Ako Shimada is the Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary of Ushio America Inc. Ako also serves as General Counsel for Ushio Europe BV and is an independent director for Fujitech. She shares her story of embracing her Japanese heritage and transforming her career. The discussion covers her journey from growing up in Japan to pursuing law in the U.S., her experiences in litigation and in-house roles, and her strategic approach to seeking board positions. You will hear a story of someone who is brave in speaking up about what they would like to do. Listen as each piece falls into place!  If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, we’d love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway. Head over to Apple Podcasts to leave a review and we’d love it if you would leave us a message here! In this episode you’ll hear: How Ako found her way to study law after a stint in journalism and studying psychology Ako’s journey to owning her Japanese DNA and how that has transformed her life and career The extraordinary story of being nominated for a board role by an activist company Ako’s tips for preparing for board roles and networking Her favorite authors and other fun facts  About Ako Ako Shimada is Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Ushio America, Inc., in Cypress, California and General Counsel of Ushio Europe B.V. in the Netherlands, leading providers of light sources and solutions for a variety of applications including scientific, medical, semiconductor, entertainment, horticulture, and architectural applications.  In her role as General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Ako oversees the company’s legal, compliance, risk management, and corporate governance matters.  Previously she held Assistant General Counsel positions at Christie Digital Systems USA, Inc., and Apria Healthcare LLC. Ako is also an independent outside director for Fujitec Co., Ltd. (TYO:6406), a publicly traded manufacturer of elevators and escalators headquartered in Japan with global operations and serves on the Nomination and Compensation Advisory Committee.  She also serves as a board member of KA Imaging Inc. in Kitchener, Canada, a developer of cutting-edge multi-energy X-ray detectors and micro-CT scanners for a wide variety of applications.  Ako serves as a board director of the Southern California Chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel.  She is also a Council Leader for the U.S.-Japan Council (USJC). USJC’s mission is to develop and connect diverse leaders to create a stronger U.S.-Japan relationship.  Ako is also a charter member of the Japan Board Diversity Network, an influential global network of female board directors and senior professionals dedicated to improving corporate governance and board diversity in Japan.  Ako received her bachelor’s degree in psychology (highest distinction) from Northwestern University and a Juris Doctor degree from Loyola University Chicago School of Law.  Connect with Ako LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akoshimada/  Links L’Effervescence https://www.leffervescence.jp/  Connect with Catherine  Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/oconnellcatherine/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawyeronair YouTube: https://youtube.com/@lawyeronair