Nicholas Lam
Film & TV Commercial Director
Nicholas Lam is one of the most acclaimed Asian American advertising directors in the world. Renowned for a unique ability to find beauty in the everyday, he has crafted international campaigns for brands like Google, Samsung, vivo, HSBC, Toyota, Kia, Dewar’s, Nestlé and Timberland, and has been awarded by the Cannes Lions, Clios, London International Awards, Promax, Tellys, 1.4, Kinsale Sharks, Shots APAC and more.
In the music world, Nicholas has directed videos for artists including Nick Jonas, Blink-182, Sara Bareilles, Bastille, Elton John, Jess Glynne and Monsta X. He has been nominated for a UK Music Video Award and, notably, is the first American ever to receive an MTV Video Music Award nomination for Best K-Pop.
A noted thought leader in minority representation, Nicholas has published articles on diversity, culture and artificial intelligence. His work and viewpoints have been featured in leading publications as Vogue, the Los Angeles Times, Rolling Stone, Variety, Billboard, Complex, Forbes and The Telegraph.
Connect with Nicholas on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholaslamdirector/
Connect with Nicholas on Instagram here: @nicholaslam__
Committee of 100: What inspired you to work in your professional field?
Nicholas: In my mind, there was never any other choice. I was always an artistic kid – I started off drawing, which then evolved into creative writing. Directing was simply a natural progression of that.
Committee of 100: What are some of the challenges you have encountered to become a leader in your respective field? Are Chinese Americans well-represented in your field, and what do you think are the reasons they are/aren’t well-represented?
Nicholas: AAPIs, and Asians in general, are undeniably experiencing “a moment” in the entertainment and advertising industries. This shift is largely driven by increased visibility at the top levels of power and influence — from studio heads and directors to musical artists and actors. It took allies and, more than likely, members within our own AAPI community, to help elevate others into these decision-making roles. After all, you can only be what you can see. Just a decade or two ago, the media landscape was barren, with portrayals of Asian stories that weren’t caricatures at best, deeply offensive at worst, because none of us were “in the room.”
This momentum has been amplified by Asian pop culture going mainstream, fueled by social media and youth-oriented content, making us more visible than ever before. But this progress took effort, both from the top down and bottom up – and we still have a long way to go. I know firsthand that, not so long ago, I missed out on opportunities simply because my last name didn’t roll off the tongue.
Historically seen as the last untapped demographic, our community has often held a critical view of representation, sometimes with the belief that if something isn’t perfectly accurate, it’s better left unseen. But perfect is the enemy of good. I’d argue that we’ve only moved forward by embracing the idea that refinement is always possible, as long as we start somewhere. In the entertainment world, money talks. The more the industry views us as an economic force to be reckoned with, the more representation we’ll achieve on screen and behind the scenes.
Committee of 100: What do you believe needs to be done so that more Chinese Americans feel empowered to follow and achieve their dreams?
Nicholas: Make space for yourself at the table. Speak when you have something meaningful to contribute, not just for the sake of being heard. Don’t measure yourself against your contemporaries; instead, recognize that you are on your own unique journey, with successes and failures that belong solely to you, unfolding on a timeline that abides by no rules. Above all, learn to trust your instincts — to know when to stand your ground and when to walk away. Remember, you are judged as much by what you say “yes” to as by what you say “no” to.
Committee of 100: For those who just recently graduated college or are early in their careers, what advice would you give to them?
Nicholas: There are no shortcuts. Every “overnight success” is at least ten years in the making. Or, in the words of Dwayne Johnson: “Be the hardest worker in the room.” I believe the cultural values instilled in us as an AAPI community uniquely equip us to succeed in this regard. Our ancestors came from hardship, and we are no strangers to hard work. Our rise as a community has been earned. So get out there and earn it.
