X
We face numerous social challenges to truly achieve a society that women can actively and inclusively participate in. Particularly aiming to develop and expand Asian women’s presence in global leadership roles in business, government, political, and social activities, JSIE hosts “Washington Women’s Dialogue” (WWD) featuring prominent female role models in various sectors, who would share their life experience. WWD offers opportunities to frankly discuss various issues on social and international challenges and learn how to overcome such challenges. The Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation is co-hosting this event series.
At the 8th WWD, we welcomed Ms. Suzanne Basalla, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the U.S.-Japan Council and Ms. Izumi O. Cintron, Protocol Officer at Office of the Chief of Protocol of the United States.
Ms. Basalla served as Senior Advisor to former Ambassador Roos in U.S. Embassy Tokyo from 2010 to 2012. She supported the Ambassador on the full portfolio of security, economic, and political issues in the U.S.-Japan relationship. She has been involved in the creation and development of the TOMODACHI Initiative, a public-private partnership established after the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011.
Ms. Izumi O. Cintron serves as Protocol Officer at Office of the Chief of Protocol in the United States. In this role, she’s lead coordination for a number of high-level diplomatic meeting receptions and events that are attended by the heads of states, including President Obama, Secretary of State John Kerry, and Prime Minister Abe.
The two speakers shared their life-stories and how they use creativity and leadership to get the job done & to be power house behind the scene working closely with their leaders. It was fascinating talk about their experience as well as their career paths along the way.
Suzanne Basalla
Suzanne Basalla serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the U.S.-Japan Council. From March 2010-September 2012, Suzanne served as Senior Advisor to Ambassador Roos in U.S. Embassy Tokyo. In that capacity, she supported the Ambassador on the full portfolio of security, economic, political and cultural issues in the U.S.-Japan relationship. She has been involved in the creation and development of the TOMODACHI Initiative, a public-private partnership established between the U.S. Embassy and the U.S.-Japan Council. Previous to her Embassy assignment, she was Director for Japan in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. She served 13 years as an officer in the United States Navy. Her assignments included service on the staff of Commander, Seventh Fleet on board the USS BLUE RIDGE based in Yokosuka, Japan. In 2008, she received the inaugural Ryozo Kato Award for service to the U.S.-Japan Alliance.
Izumi O. Cintron
Protocol Officer, Office of the Chief Protocol of the United States
Izumi Okubo-Cintron is a native of Aichi, Japan. After receiving a Master of Science degree from Boston University, she joined NHK’s Washington D.C. bureau as an associate producer in 1992, and then moved to NHK General Bureau for America in New York in 1995. There she worked to produce documentary projects, including NHK Special and Close-up Gendai programs, filming on-locations around the United States as well as in the United Kingdom, Dubai, and South Africa. From 2002 – 2010, Izumi joined her husband’s U.S. Foreign Service assignments to U.S. Embassy’s in Manila, Beijing and Tokyo, where she worked as a public affairs officer (in Beijing) as well as a VIP travel coordinator (in Tokyo). She worked as liaison officer between the U.S. and Japanese governments during the G-8 Summit, in Toyako, Hokkaido, and also supported visits of the U.S. President and Secretary of State to Japan. Upon returning to Washington D.C. in 2010, Izumi joined the Office of the Chief of Protocol as a Ceremonials Officer and works on diplomatic events hosted by the Secretary of State both in the United States and overseas, as well as diplomatic events involving the President and Vice President of the United States.
