Ascend Midwest - From Cultural Habits to Career Strategy
Mona Asra
Associate Managing Director - Manager, Global Inclusion, CIBC
Mona Asra is an established leader in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), serving as Managing Director in International Inclusion representing People, Culture & Brand at CIBC US since 2022. In her current role, Mona spearheads strategic initiatives to diversify talent pipelines, foster inclusive workplace environments, and amplify CIBC’s brand visibility through innovative partnerships and employee resource group expansion. Through her leadership, CIBC has launched several cohorts with Year Up United, Discovery Partner Institute, and Genesys Works, built recruiting alliances with organizations such as the Association of Latino Professionals for America, National Black MBA Association, CareerSpring, Out in Finance, and Advancing Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders in Business to name a few. She has also been instrumental in designing professional development content and resources on topics such as unconscious bias, intersectionality, identity, and empathic leadership, as well as launching a U.S. regional mentorship program impacting more than 170 employees.
Prior to joining CIBC, Mona served as a Director in Corporate Partnerships at DePaul University, where she championed inclusive leadership programs and played a pivotal role in shaping institutional DEI strategies with corporate clients and non-profits. During her tenure at DePaul, one of things she is most proud of is launching the ALPFA -DePaul MBA partnership providing access to new leadership development opportunities for Latino professionals at ALPFA. Her efforts resulted in the launch of 3 successful cohorts with over 100+ Latino leaders successfully completing their MBA and going on to further their careers through promotions, new leadership roles, and launching new businesses. The program continues to flourish today.
David C. Souza
Managing Director, CIBC | Member, Ascend Midwest
David is a Managing Director at CIBC, based in Chicago, IL, specializing in Governance and Controls. He holds an MBA from Roosevelt University and brings over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry, with a primary focus on risk management. Throughout his career, David has held key roles at leading organizations including JP Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Allstate Insurance, and GE Capital. He has actively contributed as both a member and leader in multiple enterprise resource groups across these companies.
Beyond his professional achievements, David is deeply committed to community service. He is a former board member of Ascend Midwest and remains an engaged volunteer. Outside of work, David enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters in the suburbs of St. Charles, IL. He is also an avid musician and a former DJ.
Hollina Ung
Principal DE&I Consultant, Boston Scientific | Co-VP, Community Relations, Ascend Midwest
Hollina Ung is Global Inclusion and Culture Manager at Boston Scientific, where she leads global inclusion strategy, self-identification expansion, and growth mindset measurement. With over 13 years of experience at the intersection of inclusion, data, and program design, she drives enterprise change through scalable solutions and cross-functional partnership. At Boston Scientific, Hollina partners with leaders on talent and workforce engagement strategies aligned to business objectives and cultural transformation. She also founded the Global HR Inclusion Council and serves as a global leader for the PEARL ERG supporting Asian Pacific Islander and ally communities. An Ascend Midwest Board Member since 2019, she actively engages and advocates for the AAPI community. She also contributed to global health equity efforts through the 2024 Boston Scientific Social Change Champions Program in Lima, Peru, advising a local healthcare NGO on internal communications and culture strategy. Hollina holds a B.A. from the University of Oregon.
Kwan Segal (Moderator)
Founder, International Career Advisory, Inc. (ICAway) | Co-VP, Student Affairs, Ascend Midwest
Kwan Segal is the founder of ICAway, where she works at the intersection of culture, career development, and workplace success. With over 20 years of experience in human capital consulting at organizations including Deloitte, Accenture, and BMW, she brings both corporate and cross-cultural perspectives to her work.
Kwan specializes in helping individuals and organizations navigate cultural dynamics that influence performance, communication, and leadership. Her work focuses on translating cultural insight into practical workplace strategies—particularly in areas such as self-advocacy, executive presence, and career progression.
She partners with universities and employers to strengthen career outcomes and workforce readiness. Kwan currently serves on theAscend Midwest Board, where she helps bridge student, professional, and corporate engagement.