Empowering Women in Japan and the USA
Personal Stories on Building Resiliency and Activating Your Career
Join us in a conversation with three extraordinary women from diverse sectors - a corporate American company in Japan, a non-profit organization, and the government— about their diverse experiences and learn about their insights and strategies in navigating the challenges they have faced in their careers.
February 24th, 3 p.m. (PST) / 6 p.m. (EST)
February 25th, 8 a.m. (JST)
Speakers
Panelists:
Misa Yamashita
HR Consultant, Advisor for Global HR, JERA Co., Ltd.
Misa is an experienced HR executive having worked for global companies in a variety of industries including technology/manufacturing, FMCG and financial services. Over 20 years, she has led various HR initiatives to build the organization, people and culture to enable business transformation, and to support business growth not only in Japan but also in Asia Pacific. Her expertise includes talent development, leadership, D&I/culture transformation, change management, women’s empowerment and leadership management. A Japanese native and based in Tokyo, Misa has been working in culturally diverse environments for most of her career. Through such experiences, she has developed her cultural savvy-ness, adaptability and skill sets tobe an effective and yet inclusive leader.
Paige Cottingham-Streater
Executive Director, Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission & Secretary-General, U.S. CULCON
Paige Cottingham-Streater has more than thirty-years of experience promoting U.S.-Japan relations through public diplomacy and public service. Ms. Cottingham-Streater is executive director of the Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission, an independent federal government agency supporting research, education, public affairs, and exchange with Japan. Previously, Ms. Cottingham-Streater served as Deputy Executive Director of the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation where she launched and directed the Mike Mansfield Fellowship Program, a Congressionally-established professional exchange, the Network for the Future, and other public affairs programs. She was also Director for the U.S.-Japan Project at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies in Washington, DC. where she supervised visiting scholars and conducted research on US-Japan issues. Ms. Cottingham-Streater is the recipient of Japan’s Foreign Minister’s Commendation in recognition of her longstanding work to strengthen U.S.-Japan relations. The award, made on March 31, 2004, commemorated the 150th anniversary of the Treaty of Peace and Amity between Japan and the United States. Ms. Cottingham-Streater was also a participant in the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program (JET).
Kendee Yamaguchi
Deputy Mayor of External Affairs
Deputy Mayor of External Affairs, Kendee Yamaguchi works to foster strong and collaborative relationships between the City of Seattle and community groups, non-profit organizations, and local businesses; support the City’s COVID response; direct the mayor’s external relations team; and coordinate mayoral priorities around cultural initiatives and events. She brings more than two decades of government service, having held leadership roles in the White House and Washington State’s Department of Commerce, Office of the Attorney General and Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs. As Executive Director for Snohomish County, she led the early COVID-19 economic response. Yamaguchi has served on the Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission, Washington State Bar Association Professionalism Committee, and local and national boards.
Moderator:
Rita Brogan
JASSW Board Member, Brogan LLC Strategic Communications and Facilitation
A seasoned strategist, social entrepreneur, and community leader, Rita Brogan, has played a major role as a consensus builder for complex and controversial projects throughout the United States. She is the founder and retired CEO of PRR Inc. a strategic communications and marketing agency with offices throughout the country. Her social justice activism has included roles such as former chair of the Washington State Women’s Council, co-founder of the Asian-Pacific Women’s Caucus, and was appointed by President Jimmy Carter to the National Commission for women. Rita currently serves on the board of the Japan America Society of State of Washington and as President of Friends of Mukai on Vashon Island.
