Women around the world face challenges to make their voice heard in business and community affairs. Cultural norms in every country frequently make it difficult to express our opinions, share our expertise and provide leadership in times of decision making. Due to a distinct culture, women in Japan face these challenges too.
Rochelle Kopp, Managing Principal of Japan Intercultural Consulting, has been working on this issue for decades and has successfully found ways to make her voice heard and that of her clients. She worked at a Japanese bank early in her career and, over 20 years ago, started Japan Intercultural Consulting to help clients increase profitability and employee engagement through improved communication and working relationships in multicultural environments. She writes a regular column for the Asahi newspaper and published more than 35 books in English and Japanese on issues such as how to break the “rice-paper ceiling.” Most recently she has been active in the city’s urban redevelopment planning process, helping a concerned group of citizens persuade planning officials to save the trees at Meiji Jingū Gaien.
Please join us on June 14th to hear Rochelle’s perspective on how women can make a difference when they communicate effectively and make their voice heard.
Rochelle Kopp BIO
Rochelle Kopp is a management consultant specializing in cross-cultural communication. Works with Japanese companies doing business globally and multinational companies doing business in Japan. Established Japan Intercultural Consulting in 1994 and works frequently with global firms that have Japanese subsidiaries, customers, joint-venture partners, and suppliers. Helps clients to improve cross-cultural communications and avoid cultural misunderstanding
Gained first-hand experience of Japanese corporate culture when she lived in Japan and worked at the Tokyo headquarters of a major Japanese financial institution. Wrote over 35 books in English and Japanese and also contributes frequently for publications, including ongoing columns in the Asahi Shimbun, The Japan Times and more.
Has a particular interest in helping Japanese companies understand and learn from Silicon Valley. Served as a mentor for the U.S. Department of State’s Techwomen program starting in 2012, working with emerging female leaders from the Middle East, Africa, and Central Asia. Has taught courses at the Universities both in Japan and the U.S., including at the University of Kitakyūshū, where she helped to establish the Global Business program. Currently she is a mentor to startups through 500 Global, Grow Movement, and Startup-bootcamp Scale Osaka.
Holds a B.A. in History from Yale University, where her senior thesis was awarded the Williams Prize in East Asian Studies, and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago’s Graduate School of Business.
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