Because most seminar participants are younger than Saigo — who is 65 — it’s a topic they typically haven’t considered previously. “We need to overcome history,” he says.
Suzuki, who’s also a LEAP board member, is encouraged by participants’ feedback, calling the seminar a life-changing experience. Many participants have since gained tenure or been promoted at their colleges. “We don’t have to give up our culture to be good leaders. For so many years, Asian-Americans haven’t been willing to take the risk and try. At least, now, there’s widespread recognition that there are too few leaders and that it’s a problem.”
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