grow, lead, and thrive. 🔥 What to Expect Direct access to Korean American leaders in various industries Participate in deeper discussions through roundtable discussions Get mentorship by signing up for 1:1 Office Hour sessions Forge new friends and professional alliances Learn tangible professional skills for career development Join exclusive morning program with CKA Envision Summit 🍽 Plus breakfast, lunch, dinner bites, and some snacks are on us! 🗓️ Summit Schedule Morning | Joint Sessions with CKA Main Summit 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM | Registration & Networking Breakfast 9:00 AM – 9:15 AM | Opening Remarks 9:15 AM – 9:55 AM | LA Since 4.29: Memory & Evolution Lisa Yang (Moderator) Edward Chang, Angela Oh, Steve Kang 10:00 AM – 10:30 AM | Fireside Chat: Leadership in Higher Education Jaime Lee (Moderator) Beong-Soo Kim Morning | NextGen Keynotes & Deep Dives 10:30 AM – 10:45 AM | Transition & Coffee Refresh 10:45 AM – 10:55 AM | NextGen Welcome | Monica H. Kang 10:55 AM – 11:05 AM | Fireside Chat: L. Song Richardson 11:05 AM – 11:45 AM | Roundtable Session 1 (Choose your track below) 11:45 AM – 12:10 PM | Fireside Chat: Ned Koh | Moderator: Sandra Schubert 12:10 PM – 1:30 PM | NextGen Summit Lunch Afternoon | Action, Strategy & Workshops 1:35 PM – 2:15 PM | Entrepreneurship Panel: Rethinking Failure Moderator: Michelle Kim Panelists: David Choi, Senator Rocket, Jinhee Ahn Kim, Bryan Do 2:15 PM – 2:30 PM | Break 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM | Roundtable Session 2 (Choose your track below) 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM | Interactive Skill-Building Workshop 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM | Closing Fireside Chat: Julie Kim | Moderator: Monica H. Kang Evening | Deepen Friendships 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM | CKA Reception - Reconnect with Summit 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM | CKA x ELOREA Reception ELOREA Los Angeles 3511 W 6th St, Tower (3rd Floor), Los Angeles, CA 90020 💡 Roundtable Tracks & Mentors Drop into small-group table discussions led by subject-matter experts across key industries: ⚖️ Careers in Law: Jennifer Chung, Jen Kim 🚀 Careers in Entrepreneurship: David Choi, Senator Rocket 💻 Careers in Technology: Howard Ro 🌏 Global Careers & Working in Korea: Joo Seuk Maing 🧠 Mental Health & Wellness: KYCC (Koreatown Youth & Community Center) 🤝 Relationship Building & Networking: Michelle Kim 🏛️ Civic Mindset and Public Leadership without working in Government: Kenneth Kim 🏛️ Pathways in National Security and Public Service: Rachel Kim 🏥 Careers in Healthcare: Isabella Park 🎨 Identity & Adoptee Experiences: Dan Matthews 📚 Careers in Education: Jeff Kim 👥 How to Build Movements: Taeju Ko 💡 Leadership & Career Strategy: Monica Kang And more! ⚡ Bonus: 1:1 Mentoring Office Hours Looking for individual feedback on your career path or leadership journey? Connect with experienced Korean American mentors who are excited to support emerging leaders. Slots are limited and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis—indicate your interest during registration to reserve your spot. Each session will be: 30 minute per session 1:1 with another CKA Member or KA leader an opportunity to ask any questions and advice CKA x ELOREA Reception Keep the conversation and connections going at the CKA x ELOREA Reception at ELOREA Los Angeles in Koreatown! We will head over together directly following the program. Look forward to music, delicious bites provided by CKA, and bespoke beverages crafted after ELOREA’s signature scents. Plus, hear inspiring, brief remarks from Wonny Lee, Founder and CEO of ELOREA, and Mike Kim, CEO of ARIH. Come raise a glass with us as we celebrate our