When the 2020 Summer Olympics kicked off in the midst of increasing COVID cases in Japan, my initial trepidation quickly became a feeling of inspiration and hope – especially when I realized the long-term impact this game can have on the Japanese society at large.  

 

Being a homogenous country where 98% of the population is Japanese, Japan has not always embraced diversity. When I was growing up, conformity to the societal norm/expectation was highly emphasized and valued. The idea of DEI was a foreign concept, and I always felt that Japan was trailing behind other countries in its innovation because of its reluctance in accepting new and different ideas.

 

Fast forward several decades to the present ...

 

 

 

By Carolyn A. Patterson-Kemper, CMP, DES, principal/copywriter – CPK Writers; copy editor, Marketing & Publications Committee; MPI Potomac Chapter Leadership and DE&I Committee member 
 
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted us globally, creating the need for social distancing, quarantine and isolation. Our current situation — the synchrony of reducing physical distance and increasing social and relational connection — presents a challenge for us all. Staying connected and nurturing relationships through mentorship is needed more than ever during the pandemic.
 
You’re probably wondering “how do we engage in mentorship during a pandemic,” either as a mentor or as a mentee?
 
Here are some practical approaches that both mentors and mentees can adopt during pandemic times.