It was an inspiring event filled with genuine conversation, thoughtful guidance, and shared encouragement.
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Japan-America Society of Dallas/Fort Worth
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It was an inspiring event filled with genuine conversation, thoughtful guidance, and shared encouragement.
The evening opened with remarks from Dr. Hiroki Takeuchi, Associate Professor of Political Science and Director of the Sun & Star Program on Japan & East Asia at the SMU Tower Center. Dr. Takeuchi highlighted the extraordinary rise in popularity of Sanae Takaichi, Japan’s historic first female Prime Minister.
Following his introduction, attendees enjoyed engaging and candid insights from an exceptional panel: Pamela Cytron, President/CEO of Founder’s Arena, a venture capital firm specializing in supporting startups; Karen Ideno, who has held multiple senior executive roles at Toyota North America and Mazda; Yuko Kitamura, Director of Supply Chain Logistics at Hitachi High Tech America and President of Japanese Career Women; and Yuka Nakahara-Goven, a long-time financial professional and business owner.
Each panelist shared personal stories of navigating challenges, overcoming barriers, and advancing in industries traditionally dominated by men. Despite their different fields and career paths, they emphasized several common principles that shaped their success:
a) Have confidence in yourself.
b) Seek out sponsors, mentors, and advocates.
c) Lean in and embrace visibility.
d) Stay grounded in the importance and love of family.
Their openness, willingness to offer guidance to the next generation, and thoughtful responses to audience questions made the evening especially meaningful and uplifting.
This special program highlights the achievements and insights of women who have broken through long-standing barriers. Dr. Hiroki Takeuchi, Associate Professor of Political Science and Director of the Sun & Star Program on Japan and East Asia at the SMU Tower Center will kick off the event by exploring the career journey of Sanae Takaichi, and how she became the first woman to serve as Prime Minister of Japan.
The program will further feature a cross-cultural panel of outstanding women executives who will share personal experiences on overcoming obstacles, navigating cross-cultural challenges, and rising to the top of their fields.
Cost(update):
Agenda:
Pamela Cytron, President, Founders Arena
Pamela is an award-winning technology entrepreneur and strategic advisor with expertise in financial services, data intelligence, blockchain, privacy, and regulations. She has successfully grown start-ups and optimized revenue growth with innovative strategies.
Karen Ideno, former senior executive with Toyota North America
Karen recently retired as Chief Procurement Officer for Toyota North America and Chief Sustainability Officer for Toyota Financial Services. Through her career at Toyota, she has also served as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Marketing Officer for Toyota Financial Services.
Yuko Kitamura,
Director, Supply Chain Logistics at Hitachi High Tech America
President of Japanese Career Women
Yuko has a long successful career at Hitachi High Tech America and co-founded Japanese Career Women non-profit organization with approximately 800 members worldwide promoting career advancement for Japanese women. She is also an Adjunct Professor at University of Texas at Dallas.
Yuka Nakahara-Goven, Financial Professional
Yuka has had a long, accomplished career in insurance and financial planning industry licensed to operate in multiple states. She overcame many workplace gender biases facing women in Japan and in the U.S., focused on life-long learning/education, and became a strong mentor, especially for young women entering the workforce.
Collaborating with JCW (Japanese Career Women)
