Young Leader
CONNECTIONS 17 SEPTEMBER 2014
Young Leaders meet Secretary John Kerry
In this issue: Mike Calistro shares his Critical Language Scholarship experience in Indonesia, and Amy Chang writes about US-China relations.
Contents Young Leaders Program Director Nicole Forrester
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Director’s Message
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Perspectives Feature YL Publication
Graphic Design and Layout Joni Lynne Celiz
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Young Leader Recap
Additional Photos
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Leadership Advice: “On the Pulse”
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What We’re Reading
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Critical Language Scholarship
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Succeeding in the Workplace
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Opportunities
Alumni Feature Profile
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Congratulations
The Young Leaders Newsletter welcomes article submissions for: recent publications, recent events you have attended, and fellowship/employment opportunities. Contact: YoungLeaders@pacforum.org. Stay in the loop by liking and following us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
• Critical Language Scholarship Photos, Mike Calistro • APSF Group Photo, Chang Yu-Hsuan • Singapore YL Chapter, Justin Goldman • YLs for Diplomacy, Ren Yuanzhe • “Success ..” Mike McCune via Flickr • “Hawaii Youth Leadership Council” Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard via Flickr • “Honolulu, Hawaii: August 13” US Department of State via Facebook • “Handling Office Politics Effectively” Vera Mao via blog.nus.edu.sg • “Flag USA Flag PRC crash” via Wikimedia Commons • Free illustrative photos, morguefile.com/archive
Article Contributors Julia Cunico Ellise Fujii Kerry Gershaneck Justin Goldman James Platte Ren Yuanzhe Tong Zhao The Graphic Design and Layout Staff requests landscape photo submissions for future cover backgrounds. Please send your original photos to joni@pacforum.org.
Director’s Message O
n September 2nd, 1945 on the deck of the USS Missouri, General Douglas MacArthur, on behalf of the United States and its Allies, ended the war with Japan. Finally, global peace was restored after six hard years of horrendous battle across many lands. On that day, General MacArthur hoped the world would emerge a better place, one dedicated to freedom, tolerance, and justice. On this September 2nd, it was my privilege to commemorate the 69th anniversary of World War II’s end with a speech aboard the USS Missouri. I was accompanied by Young Leaders from the United States, Japan, and Greece, representing our almost 1,000-strong cohort of emerging professionals and scholars in Asia-Pacific international affairs. I had the opportunity to share our mission to promote understanding and cooperation among all the nations of the Asia-Pacific and their global partners. As future leaders, you work side-by-side with peers from 55 nations from across the region and the globe, coming from the government, military, academic, corporate, and non-profit sectors. Our Young Leaders’ goal is to help deliver the region’s future peace and security. We, as a group, demonstrate how far the world has come since September 2nd, 1945, as well as how bright, despite recent tensions both in our region and far flung places, the future really is. Today, just as MacArthur had hoped, we are indeed living in a world more free, more tolerant and more just.
YL Program Director Nicole Forrester (center) with resident fellows Jim Platte and Virginia Marantidou
USMC Band at the 69th anniversary of the end of World War II, on the USS Missouri My message to the distinguished audience aboard the USS Missouri was quite simple. We come from many nations, and have different ways of thinking, but we are far more similar than we are different. We should seek and recognize in others the desires that we all share for ourselves, families, communities and the world, and take comfort in the familiarity of these goals and dreams. While doing this, we should also embrace the value of difference. We do not need to be the same, or do all things in the same way, to share in the prosperity and peace that is needed to deliver our region’s brightest future. We need to invest not only in your own futures, but also the futures of communities, countries, and the world at large. This investment doesn’t require great financial resources. We can do it by developing leadership skills, by being prepared to resolve conflict through cooperation, by building enduring friendships among peers from across the globe, and seeking out collaborations with people from different places with different ways of thinking. And then, by taking the time to share these ideas with not just the leaders of tomorrow but also with the influencers and decision makers of today. Through this we may all contribute to the extraordinary international cooperation and innovative solutions that are needed to solve the complex challenges our region faces. Page 2
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Perspectives In this new section, ‘Perspectives,’ Young Leaders are encouraged to provide their own perspectives on senior level reports and commentary. This month, resident Pacific Forum CSIS SPF Fellow, James Platte, comments on Secretary of State John Kerry’s speech at the East-West Center.
