Catherine’s Monthly Wrap Up - June 2023

It has been a bumper busy month. At the start of the month I was the recipient of the Japan Law Award I was hunting down for four years. It was such a thrill to capture this Award in my hand at last. I had been listed as a finalist for “Boutique Law Firm of the Year” 2020, 2021, 2022 and in 2023, and finally it came to be this June at the ALB Japan Law Awards that my name was called out and I skipped up to the podium to receive this Award with glee. 

On the stage I held up the award and embraced the “naysayers” who have been there from the start of my law firm business and at each stage of my journey where I have had a signpost of success, they have come out of the woodwork in disbelief that someone like me could do it (whatever that means!). But there I was claiming the stage in my 30 seconds of fame to speak, so I could only say a compact version of my prepared speech. Yes I had prepared a speech as I believed it in my bones this was the year! I think it was Ted Lasso who said “Belief Creates Reality” and he was right.

See the full version of my speech at the end of this blog!

My other wonderful news to book-end the month of June is my appointment to the Audit & Supervisory Board of TOYOTA Motor Corporation and my re-appointment as Statutory Auditor on the Board at FUJITSU Limited. Being on the boards of the top IT company in Japan and largest motor vehicle (and mobility) company in Japan is something I had never really dreamed could be possible. I had absolutely believed that Board roles were entirely possible for me and they were in my career plan from 10+ years ago. 

But, I can say now that “This Moment Used To Be The Unimaginable Future”  To have landed where I have in these majestic iconic companies is phenomenal and I believe with the path I have taken in the roles & places I have invested my career have lead to this. The end of the road was there, covered in mist, but still was there. And the roles as they came along were engraved into sign posts that I now see in my rearview mirror. Then last year part of the mist cleared and this year the rest of the cloudy mist lifted. 

These are the perfect roles designed for me to advance governance and inclusiveness of thought round the board tables of Japan. 

In other news these are some wrap-up highlights from my month of June 2023! 

Hmmm I wonder why (!) there has been an uptick in the number of inquiries in the last few weeks about my coaching/mentoring offering for female lawyers who are aiming for getting on Boards. I also received inquiries about the Women Lawyers Retreat. Surprisingly, males also asked me to coach and mentor them so for select males I am opening this offering to them too. For the Women Lawyers retreat, if you are, or know of a female lawyer who you think would get a lot out of a peer-guided circle where everyone provides insights from their own lived experience, as part of a hot-springs indulgent retreat away from the city, then get in touch with me for the information on the next retreat at admin@catherineoconnelllaw.com.

Getting out and about 

• Thank you to the lovely Alexander Dmitrenko took me to lunch at Nobu to celebrate the wins in June. He’s a wonderful Ashurst Partner and is doing so many activities in Japan for Ukraine, TELL Lifeline and LLAN. THank you Alexander for the treat! 

• It’s always good to celebrate a Japaniversary and I did that with Debbie Howard for her 38th anniversary of arriving in Japan. We went to Two Rooms with mutual friend Timothy Connor. I recommend Saturday lunches for celebrating like this as they are so relaxed and fun. 

• I had another Saturday lunch with the lovely Jennifer Shinkai captured in the photo with a couple of other lovely ladies who are more shy so just this one with Jennifer! Jen is a breakthrough coach and has helped many people work through many issues so if you are looking for a coach Jen may be the one for you!  

• It was fabulous to celebrate with the Women In Law Japan community on 29 June at the annual Sizzle & Sundown networking event at the Pullman Tamachi Tokyo Hotel. A fabulous array of ladies and gentlemen turned out to celebrate Women In law Japan as a community that inspires, empowers and connects women working in the law in Japan. The photo in this blog features our wonderful ExCom and 2023 volunteers!

  
  Lawyer on Air Podcast

• I released TWO episodes of the Podcast in June. The first was a remarkable conversation to kick off Season 6 with Akiyo Inoko Hewitt on her “Self Branding Through Kindness and Thoughtfulness for Your Successful Law Career.” 

• Then we heard from Naoko Matsuzaki who is a leader in KPMG giving another equally remarkable rendition of her career successes that were nearly a no each time they arrived on her doorstep. So the title for her episode “Always Go for the Best - Taking Career Opportunities Head On” is very apt! 

• 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. Drop us a quick email to tell us which episode you liked and why to: admin@catherineoconnelllaw.com 

  Jandals in Japan Podcast

• Together with co-host Jayne Nakata we released another two new episodes of the Jandals in Japan Podcast. 

• We got excited to learn how Wakatū is Gaining Traction Long Term in Japan Through Manaakitanga with Miriana Stephens director for Wakatū Incorporation and General Manager of AuOra™ in  Episode 32.

• In Episode 33, we went talked about “Creating Memorable Hotel Experiences Through Kiwi and Japanese Omotenashi” with Rebecca Thorn at the Hotel Indigo 

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

And finally… 

Here is the full version of my award speech:

“Being in this list of finalists is not a race against others. 

It is a journey of self-discovery and growth. 

I’ve been a finalist in this award category for 4 years. 

Tonight I am embracing where I am now and where I have come from. 

I know that every step I am taking is leading to my own version of success. 

This award represents one version of success.

It shows that taking the step I did to trail-blaze as the very first foreign female to launch a boutique law firm in Tokyo was a wise step.
It was one of the key steps in this journey of success leading me to the stage tonight.

By winning this award I hope to be an inspiration for other women lawyers, to also consider how you could be an entrepreneurial women leader in law.” 

See you in July!
Catherine