Becoming the heroine of your journey: From assistant's assistant to legal powerhouse - Seizing opportunities and overcoming challenges with Hiroko Miyazaki

Lawyer on Air

Hiroko Miyazaki is a legal luminary who has made her mark across various prestigious roles in Japan's corporate legal landscape. From her modest beginnings as a part-time law firm assistant to her ascent to Managing Director at 3M Japan, Hiroko's journey is a testament to the power of resilience and growth mindset. She opens up about her strategies for overcoming failure, the value of prioritizing tasks, and the importance of emotional intelligence in leadership. Pour yourself a glass of sake - Hiroko’s favourite - and join us for a conversation that promises to enlighten and inspire anyone aiming to master their leadership presence.

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In this episode you’ll hear:

• How Hiroko transformed from a sports-focused student to a learning-focused student

• Using an opportunity to be inside a law firm as an assistant’s assistant while trying to pass the bar exam

• Taking her child with her to the US to complete her LLM

• The importance of emotions and emotional intelligence

• Her recommended book and other fun facts

About Hiroko

Hiroko Miyazaki is truly a powerhouse in the legal and corporate scene. She was VP and Managing Director at 3M Japan, leading corporate affairs and making things happen until October 2023, when she broke away and is now on her next quest for brilliance. Before 3M, Hiroko was General Counsel at Alcon Japan, which was a part of the Novartis group at the time. She not only led the legal and compliance department, but also pulled off a major overhaul, turning the team into a bona fide business partner. She was leading counsel at Dell Japan, where she led the legal and contract management teams, earning accolades like the direct to the top award.

Hiroko started her career in a part time job at a law firm as a supporting assistant. Then after passing the law exam from such humble beginnings, she became an associate in law firms and then took on her in-house legal roles and managing director work. Hiroko holds an LLM from the University of Washington and she is licensed to practice in both Japan and New York.

Connect with Hiroko

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hiroko-miyazaki-09235b13/

Links：

Restaurant Kou: https://www.instagram.com/kou_sakurashinmachi/ 　

Grow the Pie: https://www.amazon.com/Grow-Pie-Companies-Deliver-Purpose/dp/1108494854

Saying: 我以外皆我師なり “Ware igai wagashi nari”. I can learn from everyone.

Connect with Catherine

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