Catherine’s Monthly Wrap Up - December 2022
Here we are at the end of 2022. It was such a whirlwind of a year. For me it has been a truly great year and one I would repeat if I could, for all the super things that happened. This end of year blog is a mix of two parts - my reflection on the year and the “usual” monthly wrap up.
Here’s my top seven memories from 2022:
I won Foreign Lawyer of the Year Award 2022 at the Japan Law Awards! I had coveted this for a while so achieved a goal of winning it with the surprise side effect of inspiring others too, which I talked about with Helen Iwata in her Podcast, and celebrated a lovely dinner with Katheryn Gronauer too
I was appointed to the Fujitsu Board as their first foreign female outside officer, and Japan’s (yes Japan’s) first ever, foreign female Outside Statutory Auditor. It is an honour I do not carry lightly and I execute knowing many are watching and observing how it’s done
I got published on the topic of outsourced legal services, my niche and my business model. Slowly the world is catching up with this way of working as a lawyer and sourcing legal services
I witnessed Jayne Nakata win Entrepreneur of the Year Award at the British Chamber of Commerce in Japan, British Business Awards. I could not have been more thrilled. She’s my partner in crime - a.k.a co-host - of the Jandals in Japan podcast and she produces and manages and helps with strategy for my Lawyer on Air Podcast, and we are nearly finished four seasons! Such fun and a really great collaboration we have!
I launched the first of my Women Lawyer Retreats in Autumn. Creating a safe and relaxing place where women lawyers can not only take time out to rejuvenate but also engage with other women lawyers, and through the circle of confidence, resolve a challenging issue with group input. It was thrilling to see the unfolding of collaboration in action. It was so magical, I cannot wait for the next Spring Retreat in 2023
I celebrated 20 years living and working in Japan. Will there be twenty more? Only time will tell but I would repeat the last 20 if given the chance again. What a ride it has been
… and onto my end of month wrap up! Here's what I got up to in December - a shorter, low-powered version this month due to the impending holidays!
I released TWO new episodes of the Lawyer on Air Podcast with solo law firm owner and defender of the oceans Monika Oyama and the fabulous Tina Saunders who gave us a bumper holiday episode full of confidence, pushing her comfort zone and finding her sweet spot in the law that she loves. She’s such an inspiration for us all!
If you are enjoying my podcast episodes, I would love you to take just a few minutes of your time over this holiday break to leave me a rating on Apple podcasts, and write a short review so more people can hear about the podcast after reading your words to encourage them to do so.
Together with co-pilot Jayne Nakata we released another THREE new episodes of the Jandals in Japan Podcast. We hit mni-milestone Episode 20 with Ly Nguyen of Les Mills Japan showing us we can use Intellectual Property and Licensing to make it big in Japan.
We released a special episode of our recap of the Japan New Zealand Business Council Conference held in Beppu, Japan …
…and we also heard from an amazing celebrity guest who was in the last three contenders on Season 2 of the The Bachelorette Japan Jayden Toa-Maxwell. Jayden told us all about how being selected for the show has changed his life. He is now recognised in Japan wherever he goes but he maintains his humbleness, continues to play rugby and is now building his own apparel brand all the time looking after his fans with solid gold care and attention.Subscribe to the podcast and our newsletter so you don’t miss out on an episode.
Though the Jandals in Japan Podcast did not place Gold, Silver or Bronze in the New Zealand Podcast Awards 2022, we were so very thrilled to have been selected to be one of 5 finalists in the Best Business Podcast Category. Thank you to all of the people who also stopped by and voted for us in the Listener’s Choice Award. We will be trying again next year for a medal placing!
The highlight of December was being able to bring together the Women in Law Japan (WIILJ) Dazzle in December networking event. Photos in this blog are from that event. It was full of #sparkles #dazzle and WILJ-themed cocktails in red and purple. We collaborated with Artbar to create three magnificent canvases, also themed in red, purple and the dazzle party theme colours of gold, blue and silver. What a night it was and such fun to see women lawyers and people who support women lawyers to inspire, connect and empower.
A final picture for you is of the beautiful Pohutukawa tree in New Zealand, where I am right now, as you read this blog. It’s native only to this land of Aotearoa New Zealand and often called the “New Zealand Christmas Tree” as it blooms right now in December. It is such a beauty to behold and I really feel like I am back in New Zealand when her beautiful crimson blooms greet me!
That’s all from me for this month. See you in January.
Catherine