FEW connected me to a whole cadre of inspiring people. If you lean toward introversion, like me, getting actively involved is a sure way to be more comfortable in an organization.

Joining FEW was a first for me, but I was welcomed with open arms. The genuine interest in helping one another succeed flies in the face of awful stereotypes associated with women. We're not here to compete with each other but to propel each other forward. And that's a beautiful thing.

It was thanks to the upcoming publication of my second book that I stumbled into FEW, being asked to present on a fashion-themed panel in late 2015. I was soon back for another monthly meeting not as a present, but a member. Now I am a regular attendee of both monthly meetings and the Women's Start-Up Club, and it is with FEWs support and bonhomie that I consider the next stage of my encounter with Japan.