Modern slavery is one of the most pervasive injustices of our time, and its impact falls disproportionately on women and girls. Sylvia Yu Friedman has dedicated the last two decades to addressing this crisis, working across philanthropy, private equity and storytelling to drive systems-level change.
An award-winning Penguin Random House author, television host, inspirational speaker, advisor to ultra high net worth families, Sylvia now joins us as one of AVPN’s Global Equality Ambassadors. Ranked as the number one Top Voice in Hong Kong by Favikon, she combines a rare blend of boardroom expertise and front-line activism to drive systemic change for marginalised women and children.
From Private Equity to Philanthropic Front Lines
Sylvia serves as a Director at a private equity firm, where she specialises in professional sports team deals and connects Asian family offices with investment opportunities around the world. Since 2005, however, her greatest passion has been philanthropy. She has led initiatives for some of the world’s wealthiest families, using her network and influence to expose different forms of human trafficking and deliver life-changing support to survivors of trafficking and modern-day slavery.
A committed volunteer fundraiser for the Mekong Club since 2013, Sylvia has raised millions for their cutting-edge work with top corporations and banks in eliminating modern slavery. She believes that by harnessing privilege, education, connections and resources, the private sector can bring about sustainable practices to end modern slavery. Her lifelong goal is to establish a dedicated fund to combat sexual exploitation and empower women and girls through sustainable employment and provide trauma healing care.
Storytelling as a Catalyst for Impact
As an award-winning author and book writing coach, Sylvia has refined her advocacy through the power of storytelling. Her bestselling memoir, A Long Road to Justice: Stories from the Frontlines in Asia, blends intimate personal reflections with hard-won insights into nearly two decades of investigating the trafficking underworld. Her latest memoir, Fearless, offers a raw and nostalgic guide for women seeking empowerment, drawing on her lessons learned from toxic offices, heartbreak, transitions, identity crises and more.
Sylvia’s storytelling extends to her digital TV interview series, Inspiring YOU with Sylvia Yu, where she puts a spotlight on remarkable leaders who are redefining leadership, work and relationships globally. Through these illuminating interviews, she reveals how courage, compassion and dedication can transform individual lives and entire societies.
Championing Gender Equity with AVPN
In her role as Gender Equality Ambassador, Sylvia will leverage her global network to advance gender-lens philanthropy and impact investment across the Asia-Pacific region. She will work with AVPN members to:
- Integrate human rights due diligence into investment and grant-making practices
- Design grant strategies that support women’s leadership and economic empowerment
- Elevate women’s voices in philanthropy, ensuring survivors and frontline advocates are heard
Sylvia’s combined experience as a strategic adviser, former journalist and campaigner against sex trafficking positions her uniquely to guide AVPN members in deploying capital and influence for maximum social return. She emphasises that real change requires both the power of narrative and the discipline of data-driven investment.
A Call to Action
Sylvia’s life message is simple yet profound: we each possess the power to help those who are marginalised and forgotten and to help create a better world for them. By choosing to work with the influential and by directing our resources towards systemic solutions, we can build a world where gender equity is non-negotiable.
Sylvia will be attending the AVPN Global Conference 2025 as an AVPN Gender Equality Ambassador, taking a front-row seat in the discourse around the key challenges to advancing gender equality.
