Austin’s Asian Chamber Announces Third Cohort of the GAACC Leadership Accelerator

AUSTIN, Texas – OCTOBER 1, 2026 – The Greater Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce (GAACC) is proud to announce the third cohort of its signature GAACC Leadership Accelerator, an annual nine-month immersive program dedicated to empowering high-potential business, civic, and corporate professional leaders within the Central Texas Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community.

The GAACC Leadership Accelerator, presented in partnership with Bank of America and Ferguson Family McDonald’s, is a nine-month immersive program designed to equip emerging leaders with the skills, knowledge, and connections to shape the future of the region. The program’s curriculum focuses on strengthening individual leadership skills, engaging with the Greater Austin business ecosystem, and fostering a deeper understanding of the region’s civic landscape. Participants will have the opportunity to connect with leaders from Fortune 500 companies and civic institutions, engage in workshops and speaker sessions, and complete a capstone project designed to make a lasting impact on the community.

Building on the strong foundation of previous cohorts, Cohort 3 expands the program’s scope by adding individual professional coaching to provide each participant with personalized support to take their leadership to the next level.

“GAACC’s Leadership Accelerator Program comes at exactly the right moment for Austin. Leaders across our community, and Asian American leaders in particular, are ready to grow their influence and deepen their impact,” said Mick Hawton, GAACC Board Member and Leadership Accelerator Committee Member. “Building on the strong foundation of our previous program, we’re excited to add individual coaching this year, giving each participant personalized support to take their leadership to the next level.”

Committee Member and Team Coach Sharanya Rao, added “I am really excited to see how Cohort 3 will raise the bar on their personal and professional growth, along with committing to and executing a meaningful project in the community. These are professionals with experience and they have a lot to offer, particularly as they have leaned in and demonstrated a strong desire to expand and grow their leadership skill set by participating in this cohort. We look forward to taking this journey with them.”