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Amid the growing instability in global security, the resilience of the U.S.-Japan relations has never been more vital to the Indo-Pacific region. This presents a prime opportunity to reexamine the future of the bilateral relationship particularly in the area of trade and security. Professor Tosh Minohara, a Japanese American from California, who currently heads a nonprofit think tank will provide an assessment to the current state of global affairs while also offering insight into how to further strengthen this key alliance across the Pacific.

Wednesday, November 5, 2025

   11:30pm  Welcome Reception (Buffet lunch & drinks)
12:30pm  Seminar
1:30pm  Networking Reception (Light snacks & drinks)

Conference Venue:
Democracy Center at the Japanese American National Museum
100 N Central Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Admission:
Free

Directions
Please note that parking is self-service. For detailed information about parking locations and access, please refer to the Japanese American National Museum website.

Register Here

Application deadline: October 31
Please note that registration may close earlier if capacity is reached.
In the event of full capacity, participants will be selected by lottery.

Enquiries:
For any questions or inquiries, please contact:
la_seminar2025@kreab.com

Speaker

Tosh Minohara
Professor, Graduate School of Law, Kobe University
Chairman, Research Institute for Indo-Pacific Affairs (RIIPA)

Tosh Minohara is a Japanese American born in California, USA. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the University of California, Davis, and later obtained his Ph.D. in Political Science and Diplomatic History from Kobe University. Since 1999, he has been teaching at the Graduate School of Political Science at Kobe University, and has held his current position since 2007. He also serves concurrently as a professor at the Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies and lectured at the Command and Staff College for Japan’s Self-Defense Forces.

Most recently, he was invited as a visiting fellow at the Library & Archives of the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. In 2019, he founded the Research Institute for Indo-Pacific Affairs (RIIPA), a Cabinet Office-certified non-profit organization, and currently serves as its president.

He is an expert in U.S.-Japan relations, American foreign policy, international politics, and international security, and has authored numerous books and essays. In 2024, he served as editor of the Handbook of Japan's Foreign and Domestic Policies During the Decade of Abe (MHM and Amsterdam University Press, 2024). He regularly contributes to various domestic and international media outlets, and his academic achievements have been recognized with the Shimizu Hiroshi Prize and the Japan Research Prize.

We invite you to join us for an inspiring conference centered around the theme of transformative leadership. In today's rapidly evolving world, effective leadership goes beyond traditional models; it requires a visionary approach that fosters innovation, collaboration, and positive change. This event will explore the principles of transformative leadership and how they can empower individuals and organizations to thrive in the face of challenges.

Our lineup of distinguished speakers, including renowned leaders and change-makers, will share their insights on what it means to be a transformative leader. They will discuss the importance of adaptability, emotional intelligence, and a commitment to continuous learning in driving meaningful change. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in interactive workshops and discussions that focus on developing the skills necessary to lead with impact and inspire others.

This conference is not just about learning; it's about building a community of forward-thinking leaders who are passionate about making a difference. Together, we will explore how transformative leadership can reshape organizational cultures, enhance team dynamics, and ultimately lead to greater success. Join us in this journey of growth and empowerment, and discover how you can become a catalyst for change in your organization and beyond!

Thursday, November 13, 2025

   4:10pm  Registration
4:30pm  Conference
6:30pm  Networking Reception

Conference Venue:
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP - Located in: FIGat7th
725 S. Figueroa Street, 36th Floor Los Angeles, CA 90017

Admission:
$20 JASSC Member / $40 Non-members

Parking & Building Access Instructions
945 West 8^th St. Los Angeles, CA  90017
(213) 955-7945

There are two entrances to the parking structure: one on 7th Street and another on 8th Street. Visitors should park on levels 5 through 12. To access the building via the courtyard, take the elevator to Level 7 and proceed through the tunnel to the main entrance. Alternatively, you may exit on Level 8, which is at street level. From there, walk down 7th Street, and the building entrance will be on your right. A parking validation ticket will be provided at check-in at the Pillsbury Office. Please make sure to park after 4:00 PM.

Speakers / Panelists

Maggie O’Sullivan
Senior Vice President Global Commercial Banking, Bank of America

Maggie O’Sullivan is a Senior Vice President in Global Commercial Banking at Bank of America. In this role, she partners with middle market companies, financial sponsors, and asset managers to bring them the full range of Bank of America's integrated capabilities. She focuses on delivering the strategic capital, treasury solutions, and advisory support needed for growth and investment in today’s shifting environment.

Maggie has had a long career in banking where she has successfully driven sales growth, managed risk, and focused on impact strategies. Before joining Bank of America, she led national community development strategies for housing access and affordability at JPMorganChase. Her career at JPMorganChase began in Detroit, where she held roles in business development, credit, and supporting multinational corporations. She was known for building successful diverse teams that created opportunities for both clients and employees. This foundational experience led her to establishing the multinational business on the West Coast for the firm, where she led a specialized coverage team focused on subsidiaries of foreign companies.

Maggie serves as Board Secretary for the Orange County United Way and is a past co-chair of OCUW’s Women United group. She is also a Board member of Girl Scouts Orange County, and a past board member of the World Trade Center Los Angeles and the Inland Empire Economic Partnership.

She is a Certified Treasury Professional, and earned her Masters of International Business from the University of South Carolina. She holds a Bachelor’s in History from Michigan State University.