O US Secretary of State John Kerry
n August 13, five resident Pacific Forum CSIS Fellows attended US Secretary of State John Kerry’s speech at the East-West Center. Sitting in a room with University of Hawaii students from around the Asia-Pacific, the fellows listened to Kerry speak about the importance of the Asia-Pacific region and US policy initiatives to address major issues facing the region. After his main speech, Kerry personally addressed the students and fellows, where he emphasized the need for regional cooperation in response to Sasakawa Peace Foundation Fellow Tomoko Kiyota’s question regarding China’s participation in this year’s RIMPAC military exercises in Hawaii.
Resident SPF fellow Tomoko Kiyota asks Secretary Kerry a question Are you eager to share your own thoughts on hot-topic issues? Please send your own ‘Perspectives’ piece for the next edition of the newsletter. Pieces should be 500 words and sent to YoungLeaders@pacforum.org
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Feature YL Publication
Featured Links
Can America “Just Say No” to China? by Amy Chang
Collective Self-Defence: What Japan’s New Defence Policy Means for International Cooperation on Cyber Security by Mihoko Matsubara
“One of America’s clearest and most compelling interests is to develop a positive and constructive U.S.-China relationship.” -John Kerry
Secretary Kerry’s statement at the recent U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED) is consistent with President Obama’s priority for the United States to make a military, diplomatic, and economic rebalance to Asia. And while the president and his administration have taken great strides to improve ties with regional partners Japan and Korea and serve as an arbiter of maritime and territorial disputes, the U.S.China relationship has emerged as the United States’ highest priority. President Obama said in March 2014 “that this bilateral relationship has been as important as any bilateral relationship in the world,” aspiring to realize Chinese President Xi Jinping’s proposition of a new type of major power relations. Young Leader Amy Chang is a Research Associate at Defense Group Inc.’s Center for Intelligence Research and Analysis. She was formerly the Research Fellow in Military and Security Affairs at the USChina Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC). Previously, she worked at the Council on Foreign Relations and was an 2008-09 Fulbright China Scholar.
Overlooking Protection of Endangered Languages in the Pacific by Michael Edward Walsh
Is China a Lonely Diva? Vasilis Trigkas
YOUNG LEADERS RECAP
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Singapore YLs take stock of Thailand Situation,
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oung Leaders based in Singad the n a ) t f e pore got together ter k (far l hanec apore Chap s r e G for dinner at Din Kerry eader Sing L Tai Fung in Paragon on Monday SepYoung tember 8th for a discussion on the current dynamics in one of our key ASEAN partners, Thailand. Kerry Gershaneck, a Senior Associate at Pacific Forum CSIS, shared what he observed on the streets of Bangkok as protests in opposition to the government of then Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra began in late 2013, leading to unrest that brought the military intervention to oust the Yingluck government in May 2014. Lalit (Cherry) Kanavivatchai, an Advertising Associate Director from Thailand, also added to the conversation. Both she and Gershaneck highlighted concerns with an aging Thailand King Bhumibol Adulyadej and sharp divisions in the country. With several Young Leaders focused on regional integration in Southeast Asia, Thailand’s role as a critical ASEAN economy means they will continue to follow its dynamics closely.
Asia-Pacific Security Forum, Honolulu
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acific Forum CSIS, in conjunction with the Institute for National Policy Research and two other international think tanks, hosted the annual Asia-Pacific Security Forum in Honolulu, Hawaii at the Pacific Beach Hotel. This year’s theme was “The Dynamic Situation in East Asia and Asia-Pacific Security” and featured four panel sessions, as well as a concluding open-to-the-public event. One of the highlights of the conference was the keynote speech delivered by Rear Admiral Cari Thomas, Commander of the US Coast Guard District Fourteen. She spoke about the US Coast Guard’s definition of security, the challenges involved in keeping watch over 43% of the US exclusive economic zone, as well as joint US efforts in the area of enforcement and search and rescue. Young Leaders also enjoyed a fullday session that began with a Pillars of Peace event featuring Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Pakistani peace activist Hina Jilani, and Gro Harlem Brundtland. A half-day workshop held at EF International Language Center Young Leaders focused on issues of sovertake a group ph oto at the halfas part of the As da y w or eignty and far-away govia-Pacific Secu kshop rity Forum conf erence ernments.
