Honoring Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month: Jessica Chiu

Jessica Chiu, director of Organizational Change Management at Compass Digital, was born in Canada to parents from Hong Kong. Throughout her childhood, she visited Hong Kong every other year to stay connected with her heritage and family. Her parents immigrated to Canada in the late 1970s, eventually joined by her maternal grandparents and great-grandmother, creating a multi-generational household under one roof. Raised as a third-culture child, Jessica navigated the balance between her family’s traditional values, that of her parents’ country,  and the Canadian norms of her school environment.

At home, Cantonese was the primary language, spoken with family and friends, while English was reserved for school. She later discovered that English was, in fact, her third language. She also grew up speaking Shanghainese.

Chinese New Year holds a special place in Jessica’s memories. The dragon dances, festive food, attire, and traditions felt like a given during her childhood – rituals that everyone practiced. She now appreciates the deeper meanings behind each dish served on New Year’s Eve, understanding that every tradition carries symbolic significance. What was once blindly followed is now something she cherishes as an adult.

Jessica also recalls the cultural aspects of being a bridesmaid at a friend’s wedding. The traditional “door games,” staying at the mother’s house the night before, the hair brushing, and the tea ceremony were integral parts of the celebration. For Jessica, these cultural practices make weddings in North America feel even more special.

As a descendant of a dynasty, Jessica reflects on a family heirloom—a book documenting the family tree, passed down through the male lineage. Each generation carries the same last name, and part of their given name is predetermined by this lineage. Unfortunately, as a woman, Jessica will not be able to pass the book down to future generations on her side, as it’s reserved for the male descendants.

Despite this, she treasures the traditions passed down to her, including the New Year’s and Mid-Autumn Festival festivities, and the cultural practice of never calling anyone older than you by their name. Instead, respect is shown by addressing them as “brother,” “sister,” “aunt,” or “uncle.” This custom, she notes, is an easy way to demonstrate respect in her community. In fact, she has never addressed her brother by his first name; she has said his name only when someone asks her what it is.

Jessica takes immense pride in her culture and heritage, especially the discipline instilled in youth and the emphasis on respect. “What you do represents not only you, but your family,” she says. Knowing that her actions reflect her family has shaped the way she lives and carries herself, both personally and professionally.

In her role at Compass Digital, Jessica leads the Organizational Change Management team, having been with the company for seven-and-half years, with the first two-and-a-half years in Canada and the remaining five in the Charlotte office. She finds fulfillment in helping people adapt to new technologies and processes, recognizing that while change is inevitable, people often resist it.

Jessica’s cultural upbringing still influences her professional life. She acknowledges that she was raised with the belief that speaking back to elders is disrespectful. “If they tell you to do something against your own beliefs, you just do it,” she reflects. It’s a cultural challenge she continues to navigate today.