PROFILE

Career & Global Insights

I am a U.S. citizen with nearly 30 years of experience working in international and NASDAQ-listed companies. My career has been based primarily in the United States, including San Diego, San Francisco, and Las Vegas, where I held management roles across human resources, finance, and project management. I also spent time in Edinburgh, Scotland, completing a graduate program in MSc Translation Studies, which deepened my perspective on language and cross-cultural communication.

Working closely with multinational teams in environments shaped by different cultures and values, I began to notice a clear pattern over time:

True self-understanding becomes the foundation for moving forward—in both life and work.

Titles and roles may change, but people who understood their own strengths—and where they were placing unnecessary strain on themselves—tended to move forward with greater stability and ease. In settings where difference is the norm, recognizing and working with one’s own tendencies often made it easier to collaborate, adapt, and contribute in a way that felt both effective and sustainable.

This way of thinking has become the foundation of Authentic Hues.

Through working with people from a wide range of backgrounds and value systems, I came to realize that what truly shapes a person is not how they appear to others, but how they relate to themselves.

Taking care of one’s appearance can be a meaningful act of self-respect.
However, it becomes genuine confidence only when it is grounded in an understanding and acceptance of one’s inner strengths and values. When self-worth relies solely on external approval, a sense of security rarely lasts.

When people are able to acknowledge and accept who they are, they no longer need to assert themselves forcefully. Their presence becomes more natural, and their individuality begins to show—quietly, but clearly.

Authentic Hues was created to support that subtle, yet powerful shift.

Why Color
Understanding Yourself Through Color

Since moving to Japan, I’ve noticed a recurring pattern in both everyday life and work.

Many people are genuinely compelling, yet their individuality often remains understated. This feels less like an issue of appearance, and more like the result of a culture that prioritizes blending in—making it harder to pause and reflect on one’s own strengths, tendencies, and personal axis.

It was during this time that I encountered Color Lifelong Education (CLE).
Their approach to personal color goes beyond identifying what simply “looks good.” By looking at seasonal characteristics, it offers insight into inner qualities, personal tendencies, and natural ways of expression. I saw real potential in using color as a lens for deeper self-understanding.

Color is something we all encounter naturally, every day.
Because it is so familiar, it allows us to approach self-reflection without pressure or formality. In that sense, color becomes a surprisingly effective entry point to understanding ourselves.

For me, color is not about creating a new version of who you are.
It is a practical tool for recognizing and making use of the qualities and strengths you already have.

This perspective lies at the heart of Authentic Hues.

During my work with global companies after relocating to Japan, I repeatedly observed moments where capable individuals struggled to fully contribute—not because of language ability, but because of differences in values, communication styles, and expectations between Japanese teams and overseas counterparts.

In many cases, the challenge was not English itself. It was about how ideas were expressed, how intentions were perceived, and what was left unsaid.

As self-understanding deepens—often through color—the next step becomes how to express that understanding through words and actions. In cross-cultural settings, indirectness or ambiguity can unintentionally lead to misunderstanding, even when intentions are positive.

At Authentic Hues, I support individuals and organizations through translation and cross-cultural business consulting, helping ensure that meaning, tone, and intent are conveyed accurately—not just linguistically, but culturally. This includes refining AI-generated translations, clarifying messaging, and bridging gaps between teams with different communication norms.

Global interaction is no longer a special case. As more people find themselves navigating international contexts—sometimes unexpectedly—the ability to understand oneself and express that understanding clearly becomes a foundation for choosing what comes next.

Purpose
The Intention Behind Authentic Hues

The name Authentic Hues reflects a simple intention:
to notice your authentic qualities, and to live using your own colors—in a way that feels true to you.

Using color as a starting point, Authentic Hues supports deeper self-understanding and the ability to express your strengths naturally—whether in daily life, at work, or, when relevant, in international or English-speaking contexts. The goal is not to change who you are, but to help you make choices and move forward at every stage of life with a clearer sense of your own axis.

Authentic Hues exists as a space where you can recognize your potential, work with your strengths, and continue moving forward in a way that feels both grounded and your own.