In Conversation with Eric Nam
Korean American singer-songwriter, TV host, and entrepreneur ERIC NAM is one of the most popular and recognizable celebrities in Asia, whose music and advocacy is having a global impact. In thought-provoking and entertaining moderated conversations, Nam shares his compelling journey to international fame, the passion for social impact that drives his entrepreneurship, and insightful commentary on important contemporary issues.
AAPI Advancement
Korean American singer-songwriter, TV host, and entrepreneur ERIC NAM is an outspoken champion for racial equality in the U.S. Frequently invited to speak in major news outlets such as TIME and Bloomberg, Nam touches on his personal experiences, historic patterns of discrimination, and media representation concerning AAPI communities. Beloved by student groups and boardrooms alike, Nam provides a unique perspective on the state of AAPI advancement today as well as a path towards a better future.
Mental Wellness and Celebrity
Popstar, entrepreneur, and ERIC NAM discusses how he found the courage and tenacity to choose his unconventional path, as well as the mental health challenges he encountered during his meteoric rise in the Korean entertainment industry. Honored for his mental health advocacy with accolades such as the Time100 Impact Award and named one of GQ Korea’s “Men of the Year” and Forbes’ “30 Under 30: Asia,” Nam reflects on his self-made success and the importance of mental healthcare on the way.
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Eric Nam’s mental health advocacy has global impact
Korean American singer-songwriter, TV host, and entrepreneur ERIC NAM is a celebrated advocate for mental health awareness. As co-founder of DIVE Studios, Nam incubates audio positively impacting culture and society. After realizing the massive impact that vulnerable storytelling has with a Gen-Z audience, he launched his latest project, Mindset, a platform featuring personal story collections about mental health struggles and recovery by recording artists. On top of his creative and professional projects, Nam speaks about the importance of his own transparency in supporting those with mental health issues. While accepting the TIME100 Impact Award in Singapore, Nam shared vulnerable, striking anecdotes of his own struggles of mental health to continue inspiring audiences at every opportunity. Colby College remarked on Nam’s warm presence, stating, “He helped create a safe space for our students.”
Watch Eric Nam in discussion with the Korea Society’s Young Professional Network >>
Eric Nam is establishing himself as an important voice for the AAPI community with events at the White House & The Milken Institute
K-Pop superstar and co-Founder of DIVE Studios ERIC NAM participated in two illuminating and inspiring panels at The White House and The Milken Institute. Along with fellow trailblazers Lisa Ling, Padma Lakshmi, and more, Nam discussed important topics such as the creative excellence in the AAPI community, nuanced representation in media, and the importance of mental health conversations within the community. At The White House Forum on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders, Nam shared: “For AAPI communities, often times, we’re the least [likely] to seek mental health care and when we do it is when we’re at a crisis or an emergency. We want to get people to a place where it is preventative; mental health is something we should take care of every single day.”
Beyond his pop stardom, Nam is solidifying himself as an essential voice for the AAPI community, and a leader for his generation, focusing on the issues facing young people and his community in today’s current climate. In compelling talks and conversations, Eric Nam shares thought-provoking insights on social impact, diverse representation, and mental health advocacy.
Speaker Spotlight: International pop star and innovative entrepreneur Eric Nam built his own path to success
Called “effortlessly likeable and socially-gifted” by The Daily Free Press, ERIC NAM is a mega superstar, and he has been forging his own path to success for the last decade. After growing up in Atlanta, Georgia, and deferring a job offer from Deloitte Consulting, Nam was invited to audition for Korea’s version of American Idol, which launched his meteoric rise as a TV host and pop icon. In a recent profile for GQ, the award-winning advocate was described as having “amassed one of the most varied and entrepreneurial legacies to come out of the K-Pop scene.” Named to Forbes’ “30 Under 30 Asia” and a GQ Korea “Man of the Year,” Nam co-founded DIVE Studios – audio that positively impacts culture and society. After realizing the massive impact that vulnerable storytelling has with a Gen-Z audience, he launched his latest project, Mindset, a platform featuring personal story collections about mental health struggles and recovery by recording artists.
Whether he is moderating a conversation with high-profile celebrities about creativity, success, or culture on one of his many podcasts, selling out international tours for his latest album There And Back Again, or writing impactful op-eds like his piece for TIME – which raised awareness about anti-Asian violence and called for change - Nam continues to solidify his status as a changemaker who is tapped into important trends and leading-edge opportunities.
Eric Nam makes a major impact with college audiences, empowering and inspiring the next generation of change-makers
International pop star and innovator ERIC NAM is one of the most popular and recognizable celebrities in Asia, and has – according to a recent profile in GQ - “amassed one of the most varied and entrepreneurial legacies to come out of the K-Pop scene.” Given the size of Nam’s fanbase, the success of music sales, and significant social media following, it is no surprise that he is a huge draw for college audiences. In demand for events with Johns Hopkins University, Colby College, NYU, Montclair State University, Cornell, and more, he discusses setting dynamic goals and taking risks, choosing a path with purpose, and his experience as a Korean American creative and entrepreneur creating international success in talks that empower and inspire the next generation of change makers.
As a student at Boston College, Atlanta-born Nam focused on international studies and social justice issues, earning a Momentum Award from The Heights for his advocacy work. While he was offered a coveted job at Deloitte Consulting, he took a risk and pursued his dream of becoming an entertainer, launching his meteoric rise as a TV host and pop icon. The DIVE Studios co-founder is uniquely poised to connect with campus communities about the nation’s most pressing current events including the adversity facing the AAPI community, learning how to speak up about issues that are important to you, and what it takes to cultivate the courage and tenacity to choose your own path and make a difference.
Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, Eric is a multi-faceted Korean American singer, songwriter, entertainer, and host. He is one of the most popular and recognizable celebrities in Asia and has been named GQ Korea’s "Man of the Year," Forbes' "30 Under 30 Asia," and YouTube’s "Trending Artist On The Rise." For his mental health advocacy, Nam received the Time100 Impact Award.
Fluent in English, Korean, Spanish, proficient in Mandarin, and with millions of fans around the world, Eric is one of the most extensively touring solo Asian acts across the major continents. Eric's first independent album There And Back Again, which debuted at #3 and #7 on the US and UK Spotify Charts and peaked at #22 Album Sold on Billboard Charts, is inspiring the next generation of change-makers. In 2022, Eric played 60 shows in 54 cities in Europe, North America, Asia, and Oceania with over 85,000 hard ticket sales. In 2023, his second independent album House on a Hill was released to critical acclaim, celbrated with an 80+ city World Tour.
Prior to starting his music career, Eric graduated from Boston College with a degree in international studies and a minor in Asian studies. He deferred a job offer from Deloitte Consulting to take part in social enterprise initiatives in India. An opportunity arose for Eric to take part in Star Audition: Birth of a Great Star, Korea’s version of American Idol, which launched him into Korean pop success.
Eric is a co-founder and creative director of DIVE Studios, the first podcast studio out of South Korea, and host of three award-winning podcasts; I Think You’re Dope, K-Pop Daebak Show and Commit or Quit. He has launched several successful businesses, leveraging his split experience between eastern and western cultures, and has a vision to establish himself as an Asian-American on-camera talent with a voice he hopes will captivate his millennial-focused audience. Eric is passionate about and an advocate for social impact, environmentalism, education, and diverse representation across the media landscape.
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