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Senior Director of Marketing and Communication
Simon Tam is senior director of marketing and communication at StriveTogether, leading thought leadership and external communications.
Previously, Simon led marketing for organizations such as the Oregon Environmental Council and Portland Community College, and played a pivotal role in the development of the Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon (APANO) and the APANO Communities United Fund.
Simon may best be known for winning a landmark case in 2017 that helped expand civil liberties, unanimously, at the Supreme Court of the United States (Matal v. Tam). He is the founder and bassist of The Slants, one of the first all-Asian American dance rock bands in the world, and also leads The Slants Foundation, a nonprofit organization that is pushing the boundaries of what is possible for arts, activism, and civic engagement.
Simon’s work in arts and activism has been highlighted in media features around the world, the New York Times, the Washington Post, Rolling Stone and The Daily Show with Trevor Noah. He has earned many accolades for his work, including: The Mark T. Banner award from the American Bar Association, the Hugh M Hefner First Amendment Award, Milestone Case of the Year from Managing IP Magazine, the Ovation Lifetime Achievement Award and the Distinguished Alum Award from Marylhurst University.
As a keynote speaker, Simon has appeared at thousands of events across four continents, including TEDx, SXSW, and INTA. Each year he speaks to Fortune 500 companies, universities and many of the world’s top leaders in law, entertainment, and education.
In addition, Simon regularly consults world leaders and major organizations on policies related to equity, diversity, and inclusion, including Google, Amazon, Meta/Facebook, Pixar, and Verizon. In 2016, The White House invited Simon to join President Barack and Michelle Obama, George Takei, Jeremy Lin, and other celebrities in the #ActToChange campaign to fight bullying.
Simon works with other music icons such as Jay Z, Killer Mike, and Chance the Rapper on legislative efforts to protect artistic expression. He is an executive producer of multiple television shows, films and theatre shows.
hear from simon
What is a place that shaped you, and how does it give you purpose?
Of all the places I have lived in, Portland, Oregon, has probably shaped me the most. While the city itself is known as a progressive hub, it was originally founded on white supremacy, and the lasting impact shows that until we actively confront the past, systems will continue to drive inequality. In that environment, I learned that the moral arc of the universe does not bend on its own — it requires patience, persistence and people willing to courageously take the necessary risks in order to move us closer to justice.
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