Youth Leadership Council, Honolulu
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acific Forum CSIS Staff Joni Lynne Celiz and Nicole Forrester met with US Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard Congres on September 5th, swoman Tuls Staff Jon to launch the Hawaii i Celiz (s i Gabbard (thir d econd fr om righ from left) and P Youth Leadership t) and N icole Fo acific Forum CS rrester Council (YLC), a new initiative to em(far righ IS t). power Hawaii’s youth to showcase their ideas and solutions regarding the nation’s future. This exciting partnership brings together several local youth organizations, including Pacific Forum’s Hawaii Asia-Pacific Affairs Leadership (APAL) Program, which will send representatives to participate in the council. The Honolulu-based APAL program provides the opportunity to learn international affairs from senior and emerging experts and as a local conduit for alumni to become Young Leaders. More information about the Pacific Forum CSIS APAL program is found here.
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Young Leaders for Diplomacy, Beijing
n August 20-21, Pacific Forum CSIS in partnership with China Foreign Affairs University (CFAU) hosted the forum“Young Leaders for Diplomacy” in Beijing. Three keynote speakers, Pacific Forum CSIS President Ralph Cossa, CFAU Professor Su Hao, and China Academy of Military Sciences Senior Research Fellow Fan Gaoyue, delivered speeches on global diplomatic transformations. A diverse group of Young Leaders from China, the US, Belgium, Japan, South Korea, and Vietnam discussed contemporary global diplomacy and its transformation, as well as the Ukraine crisis and its impact on the global power structure. The forum also revealed a divergence of opinions among the US and China on the topic of China’s behavior in nter) with regards to maritime seCossa (front ce ph al R t en id y” forum. CSIS Pres s for Diplomac er ad curity. Pacific Forum Le g n ou at the “Y s
Young Leader
YOUNG LEADERS RECAP
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ALUMNI PROFILE Where are they now? AYAKO MIE
“I have greatly benefited from the Young Leaders program at the Japan Times, where I cover Japanese politics, as domestic politics have implications for defense and diplomacy.” Ayako Mie is a Staff Writer at The Japan Times and a nonresident Pacific Forum CSIS SPF Fellow. In summer 2014 she was awarded the Wall Street Journal Asia Fellowship to participate in the Masters program in the Business & Economic Reporting program at NYU’s Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute. She currently lives in New York, enjoying the vibrant city. Ayako Mie has been a reporter since she graduated from college because she believes good journalism can have a positive impact on society. Her nonresident SPF fellowship at the Pacific Forum CSIS gave her opportunities to cultivate expertise on the Japan-US alliance that would help demystify complicated issues to her readers. After graduating from college in 2001, Ayako began Ayako Mie (right) and Young Leaders working as a television reporter for the Japanese network Program Director Nicole Forrester (left) Tokyo Broadcasting System. Her first big assignment was covering the 9/11 tragedy. In 2005, she became a Washington DC correspondent. After six years as a Japanese language reporter, she went to the University of California Berkeley as a Fulbright scholar to study journalism and become an English-language reporter. After graduating in 2010, Ayako worked at the Wall Street Journal as an intern, a job that led to a special correspondent position at The Washington Post, during which time she became a nonresident Pacific Forum CSIS SPF Fellow. She later left the Post for The Japan Times to cover a wider range of issues, from society to politics.
Ayako Mie teaching students
Her time as a DC correspondent, as well as her schooling at an American high school, made her realize news stories about Japan written by non-Japanese media were culturally biased and the global community should have a better portrait of Japan. As a person with a foot in both Japan and the US, she felt it was her mission to undertake this task.
