 Hello, I'm your host Sharon Thomas Yarbrough. Welcome and thank you for joining Sister Power. Our topic for this episode is gain a seat at the table, how women increase their influence and visibility. Women professionals seeking to make a bigger impact as a leader need the strategies to get the recognition they deserve. Learn how to stand strong in who you are and inspire others to do so by creating joy and improving productivity at work and in your personal life. Learn how you can gain a seat at the table and become a true leader and influencer with our VIP guest Lorraine Akeba. Lorraine Akeba was appointed to the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission in January 2012. Similar to this appointment, she worked in private practice as a law partner at McCoriston, Miller, McKay, McKinnon and Cage, Shetty, Fleming and Wright. She headed the environmental practice groups at both law firms with an emphasis in environmental and natural resources law in addition to her commercial and business litigation practice. Welcome Lorraine to Sister Power. Thank you Sharon. Thank you. I'm very happy to be here and honored to be part of your show. Thank you so much for including me today. Thank you. Tell us a little bit about you, a little bit about your background. Well, as you indicated in the intro, I'm a lawyer by training and I was a litigation partner at two major law firms in Honolulu. Right now I'm at the Public Utilities Commission as a regulator. It's an administrative law judge, quasi-judicial position, but we also establish policy and deal with many areas of a regulated utilities and a lot of people think that's just electricity, but we regulate gas, we regulate some water and wastewater companies, we regulate water transportation, a little bit of telecom although that's pretty much deregulated and then we also regulate motor carriers. So quite a broad range of things that we have a responsibility over and I am right now the only female commissioner on the commission and we had a prior female chair, Hermina Morita, who's appeared on Think Tech Hawaii before and who preceded me at the commission, but yeah, I am the only woman commissioner right now representing Hawaii, but proud to do that and proud to be at the table with my fellow commissioners and with other governmental leaders. This is a very critical time as we know for Hawaii, for the rest of the world, we're dealing with critical issues, the energy, the dynamic changing energy ecosystem, climate change, sustainability, trying to create the framework to facilitate the smart cities of the future and the integrated energy network of the future. So lots of heavy issues being in front of us as commissioners and even just for our state leaders as we deal and grapple with some of these opportunities as I like to say, even though they might be challenges, they're opportunities as well. Oh, I like hearing that. I'm glad you pointed that out and our topic is gain a seat at the table how women increase the influence and visibility. We know in today's world, influence is essential to get ahead. How do we increase our own visibility in an organization or work? Well, I think women naturally have skill sets that they could capitalize on to their strengths. We are good listeners. We are good communicators. We've had to be in terms of our families and in terms of how we interact with folks in the workplace. So I think those are some strong things that give us some advantages in terms of decision making and being part of a group of influencers and part of decision makers. I think women often have to make many decisions, multitasking. That's another strong suit that women have and that's a leadership that creates an opportunity for you to increase your influence by virtue of being able to weigh information, consider all sides, be fair, and then make a decision. I think indecision and the failure to make decisions sometimes is what is a sign of weak leadership in there. I think women have that natural skill set. They are strong leaders. For women, I think you have to develop a leader's mindset and you have to keep a positive attitude. It is true that I think in our community and in our society, women still tend to have to give 200% in the workplace, but I think a lot of dedicated women leaders do and they go above and beyond and distinguish themselves not only in technical proficiency and in the substantive backgrounds of what they do, but also in terms of the people skills and communication skills, which is what makes for good leaders. I'm glad I'm a woman. Yes, I am glad I am a woman. How do you increase visibility without self-promoting? I think increasing visibility is really letting your accomplishments speak for yourself. I think that that's the doing. When you do and you get things done and you include others in the doing, then you have a natural network of people that go and spread, go tell it on the mountain, as Reverend Martin Luther King would say. Go tell it on the mountain. You have many stakeholders. You have partners. You have collaborators that go tell it on the mountain for you. It's the teamwork aspect. It's being successful and the projects that you undertake, accomplishing and implementing things that you set out to do, being organized and actually achieving the actions that you have targeted and again inclusiveness, communicating that in teamwork, because that again is another attribute I think that distinguishes some of the great women leaders that I know. They're good team leaders. They're very nurturing. They are caring and yet firm, fair and strong leaders. Well, you answered my next question. What is the best way to picture talents? And you did combine some of that. So let's just move forward. How do you win at the game of office politics? That's always a very interesting, I guess, situation when you deal with that. I think we can't be naive as women leaders. There's always office politics. There's politics in society for better or for worse. So I think it is an important thing to realize that politics is really about people skills. So if you know how to navigate your way in difficult situations, you have good people skills, you'll be able to deal with some of those issues that come up. And again, what most people need to develop as leaders is a sense of fairness, of being responsible, of being able to be trusted and credibility. Reputation is very important, and I believe that