AiVi Nguyen
Then: Associate at Bowditch & Dewey, LLP, Worcester
Now: Partner at Bowditch & Dewey, LLP, Worcester
A year after winning 40 Under Forty, Nguyen became the youngest partner in Bowditch’s 105-year history, at age 31. Nguyen, the daughter of Vietnamese immigrants, hasn’t been shy about talking about the challenges of growing up poor in a household that spoke no English. She chairs the board at the United Way of Central Massachusetts and serves on the Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center board. She helps lead the Worcester Diversity & Inclusion Advisory Committee, which changed a dated affirmative action plan only going a short way in matching the city’s workforce to its diverse population. In 2016, Nguyen received the YWCA of Central Massachusetts’ Katharine F. Erskine Award, which recognizes important contributions from women in the community. – Profile written by Grant Welker
What is your proudest accomplishment? Generally, being regarded as a leader and influencer in spaces occupied by middle-aged wealthy white men.
What did 40 Under Forty mean to you? That the business community was taking notice of my potential and getting a seat at the table ready for me.
What advice do you have for this year’s winners? It’s all about who you know in this city. Build relationships with people worth knowing, and make yourself someone worth knowing.
The 40 Under Forty alumni Class of 2015
