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Celebrating a successful 10th Annual Women's Leadership Counts Event
Invest In Your Future! Build Your Network. Soar into 2024!
On December 4, JASSC Women’s Leadership Counts Initiative (WLCI) celebrated its successful 10th annual event called "Invest in your future. Build your network. Soar into 2024!”
Sponsored by JASSC member organizations EY, Hitachi, and Panasonic Automotive Systems, this empowering career event was presented by the WLC Committee Lead & JASSC Treasurer Chiho Kelly and Executive Coach & JASSC Board member Graciela Meibar at our JASSC building conference room in Gardena, California. JASSC members and non-members were invited to attend.
As we emerge from the COVID pandemic and the world accelerates its opening, it is important for career minded women – and men- to think about investing in their future by strengthening their network and making more connections. To support this effort, an interactive networking and brand development workshop was offered.
Using her warm, friendly and empathetic approach, Executive Coach Graciela Meibar led the discussions. During the first part of the workshop, event attendees were empowered to bring their authentic self to the forefront, including their cultural heritage and unique backgrounds, to create their own personal branding based on their values, identity, strengths and experiences. Participants soon discovered the power of their own ‘branding’ as they drafted and shared their brand statements across the room.
JASSC Board Members also participated in the workshop. These Board Members are also executives at their respective US- or Japan-based organizations, so they were instrumental in enhancing the event’s networking activities during the latter half of the workshop. To inspire us, they also shared candid stories about their own career journey and key career learning moments including dealing with the different cultures and expectations of US and Japan. Some of the Board Members also provided heartfelt advice like having confidence in bringing your authentic self and unique talents so that you can stand out from the crowd or suggesting to prioritize what’s most important in your life so you can invest in yourself holistically, which will end up positively influencing your career.A social mixer followed the workshop with participants engaging in career discussions with Board Members and with each other. Many positive comments were also heard including, “My favorite part of the program was listening to advice and backgrounds of the participants and the Board Members.” Seeing how successful this type of event was, the WLC Committee will consider offering more interactive workshops in 2024 so please stay tuned!
Note: To further promote WLC’s mission of providing an inclusive and diverse platform for professional and global leadership development, Executive Coach Graciela covered other relevant topics for career advancement. She is graciously sharing her workshop handout that talks about these. If you are interested in getting a copy, please email Sachiko Usui, JASSC Programs Director at usui@jas-socal.org.
About Women's Leadership Counts Initiative
In 2014, the Japan America Society of Southern California's Women's Leadership Counts Initiative (WLCI) was created as a first-of-its-kind initiative to provide a platform for women in business on both sides of the Pacific to engage in professional and leadership development.
Together with our partner organizations, business executives and community leaders, the WLCI will create a network that inspires action and moves the needle on women's leadership.
WLCI's Mission Statement:
To provide an inclusive and diverse platform for women in business to engage in professional and global leadership development
Who Should Attend
Current and future corporate, business, academic, non-profit and entrepreneurial women and men leaders who value the U.S-Japan collaboration and wish to expand their networks.
Why You Should Attend
- LEARN from global leaders - Understanding the culture of the parent company, management, or client from Japan or overseas is key to having a successful career
- DISCOVER your potential - Build leadership and management skills and navigate through unique corporate culture in a professional environment
- INVEST in yourself – Exchange ideas as well as challenges you are facing with peers and mentors, and learn tactics to advance your career
- BUILD your professional network – Meet a diverse group of women and men representing a wide variety of industries
Past Conferences
2022
Defining Leadership in a Post-Pandemic World
2020
Activating Your Kaizen Mindset
Impact Leadership in the New Normal – VUCA World
2017
Talent Innovation: Going Beyond Unconscious Bias to Lead Generational Diversity
Diversity Inspires Innovation: Entrepreneurial and Intrapreneurial Leadership Leadership Dialogue: How to Navigate Toward your Greatest Potential Women's Leadership Counts