When Christine H. learned HelloFresh was launching an employee resource group (ERG) for the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community, she jumped at the chance to get involved. As a founding member and former co-chair of the AMP (Asians Mobilizing for Progress) Employee Resource Group, she helped raise visibility, connection, and support for the AAPI community at an especially important time in history.
Christine H., AMP development pillar co-lead.
Today, as an AMP development pillar co-lead, Christine continues to foster community through cultural celebrations, professional networking, and a deep commitment to honoring heritage for all employees.
“My goal is to curate events that support the growth and development of our AMP community,” she says. “That means creating opportunities to meet other AAPI professionals, offering development and coaching tailored to our experiences, and more.”
As AAPI Heritage Month comes to a close, we sat down with Christine to learn more about her journey—and what it means to lead with both purpose and pride.
HF: What inspired you to help found the AMP ERG at HelloFresh and what was that experience like?
Christine H.: Being both a pillar lead and member of another ERG WIN (Women Inclusion Network) was exciting and incredibly valuable to me. When the opportunity to build an ERG from the ground up that could make a real impact for the AAPI community, I was immediately onboard. My priority was building a community that makes sure our AAPI colleagues felt supported and heard, especially during the pandemic when anti-Asian hate crime was on the rise. I wanted to be on the ground floor of building another ERG with close cultural roots to my heritage to foster allyship.
Can you share a bit about what the AMP ERG is and what you do?
Our mission statement is “AMP aims to amplify and empower the voices and identities of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) employees at HelloFresh by fostering connections, developing leaders, generating awareness around AAPI issues, and celebrating Asian culture.” In short, we aim to create events that help build connections within the AMP community at HelloFresh and with our allies across the organization, as membership is open to all and we actively encourage all employees to join. More specifically, this includes creating events that celebrate AAPI culture and traditions like our Lunar New Year Banquet or our annual snack takeovers, hosting book clubs and movie watches that highlight AAPI representation, and career spotlights featuring both internal and external speakers.
HelloFresh x AMP joined the Etsy cross-company ERG Happy Hour.
What are some of the proudest moments or milestones you’ve experienced through AMP?
One of my favorite contributions to HelloFresh / AMP has been starting the AMP snack takeovers, which has since become a fan favorite across all of our ERGs. When I was planning our first AAPI Heritage Month as social lead, I was looking for ways to showcase our food culture in the office and thought of the idea of replacing some of our usual snacks in the kitchen with Asian snacks. The AMP team curated a collection of our favorite Asian snacks (Pocky, flavored Lays chips, Hi-Chews, ChocoPies, White Rabbits, etc.), and it quickly became our most popular event. It was a fun way to bring a touch of nostalgia while also introducing our peers to childhood favorites and new tastes. Its success led to other ERGs adopting this tradition, and the snack takeover is now a staple event during most ERG Heritage or Spotlight months. I frequently hear feedback from employees on how it’s one of their favorite events of the year, and it allows us to have another way to celebrate community through food.
AMP snack takeover in CO Boulder HQ for AAPNIH Month 2025.
How has your cultural heritage shaped who you are, personally or professionally?
My cultural heritage (Chinese) is a big part of my personal identity. I am extremely proud to be Chinese, and despite being born in the US and living the majority of my life here, it’s been important to me to stay connected to my cultural roots. Celebrating my culture is how I not only stay connected with my parents, who grew up in a completely different environment, but also with my brother and friends who grew up with similar backgrounds, celebrated similar traditions, and went through similar experiences as second-generation immigrants. Staying connected to my culture was also how I stayed connected to my extended family back in China. Growing up in the US as a second-generation immigrant, I didn’t get to see my extended family as much as others may have—Thanksgiving was always Friendsgiving growing up: a big Chinese potluck. Speaking the language, celebrating the traditions, and cooking the food, helps me keep a strong relationship with my grandparents, who are still on the other side of the world.
When I had the opportunity to take a sabbatical last year, I immediately knew I wanted to spend it in Asia. I spent the majority of my time traveling with my parents, not only in other countries throughout Asia but also throughout different cities in China. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to spend so much time with my immediate and extended family, learning even more about my culture and being surrounded by so many people who looked and spoke like me. (I barely spoke English for those 12 weeks and in my first week back at work, it was definitely hard to readjust to not just English but corporate English!)
What does AAPI Heritage Month mean to you, and how do you typically honor or reflect during this time?
I always love sharing my favorite traditions and foods, but as an ERG leader during AAPI Heritage Month, I get to unabashedly share it via AMP (e.g. I usually try to sneak in one of my favorite snacks into the Snack Takeovers!). Outside of HelloFresh, while I do so throughout the year, I am even more intentional about supporting AAPI-owned small businesses during AAPI Heritage Month.
Are there any cultural traditions, foods, or stories you love sharing with others?
I love cooking, so one of my favorite ways to celebrate my culture is by hosting a Lunar New Year dinner for my friends. Both my parents are from Shanghai, so my menu is basically all the traditional Shanghainese dishes I grew up eating—spring rolls, stir-fried rice cakes, braised kaofu, and eight treasure rice. What I love about hosting with this menu, is that even friends that grew up eating Chinese food or are even Chinese themselves, may not have had these dishes. You don’t see a lot of Shanghainese restaurants in the US so I love being able to share some of my favorite dishes that I ate growing up.
What has AMP meant to you personally, and how has it influenced your sense of belonging at HelloFresh?
ERGs in general have played a massive part in my sense of belonging at HelloFresh. I joined HF in March 2020 as a team of one, which meant not only were my first few months virtual but I also didn’t have a big team to connect with. ERGs were my way to meet new people and connect with others at HelloFresh who had similar backgrounds and experiences as me. I continue to use ERGs to meet people outside of my department and I hope others find the same value from not only AMP but other ERGs.
Christine and her dad biking on the Xi’An City Walls during sabbatical.
Who inspires you—within your community or beyond—and why?
My cheesy answer is that I am constantly inspired by my parents. I have always told others I was and am very fortunate for my relationship with my parents and how they helped shape who I am today. I grew up celebrating and appreciating my Chinese identity, which has helped me keep a close relationship with my parents, but was also fortunate that my parents encouraged me to embrace the American side of my identity. I had to get good grades, do well at school, play the piano, and speak Chinese, but I was also encouraged to go out, play sports, have fun, and be independent. I am inspired and thankful for not only the life my parents have built in the US, but also how they’ve encouraged me to embrace my mixed-cultural identity. These days, my parents are retired and traveling the world, and I am so proud of them for it. They worked hard to support my brother and me growing up and to give us the best life possible. Now, they get to go live the journey of their dreams.
For Christine, AMP is more than just an ERG—it’s a source of belonging, pride, and cultural connection. From curating snack takeovers that have become employee favorites to hosting Lunar New Year dinners, she’s helped create spaces where identity is seen and shared. Thank you to Christine for her leadership and for inspiring us with her story.
Want to read more stories like this? Explore the voices shaping our HelloFresh culture at the links below.