A native of Kansas City, Maggie now resides in Southern California, which she enjoys exploring with her two adult daughters.

Eric B. Chin, CPA
Chief Financial Officer, Akido Labs
Board Member & Audit Chair, Biomerica, Inc.

Eric B. Chin, CPA, is an accounting, finance, and operations focused executive and board member with over 20 years of progressive experience with SEC publicly-traded and privately-held companies across a range of industries, including technology, healthcare services, real estate, and consumer products.

Chin serves as the CFO of Akido Labs, a venture-backed, A.I. powered medical network with over 1,000 global team members serving approximately 500,000 patients, including more than 240 healthcare providers over 26 specialties. He also serves as the Audit Chairperson and as a Board Member for Biomerica, a publicly traded biotech company and as a Board Member and Treasurer of Rhode Island Primary Care Physicians Corporation.

Prior to joining Akido, Chin was the CFO of Astrana Health (formerly known as Apollo Medical Holdings) a member of the S&P SmallCap 600. In addition to his role as CFO, Chin held a number of financial and operational leadership positions at Astrana, including Corporate Secretary, Interim Co-COO, and CFO of Network Medical Management (the MSO subsidiary of Astrana Health.)

Chin also previously held leadership roles at Public Storage within its real estate division, and Alexandria Real Estate Equities, both of which are publicly traded and members of the S&P 500. He began his career at Ernst & Young and is an active CPA in California. Chin received his Bachelor of Arts in Business/Economics with Accounting and Computing from UCLA.

Chin volunteers as an advisory board member for AI 2030, a fundraiser for the American Heart Association’s Executives with Heart, and a fundraiser for the Covenant House of Los Angeles. He also actively volunteers as a mentor for the UCLA Alumni mentoring program. Chin is also a Member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association, a Charter Member of The F-Suite, a CFO only organization, where he serves as a host and speaker at various events, and a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors.

Patricia Wyatt
President & CEO, Japanese American Cultural & Community Center

Patricia Wyatt is President & CEO of the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles. JACCC is one of the largest ethnic arts and cultural centers in the U.S. and is an anchor cultural institution in Los Angeles. Its campus includes an iconic Isamu Noguchi-designed sculpture and plaza, the JACCC Center Building, the 880-seat Aratani Theatre, the award-winning James Irvine Japanese Garden, and the Toshizo Watanabe Culinary and Cultural Center.

Ms. Wyatt is a veteran executive with expertise in implementing successful growth strategies for major national and international enterprises across the for-profit and non-profit sectors. Her background encompasses media content and brand development, marketing, and executive leadership of global and North American operations in start-up, mid-size, and Fortune 500 companies, and includes several brands that generate over $1B in annual revenue. 

She was the founder of MayaCo & Associates, a brand and media consultancy focused on scalable social impact. Ms. Wyatt also held the position of Chief Development Officer, ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, where she led a team of 550 individuals who together raised a record-setting $1.1B in one year. 

In the media sector, Ms. Wyatt began her career at 20th Century Fox, where she simultaneously served as President of the Licensing & Merchandising and Home Entertainment companies. These divisions both supported 20th Century Fox Film Corporation, 20th Television, FOX Sports, FX and the Fox Broadcasting Corporation. 

Ms. Wyatt was named CEO of the Year by the UCLA Anderson School of Management for excellence in IT systems implementation; Marketer of the Year by Advertising Age for marketing of The X-Files, and as one of the “100 Most Powerful Women in Hollywood” (numerous years), by The Hollywood Reporter. She has served on numerous boards including Children’s Miracle Network; California/International Arts Foundation; Machine Project; Pearson Education Digital Advisory Network and CalArts School of Integrated Media, Advisory Group. She is also a mentor for Unreasonable Group.

Moderator

Stacie D. Yee
Partner and General Counsel, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP

Stacie Yee leads the firm’s internal global general counsel functions and also handles employment litigation, arbitration and counseling, and complex commercial litigation for a global clientele.

As General Counsel, Stacie participates in the firm’s 5-person Executive Team including to advise on management, policies and operational issues. For clients, Stacie litigates wage and hour, California Labor Code Private Attorneys General Act, discrimination, and retaliation/whistleblower actions. She also has handled trade secret misappropriation, unfair competition and false advertising claims.

Stacie provides preventative counseling to help clients avoid disputes, assists with crisis management, and advises on contracts, policies, personnel decisions, and other issues. She regularly helps Asia-based clients enter the U.S. market including to navigate employment laws. Over the years, she has worked particularly closely with Japan-based clients in the restaurant, food and beverage industry, and foreign airlines on employment-related and litigation matters.

Her firm role helps her uniquely understand the demands on, and needs of, client GCs.

SPONSORS

SPONSORSHIP BENEFITS

The Women’s Leadership Counts (WLC) 2025 conference is an excellent opportunity for sponsors to provide a platform for a diverse audience of professional women and men to receive inspiration and empowerment to achieve their career and personal goals. Sponsorship benefits include:

Brand Differentiation – Strengthen your organization’s brand and build brand awareness
Corporate Culture – Enhance your organization’s global diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives
Connections – Build a global professional network and gain access to influential leaders and decision-makers

For more details, please see here.

About Women's Leadership Counts

In 2014, the Japan America Society of Southern California's Women's Leadership Counts (WLC) initiative 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 WLC will create a network that inspires action and moves the needle on women's leadership.

WLC'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.