Relentless activist, best-selling author, award-winning journalist and documentary filmmaker, inspirational speaker, philanthropist, investment advisor – Sylvia Yu Friedman is running out of hyphens to add to her name, with each title building on the last. Yet none fully capture the woman who has dedicated her life to amplifying the voiceless while embracing her own multifaceted identity. Is it all too much of a mouthful? Maybe, but each one represents a layer of a life dedicated to impact.

As the aromatic scent of a perfectly blended coffee wafts temptingly over our alfresco breakfast setting at The Murray, she announces to the world: “I need my morning booster.” Twenty minutes later, her coffee remains untouched as she passionately discusses her transition from a safe corporate world to a fearless champion of women subjected to sex trafficking. Despite the glitz and glamour that sometimes surround her, it is clear there is more beneath the surface – a deeper purpose that drives her every move.

From Pain to Power

Born in Vancouver to Korean immigrant parents, young Sylvia faced racism “long before it was widely acknowledged”. “Adults and kids called me a ‘chink’, and I was mocked for my food and culture,” she recalls.  “I was mortified and ashamed of my heritage, which led me to disconnect from my roots.” At 12, she vowed to suppress her Korean identity and blend into a predominantly white society.

This early racial prejudice ignited her passion for social justice, but her journey of self-acceptance was a long and winding road. It was decades later, while living in Beijing and travelling to remote Chinese villages, that she rediscovered her roots: “It was a full circle, and I began to embrace my Korean heritage again, especially through the lens of Korean dramas and storytelling.” Her early anguish became her greatest superpower. “The area of your greatest pain is often your greatest strength,” she asserts.

Standing Up for All

Friedman’s relationship with her father was fraught with gender bias. “He treated me like the son he never had,” she explains. “I felt I had to prove my worth through achievement. It was exhausting, and I felt an ongoing identity crisis as a woman.” A breakthrough came when a mentor urged her to forgive her father and embrace her identity. That act of forgiveness kindled her determination to uplift women and fight gender inequality across Asia.

Her advocacy is rooted in her own experiences and her unwavering belief that – quoting US civil-rights activist Maya Angelou – “each woman standing up for herself is standing up for all women”. Her message to women everywhere: forgive, recognise your strengths, celebrate your unique identity, and pursue your purpose without fear.

Champion of the Oppressed / Empowerment Spools

Yu Friedman’s career reads like a daring adventure novel. She’s interviewed traffickers, followed undercover police, and risked her life infiltrating dangerous locales. “I’ve experienced the underbelly of human trafficking – criminals, pimps, victims – and lived to talk about it,” she says with a mix of awe and resolve. Documenting stories of suffering and resilience has taken her across China, Southeast Asia and beyond.

Her investigative journalism on modern slavery in China, Hong Kong and Thailand culminated in a documentary series, which earned her wide recognition and a 2013 International Human Rights Press Award in Hong Kong; her 2015 book, Silenced No More: Voices of Comfort Women, enabled survivors of Japanese military sex slavery to be heard. “Those encounters enlarged my heart and transformed my purpose,” she notes. “Helping the overlooked and the oppressed gives my life profound meaning.”

Each chapter of her 2021 memoir, A Long Road to Justice, detailing her front-line experiences in Asia, is a testament to fortitude and hope. One of her most harrowing moments occurred while filming in China. Surrounded by traffickers and thugs, she managed to delete incriminating footage just in time, her life flashing before her. “It made me realise what trafficked women go through daily,” she reflects. “That moment birthed my life’s mission: to use my influence to fight slavery and exploitation.”

Her resilience was tested during her investigations. During one terrifying night infiltrating a brothel, she recalls deleting footage under threat, feeling faint and experiencing her first miracle: the police arriving just in time. That event profoundly shifted her perspective. “True freedom comes from serving others,” she declares.

Money for Good

Beyond writing books and consulting for an investment company in Seoul, Yu Friedman serves as a strategic advisor to philanthropists and influential families, a role that requires balancing influence with responsibility. “Supporting philanthropists means providing honest feedback and respecting confidentiality,” she explains. “Some families impact me greatly – like the one that bought homes for their staff or the anonymous donors who give quietly but generously.”

She recounts meeting a Hong Kong family of limited means who exemplified genuine generosity. “Their happiness and humility touched me deeply,” she shares. “Discretion and authenticity are the true marks of leadership.”

Righting Gender Wrongs

Her latest non-fiction book, Fearless: A Guide to Freedom and Fulfilling Your Fullest Potential, published in 2024, is a heartfelt guide for young women and changemakers. Her core message: embrace your identity, learn from adversity, and dare to dream big. “I wish I had known these lessons earlier,” she confides. “Your most painful experiences are often your greatest teachers; suffering can build resilience, grit and wisdom.”

An unwavering advocate for women’s empowerment, she highlights the stark realities of gender inequality – pay gaps, underrepresentation and societal biases. “Women still earn less, have fewer leadership opportunities and face discrimination,” she says. “Feminism must evolve to ensure true equality, especially in Asia, where cultural norms often hinder progress.”

Legacy of Love

For this relentless campaigner, happiness is rooted in inner peace, purpose and compassion. “I’ve learned to slow down and prioritise relationships,” reveals Yu Friedman. “Forgiveness and self-love liberated me from the past.” She defines success as cultivating meaningful connections and giving back to the marginalised. “Success is about relationships, impact and leaving a legacy of love and hope,” she notes.

Throughout her work, she relies on her spiritual faith. “My Christian faith sustains me during the darkest moments,” she says. “It reminds me that light can overcome darkness, and love can conquer hate.”

Love plays a central role in her life, both personally and professionally. Her husband, Matt Friedman, an internationally renowned human-trafficking expert, is the founder of The Mekong Club, a Hong Kong-based non-profit organisation that engages the private sector to address modern slavery; she serves as its Ambassador and voluntary fundraiser. She believes that leading with love creates safe, empowering environments. “When we lead with kindness, we unlock potential,” she affirms.

Heroes for Today

Friedman aspires to continue transforming stories into powerful media, envisioning a future where the Korean entertainment industry leads the way globally. Her plans include producing films and TV series that challenge stereotypes and showcase Asian women as heroes and role models. Through such powerful stories, she hopes to inspire the next generation and motivate others to use their talents and influence for good.

Notably, she is quick to appreciate the good and hard work of others. During an outfit change during our shoot, she is fervent in her praise of a helpful member of the hotel staff, asking if she can write a commendation letter to their manager. “That’s my way of saying thank you,” she explains. “Even small acts of kindness matter.”

Sylvia Yu Friedman’s warmth, compassion and gratitude radiate through her entire being – mentally, emotionally and physically. And finally – after an hour or so of conversation – she takes a sip of her morning coffee.

Interview, Text & Art Direction: Joseff Musa   Photographer: Jack Law   Videographer: Iris Ventura   Venue: The Murray – Hong Kong