professional integrity is very important. So as a leader, these are things, even though there might be office politics involved, if you are able to have good people skills, you'll be able to assess the situation and be able to wait in fairly if you're being asked for an opinion or step back and say, this is not a matter for me as a manager or me as a boss or me as a member of this work team to weigh in on. This is something between these other two people to resolve or to provide some guidance that perhaps if we look at it this way, we get above the personalities, we get above some of those smaller issues, and we look at what's the big picture, what's the common goal that we all want to achieve, and how do we get there. And EGLE is notwithstanding, how can we collectively achieve what we all agree needs to be done, and that's finding, again, the commonalities. I think, you know, when I think about good leaders, whether they're women or men, they're able to bring consensus, they're able to bring the best out in the people that they work with, and they're able to realize that they're not the smartest person in the room. So sometimes it is delegating to somebody who can do it better, but realizing the potential in that person to be either a partner in the effort, you know, a teammate or, you know, to maybe take the lead on that issue, because they're better at doing that, and that's effective leadership, to know the best folks to bring to the table to get it done. That's great advice, and I hope people are taking notes on that, because office politics, home politics out in the workforce is always theirs, always the elephant in the room, and those are great points that you did bring out. And it's whether you let that become a barrier to achieving success or achieving your outcomes, or you facilitate that and you use that to draw people together, because there always is going to be disagreement, and reasonable people can disagree, but it's whether we can have dialogue on that, reach consensus and move forward. Sometimes you can't, and sometimes you might be, whether you're the boss or you're the one that makes a decision on a team, you have to make a decision, then you move forward, and yet you respect everybody's input in that process, so nobody feels that they were not listened to and they don't feel that they weren't respected. Part of that is part of the dynamic process of building a robust and productive workplace. I like that. I like that. You always learn from each other. When you have this type of dialogue, I can understand where you're coming from. Exactly. And my friend told me at one time, not all adults are grown-ups, but we're going to be grown-ups in this room. And so I can really admire a person that can listen and be open to our dialogues, and let's agree to disagree. But moving on to our next question, how do you master the art of influence? Well, I believe, again, influence is being able to lead by example. So when you, in whatever you're trying to influence people on, have either demonstrated it, lived it, or achieved and done what you're asking people to follow or to implement, I think that's the greatest ability to influence people. Again, as I said, it's a personal, whether it's a, we call it a personal charisma or a personal credibility or respect. If you as an individual are able to live up to the goals and what you're trying to get other people to do, then you'll be respected. And you'll be able to convince others that, yes, she lives what she says, she does what she's asking us to do. We lead by example. We lead by doing. And I think we also lead by giving to others. You pay it forward. And that can influence a lot of people, your own sphere of credibility, your own ability to engender not only respect, but a loyalty from people that you're asking to pitch in and work just as hard alongside you or sacrifice alongside you. Sure, sure. Absolutely. And there's a saying that, you know, every time you walk out the door, you represent your brand. So we have to keep that in mind. And you and I had this conversation yesterday. Who do you consider your greatest mentor and why? Okay. I'd say the greatest mentor and my hero is my mother. Mine too. I, you know, I still, it touches me and I want to tear up now and I think about her. Because my mom was one of the first Japanese American women physicians here in Hawaii when she came back. And she had a very unique experience. She was a Nisei, but she was a Kiba Nisei. So she was sent by her parents back to Japan to be educated for medical school when she got trapped in Japan as an American citizen and therefore an enemy alien during World War II in Japan. And so she directly experienced many of the things that none of us have any clue about war, food shortages. Again, just the conflict of being perceived by others as not being one of them, even though you look like you're a Japanese person, but obviously you're an American. So she was very, very committed to things such as peace, diplomacy. She's very patriotic, a very patriotic person. And she was committed to hard work and making sure that you earned your position and that you demonstrated that you had the skills to be worthy of the job that you were given to do. And she was very dedicated. She was a dedicated physician. She sacrificed long hours to take care of her patients. And she sacrificed for me and worked and made personal financial sacrifices. So I should go to a really nice school, which I did, which was Punahou. And it was very expensive. And both my parents sacrificed financially. So I have to say my mom is my hero. And she's a role model because she was a pioneer in her field. She experienced many things personally that many men and women never experienced, and it gave her an appreciation for the global community that we live in. We want to talk more about that. We're going to take a quick break, and we're going to come back to gain a seat at the table with Commissioner Lorena Keefer. This is Stink Tech, Hawaii, raising public awareness. Why'd you have? She said. All the better to see you with my gear. What are you doing? Okay. Research says reading from birth accelerates the baby's brain development. And you're doing that now? Oh yeah. This is the starting line. Posh. This is over. You're dead. Read aloud 15 minutes. Every child. Every parent. Every day. Hey, I hope you'll join me on Stand Energy Man every Friday at noon here on