What the hell was I doing, moderating a panel discussion with two mayors of Tokyo wards, a venerable journalist, and a rep from the Viennese embassy? And in tabi boots?

We all have pressures around us in our leadership roles. Subconscious scripts that drive us, sometimes relentlessly, forward.

The era of transactional, "what-can-you-do-for-me" networking is dying, if not officially dead. And as a community oriented person, I’m not sad to see it go. If we aren't leading with community, we’re just moving deck chairs on a corporate ship. Innovation doesn't start with a pitch deck or a term sheet; it starts with a person.

I’m proud to be a mentor for HerRise, a program supported by Shibuya Startup Support through my work with Startup Lady Japan.