Dr. Soo Kim Abboud and Jane Kim, Esq. are the dynamic co-authors of the hot new book
Top
of the Class: How Asian Parents Raise High Achievers – and How You Can Too. While
Asian Americans make
up only 4% of the US population, they make up between 20 to 25% of the Ivy League! The
median income for Asian Americans is also $10,000 higher than their non-
Asian counterparts. Dr. Abboud and Jane Kim teach both educators and
parents the practices that lead many Asian Americans to academic, personal, and financial
success. Parents and teachers across the country find the message that kids can succeed
academically despite
parental socioeconomic status, education level, race, or culture, particularly empowering. In
short, Top of the Class is unique because it promotes ‘Asian’ principles such as
discipline and delayed gratification while still promoting very ‘American’ values such as
emotional development, creativity, and independence. Learn how to the get best of both
worlds! Dr. Abboud and Jane Kim have spoken to audiences nationally.
Top of The Class
Soo Kim's Profile
Top of the Class has been featured in the New York Times, the Washington Post,
the Boston Globe, the Newark Star-Ledger, and the Philadelphia Inquirer; it has also been
featured on Good Morning America. It was the recipient of the 2005 Family Choice Award and
was named a How-to Book of the Week by Newsday; it was also a Michael Smerconish Book
Club selection in 2006.
Dr. Soo Kim Abboud is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology –
Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, and the Chief of
the Division of ENT at Penn Presbyterian Hospital. Dr. Abboud received her medical degree
from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine; she also received her undergraduate degree from the
Johns Hopkins University.
Jane is a lawyer and immigration specialist at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. She
received her law degree from Temple University Beasley School of Law after attending the
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and is an active member of the Pennsylvania Bar
Association. She is also the Chief Operating Officer of Top of the Class, LLC, a company
committed to promoting cultural awareness and understanding between people of different
races and ethnicities.
Topic Categories
Education, Learning Issues
Parenting, Family
Ethnically Diverse Speakers
Presentation Titles
Top of the Class: How Asian Parents Raise High Achievers – and How You Can
Too. -- The Top of the Class message promotes family values, creative ways to
embrace learning, discipline, and a healthy respect for educators and education.
Audience Testimonials
“Thank you so much for your incredible speech today! What an inspiration – you made each
and every student, parent, and teacher feel as if they can accomplish anything…and you gave
them the tools to go for it.” -- Damaris South, Assistant Head of School, Director of Middle
School, Baldwin School
“Thanks so much for coming down to speak to our group. I know they, and I, received a lot
from your comments. You have made us all better parents!” -- Steve Target, Member, Union
League of Philadelphia
"Soo Kim was wonderful. We were extremely happy to have her with us today. The audience
response to the event was overwhelming, and her contribution helped make it a huge success.
Audience evaluations indicate that her Keynote Speech rated a 4.5 (on a scale of 1-5 with 5
being "excellent"). It was such a pleasure working with her as we prepared for the event, and I
was so appreciative of her enthusiasm, candor, and support of the first Pharmaceutical Town
Hall." -- Janet Wigfield, Working Mother Media
In Her Own Words
"Achievement is the result of parenting and hard work, not genetics. We wanted to counter any
stereotypes that Asians are naturally more gifted."
