What is your favorite quality in a team member?

Each team member always brings their own great perspective and style to the mix. The qualities I particularly value are a sense of creativity and the ability to think outside of the box to meet different challenges head on. An attention to detail and self-motivation to follow through with their goals are two other qualities I admire. Lastly, having a good sense of time management and organization are important skills to succeed.

How has your career shifted from the impact of the 2020 pandemic?

In some ways, my career has shifted dramatically and in others it has remained the same. I am still focused on maintaining good relationships with my customers, providing the best quality service, and finding new opportunities for business and community partnerships; however, the methods I’m using to do that have moved to a technology-centric approach. I’ve adjusted to working from home as many others have, and I am engaging with people through the phone, email, web conferencing, and social media platforms instead of the physical face-to-face interactions of pre-pandemic life. The biggest shift has been my focused approach to ensuring the health and safety of my employees and customers is handled. It has become imperative that their wellbeing is a top priority and so my scope of work has expanded exponentially due to these considerations.

How do you manage stress and self-care?

The most effective way that I’ve been able to manage stress and self-care has been through the increased quality time I spend with my family and our new household addition, a rambunctious puppy. Because my schedule hasn’t been filled by the usual business and community events during this time, I’ve been able to enjoy connecting with my three sons. It’s great to be fully present in the moments we have together whether it be watching a movie or simply sharing a meal. I love putting my mom hat on more often and relaxing with the people I love.

What are your favorite virtual tools to use currently in business?

Good WiFi has never been as cherished as it has been these past months; connecting with people means connecting online with Zoom and Webex. Social media is a wonderful tool that I’ve quickly adapted to, as well, in order to conduct business effectively. It’s easy to shoot a message to anyone on my team no matter where we are or have a quick video chat; these resources make the workday seamless.

What are the hardest lessons you’ve had to face in becoming a leading woman in power?

The financial industry is still a male-dominated field, not only in executive positions, but also middle management and beyond. As a woman navigating this space, it has always been important to me to break through the ceiling in order to create opportunities for other women in business to become leaders. This leadership journey has presented itself with numerous challenges that I’ve had to work through. However, the strength I’ve developed has helped me to realize that female representation is vital in all industries. More importantly, it’s imperative we remain authentic along the way. Women bring so many unique and faceted perspectives to the table, and I believe we should be our whole and true selves in order to lead effectively without feeling like we must conform or change to a male-centric culture in order to be successful. I’ve learned that as a woman, I have always been strong. Yet, my femininity has made me a more compassionate and fair leader.

If you could look into a crystal ball, what would you want to know about your future?

I would like the crystal ball to confirm the path I know I’m on. I’m confident my future holds many opportunities to serve my community. I am passionate about improving the lives of children in need, especially foster children in our community—who deserve good families and bright futures. I know that a large part of my time will be spent with a few nonprofits dedicated to the causes that are close to my heart. I hope to help these boards to focus on their missions and contribute to their success.

What are two of the proudest accomplishments of your career?

My proudest accomplishments are, first and foremost, being able to have a thriving career while being a single mom to three wonderful sons; I am so proud of the drive they have for life and the people they are. Secondly, as an immigrant, it has been a fulfilling journey to build a career and be a part of my community. To be entrusted with leading the Hawai‘i region of HomeStreet Bank is an honor I do not take lightly. The sacrifices I’ve made and opportunities I’ve been given in order to become the leader I am today have all helped me to realize the responsibility I carry to look after myself, my family, my company, and my community. I am proud of where I am today because I can see all the places I’ve been before.

If you are a mom, what is the reality of managing kids and family life with your career demands?

​I truly believe everything is possible in life. As a single mom, my children always come first; prioritizing their needs and ensuring they are raised with a sense of positivity and a good moral compass has been an easy decision to make. Finding the tools and taking advantage of the resources available to me in order to manage my time has been something I’ve learned to rely on. No matter the demands of my career, staying close to my family and building trust between each of them has been the foundation on which I stand on. I consider myself to be somewhat of a “helicopter mom.” Yet, knowing when to give my kids their own space has been important, not only for the strength of our relationship but also in being able to juggle the different parts of our lives together. As a family, we always focus on the positive, how to make things work, and how we can create more opportunities for each other.