Backstory

I was born in NYC and raised in Long Island, the eldest daughter of a beloved OBGYN father and an entrepreneur/designer mother. At 15, I won a scholarship to do a homestay in Japan! I lived with a family in Azamino, Yokohama for three months - even though neither of us spoke the other’s language. That immersive experience sparked my passion for Japan. I later majored in East Asian Studies at Harvard and was thrilled to finally speak with my host family in Japanese! That time taught me empathy, courage, curiosity, and the value of diverse perspectives - lessons I carry with me to this day.

What’s a book, podcast, or movie that’s had a big impact on you - and why?

While home from college, I came across Manga! Manga! by Frederik Schodt at Kinokuniya bookstore in NYC. Inspired, I wrote my honors thesis on the Japanese Sarariiman in the yon-koma manga Fuji Santaro. Years later, I got to meet Schodt on Zoom and thank him for the impact of his work!

About Lisa

After HBS (where I met Miwa), I spent 20 years at Goldman Sachs in roles including Japanese Equities (where I met Kathy and Yumiko), Compliance, Legal, and the Executive Office, where I helped manage the firm’s brand during the financial crisis. These varied roles taught me agility and gave me a broad network and business perspective.
After Goldman, I began serving on boards and advising founders. I also founded Extraordinary Women on Boards—a now 1000+ member network of female directors. I was honored to join Kathy, Yumiko, and Miwa when they formed MPower.