In addition to her job, Ayako is an active member of the Asian American Journalists Association, which hosts journalism workshops globally. She has been invited to talk about politics and her career at universities in Japan, including the University of Tokyo. Starting next year, Ayako will be teaching media studies at a Tokyo-based Tsuda College as a part-time lecturer.
On the Pulse
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Julia Cunico is a resident Pacific Forum CSIS Kelly Fellow. She is a recent graduate of Columbia University’s Masters in Negotiation and Conflict Resolution program. Previously, she worked as Associate Director for Programs at the Korea Economic Institute (KEI) in Washington, DC, managing the logistics for hundreds of Korea Economic Institute events and coordinating the internship program. Following her tenure at the Korea Economic Institute, she joined the Columbia University team of Nobel Laureate Economist Joseph Stiglitz as Special Assistant, where she was responsible for coordinating his speaking engagements, travel, teaching, and writing. Her areas of interest include Korean peninsula security, environmental conflict, and climate change.
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f you are not already taking advantage of the LinkedIN Pulse, you may want to start. LinkedIN is a career-focused social networking site that has recently tried to mimic the interaction of Facebook’s newsfeed, allowing users to post publications, career-related blog posts, and tips and tricks for getting hired in today’s market. LinkedIN has established Pulse, which allows members to subscribe to the posts of people deemed “INfluencers” in areas of economics, policy, sociology, advertising, leadership, and many other fields. This process streamlines information from people you admire or on topics you wish to learn more about. Some posts that are available now include, “The Top 5 Things You Should Never Do at Work” (by Kathy Caprino, a leadership mentor and career coach), and Professor Daniel Goleman’s, “Eight Must-Have Competencies for Future Leaders.” Ms. Caprino identifies the fairly obvious by encouraging people not to lie, act out of rage, burn bridges, or quit while upset while at work. While I might think this is obvious, the fact that the article needed to be written indicates that for some, it also needs to be read. In contrast, Professor Goleman (whose book Emotional Intelligence was one of my graduate school favorites) writes about leadership competencies that will be needed for the future because, he says, “leadership relies on mobilizing human skills.” His recommended competencies include: the ability to think analytically and develop a strategy for problem solving; to understand your market and your business; to have a results-oriented point of view which assesses success through reliable metrics; to possess a passion for customer service; the ability to collaborate and influence those above and below you; organizational development skills to include recruitment, retention, training and development of staff; team leadership, and lastly, transformation leadership, which he calls, “leading the way toward new goals.” These competencies have revealed their value in Join the Young Leaders my professional experience. Have you seen them in yours? Please share your leadLinkedIn Group here! ership stories with us. What do you think are the key competencies our generation of leaders must possess to cope with the conflicts currently facing us?
What We’re Reading Brooke Mizuno Director of Grants and Institutional Support, Pacific Forum CSIS Nonprofit Sustainability: Making Strategic Decisions for Financial Viability, by Jeanne Bel Although Pacific Forum is not a typical nonprofit, Nonprofit Sustainability contains a lot of information about how nonprofits set themselves up for financial success. You can read the book straight through or consult individual chapters for specific questions. It’s a really great resource for anyone who works at any nonprofit, even if you don’t have an active role in finance.
Joni Lynne Celiz Development Officer, Pacific Forum CSIS Overwhelmed: Work, Love, PLay When No One Has the Time by Brigid Schulte I first heard about this book on NPR and knew that I had to read it. Journalist Brigid Schulte systematically reviews the concept of leisure/free time and fills the book with stories from her own experiences. This book is incredibly well-researched and cites facts and studies for why having personal leisure time is not only important emotionally and psychologically, but physically as well. I’m already making a conscious effort to spend fewer hours at work and more time having fun.
Ross Fujii Vice President and Bank Secrecy Act/Office of Foreign Assets Control Officer, First Hawaiian Bank The Advantage: Why Organizational Health Trumps Everything Else in Business, by Patrick Lencioni A senior executive at First Hawaiian Bank recommended that I read The Advantage, a book that helped to inform his management and leadership philosophy. The essential argument is found in the title: organizational health matters more than anything else in the workplace. In Lencioni’s experience, companies generally have enough in-house expertise to succeed at their core business, but four key pillars: a cohesive leadership team, creating clarity, over-communicating that clarity, and then reinforcing that same clarity are what make an organization stand above its peers. It’s not a new argument, but he makes a persuasive case for why this “back to basics” approach works.
