This feature is in our weekly Monday Morning Report newsletter, which showcases our highest-level members. Leaders You Should Know highlights community leaders who are making a notable impact in the Nashville region.
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Tell us about yourself?
I moved to Nashville in 2004 from California and joined my company in 2005. I’ve been in leadership since 2013 and recently stepped into a senior role overseeing shared services operations. My focus is on business process improvement, data-driven management, and automation—helping organizations remove barriers and create opportunities for people to reach their highest potential.
Tell us about your business/industry?
I work for Mitsui & Co (U.S.A.), Inc., a subsidiary of Mitsui & Co., Ltd, a global trading and investment company with a diverse portfolio spanning industries like energy, healthcare, logistics, and technology. Our business is built on long-term partnerships, innovation, and a global perspective that allows us to create sustainable value across multiple sectors.
In Nashville, our shared services team plays a key role in supporting operations across the Americas, focusing on business process improvement, automation, and data-driven management. We help streamline complex processes, leverage AI and analytics for smarter decision-making, and ensure that our businesses remain agile in an evolving market. What sets Mitsui apart is our ability to connect industries, ideas, and expertise on a global scale, driving efficiency and unlocking new opportunities for growth.
What should we know about you?
I’m passionate about making businesses more efficient and people more effective. I believe data and technology should simplify work, not complicate it. I’ve spent nearly 20 years with Mitsui, growing from an entry-level role to a leadership position, and I’m always looking for ways to improve processes and create opportunities. Outside of work, I enjoy golf, tennis, exploring new technologies, and being part of Nashville’s business community.
How did you get to your current position?
I started with Mitsui in an entry-level role in 2005, thinking it would be a short-term stop before moving on. But over the past 20 years, I’ve had the opportunity to grow within the company, taking on roles in different areas of the organization and gaining a deep understanding of our operations. In 2013, I moved into leadership, and in 2024, I stepped into the Regional Officer role following my predecessor’s retirement. It’s still a new challenge, but one I’m excited to take on!
What value do you see in Chamber involvement?
The Nashville Chamber provides a powerful platform for connection, collaboration, and growth. It brings together businesses of all sizes and industries, creating opportunities to exchange ideas, build partnerships, and stay ahead of regional and economic trends. For me, being involved means staying engaged with Nashville’s dynamic business community, contributing to its growth, and finding new ways to create value—both for my company and the broader region.
What advice would you give your 25-year-old self?
Be patient – growth takes time, and success isn’t always a straight path. The challenges and detours you face will shape you in ways you can’t predict, so embrace them rather than resist them. Stay open to new experiences, even if they don’t align perfectly with your original plan. The best opportunities often come from unexpected places, and the skills you build along the way will be invaluable in ways you can’t yet see.
What makes Nashville a great place to do business?
Nashville has this incredible mix of energy, opportunity, and collaboration that makes it a great place to do business. It’s big enough to have a strong economy and diverse industries—especially in healthcare, logistics, and tech—but still small enough that relationships matter. People here genuinely want to connect and help each other succeed. The city is growing fast, and there’s a real openness to new ideas and innovation. Plus, the quality of life is hard to beat, which makes it easier to attract and keep great talent. It’s just a great place to build something meaningful.
What is the future of AI and new digital technologies in your industry?
The future of AI and digital technology in our industry is all about using data more effectively to drive better decisions. Generative AI is changing the game by making information more accessible and helping businesses find insights without having to dig through layers of reports. At the same time, advanced data analytics is giving us a clearer picture of trends, risks, and opportunities, allowing us to be more proactive instead of just reacting to problems. The key is figuring out how to integrate these tools in a way that actually supports business goals—automation for efficiency, AI for insight, and data-driven decision-making to stay ahead of the curve. It’s an exciting time, and the companies that embrace these changes the right way will have a real advantage.
What is the best advice you have received?
The best advice I ever received—and something I’ve seen play out time and time again—is that the majority is always wrong. Paul Rulkens’ TED Talk several years ago really drives this home: if you want extraordinary results, you can’t just follow what everyone else is doing. The biggest breakthroughs happen when you’re willing to challenge conventional thinking, take calculated risks, and find smarter—not just harder—ways to work. In business and leadership, it’s easy to default to ‘how things have always been done,’ but real progress comes from stepping outside that mindset. If everyone is moving in one direction, it’s worth asking: Is this really the best way? More often than not, the biggest opportunities come from looking where others aren’t.
