We’re delighted to shine our Employee Spotlight on Anushka Sharma, an advanced software developer at CNN Newsource who embodies the spirit of advocacy for WBD’s AAPI community.

As a co-chair of WAVE, the business resource group representing our employees across a breadth of Asian heritages, Anushka makes it her mission to empower and celebrate the AAPI community at WBD on a daily basis. Read on to learn about all of the ways WAVE is celebrating #AAPIHeritageMonth, plus what being co-chair means to Anushka, and why she believes honoring previous generations is key to her story as an Asian American.

Q: What is WAVE, and how long have you been a co-chair?

A: WAVE (Warner Asian Voices Elevated) is a WBD business resource group that represents our employees across a breadth of Asian heritages, along with its allies who share a passion for Asian cultures. Recognizing that there is a need for cross-cultural awareness, we aim to amplify Asian voices through civic engagement, educational opportunities, community outreach and leadership cultivation. We are committed to enhancing the development of our members, boosting the visibility of our communities, inspiring career advancement, and creating an open dialogue around cultural sensibility and equality. I joined WBD in July 2021 and joined WAVE as a co-chair in October 2022.

Q: What are your goals for WAVE?

A: I really want to increase the WAVE representation at Techwood. The Atlanta Chapter has over 200 members and each and every member deserves to have a safe space to express their culture and feel included and involved. My goal for WAVE Atlanta is essentially to increase engagement with the Asian community and their allies.

Q: What significance does this month hold for you?

A: As an Asian American, I have struggled with identity my whole life. I have either been not Indian enough or not American enough, and it’s proved to be a constant struggle. AAPI Heritage Month is really important to me because it serves as a reminder that I am Asian and American and that is my identity. It’s very important to honor the previous generations who sacrificed so much to give future generations a better life, and also to honor the sacrifices of current first-generation Asian Americans. It is never an easy task to upend your life and move to an entirely new country with a new language and new customs. The sacrifices of my parents have paved the way for mine and my brother’s successful lives here in the US.

Q: WBD has 16,000 employees, plus offices all over the world. It’s not a small thing to be a co-chair of WAVE. What does it mean to you?

A: Honestly, it’s nuts that I am a representative of this community and I struggle with the gravity of that each and every day. I only hope I can do this community justice as a co-chair of WAVE.

Q: Which one of WBD’s Guiding Principles speaks to you most and why?

A: This is the easiest of these questions to answer! "Championing Inclusion" speaks to me the most. As a BRG co-chair, my biggest responsibility is to make sure I give my community the space and security to be the truest versions of themselves. I hope to foster an environment where members of WAVE feel seen and represented.

Q: How is WAVE celebrating AAPI Heritage Month?

A: WAVE Atlanta will be hosting in-person and virtual vinyasa yoga classes this month. I wanted to honor the Indian roots behind yoga and celebrate mental health and wellbeing. We also wanted to put a spotlight on the many Asian-owned food trucks in Atlanta. We’ll be having food trucks come out to Techwood weekly for AAPI Heritage Month. We hope this will foster an ongoing relationship between WBD Atlanta and these Asian-owned restaurants that helps to support them beyond AAPI Heritage Month.

WAVE Burbank and WAVE Hudson Yards will both be hosting screenings of 38 At The Garden, the HBO Max documentary chronicling the journey of New York Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin. WAVE Burbank will be hosting Olympic Medalists Maia and Alex Shibutani to talk about their new book Amazing: Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Who Inspire Us All, and that event will be streamed for all WAVE chapters. In Atlanta, we’ll have a virtual celebration for the event and a limited number of the books will be available for in-person attendees!