Catherine’s Monthly Wrap Up - November 2023

Written By Catherine O'Connell

If you have been reading my blog you know we have had a very hot summer. But it looks like “Japan Inc.” finally got the memo around 10 November that it is meant to be autumn! … and now we have brushed up against winter rather quickly and the down coat is out and it’s the start of the Rugby season up here in Japan. Just a few days ago All Blacks Aaron Smith and Beauden Barrett arrived in Japan and this season they have joined the Toyota Verblitz team and will debut on the field in a home game in Nagoya on December 9th. I’ll be there in my team supporter gear and share all about how it went in my last blog for the year in December. Keep following if you are interested!

Here’s a wrap-up of the highlights from my month of November 2023!

  • NZ Embassy x NZTE : NZ Insights on ESG


    I was privileged to be asked to provide the closing words for the “New Zealand Insights: ESG Edition” Seminar held in partnership with the Embassy of New Zealand and ANZCCJ (Australian & New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in Japan). The seminar discussed the evolving ESG-centred business landscape and speakers included representatives from GEO40, Mainfreight, Cogo, The New Zealand Merino Company and ecostore who shared their unique insights into integrating innovative ESG considerations into business practices. Guests were then invited to network and engage in deep discussions of their journeys and strategies that consider ESG value generation for all stakeholders, from the consumer level to suppliers and financiers.

    Thanks go to the NZ Embassy for helping with the content of my closing words which I had fun delivering in Japanese with my own touch. Looking forward to the next edition!

  • BCCJ - the speech I planned to give

    I was super proud to be listed as a finalist in the British Chamber of Commerce (BCCJ) British Business Awards, in the “Diversity Equity and Inclusion Champion Award”, on November 2nd. I didn’t win (I was close I heard, but no cigar) but what was even more wonderful than winning was sponsoring my table full of 9 other women who are fabulous business women, the majority of whom were nominated in the awards or a past winner, or grand supporter of these women.

    You’ll see an array of gorgeous photos in this blog of these women who I am so proud to have been able to nominate and host at my table. It was THE most beautiful businesswomen’s table on the evening, and if I can be so bold to say, I think we deserve an award for being the only all-women table. 

    You can take a look at my speech I prepared below had I won. It would have been awesome to have said this on the stage but alas not this year. 

  • Fuji Speedway - learning about all sides of the company - being the only foreign female at an event 

    I told you last month how my breath was taken away with the inspirational mobility show in Tokyo this year. This month I got to have my breath taken away watching cars racing round the track at Fuji Speedway. Fabulous to see Morizo (Akio Toyoda) and his son racing and down with them in the Grid to see all the cars competing. It still amazes me that aside from the prom queens on the grid where are the other women? I believe if someone asked me “what’s your favourite unimportant thing about yourself?” I might just be that I am a secret petrol head!

  • NZ Visit attending Japan New Zealand Business Conference in Christchurch (19-21 Nov)

    Back in April this year I won a return trip for two on Air New Zealand to New Zealand. (Thank you AIr NZ!!) I used that ticket to travel with Jayne Nakata, my podcast co-host on Jandals in Japan, and friend extraordinaire. I attended the 49th Japan New Zealand Business Conference, very conveniently held in my home town. It was great to catch up with old NZ and Japanese colleagues and make some new contacts. I often wonder about the value in the ROI to attend a conference with a pretty hefty registration fee but with the interactions I made that there will be business flowing and deepening. A highlight was to meet colleagues from Fujitsu NZ and Toyota NZ for the first time as well. The plenary sessions especially on IT and Innovation were a highlight as well as the incredibly well organised industry visits to Oji Holdings Packaging and GBV NZ Ltd were awesome. The joint statement is here. I am looking forward to attending the 50th JNZBC Conference in November 2024 in Kurashiki, Japan.

    Other highlights of the trip were dinner at the amazing King of Snake, and the best flat white from award-winning coffee Espresso Studio Fushoken run by Fumi Takai. The unmistakable yellow coffee cups are his winning brand idea. I thoroughly recommend both of these places for your visit to Christchurch!

  • Corporate Governance in Japan

    During my time in Christchurch I was nabbed by Decipher Group to join a fireside chat and talk about the world of Corporate Governance in Japan. This was so much fun and will turn into a new passion for me. Thank you to the people who attended and asked so many great questions. I loved this opportunity to share my expertise and insights on Japan corporate governance with a unique international shareholder/stakeholder perspective. More here.

  • Rio Tinto celebrates 140 years in business

    I did not know that Rio Tinto had business connecting New Zealand to Japan since 1971 but at the Rio Tinto 140th celebrations I found that out. This was an invitation to me as Vice Chair of ANZCCJ and as always a very sophisticated night with top class food and NZ wine served as well. 

  • WILJ casual drinks with no speeches is a 2023 way of networking!

    I love the formal events that I attend but Women in Law Japan tried out an informal drinks networking program this last month which was highly successful. No speeches or anything other than get a drink, have something to eat and connect with lawyers in the community. It’s the new way of networking! 

  • 40 over 40 Photo adventure with Tia Haygood - Exhibition December 7-9

    I had such fun being a part of this adventure in photography with the one and only Tia Haygood. She has been the inspiration behind all the headshots you see on my website and social media. The photo in this blog is just one of the amazing shots Tia took of me for my 40 over 40 frolic this year. One photo of each of the 40 women who participated will be on display at the Exhibition at Ryozan Part @ Gallery Mugen from December 7th to 9th.

  • Lawyer on Air Podcast Spotify Wrapped for 2023

    I was super excited to see what the most popular episode in Lawyer on Air was this year and Spotify tells me that it was my chat with Sam Inohara, and that people found my podcast via  and  Overall my podcast rating was 5.0 and Lawyer on Air is the top podcast for 43 listeners and in the top 5 podcasts for 110 fans!

Coming up! 

  • Christmas is coming up, if you didn’t know already! But for me it is the end of an era as I step down from my President role at Women in Law Japan, which I have held for the past three years. It’s hard to hand over the role when you love doing it but this is key for me in the past, to leave a good thing, when it still feels good. Once the shine has worn off it is never time to make a move. I’ll share more in the next blog and I’m looking forward to our end of year Dazzle in December party on December 7 and also looking forward to lots of #play in 2024 that bring an abundance of good things to my life.

Follow an easy-to-click link here to go straight to your fave podcast player to listen.

Thank you so much for your support!!

As I mention above this is the speech I would have given had I won the Diversity Equity & Inclusion Award. I hope I get to say something like this in person on a stage somewhere in the next 12 months! 

“As the only girl in a family with three brothers, I have known and felt inclusion since I can remember - going on bike rides, climbing trees and making sandcastles in the sandpit with my brothers, as one of them. 

It is incumbent on people like me, who know what it’s like to be and feel included, to go out and shine the light of inclusion, equity and diversity into the shadows of society where DEI is waiting to emerge. 

I’m honoured to be able to do this in the boardrooms of companies in Japan and through sharing the dozens of career stories of women lawyers in Japan on my podcast Lawyer on Air.

Thank you to the judges who recognized my work. Thank you to the companies who chose me to diversify the voices at the table and thank you to the women lawyers who trusted me to tell their diverse stories of career wisdom.

And to the table of beautiful businesswomen here with me who keep me energised to keep going and stick to my core values - thank you too you all. Finally, to BCCJ, the judges and Kate the award sculptor - thank you for this amazing award”

That’s all from me for this month. See you for my final blog of 2023 in December (what already??).


Catherine

Catherine O'Connell https://www.catherineoconnelllaw.com
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