Kim Fujinaka, Director of Integrated Marketing at PacRim Marketing Group, has been selected for the prestigious TOMODACHI-Mitsui & Co. Leadership Program.  She is one of ten young professionals from America, and one of two people from Hawaii, chosen from a mix of the public or private sectors to further U.S.-Japan relations.
 
The TOMODACHI-Mitsui & Co. Leadership Program is designed to play an important role in building a “TOMODACHI Generation” of creative thinkers and driven doers who are invested in the future of U.S.-Japan relations, understand and appreciate cultural differences, and possess the globally oriented skills and mindset needed to thrive and make a difference. Generously funded by Mitsui & Co., Ltd., the program advocates bicultural exchange and provides participants with unique access to leaders in the U.S.-Japan arena, and the opportunity to broaden their perspectives to enhance work or initiatives in their professional fields. The program is organized by the TOMODACHI Initiative, a public-private partnership between the U.S.-Japan Council and the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo that invests in the next generation of leaders in the U.S. and Japan.
 
As part of the American delegation, Fujinaka will travel to Fukushima prefecture and Tokyo, while a Japanese delegation will travel to Detroit, Michigan and Washington, D.C. for one week this September.  Participants will engage as a group and meet with established and up-and-coming leaders from business and government.
 
The American delegation will meet with government officials, business executives, non-profit leaders, and educators who will share their experiences and insights during the program.  Participants will discuss issues, formulate new ideas together, and nurture lifelong friendships.  The trip also enables delegates to gain greater understanding of multicultural America and the unique qualities of Japanese society, further strengthening the bridge between these two cultures.
 
Those selected for the program met the criteria of demonstrating leadership potential through professional accomplishments in their career field and having connections to U.S.-Japan activities through their profession, and being under the age of 35.
 
Fujinaka was most recently honored by Pacific Business News as a “Woman to Watch” as part of the 2016 Women Who Mean Business awards, and as one of Hawaii’s “best and brightest young business leaders” as one of the Forty Under 40 Class of 2014.   As Director of Integrated Marketing at PacRim Marketing Group, a global marketing communications firm in Honolulu, Hawaii, Fujinaka oversees development and implementation of Asian language public relations and marketing programs for clients in tourism, hospitality, retail, and real estate industries.  She has been instrumental in helping her clients increase share and spend of the Asian International Traveler market from China, Korea, and Japan.
 
“Uniquely, her interest and experience in Asian cultures, global business, and cross-cultural communications contribute to her success in understanding clients and helping them increase business from Asian International Travelers,” said Dave Erdman, president and chief executive officer of PacRim Marketing Group.
 
A former contestant and court member of the Honolulu Japanese Junior Chamber of Commerce’s Cherry Blossom Festival, Fujinaka represented Hawaii, traveling throughout the U.S. and Japan, promoting cultural preservation and international friendships across global businesses and governments. Fujinaka is an active member of other non-profit organizations, including the YWCA Oahu, whose mission is to eliminate racism and empower women, serving on its Board of Directors.
 
For more information go to: http://usjapantomodachi.org/programs-activities/entrepreneurship-leadership/tomodachi-mitsui-co-leadership-program/

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