Announcement:

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Compliance & Leadership Forum

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– Discover Essential Solutions for Strengthening Compliance and Talent Development at Japanese Companies in the U.S. –

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Waterview Consulting Group is pleased to announce the 2nd Compliance & Leadership Forum, to be held on Friday, July 18, 2025 (Saturday, July 19 JST).

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This online forum offers a compact and impactful program addressing the critical challenges Japanese companies must tackle to succeed in the increasingly competitive U.S. market, particularly in the areas of compliance and talent development.

Please use the registration button below to sign up.

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Since the COVID-19 pandemic, corporate training and investment in human capital have
declined significantly in Japan. Currently, Japan’s per-employee training investment is only 1/20 of that in the U.S. and 1/30 of China’s. However, with growing labor shortages and pressure to raise wages, companies are once again turning their attention to talent development.

In the U.S., legal requirements around employee training are also evolving. The SEC has
required public companies to report on human capital development since 2020, and California mandates not only sexual harassment prevention training but also workplace violence prevention training. In addition, AI-driven productivity tools and the need for scalable employee education are accelerating change.

To help Japanese companies in the U.S. stay ahead of these rapid shifts, Waterview Consulting Group now hosts this forum twice a year. This event will help you explore cutting-edge training solutions and think strategically about your company’s future talent development initiatives.

 

Highlights

 

Keynote Address

• Ms. Liz Almeida, CHRO, Panasonic North America

A rare opportunity to hear directly from a top executive about the vital role of human
capital in business strategy.

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Bio: Liz is the Chief Human Resources Officer at Panasonic. She has over 20 years of HR experience, exhibiting her passion for driving business results and enhancing employee experience. She previously worked at NICE, Pearson, and Toys R Us. She holds a BA in Labor Relations from Rutgers University.

 

Featured Speakers:

• Pacific Dreams – Compliance Training - Ken Sakai

 

Legal Challenges of Employment in the Remote Work Era

Even for relatively small Japanese companies expanding into the U.S., mainly in sales and distribution, when they have multiple locations or personnel across different states, the employment laws they must comply with become complex. I will discuss the compliance challenges they face and the appropriate measures they should take.​

 

Bio: Originally from Katsushika Ward, Tokyo, Ken has been living in the U.S. for 38 years as of this year. This marks the 29th year since the founding of Pacific Dreams, Inc., and he is approaching 25 years of experience providing HR consulting services for Japanese companies. Previously, he worked at Mitsubishi Materials as a manufacturing engineer for silicon used in semiconductors. His firm serves about 100 clients across the U.S., and with a small, highly skilled team of five, specializes in supporting Japanese companies with HR operations (excluding staffing and recruitment services).

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• Waterview Consulting Group – E-learning Solutions - Eriko Imaizumi

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What’s Normal in Japan Could Save the World

5S, punctuality, and meticulous work—these are virtues unique to the Japanese people. Don’t you think it’s meaningful to share them with confidence across the world?

“The norms of Japan can save the world”—I will make this a lecture where pride and the future come together!​

 

Bio: After working in the foreign securities and consulting industries in Japan, the U.S., and Europe, Eriko founded Waterview Consulting Group, Inc. in 2012, specializing in corporate training, coaching, and the operation of an e-learning platform. To date, she has provided training to over 200 Japanese companies and served as an executive coach to more than 70 senior leaders. She also operates the HORENSO e-learning platform, supporting compliance training and upskilling. She holds a degree in English from the Faculty of Foreign Languages at Dokkyo University and a master’s degree from London Business School. She is an authorized training instructor for Honda’s U.S.-based Japanese suppliers.

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• Michiki Morgan Worldwide – Organizational Development - Nozomi Morgan & Chie Schuller

 

Expatriate Adaptation Support and Risk Mitigation Strategies

The key to expatriates’ success in being effective leaders in the U.S. lies in the first 90 days. This session introduces practical strategies and approaches, along with specific examples, to help expatriates avoid cultural misunderstandings, build trust with local teams, and achieve results in the early stage of their term.​

 

Bio: Nozomi earned her BA from International Christian University in Tokyo, with additional studies at the University of Hong Kong, and holds an MBA from Yale University. Her global perspective, shaped by experience at companies including Delta Air Lines, inspired her to found Michiki Morgan Worldwide. MMW supports Japanese organizations in navigating and succeeding in the global business environment. With deep expertise in intercultural communication, the firm provides leadership development, strategic organizational development, coaching, and training, helping companies build trust and drive meaningful change.

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Chie earned her BA in  East Asian Languages and Cultures and Education from Indiana University-Bloomington, along with teaching licenses in both ESL and Japanese. With over 25 years of experience in the United States, she has worked with nonprofit organizations and Japanese companies in a wide range of roles. Her expertise includes executive interpretation, bilingual talent recruitment and development, intercultural communication training, and support for expatriates and their families.

