Miwa Suzuki

Strategy, Business development & fundraising

• Developed a new engagement strategy for members, donors, and partners based in Japan. Established a platform in Tokyo to host a series of business and policy seminars, annual receptions, and regular meetings for the US-Japan community, including corporate, government, academic, media, and non-profit sectors.
• Fostered new relationships and secured new sponsors, partners, and donors in Tokyo.
• Achieved tax-deductible status for donations in Japan by gaining approval from Keidanren's CBCC.
• Created and engaged a new network of over 60 current and former Board of Directors from Japanese and American corporations for programmatic and financial support in Tokyo.

Media & Communication

• Coordinated interviews with Japanese media outlets and was responsible for drafting, editing, and translating articles for newspapers and television programs.
• Initiated a bilingual Quarterly Newsletter aimed at engaging with current and potential members and supporters.

Client Rapport
• Successfully retained 60 client companies annually, maintaining a portfolio worth $5.8M in 2019 through client-centric geopolitical analysis and consulting services.
• Ensured client satisfaction across leading Japanese companies in various sectors, including energy, utilities, trading, banking, insurance, securities, electronics, automotive manufacturing, airlines, technology, pharmaceuticals, and government agencies.

Business Development
• Achieved a 180% growth in the Japan business sector, increasing revenue from $3.3M to $5.8M between 2011 and 2019.
• Generated new revenue streams through partnerships, event sponsorships, research and consulting projects, and speaking engagements.

Managerial
• Headed the Tokyo-based business development and client services team, reporting directly to the Office of the President.
• Supervised over 80 customized research projects and client events in Tokyo, New York, and Washington, D.C.
• Administered project content, budgets, timelines, audience engagement, and team coordination across various departments, including the executive office, country and sector specialists, research management, communications, editorial, IT, and finance.

Innovative Approach
• Implemented novel strategies to enhance client interactions, such as VIP breakfast and lunch seminars, bilingual conference calls scheduled for client time zones (as a response to COVID travel restrictions), a series of recorded presentations with accompanying summary notes, collaborations with the Japan Business Federation and the Japan Association of Corporate Executives, the President's book events and receptions, and the provision of customized bilingual email research summaries and industry-specific reports.

For the Special Unit for South-South Cooperation:
• Coordinated the launch of the Global South-South Development Expo 2009 in Washington D.C.

For the Japan Unit, Partnership Bureau:
• Liaised with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and UNDP Country Offices to monitor project progress.
• Developed a database for the Japan-UNDP Partnership Fund.

• Spearheaded a project that involved sourcing 30 new raw materials for an innovative tea product, collaborating with marketing, R&D, manufacturing, and production teams across Japan, China, Thailand, and the U.S.
• Formulated a new Quality Control protocol for high-risk raw materials originating from China and Thailand.
• Implemented a Weekly Supply Chain Monitoring system for products with fluctuating market demand.