Regional Women in Leadership Continues to Inspire Leaders

Community leaders gathered in Phoenix, AZ and Salt Lake City, UT in January for Regional Women in Leadership (RWL) events, generously funded by the Embassy of Japan. Wendy Abe, Director of External Relations at USJC, attended both events.

Japanese Friendship Garden of Phoenix Hosts Women’s Discussion

With the leadership and assistance of the Japanese Friendship Garden of Phoenix, RWL Host Janice Shimokubo and Executive Director of the Japanese Friendship Garden of Phoenix Reiko Yasui Reavis welcomed 18 people to their first RWL event.

Other members of the planning committee included Ilene Takiguchi, Kiyoko Toyama and Kathy Nakagawa. Honorary Consul General of Phoenix Kelly Mouer and his wife also attended the event. Discussion topics included comparisons of human resource practices in the United States and Japan, the need for cultural changes to support policy changes, why the perceptions of young women in Japan must change, the need for male champions, and issues relating to childcare.

Salt Lake City Community Leaders Gather for Regional Women in Leadership

Eleven community leaders gathered in Salt Lake City to discuss Japan’s Womenomics initiative, which also inspired discussions about current issues in the United States. Participants contributed to a lively discussion and made several recommendations for both countries.

Those included conducting a public relations and advertising campaign to raise the awareness for advancing women in the workplace; developing a competition among companies using metrics that benchmark the advancement of women within companies; encouraging companies to make “advancement pledges for women” that would include best human resource practices; and working to provide childcare and eldercare at places of employment.

Special thanks to Cheryl Mori who organized the event, and Dr. Robin Yasui of Denver who joined the group in Utah.