Hiroko Tatebe has the kind of character needed to build bridges. We met some 20 years ago in my course at UCLA Extension – “Speaking Up! Effective Communication Skills for Women.” Hiroko had enrolled to better prepare herself as the upcoming President of a professional women’s organization. She would spend years leading business groups and garnering awards for her contributions. At the same time, as Director, Executive Vice President and Treasurer of Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank of California in Los Angeles, and the only woman on the Board of Directors, Hiroko was learning to navigate between the two business cultures of Japan and the United States. Her finance, management, networking and diplomatic skills would serve her well when she decided to start her own company.
When Hiroko was a little girl growing up in Japan, she was known in her family as “Daughter Number Six.” For someone with her pioneering spirit, this was just the kick in the pants she needed to make her way to the United States to discover who she really was and what she really was all about. Years later, after leaving Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank, as Hiroko gazed into an unknown future, she knew it was time to give words to her vision, express her passion and formulate her mission. In the process, Hiroko realized that she was a bridge between America and Japan, was passionate about developing global leaders and GOLD was born - the Global Organization for Leadership and Diversity – dedicated to developing global women leaders and building bridges across the Pacific!
On March 22, 2010, GOLD will have it’s 3rd annual leadership conference, “Leading and Navigating Tsunami Culture Across the Pacific,”in Los Angeles. Hiroko’s dream expands with each conference – from focusing on women’s leadership in the first conference in Los Angeles, bringing men into the fold for the second in Tokyo and now for the third, reaching out to both the U.S. and Japan.
Since she was a little girl asking “Who is Daughter Number Six?,” Hiroko’s vision continues to expand - she dreams of engaging other nations, walks the talk and teaches by example: Be true to yourself. Follow your instincts. Develop your talents. Think big. Take risks. Never give up. Keep growing.
No comments:
Post a Comment