Stink Tech, Hawaii, where community matters. I must be doing okay. I've done over 100 shows and they haven't fired me yet. So, hey, check us out every Friday. And if I'm not here, we've got Rachel James, who's way better looking than me and a whole lot younger. So, if I'm not here, you can even still watch Stand Energy Man. It's a great program. You'll learn a lot about a lot of things in energy, but especially my favorite, Hydrogen. See you on Fridays. Aloha. Welcome back to Sister Power. I'm your host, Sharon Yarbrough, and I'm here with Commissioner Lorraine Nakiba, and our title for today is Gain a Seat at the Table. My question, what advice would you give women in order to keep their seat at the table? You sit on many boards. Yes. Many, many boards. Yes. So, we need to understand we've obtained this. How do we contain it? Right. I think the most important thing is that women are in leadership positions, whether they're on boards, commissions, or in a leadership role as a CEO of a company. I think it's being not shy and not timid about exercising that leadership and being a leader and being confident as a leader while you still are listening to others. And it's, you know, being sustainable in that leadership is being able to incorporate new ideas, being innovative in some of the areas, being open to new ideas is, I think, how you keep the seat at the table. You grow as a professional. You grow as a leader as well. And it's also making sure that you're mentoring others, because then you are truly, you're not only there for yourself, you're there to mentor, whether it's other women or other younger folks, men and women. That is, I think, how you keep a seat at the table. You're demonstrating that you're adding value, not only to the immediate short-term work of what you're working on, but you're also adding value by providing successor leadership opportunities for others that come behind you. And that is the sign of a true leader. And that's, I think, how you keep the seat at the table as you're continuing to validate your value, not only to the organization, to the community, but to the next generation of men and women leaders that will follow you. Oh, I like that. Do women need more than a seat at the table? And if so, what is it? Well, I think women need to have a balanced perspective. And I think people in society need to still realize that there is a lot put on a woman. And no matter what we say, how progressive folks may be here in Hawaii, it's still a double standard. I think women still have to work harder to get to the same place. They give 200 percent, whereas maybe other colleagues that don't have the same responsibilities can—it's always exceeding the minimum and going beyond the gold standard to the extent—some people may say that some dynamic women leaders are overachievers, but I think in order to get there, sometimes they've had to do that. So I think we still need a supportive role, and we still need an acknowledgment that there are still a lot of old-school thinkers out there. There are still a lot of people that are very backward in their thinking. Misogyny has come up in the national rhetoric, and we're seeing a lot of the issues of sexual harassment and still lack of equality in terms of workplace, in terms of different industry sectors. And women still need to be respected, and men need to help with that. Men who sit alongside with women, who lead alongside with women, need to be supportive of that environment. And many of those men have daughters— Mothers, aunts, grandmothers. So it's not a male-female thing. It's a human thing. It's a human respect and decency standard, and I think that still—there's some work that needs to be done on that to really have women participating equally without any barriers or glass ceilings. You said it exactly the way it needed to be said. What would you like to share with the audience that we have not discussed? Okay. Okay. It's important to be happy and to be balanced as a leader. I think it's so important, and when you see a person who's not happy or who doesn't appreciate the basic things in life like making other people happy, I don't think that's a true leader. I really don't. And so there has to be balance for a person to be a good leader. There has to be balance, and there has to be an appreciation for the simple things in life. And that could just be family, loved ones, or just enjoying a beautiful sunset, or just taking time for oneself to relax and having a good quality of life. I think that's also important as a person. If you're not happy as a person, you can't be good to other people, and you definitely can't lead other people. This is true. Would you say— It's with heart. With heart. If you don't love yourself, how can you love someone? You love other people. Sure, absolutely. How do you inspire women to don't waste your seat at the table? Yeah. Well, I think sometimes it can be very frustrating, and some people can feel like, well, you know, why should I keep working at this? And I think it's important because you can't give in to a challenge. And I think most people who do get to the table, they've got the makeup, the personality, the personal strength that if they got there in the first place, even if there's some bumps along the road, you keep persevering, you keep moving forward, and you keep continuously improving yourself and the process around you. So I still have to say to folks, it's perseverance, it's dedication, and it's keeping your eye on the goal and what's really important in life. And despite the moneney things that may happen in a daily basis, I think if you keep in mind what's most important to you as a person, what's most important to you to contribute and make a difference in this world, that's enough motivation to keep people at the table, no matter what and no matter how tough it gets. And I think that's what we're all dealing with right now. Yes, we are. Very much so. And life is a challenge, and all of us have a story, and I think inspiring and motivating each other, we have to keep that in mind. My mother always told me there's two things I want you to remember, attitude, gratitude, well really three, and appreciation. And we need to appreciate what each other brings to the table, and that's another point. Determination to improve things for the next generation, what is your advice? I think that what we should remember is we are stewards of this planet. We