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Critical Language Scholarship Young Leader Mike Calistro is an intelligence analyst and Indonesian linguist with US Army Pacific (USARPAC) where his work focuses on supporting US military goals in the Asia-Pacific region. He is also a nonresident Pacific Forum CSIS WSD-Handa fellow studying the US-Indonesia security relationship.
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he Department of State’s Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) offers intensive summer language institutes in 13 critical foreign languages. The selection process is administered by American Councils for International Education with awards approved by the US Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. This past June, I embarked on a fantastic trip to Malang, Indonesia, as a part of the CLS program. My CLS experience was top notch. Upon my arrival in Indonesia, I was warmly greeted by students, teachers, and administrators from the State University of Malang (UNM). UNM would become my home for the next two months, a place where I would study, share meals with friends, and reMike Calistro (third from right) poses at Prambanan lax. My 27-member cohort was split into six had four experienced teachers. Each US student was classes based on our language proficiency. The stu- also afforded two Indonesian undergraduate students dent to teacher ratio was nearly 1:1 as each class who worked as tutors and tour guides. For two months, we studied in the classroom five hours a day, spent another couple hours with our tutors exploring Malang, nights with our generous host families, and weekends adventuring all over the island of Java. Our weekend journeys included visiting Mt. Bromo, buying batik shirts on the famous Malioboro street, tasting freshly made chocolate at a cocoa bean plantation, and paying respects at Soekarno’s final resting place in Blitar. After two months of intensive language study, every US student had great improvements in both their language proficiency and in their overall cultural understanding of Indonesia. Best summer of my life! Mike Calistro smiles from the top of a mountain
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Succeeding in the Workplace Ellise Fujii is the Director of Public Relations and Development at Pacific Forum CSIS. She is also currently a loaned executive with the Aloha United Way fundraising organization, helping to raise money for nearly 300 non-profit partner agencies including Pacific Forum.
In my capacity as the director of public relations and development for Pacific Forum, I spend a significant amount of time recruiting for the organization, interviewing potential candidates, and counseling and mentoring students and young professionals. I spent the early part of my career in human resources at a large corporation and that formative experience really helped shape my thinking. Here are my top six suggestions for how to succeed in the workplace. (1) Be willing to start somewhere. I’m often the first point of contact for people interested in working or interning at Pacific Forum, whether it’s through a career fair, panel, or workshop. One of the things I’m continually surprised to hear is “I didn’t get my (insert degree) from (insert school) so I can (insert entry-level position).” The reality is that everyone starts at the bottom. If you are changing industries, be prepared for moving back down the ladder. (2) Know where you’re trying to go. One of the key questions I ask in every interview is how a candidate understands how the position is going to help them get to the next stage in their career. Yes, I do know that you didn’t get your master’s from SAIS to help book airfares for senior expert conferences, but this logistical experience may help you when you jump into a program officer position. While many of us don’t have everything figured out and our career landscapes can easily shift with new opportunities, having an idea of what you’d like your next step to be can be tremendously helpful. (3) Define “Success.” Success means different things to different people and in different organizations. Does being successful mean landing a large research grant? Does it mean getting a particular title and salary? Does it depend on the number of articles you publish? Is it hitting your sales targets or bringing in new business? It’s also important to know how your superiors view success and align yourself accordingly. (4) Get an advocate. If you want to move higher on the ladder in your current organization or position yourself to jump elsewhere, you need to have an influential leader or manager act as an advocate on your behalf. For some people this may be their boss, but for others it may be a manager in another department or even your boss’s boss. Having someone at a higher level to recommend you for promotions, research projects, or other opportunities, is key. (5) Have a great attitude. This suggestion is so simple that many people ignore it outright. Supervisors and managers are people too and for particularly difficult projects, they’ll seek out people who will approach problems with a positive, can-do attitude, rather than the person who is a known complainer or invents any excuse not to do their job. Being a team player is appreciated by both coworkers and bosses. (6) Develop peripheral skills. Another way to think about this is to look at the big picture of your job. You may be an outstanding researcher, but have you ever applied for a grant from start to finish? You may publish outstanding articles, but do you know how to market yourself in a crowded, competitive field of superstars? Developing additional skills helps to increase your marketability and increases your attractiveness to an employer.
