IWTA speaks with Cynthia Usui – Country Manager for LOF Hotels, Tokyo & published author

Cynthia Usui is Country Manager for LOF Hotels, Tokyo.

After 17 years of raising her daughter and working in a school cafeteria in Thailand, Cynthia found her first job as a hotel manager in Tokyo, and has been there ever since.

There is a background.

Cynthia moved to Japan as a student and worked in a trading company before marrying a Japanese diplomat and moving around the world with her husband's career.

Cynthia started work in the school cafeteria in Thailand when she went off to college after 17 years of raising her daughter at home. She was promoted to managing the cafeteria and stayed 3 years before they moved to New York.

She found a niche doing something that no one else wanted to do when she was offered an entry-level position at an expatriate club. She joined the ANA Intercontinental Tokyo as events manager after a year.

Cynthia had never worked in a hotel before she was asked to take over the Rooms Sales role.

Success.

Cynthia believes that her success was not only a question of good timing, but also that she was able to produce results because of her bilingual ability.

There are challenges.

Companies could not see the potential of someone in her situation, and did not give her the opportunity of an interview. Getting an interview and a foot in the door was the hardest part.

Paying it forward.

Cynthia decided to help as many women return to work as she could.

She believes in hiring people with potential.

Advice to women.

Don't be afraid to start from the bottom, learn everything you can, and then move on to a better position.

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No one should be allowed to remain in the country.

Don't allow yourself to be there.