BB&K’s HongDao Nguyen Named an Asian Leader Worth Watching

Best Best & Krieger LLP Partner HongDao Nguyen was named to Profiles in Diversity Journal’s first annual Asian Leaders Worth Watching list, which recognizes Asian leaders who have blazed new trails, welcomed challenges, mentored others, advanced diversity and inclusion in the workplace and the community, and excelled in their chosen fields. The list and Nguyen’s profile and essay were published in Diversity Journal’s 2021 Q2 issue.

Nguyen is a partner in the firm’s Municipal Law practice group. She serves as city attorney to the cities of Artesia and Stanton, and assistant city attorney to the cities of Aliso Viejo, Lake Forest and Signal Hill.

In her essay, “Happiness Is (in part) Having a Great Team to Tell You When You’re Wrong and Guide You Through the Narrow Straits,” Nguyen discusses several concepts from a series in The Atlantic about how to achieve happiness. Specific points that have resonated with Nguyen include: you’re happier when you admit you’re wrong and that a happy career not only includes achieving, but also serving others.

“I practice with a group of brilliant, fun and kind attorneys,” she wrote. “Each week, we talk about tough client issues, and in the course of an hour, we brainstorm scenarios, offer ideas, and sometimes, correct on another’s conclusions. Lawyers ‘practice’ the law, which means sometimes we’re wrong. I try my best to embrace the corrections, which is ultimately better for my clients and my own mental health. I’m lucky to have a group of colleagues to kindly challenge me and correct my course, when needed.”

See Nguyen’s complete profile here.