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Opportunities 2014 US-Japan Council Annual Conference, Honolulu The 2014 US-Japan Council Annual Conference will be held in Honolulu, Hawaii from October 9-10, 2014 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. The Annual Conference is a public conference that brings together leaders from government, business, academic and non-profit sectors to discuss current issues and opportunities impacting USJapan relations. The keynote speakers will be Adm. Harry B. Harris, Jr., Commander, United States Pacific Fleet; Ms. Marillyn A. Hewson, President & CEO, Lockheed Martin Corporation; and Mr. Masami Iijima, President & CEO, Mitsui & Co., Ltd. The final day to register is September 21. To get information on a Young Leaders discount, please visit here.
Security Jam 2014, Online Security Jam is a global brainstorming session that brings together thousands of political and military leaders, NGOs, academics, industry leaders and journalists to discuss security-related issues. The event will be held entirely online over a 54-hour period and will feature 6 discussion forums. (Participants will discuss topics as diverse as the future of NATO, the EU’s role as a global security broker, the conflicts in Syria and Ukraine, and cyber security.) The Jam’s top 10 recommendations will serve as the foundation of a report that will be presented to the new leaders of NATO and the EU, and distributed to thousands of policymakers and decision-makers worldwide. We invite you to join the Security Jam debate and share your ideas on key security and defense issues with leading experts. Register now and for free at www.securityjam.org.
Mike Mansfield Fellowship Program, Japan The Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation is now recruiting for the Mike Mansfield Fellowship Program. The Fellowship Program was established by the U.S. Congress in 1994 to build a corps of U.S. federal government employees with proficiency in the Japanese language and practical, firsthand knowledge about Japan and its government. The Mansfield Fellowship Program includes a seven-week homestay and language training program in Ishikawa Prefecture and ten months of placements in the Government of Japan and private organizations. During the one-year program, Fellows will develop an in-depth understanding of Japan’s government and its policymaking process and develop networks of contacts with their counterparts in the government of Japan and the business, professional and academic communities. Eligibility • Fellows must be federal government employees with at least two consecutive years of federal government service by, and immediately preceding, July 1, 2015 • Fellows must obtain agency approval before applying • Fellows must be detailed by their home agency to the Foundation from July 1, 2015 – June 30, 2016 • After completing the program, Fellows are required to serve at least two years in the federal government, where it is anticipated they will continue to work on projects and issues concerning Japan and U.S.-Japan relations Application Process Applications are due on December 1, 2014. Please click here to find out more about the application and selection procedures.
Congratulations!
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Tong Zhao
Tong Zhao at the US-China Strategic Dialogue in Oahu. his month we congratulate Young Leader and nonresident Pacific Forum CSIS Fellow Tong Zhao for joining the Carmegie Nuclear Policy Program’s global team of experts in Moscow, Bonn, London, Brussels, Tel Aviv, Istanbul, and Washington DC.
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Tong Zhao, based at the Carnegie–Tsinghua Center in Beijing, will focus on strategic security issues, including nuclear arms control, nonproliferation, missile defense, and strategic stability, as well as China’s security and foreign policy. He was previously a Stanton Nuclear Security Fellow with the Project on Managing the Atom and the International Security Program at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard University. He also served as a nonresident WSDHanda Fellow at Pacific Forum CSIS, and worked for the Office of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Government of Beijing Municipality. He recently completed his doctorate in science, technology, and international affairs from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Pacific Forum CSIS Young Leaders Program Suite 1150, Pauahi Tower, 1003 Bishop St., Honolulu, HI 96813 Phone: (808) 521-6745 Email: YoungLeaders@pacforum.org