Q&A with Cynthia Usui, author and Head of Hospitality, Tokyo 2020 Olympics, The Coca-Cola Company
Leading up to our upcoming monthly meeting on ‘Breaking the Mold: Finding New Beginnings at Any Age,’ we’re featuring a Q&A with Cynthia Usui, author of 専業主婦が就職するまでにやっておくべき8つのこと (Eight things Full-Time Housewives Should Do Before Entering the Workforce) and Head of Hospitality, Tokyo 2020 Olympics, The Coca-Cola Company. The Q&A is modeled on the Proust Questionnaire, designed to reveal insights into the respondent’s personality.
Join us for an insightful discussion next Thursday, June 14, as Cynthia shares her career journey and her mission of empowering women in Japan to find new beginnings by reinventing themselves at any stage of life, re-entering the paid workforce, and kick-starting a rewarding career. Register for the meeting here!
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
I know very well what perfect happiness is! I clearly felt it one afternoon in Bangkok. My daughter was in high school, and she was on her summer vacation. My husband who always came home for lunch, had gone back to the office. My daughter and I were lying on the bed chatting. I knew I was perfectly happy. And that is why I know I am not perfectly happy now, and will never be again because I cannot bring back the past. I no longer aim for perfect happiness. I am fine with being content.
What is your greatest fear?
My greatest fear is that my daughter will pass before me.
What is your current state of mind?
Focused.
What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Tact.
What or who is the greatest love of your life?
My daughter.
When and where were you happiest?
As stated above, when I was raising my daughter in Bangkok.
Which talent would you most like to have?
Writing
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
My daughter
What is your most treasured possession?
Family photos
What do you most value in your friends?
Loyalty
Which book do you think is a must-read for women?
To Kill a Mockingbird
Who are your heroes in real life?
None
What is your motto?
If I agree to do anything, I will do it to the best of my abilities.
What does FEW mean to you?
Nothing in particular
When have you have felt most empowered?
When I realized I have the means to walk away from anything that is against my principles.