When women are empowered to exercise leadership at all levels it is not just in the service of women, but as a contribution to the betterment of society as a whole. Now more than ever, communities and organizations across the Asia Pacific region are in need of balanced and constructive leadership. Launched in 2002, the Changing Faces Women's Leadership Seminar brings together 10-12 women from the United States and the Asia-Pacific region to enhance their leadership skills and build a global community of women leaders. During the 12-day seminar, participants engage in a series of training workshops on leadership; discussion sessions focused on a theme of international concern; and site visits to look at case studies of thematic relevance and of leadership.
The purposes of this seminar are to:
- Provide participants with information and skills to enhance their own leadership abilities.
- Build a global community of women leaders through network opportunities with the local community and Changing Faces alumni.
- Expand participant knowledge base regarding the thematic content of the program, through discussion sessions with locally-based experts and field visits.
- Promote regional awareness among participants through interaction and exposure to new ideas and viewpoints.
- Create opportunities to think creatively and strategically about future directions for themselves and their organizations and to formulate action plans to address issues of concern for their communities.
To date, over 100 women from 27 countries have participated in the Changing Faces seminar. These women come from a broad cross-section of the societies in which they live and work, representing mid to senior level roles in government, media, civil society, academia, and the corporate/business sectors. Changing Faces participants are selected through a competitive application process, and are chosen for their demonstrated leadership in their current and past positions as well as their potential to affect change in their communities and influence the views of others. For a complete list of the Changing Faces alumnae, please click here.
Please continue to check our website for updates regarding the next Changing Faces Women's Leadership Seminar.
The 2010 Changing Faces Women's Leadership Seminar brought together 10 women from the United States and the Asia-Pacific region who have demonstrated leadership in their communities. The 2010 seminar focused on the important role that innovative entrepreneurship plays in contributing to economic growth and job creation. Innovators may generally be defined as those who have created an original idea or product, are recognized for their ability to “build a better mouse-trap” or improve upon an original idea or find new arenas for application. Over their 12-day program, participants engaged in a series of training workshops on leadership, discussion sessions focused on the important role that entrepreneurship plays in contributing to the development of economic growth and job creation and site visits to look at case studies of leadership and innovation. Participants explored how their innovative and entrepreneurial skills, experience, and knowledge generate value through the creation or expansion of economic activity, evidenced by job creation, economic growth and community development. In addition, participants discussed the broader linkages between business and the community and what can be done to promote and foster innovation and entrepreneurship. We were delighted with the range and quality of the seminar and are confident that the 2010 Changing Faces Women's Leadership Seminar was a resounding success!
A press release from the Mayor of Maui, Charmaine Tavares, regarding the 2010 seminar can be found here.
For a photo slideshow of the 2010 Changing Faces Women's Leadership Seminar, please click here and open the Changing Faces folder.
Program Dates: August 8 - August 19, 2010
Program Location: Honolulu, Hawai'i
Who Can Apply: Women from Asia, the Pacific Islands and the United States from all relevant professional backgrounds, including business owners, government and industry policymakers, and civil society organization leaders. Successful candidates will have 7-15 years of work experience with demonstrated ability to innovate. Applicants must have the ability to communicate in English in a professional, multi-cultural setting. Preference will be given to candidates without significant previous international travel experience.
Funding: The East-West Center will provide lodging accommodations, meals related to the program, ground transportation, program materials and a modest per diem. Selected participants are responsible for their own visa fees and roundtrip airfare from their home city to Honolulu, where the program opens and concludes. A limited number of travel stipends will be available for participants from developing countries, however selected participants should expect some cost-sharing.
Congratulations to the 2010 Changing Faces Women:
- Saliza Abdullah , Group Chief Executive Officer, BG Capital Holdings SDN BHD, Subang Jaya, Malaysia
- Leonie Rae Fechney , Regional Business Analyst, New Zealand Department of Conservation, Christchurch, New Zealand
- Hsiaoching Liu , Associate Researcher, Democratic Progressive Party, Taipei, Taiwan
- Nilamsari , Marketing Director, Baba Rafi Group, Jakarta, Indonesia
- Jyoti Ramnath , Founder and Chief Executive Officer, CraftMyGift.com, Bangalore, India
- Sita Rupakheti, Managing Director, Simsis Export Import House and Fundraising Coordinator, Pourakhi, Kathmandu, Nepal
- Kiesha Haughton Smoots , Regional Director, Maryland Small Business Development Center, College Park, Maryland, United States
- Brigida Britis Soares , Matchmaking Associate, Peace Dividend Trust, Dili, Timor Leste
- Selenge Tserendash , Founder and Director, Mongolian Quilting Center, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
- Vu Thu Hang , Deputy Director, Marine Insurance Division, PetroVietnam Insurance Joint Stock Corporation, Hanoi, Vietnam
Pre-Arrival Phase
Each participant will be asked to write and submit an action plan for the priority issue identified in her application. Participants will engage in online dialogue through the program website.
Honolulu Seminar
Workshops will cover topics including communication, team-building, organizational planning, and models of leadership in differing cultural contexts. Drawing on East-West Center and community expertise, participants will meet with specialists and practitioners to explore a variety of leadership case studies. In addition, community resource persons and local site visits will highlight thematically relevant activities taking place in the culturally and ethnically diverse state of Hawai`i. Seminar participants will make presentations on their priority issues and individual action plans.
Follow-up
Participants will refine action plans, maintain regular contact with program staff and fellow participants and provide updates on action plan progress via an program website and listserve. Participants will be asked to submit a formal progress report in August 2011. Participants will also be asked to submit a 2-3 page personal statement detailing their leadership path.
2009 Changing Faces Women's Leadership Seminar participants, please complete the Action Plan Follow-up Questionnaire and return it to Liz A. Dorn via email at dorne@eastwestcenter.org .
Program Coordinator, Seminars
East-West Center
1601 East West Road
Honolulu, HI 96848 USA
Phone: (808) 944-7682
Fax: (808) 944-7600
dorne@eastwestcenter.org