TOKYO, Oct. 8, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On
Monday, October 12, Vital Voices
Global Partnership and Bank of America will launch a weeklong
mentorship initiative in Tokyo,
convening women leaders from Japan
who are engaged in business, social enterprise and non-governmental
organizations (NGOs), as well as senior women executives from some
of the world's leading private sector and civil society
organizations. This effort, which is part of the ongoing Global
Ambassadors Program, a Vital Voices and Bank of America
partnership, will include one-on-one mentoring sessions and
strategic planning workshops focused on building organizational
management acumen and leadership skills.
Recognizing the potential of women to drive economic growth in
the region, government leaders in Japan have begun to implement efforts to
tackle gender inequality and boost women's opportunities in the
labor market. Occurring at this critical juncture in the country's
history, the Global Ambassadors Program will enable influential
women leaders in Japan to seize
this moment, helping them to further develop the skills they need
to advance Japan's economy and
become powerful role models for the next generation. The program
will also elevate entrepreneurship as a path for women in
Japan to leverage their skills and
drive economic growth in their communities.
"Global Ambassadors Japan is happening at a pivotal moment in
time and demonstrates the power of mentoring to drive social change
and have a lasting impact," said Anne
Finucane, vice chair, Bank of America. "Giving women leaders
in Japan the opportunity to work
with a remarkable group of mentors, who play a significant role on
the global stage, will enable them to advance economic development
in their communities, inspiring the next generation of women
leaders to do the same."
To engage the public and regional stakeholders on this topic,
the program will feature a public forum entitled "Women Shine.
Women Lead." Identified as an official Shine Event by the
Government of Japan, the forum
will encourage dialogue and exploration of the role women play in
advancing economic development and social progress in Japan and the broader region, particularly in
relation to women's leadership and participation in the
workplace.
"The recent adoption of the Global Goals by the UN General
Assembly is a hallmark opportunity to embrace gender equality and
women's empowerment," said Alyse
Nelson, president and CEO of Vital Voices. "The Global
Ambassadors Program and the mentorship it provides is one small
part of a broader effort."
Eleven Global Ambassadors (mentors) will be paired with
mentees.
The mentors are:
- Lisa Carnoy, market
president–New York City, U.S. Trust, Bank of America.
- Maria Mercedes Corrales, former
representative director and CEO, Starbucks Coffee Japan, and senior
vice president, Starbucks Corporation.
- Deborah Finley Conver,
president, Corporate Affairs Solutions International, LLC.
- Abigail Friedman, founder and
CEO, The Wisteria Group.
- Lisa Hasegawa, executive
director, National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community
Development.
- Sachiko Kuno, Ph.D., co-founder,
president and CEO, S&R Foundation.
- Carol Robles-Román, president and CEO, Legal Momentum, The
Women's Legal Defense and Education Fund.
- Tamao Sasada, managing director
and vice chairman of Investment Banking Division, Global Corporate
and Investment Banking, Merrill Lynch Japan Securities.
- Janelle Sasaki, executive
director of Diversity and Inclusion, Ernst & Young Advisory
Co., Ltd. Japan.
- Hiroko Tatebe, founder and
executive director, Global Organization for Leadership and
Diversity (GOLD).
- Gill Zhou, vice president of
Marketing, Communications and Citizenship, Digital, University
Relations and Transformation, IBM Greater China Group.
The mentees are:
- Tamiko Hayashi, founder and CEO,
Wtree Inc. and NPO Social Concierge.
- Yuka Iwatsuki, president, ACE
(Action against Child Exploitation).
- Keiko Koda, president and CEO,
AsMama Inc.
- Satoko Kono, president,
ARUN LLC.
- Sayaka Murata, co-president and
co-founder, Kamonohashi Project.
- Kiyomi Nojiri, MD, president,
Westfield Consulting Inc.
- Tamae Takatsu, president,
Fukuichi Co., Ltd.
- Miwa Tanaka, co-founder and
co-CEO, Waris Co. Ltd.
- Natsuki Tanaka, founder and
president, Advantage Inc.
- Yuki Uchida, managing director
and business partner, Re:public Inc.
- Maco Yoshioka, founder and
executive director, Madre
Bonita.
The confirmed public forum speakers include:
- Mitsuru Claire Chino, executive
officer and general counsel, Itochu Corporation.
- Kaori Iida, senior editor,
Economics News Division, NHK (Broadcasting Corp.).
- Miki Iwamura, managing director
for APAC Brand and Marketing, chief marketing officer, Google Japan
Inc.
- Ryo Kanayama, executive officer
and senior vice president, Corporate Affairs, Seiyu (Walmart
Japan).
- Izumi Kobayashi, director,
member of the board, ANA Holdings; director, member of the board,
Mitsui & Co. Ltd.; director, member of the board, Suntory
Holdings Ltd.; vice chairman, Keizai Doyukai.
- Sachiko Kuno, Ph.D., co-founder,
president and CEO, S&R Foundation.
- Noriko Maki, president, Maki
Communication Strategy Co., Ltd.
- Toru Mio, CEO, Mio & Company
Inc.; board member, Social Investment Partners.
- Yuka Mitsuhata, founder and CEO,
MoHouse.
- Alyse Nelson, president and CEO,
Vital Voices Global Partnership.
- Jay Ponazecki, partner, Morrison and Foerster; president,
American Chamber of Commerce in Japan.
- Tamao Sasada, vice chairman,
Investment Banking Division, Merrill Lynch Japan Securities.
- Kaori Sasaki, founder and CEO,
ewoman, Inc.; founder and CEO, UNICUL International, Inc.
- Mamoru Taniya, chairman and CEO, Asuka Asset Management, Ltd.;
representative founder and director of the board, International
School of Asia.
The Global Ambassadors Program is part of Bank of America's and
Vital Voices' ongoing commitment to investing in women's leadership
development, a goal guided by the belief that strong leaders are
important to healthy, vibrant communities including advancing
economic growth. Over time, mentors help their mentees develop
critical communications, advocacy and business skills and
strategies to advance their work. Since 2012, mentoring programs
have been held in Poland,
Northern Ireland, Mexico, Qatar, Singapore, Brazil, India, South
Africa, Haiti and now
Japan, reaching women from more
than 40 countries. Future locations will be announced this
year.
For more information on the Global Ambassadors Program, visit
www.bankofamerica.com/globalambassadors.
Vital Voices
Vital Voices Global Partnership invests in women leaders who
improve the world. Founded by then First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, and guided by
the belief that women are essential to progress in their
communities, it has partnered with leaders from more than 140
countries who advance economic opportunity, increase political and
public leadership, and end violence against
women. Programs in strategic planning, business, advocacy and
communications build critical skills needed for creating
transformational change at scale. Through its global platform,
women leaders expand their connections and visibility, accelerating
shared progress for all. Visit www.vitalvoices.org to learn
more.
Bank of America
Bank of America is one of the world's leading financial
institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle-market
businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking,
investing, asset management and other financial and risk management
products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience
in the United States, serving
approximately 48 million consumer and small business relationships
with approximately 4,800 retail financial centers, approximately
16,000 ATMs, and award-winning online banking with 31 million
active users and approximately 18 million mobile users. Bank of
America is among the world's leading wealth management companies
and is a global leader in corporate and investment banking and
trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving
corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the
world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to
approximately 3 million small business owners through a suite of
innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company
serves clients through operations in all 50 states, the
District of Columbia, the
U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and more than 35 countries. Bank
of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is listed on the New York
Stock Exchange.
Visit the Bank of America newsroom for more Bank of America
news.
www.bankofamerica.com
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