Beyond the Curtain: A Community Conversation

Natalie Keng is a pioneer in innovative and inclusive leadership development and a professional engagement facilitator. A native Southerner, she started Global Hearth, a multifaceted business to leverage the power of food and culture to promote team building, management skills, and business marketing, in support of corporate initiatives through its Cooking Up a Better World™ platform. She has led and managed teams for Fortune 500 companies and national non-profit organizations and has served in public office. Natalie is a recipient of the Greater Women's Business Council's Trailblazer Award and was appointed to serve on the Governor's Health Task Force. A graduate of Vassar College, she holds a Master of Public Policy from Harvard Kennedy School and was a Health Educator with Kaiser Permanente. She created the first award-winning line of natural, fusion cooking sauces (launched at Whole Foods Market), earning her the title The Sauce Maven.™ She authored a bestselling coffee-table book, Egg Rolls & Sweet Tea which was selected as a "2023 Best Cookbook", and she was named “Author of the Year” Finalist. Follow @TheSauceMaven or visit GlobalHearth.com – we’re “opening minds, one mouth at a time!”

Naomi Smith is an Atlanta native of Chinese and Caucasian heritage, raised solely by her Chinese mother. With over a decade of experience in the Commercial and Film/TV industry. She earned her BFA in 2013 and is also an IATSE Local 479 member. As a versatile professional, Naomi has honed her skills as both a full time Art Director and Food Stylist, working with a variety of commercial clients. Her passion for visual storytelling allows her to craft compelling narratives that connect audiences to the richness of everyday experiences.

In addition to her professional work, Naomi is deeply involved in independent film production. She recently wrote and directed "I Love You," a personal film based on a 1998 memory of her Chinese grandmother’s struggling with Alzheimer's during dinner. The project is set to be in film festivals for the next two years. Naomi is also developing a documentary series titled "Halfway Here," which delves into the changing dynamics of biracial identity in the South over the past 50 years. In her free time, she enjoys collaborating with fellow creatives and contributing to passion projects within the Atlanta Film industry.

Vivian Yu is a community organizer, DEI advocate, and lover of the arts. Having grown up in Suwanee, she recently moved back to Georgia in 2023 after living in Cleveland, Ohio, for nearly a decade, where she led AAPI advocacy, education, and community building efforts across the region and state. She currently serves as the Vice President for Member Relations for the Atlanta chapter of the National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP), where she works to advance AAPI leadership across metro Atlanta.

In her day job, Vivian works as a healthcare consultant helping academic medical centers and health systems pursue partnerships to better deliver on their mission of providing high-quality, accessible healthcare to patients and their families. She currently resides in Kirkwood with her partner, Patrick, and rescue dog, Violet. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, and exploring the wonderful events and experiences Atlanta has to offer.