Represented by Sterling Lord Literistic, Leslie V. Nguyen-Okwu is the author of the forthcoming book “American Hyphen” about balancing on the tightrope between Black America and Asian America as a first-generation Vietnamese Nigerian American.
The award-winning journalist and professional speechwriter has worked with major media outlets and the world's biggest companies, including The New York Times, BBC, National Geographic, The Economist, Harper's Bazaar, Google (via EnVeritas Group), Airbnb, and HTC. She has nearly a decade of experience writing for top publications and governments, advising policymakers and business leaders, and appearing on television and in print. She has been awarded residencies, fellowships, and grants from Stanford University and Harvard University, the American Mandarin Society, the Asian American Journalist Association, Tin House, VONA (Voices of Our Nations Arts Foundation), Kundiman, Catapult, Boston Writers of Color, GrubStreet, Boston Writers' Room, and Hugo House.
She holds a Bachelor's degree in International Relations from Stanford University and is pursuing a Master's degree in Public Policy at Harvard University. Fluent in Mandarin, Leslie is an active member of the Black China Caucus and the National Association for Black Engagement with Asia.
She focuses on borders and migration, racial equity and social justice, and decision-making in diplomacy and foreign policy. In her spare time, Leslie performs improv and stand-up comedy, runs full marathons and Spartan races, treks mountains, and coaches workouts as a fitness instructor. Previously, she worked as a technology reporter in Silicon Valley and a foreign correspondent in Asia. Special assignments included getting a knife massage in Taiwan, interviewing persecuted pop stars in Vietnam, and going under the needle for a traditional magic tattoo in Cambodia.
Since then, she has perfected the art of writing in the third person.
Social: Twitter | LinkedIn
The award-winning journalist and professional speechwriter has worked with major media outlets and the world's biggest companies, including The New York Times, BBC, National Geographic, The Economist, Harper's Bazaar, Google (via EnVeritas Group), Airbnb, and HTC. She has nearly a decade of experience writing for top publications and governments, advising policymakers and business leaders, and appearing on television and in print. She has been awarded residencies, fellowships, and grants from Stanford University and Harvard University, the American Mandarin Society, the Asian American Journalist Association, Tin House, VONA (Voices of Our Nations Arts Foundation), Kundiman, Catapult, Boston Writers of Color, GrubStreet, Boston Writers' Room, and Hugo House.
She holds a Bachelor's degree in International Relations from Stanford University and is pursuing a Master's degree in Public Policy at Harvard University. Fluent in Mandarin, Leslie is an active member of the Black China Caucus and the National Association for Black Engagement with Asia.
She focuses on borders and migration, racial equity and social justice, and decision-making in diplomacy and foreign policy. In her spare time, Leslie performs improv and stand-up comedy, runs full marathons and Spartan races, treks mountains, and coaches workouts as a fitness instructor. Previously, she worked as a technology reporter in Silicon Valley and a foreign correspondent in Asia. Special assignments included getting a knife massage in Taiwan, interviewing persecuted pop stars in Vietnam, and going under the needle for a traditional magic tattoo in Cambodia.
Since then, she has perfected the art of writing in the third person.
Social: Twitter | LinkedIn
