Leading with Impact: A Conversation with EXIM President & Chair Reta Jo Lewis

Join us for an inspiring conversation with the President and Chair of the Export-Import Bank of the U.S. (EXIM) Reta Jo Lewis, the first African American woman and the second woman to hold this prestigious position in the bank’s 90-year history. In this event, she shares her remarkable career journey in both the public and private sectors, highlighting the challenges she faced and the strategies she used to navigate her path to success. Learn what it takes to break barriers and lead with impact as she shares her unique experiences, insights on the importance of women’s empowerment and diversity, and valuable advice for the next generation of leaders. This is a rare opportunity to hear directly from a leader who is shaping history.

Speaker
Reta Jo Lewis, President and Chair of the Board of Directors, Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) 

Presider
Joshua W. Walker, Ph.D., President & CEO, Japan Society

Agenda
6:30-7:30 pm: Discussion and Q&A Session
7:30-8:00 pm: Reception

Admission
This event is only available to Japan Society corporate members. Admission is free with advance registration required. Please note that seating is limited and on a first come, first served basis.

About the Speaker

Reta Jo Lewis, President and Chair of the Board of Directors, Export-Import Bank of the United States
On February 9, 2022, the U.S. Senate confirmed Reta Jo Lewis as EXIM’s President and Chair of the Board of Directors. Chair Lewis was sworn in by Vice President of the United States Kamala Harris on February 16, 2022. Ms. Lewis is a senior executive with over 25 years of leadership experience in international affairs, legal, public policy, business and regulatory affairs, and subnational diplomacy. Ms. Lewis was most recently a Senior Fellow and Director of Congressional Affairs at the German Marshall Fund of the United States. At GMF, Ms. Lewis led and oversaw initiatives, programs, and bipartisan exchanges for members of the U.S. Congress and their European counterparts, focusing on leadership development and subnational diplomacy efforts. Prior to her time at GMF, she served as the first-ever Special Representative for Global Intergovernmental Affairs under Secretary Hillary Clinton at the U.S. Department of State during the Obama-Biden Administration. As Special Representative, Lewis was the chief diplomat in charge of the international efforts to build and support strategic relationships between the federal government, state and local leaders, and their foreign counterparts. In 2013, she was awarded the Secretary’s Distinguished Service Award. Ms. Lewis was the first Black woman to serve as Vice President and Counselor to the President at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. She led the Chamber’s initiatives focused on fostering strategic alliances between small businesses, especially women- and minority-owned businesses, entrepreneurs, and executives. She is a Life Member of the Council on Foreign Relations and former Member of the Board of the Leadership Council for Women in National Security. Ms. Lewis received a J.D. from Emory University School of Law, an M.S.A.J. from American University, and a B.A. from the University of Georgia. She is a native of Statesboro, Georgia.

The U.S.-Japan Women Leaders Initiative is generously supported by Hotsuki Family Foundation and Advocate sponsors.

ADVOCATE

Business & Policy Forum is generously supported by Japan Society Global Leaders & Corporate Partners.

GLOBAL LEADERS

CORPORATE PARTNERS

Japan Society programs are supported by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.