"The ability to understand different cultures, to appreciate different cultures, and then to decipher when I don't understand other cultures, to ask the questions, but always to be mindful and respectful of that, I think has really enabled me to be a leader with a global mindset." — Masami Tyson In this episode, Nozomi and Masami discuss: Masami’s leadership journey and how her diverse career has brought her to where she is now. Choosing your environment to understand diverse cultures. Understanding and accepting differences. Learning from one another (even across generations). Key Takeaways: Exposure to different cultures and different people will enable you to become a better leader as you will have a wider perspective beyond yourself. Leadership is a skill to be developed and is not one size fits all. There are many types of leaders and methods of leadership. You cannot assume what another person brings to the table. Getting to know those you are working with and understanding their story will always be fascinating and you can better serve those you lead. Regret doesn’t change anything. We can only move forward and continue to grow and learn. "It's not so much how we get everyone to agree, it's that each of us really taking responsibility of what we decide and taking responsibility for our words." — Nozomi Morgan "Everyone wants to be relevant. As a leader, I really try to make sure that I communicate that message. Because first of all, it's true. And second of all, to be heard, to be seen, to matter is really at the core of just everyone's desires and well being." — Masami Tyson About Masami Tyson: Masami Izumida Tyson is a partner attorney at the law firm Womble Bond Dickinson (US), LLP. Masami is a member of the firm’s global business group, and her focus is to support Japanese companies through her work in the firm’s Japan practice, which she founded. Masami provides strategic support to meet the business and legal needs of Japanese companies by connecting them and the services provided by the other professionals at the firm. In addition, her specific legal practice areas include corporate and transactional law, economic development, and government relations. Masami was born and raised in Yokohama, Japan, and has lived in the United States since age 18. She received her B.A. and M.A. in the Writing Seminars at the Johns Hopkins University, where she was a recipient of the Sudler Prize in the Arts. After teaching creative writing at Johns Hopkins and then in high schools in Tennessee, she received her law degree from Vanderbilt Law School. Thereafter she worked as a federal law clerk, a litigator at a law firm, and in various in-house positions such as at Mentor Graphics Corporation and at Nissan North America. Immediately prior to her current position, Masami served as the Global Director of Foreign Direct Investment and Trade for the State of Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development from October 2018 to July 2022. In that role, she worked to create jobs for Tennesseans by recruiting and supporting foreign businesses to and in the State. Masami serves on boards and committees of several organizations, including the Tennessee District Export Council and Hands On Nashville, and she is the chairperson of the board of the Japan-America Society of Tennessee. She is also a council leader of the national organization, U.S.-Japan Council, and is the founding member and chairperson of its Shin-Issei Group. Masami lives in Nashville with her husband, and they have three children. Connect with Masami Tyson: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/masami-tyson-5232a85/ Connect with Nozomi Morgan: Website: https://www.michikimorgan.com/ Book: In the works Email: team@michikimorgan.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/nozomimorgan YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/NozomiMorgan LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nozomimorgan/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nozomimorgan/ Show notes by Podcastologist: Chelsea Taylor-Sturkie Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
"The ability to understand different cultures, to appreciate different cultures, and then to decipher when I don't understand other cultures, to ask the questions, but always to be mindful and respectful of that, I think has really enabled me to be a leader with a global mindset." — Masami Tyson
In this episode, Nozomi and Masami discuss:
Key Takeaways:
"It's not so much how we get everyone to agree, it's that each of us really taking responsibility of what we decide and taking responsibility for our words." — Nozomi Morgan
"Everyone wants to be relevant. As a leader, I really try to make sure that I communicate that message. Because first of all, it's true. And second of all, to be heard, to be seen, to matter is really at the core of just everyone's desires and well being." — Masami Tyson
About Masami Tyson: Masami Izumida Tyson is a partner attorney at the law firm Womble Bond Dickinson (US), LLP. Masami is a member of the firm’s global business group, and her focus is to support Japanese companies through her work in the firm’s Japan practice, which she founded. Masami provides strategic support to meet the business and legal needs of Japanese companies by connecting them and the services provided by the other professionals at the firm. In addition, her specific legal practice areas include corporate and transactional law, economic development, and government relations.
Masami was born and raised in Yokohama, Japan, and has lived in the United States since age 18. She received her B.A. and M.A. in the Writing Seminars at the Johns Hopkins University, where she was a recipient of the Sudler Prize in the Arts. After teaching creative writing at Johns Hopkins and then in high schools in Tennessee, she received her law degree from Vanderbilt Law School. Thereafter she worked as a federal law clerk, a litigator at a law firm, and in various in-house positions such as at Mentor Graphics Corporation and at Nissan North America. Immediately prior to her current position, Masami served as the Global Director of Foreign Direct Investment and Trade for the State of Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development from October 2018 to July 2022. In that role, she worked to create jobs for Tennesseans by recruiting and supporting foreign businesses to and in the State.
Masami serves on boards and committees of several organizations, including the Tennessee District Export Council and Hands On Nashville, and she is the chairperson of the board of the Japan-America Society of Tennessee. She is also a council leader of the national organization, U.S.-Japan Council, and is the founding member and chairperson of its Shin-Issei Group. Masami lives in Nashville with her husband, and they have three children.
Connect with Masami Tyson:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/masami-tyson-5232a85/
Connect with Nozomi Morgan:
Website: https://www.michikimorgan.com/
Book: In the works
Email: team@michikimorgan.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nozomimorgan
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/NozomiMorgan
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nozomimorgan/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nozomimorgan/
Show notes by Podcastologist: Chelsea Taylor-Sturkie
Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.