Figure Skater's Inspiring Influence on the Ice and Beyond
AAPI Heritage Month kicks off in May, celebrating the rich culture, history, and achievements of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States. No stronger fixture in American sports highlights this excellence like Michelle Kwan, one of the most decorated figure skaters in U.S. history, known for her artistry, consistency, and competitive achievements.
Liberty Mutual invited Kwan back to its Boston headquarters, where she captivated an audience of 850 attendees in person and virtually for its Influential Leader Series. WE’s National Culture Committee Co-Chair Morgan Caraviello, an employee resource group within Liberty Mutual that focuses on empowering women working at the global insurer, started the presentation.
It had been eleven years since the two entities linked up, with Ann Stanberry, Liberty Mutual’s Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer, having a candid chat with Kwan. Stanberry is also a co-sponsor of the Leading and Empowering Asian and Ally Professionals (LEAAP), which aims to drive greater awareness, understanding, and support.
The conversation highlighted the challenges first-generation Asian American women face, the balance of familial cultural expectations and sacrifices made to come to America, and the importance of finding your unique voice and trailblazing paths in fields that may be unfamiliar, whether it be on the ice or in the boardroom.
“In skating, you learn to fall before you learn to skate,” remarked the dynamic Olympic figure skater. This championship mindset is vital to building resilience and achieving excellence in sport and life. Kwan, the youngest skater inducted into the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame, has won two Olympic medals, five world championships, and nine U.S. championships.
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Her discipline and tenacity set a great example for her daughter Kalista, a point of cultural pride for Asian Americans, and a role model for all people in the importance of hard work and viewing setbacks as stepping stones for success. These habits allowed her to continue graduate studies at Tufts University after her athletic career ended and seamlessly transitioned to a life in public service.
Michelle Kwan is reinvigorating the speaking circuit after her time as U.S. Ambassador to Belize under the Biden administration ended in April 2025. She has served in the U.S. Department’s public diplomacy ambassador program since 2006.
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