“Change the World with Your Idea!” – TAC Entrepreneurship Fair

The Tokyo American Center (TAC) organized the myIdea.inc Entrepreneurship Fair at the Conrad Hotel in Tokyo on August 26, 2010. Through an on-stage interview with TAC Director Ann Kambara, U.S. Ambassador to Japan John Roos, discussed the importance of entrepreneurship for realizing one’s own dreams and contributing to the growth of the economy, based on his experience as an attorney in California’s Silicon Valley.

Other speakers included Neelam Patel, Vice President of the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE); Nobuya Ishizaka, CEO of Golf Digest Online; and Kaori Sasaki, CEO of eWoman, who told their entrepreneurship stories and noted the importance of entrepreneurship for youth and young professionals. Over 500 people participated in the public event, listening to stories of leading entrepreneurs, understanding the economic importance of entrepreneurship, picking up tips on how to start up ventures and social enterprises, and networking with speakers, entrepreneurship “multipliers,” and other aspiring and working entrepreneurs.

Watch a mini-video (1:16) showing some images from the event. (www.myidea-inc.com)

Strengthen Women’s Participation – APEC Women’s Entrepreneurship Summit

Women from the 21 APEC economies met on October 1, 2010 on the margins of the APEC Small and Medium Enterprises Ministerial Meeting at an event co-hosted by Japan and the United States in Gifu. U.S. Ambassador for Global Women’s Issues Melanne Verveer led the U.S. delegation, and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton sent a video greeting to open the event.

During a panel discussion, U.S. Ambassador to Japan John Roos offered attendees insights on innovation and entrepreneurship, encouraged women to participate actively in business formation and stressed that diversity is key to optimizing innovation. Breakout sessions helped women entrepreneurs exchange ideas, enhance their business “toolkit” and helped them learn new ways to access markets, networks, financial services, technologies, and training. The event also featured several other panel discussions and interviews with high-level political and business leaders.

Highlights of interviews with some of those distinguished women are available in a video (3:41). (www.women.apec.org)

Make Development Sustainable – Yokohama City Symposium

On November 11, 2010 Yokohama City hosted the APEC Commemorative Symposium, titled “Sustainable Development Supported by Women’s Advancement in Society.” Themes included “Harmony between Environment and Economy,” “Cooperation between Developed and Developing Nations” and “Transfer to Next Generations,” with a panel discussion on the role of women in sustainable society moderated by Yoriko Kawaguchi, Member of the House of Councillors and former foreign minister.

Ms. Susie Roos, wife of Ambassador John Roos, Yokohama Mayor Fumiko Hayashi, and Nissan Corporate Vice President Asako Hoshino participated in the program, attended by hundreds of university students in Yokohama. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton sent a video greeting (1:24) to Mayor Hayashi and symposium participants.