On May 17, the USJC Women+ Forum Affinity Group was thrilled to hold its first program of 2023 on “Leadership Journeys.” The program included an engaging panel discussion followed by networking. Nearly 60 USJC Members from both the United States and Japan attended the event – a strong start to the year.
USJC Board Member Yoko Otani (Straterix), a co-founder of the Women+ Forum, provided opening remarks highlighting the Forum’s mission and vision. USJC Associate Andrea Sugano (Vanguard, ELP ‘16) moderated the panel discussion with three outstanding Japanese American executives from the government, consulting and banking sectors: USJC Board Member Sachi Hamai (Los Angeles County), Legacy Council Member Tomoko Kizawa (Deloitte) and USJC Board Member Ann Teranishi (American Savings Bank).
The panelists shared their respective career journeys that led to executive leadership positions, offering powerful guidance and encouragement for women aiming to grow in their professional careers. Discussion topics included the motivations that powered their career journeys, how they each developed a leadership style that is both effective and authentic, the realities of the tradeoffs that women leaders often face and strategies for empowering others.
In the days following the event, many attendees noted their enjoyment and appreciation of the speakers’ powerful authenticity and insights. Attendees also referenced the beneficial advice they exchanged and the relationships they cultivated during the networking sessions. The USJC Women+ Forum thanks the speakers for their impactful insights and the attendees for their strong engagement!
Stay tuned for further events hosted by the Women+ Forum this year, including at the USJC Annual Conference. Thank you to Andrea Sugano (Vanguard, ELP ‘16) for the above photo and content!