“I believe in Katha and Preston’s vision and I am inspired by their spirit.”

-Susy Chu

Susy is a Queens native, born and raised in Elmhurst, New York. Growing up, she knew she wanted to fight for justice and help others find their voice. Raised by immigrant Taiwanese parents, she learned early how to navigate many identities while drawing strength from both family and chosen community.

Over the years, Susy found herself immersed in the arts, earning an associate degree from the School of Visual Arts and later receiving a scholarship to SUNY FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology), where she earned her bachelor’s degree. Her career has since evolved across creative, nonprofit, community, and learning-focused spaces, always grounded in a commitment to equity, access, and helping others grow.

Today, Susy works at The Trade Desk, where she creates learning experiences that help leaders navigate complexity, develop people, and contribute to a stronger, more open internet. Prior to this, she worked at The Trevor Project, where she helped create training for crisis counselors in support of the organization’s mission to end LGBTQ+ suicidality. The training she created with her team received Tier III accreditation, the highest level awarded by the American Association of Suicidology. She also worked at Queens Public Library, where she served her local community and trained Queens residents as a Computer Literacy Instructor.

Susy’s passion for training, leadership, and mentorship is rooted in her own drive to keep learning, evolving, and creating opportunities for others to do the same. Her first introduction to QWFF was through the LGBTQ+-centric festival block in 2019. She is inspired by the organization’s innovative spirit and far-reaching impact, and is excited to support its continued legacy while helping create even more opportunity for young filmmakers and creators.