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• WE Building by Laura Kriska – Accelerated English Training - Laura Kriska

 

Speak Up Anyway: How Imperfect English will Increase Revenue, Meet Deadlines Faster and Help You Feel Comfortable Speaking with Local Staff

A practical session with 5 proven skills, a self-assessment tool & real results—helping expats speak up, meet deadlines, and boost revenue.​

 

Bio: HBR contributor and author of 3 books, Laura has helped thousands of Fortune 500 Japanese expats quickly achieve success in the global marketplace.

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• Globis - MBA Education - Yasuyuki Kato

 

Developing Purpose-Driven Leadership and Management Skills — Through a Cross-Company Learning Community  

​I will introduce a practical online seminar where participants learn leadership and management in English, centered on their aspirations. I will also explain the mechanisms for building a learning community.​​

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Bio: After working at a general trading company and in strategic consulting, Yasuyuki joined GLOBIS. Following his role as Deputy General Manager at the company’s China subsidiary, he now serves as CSO/CFO of GLOBIS USA. He completed the Stanford Executive Program (SEP) and is responsible for areas such as strategy and leadership in the MBA program and corporate training.

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• Japan Consulting Office (JCO) – Cross-Cultural Communication - Saskia Rock and Kasia Lynch

 

Boosting Business Efficiency via Specialized Training for Employees Working in US-Japan Global Environments

The presenters will introduce 2 unique trainings to maximize your company’s global success and empower your employees.​

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Bio: Saskia (also known as Saske HR Ninja!) has 30 years of experience improving relationships between Japan, her native Europe, and the US.

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​Kasia is Sr. Consultant at Japan Consulting Office & Founder of Ikigai Connections, powering the NihongoJobs.com job board for Japanese jobs in the US.​​

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• Culturia - Training for Expatriates - Yumiko Okuyama

 

How to Build Trust with Local Staff and End Expat “Isolation” Through Cross-Cultural Collaboration

One of the greatest challenges faced by expatriates assigned to the U.S. by Japanese companies is the sense of isolation and misunderstanding that arises from differences in values and work styles compared to the local environment. Many expatriates feel distressed, unable to consult anyone, as they struggle with gaps where approaches that were considered standard in Japan no longer apply. This lecture aims to help expatriates working at Japanese companies in the U.S. develop the ability to understand cultural differences, build trusting relationships, and achieve results in collaboration with local employees.

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Bio:
Yumiko was born in Asakusa, Tokyo. She worked in planning, sales, and management at Japan’s largest corporate training company. In 1993, she established a human resources consulting firm in New York. Since then, she has proposed training and talent development projects for over 2,500 Japanese companies in the U.S. and in Japan. While respecting the unique characteristics of Japanese companies, she has promoted the introduction of globally recognized HR systems, making significant contributions to advanced management, solving human resources issues, and preventing litigation.

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• Mpowered Sales - Leadership Development - Carlo La Porta

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Leaders Don't Impose Compliance!  

​What is compliance and why is the concept in place?
Why it is important to see compliance as a moral compass and not a set of rules.
How as a leader do you inspire people to do the right thing because they want to, not because they must. ​

 

Bio: With 35 years of experience in Japan, Carlo is well-versed in Japan’s unique business practices. He has built his career by supporting Japanese companies and focusing on providing solutions within Japan. His professional experience includes roles at KPMG Consulting Japan, BearingPoint, and Lowendal Masai Japan (now Ayming Japan). A multilingual professional, he is fluent in Japanese, English, Italian, and French, and has some proficiency in German. In 1993, he obtained the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) Level N1, the highest level.

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Event Details:

• Date & Time:
  July 18, 2025 (Friday)

  • 4:30 PM – 7:00 PM (EST)

  • 3:30 PM – 6:00 PM (CST)

  • 1:30 PM – 4:00 PM (PST)

  • 5:30 AM – 8:00 AM (Saturday, July 19, Japan Time)

• Format: Online via Zoom

• Participation Fee: Free

• Intended Audience: Executives, HR, IT, and Training Professionals

 

How to Register:

This forum has successfully concluded.

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Schedule:​

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16:30 - 16:40 EDT

• Opening Remarks (Waterview) – Main Room

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16:40 - 17:00 EDT

• Keynote Speech: Ms. Liz Almeida (Panasonic North America CHRO) – Main Room

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17:00 - 17:30 EDT

• Pacific Dreams (Compliance Training) – Main Room

• Waterview Consulting Group (E-Learning) – Breakout Room 1

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17:30 - 18:00 EDT

• Michiki Morgan Worldwide (Organizational Development) – Main Room

• WE-Building by Laura Kriska (Short-term English Acquisition) – Breakout Room 1

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18:00 - 18:30 EDT

• Globis (MBA) – Main Room

• Japan Consulting Office (Cross-cultural Communication) – Breakout Room 1

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18:30 - 19:00 EDT

• Culturia (Training for Expatriates) – Main Room

• Mpowered (Leadership Training) – Breakout Room 1

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19:00 - 19:10 EDT

• Closing Remarks – Main Room

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Contact Information:

Waterview Consulting Group Inc.
Attn: Eriko Imaizumi
📧 E-mail: eriko@waterviewcoaching.com
📞 Phone: 914-433-1447​