are here only temporarily. I mean we're not here forever. So you want to always make this a better place than you got it. I feel that should be my goal. It may not always come true, but if that's the ultimate, the ideal utopian goal you want to achieve, then you'll improve things along the way. And so I think we should really make sure that we remember that we are merely stewards of the planet. I think many Native and Indigenous cultures, whether it's Native Hawaiian or Native American, they have that value. And that's a very important value. And that helps one lead with a moral compass and a humility to remember that this is not about you. It is also about the legacy you leave for those that follow behind you. And that's why so many important issues like climate change, like sustainability, like social justice, are so important for those that follow behind us. And you also have to pay it forward. If you have great opportunities and you're fortunate and you've been blessed with many things, it is so important. It's not all about me. And I know there are some leaders that, you know, what's in it for me, it's all about me or very narcissistic. But that's not good leadership in my view. A good leader pays it forward. I think there was a writing and there's some thought leadership on this. A good leader is the person who eats last. A good leader is a person who eats last. Like if you had a function, you make sure your workers, your team, whether it's your soldiers, your workers, your teammates eat first and you eat last. And I think that shows the servant leadership concept that is so important and I think distinguishes many women. I think women are servant leaders. Absolutely. And I'm glad you bought that. And I bought that issue up. I once read your legacy is every life you've touched. Legacy you leave is built one day at a time, one person at a time over a lifetime. What is the legacy you want to leave? I think I want to be able to say or people to be able to say that Lorraine truly was a compassionate and caring and giving leader and a strong leader, fair, but firm, decisive, but also able to listen. And I think that's important. I think that integrity, to be able to know that I did my best job, it may not have resolved everything completely, but I can know when at the end of the day, when I look at myself in the mirror and others, can test or judge my accomplishments that she always tried to do the best she could and treat people with decency and respect in doing that. I think that's really important. That is important. What is your greatest accomplishment? My greatest accomplishment. I think I have to say in probably trying to be the daughter that repays all the sacrifice that my mother made for me and that is still a continuing process. I don't know if I have one greatest accomplishment. I think it's still a work in progress. So I continue to try to live up to the standards and make sure that my mom in heaven knows that our sacrifices have been worthwhile and that I will make this world a better place when I leave it. Tell us your mom's name. Florence Iwasa. That was her name. Dr. Florence Iwasa. Wow. And she lived here? She lived here in Honolulu, Hawaii and she passed away a few years ago, but she was an incredible influence on my life and I carry her dearly in my heart every day. So she inspires me every day and when things get tough, I still remember my mom was tough. When things get tough, toughen up and stay focused and keep your eye on the star that you want to follow and the things that you want to accomplish. Well, what does it take to be recognized as an emerging leader? What does it take to be recognized as an emerging leader? I think part of that is, again, your accomplishments and your actions need to speak for themselves. I think you need to make sure you are networked in the community and that means opening yourself up to work with different groups maybe that you've never worked with before or to learn new things. I think leadership is also about learning and so becoming an effective and enabling you to be a leader and an emerging leader is part of, you know, it takes a village right to say to raise a child. I think it takes that kind of process for you to be recognized as an emerging leader. You need to have a network of folks that support you, that help you lead and that could be providing you technical information, that could be providing personal support, it could just be providing you balance for those days where you just need to take a break and relax. So that's what I think it is. It's an important network and that you need to be able to have that network support you in your role as an emerging leader. Excellent. What lessons has your work life taught you? What lessons? I think of anything that I need to do a better job of doing what I say. Which is finding balance in life. I think that's important to find balance in life which is trying to make sure that I make enough time for my family, for my husband, for for my personal life as well and enjoy life because life is very short. Life is very short. Who has been the biggest influence on your life? Besides my mom, I probably say there's some very important female role models that I would take a look at throughout time and some of them have been people as amazing as Patsy Mink who is a great leader and also people that have twirl away every day and come to work and balance family and home and the workplaces that I've worked in so you know the everyday common person that I come into contact with and I think those have been the greatest influences keeping it real you know to realize that it's really important what we do and how we treat each other. Yeah absolutely. How did you decide to become an attorney? Well I've always wanted to be an attorney. I don't know why as a child I think just you know I gravitated towards those types of skills but I think it's very important. Attorneys play an important role in our society. They're there to provide representation whether it's in the criminal justice area or social justice area but also there to influence business and to be business leaders. So attorneys provide skill sets that help others and then they also have natural skill sets and I think I those are my personal strengths that I felt that was a good communicator, a good analytical mind and I am able to work hard. I'm not afraid of hard work and I'm not afraid of a stressful situation. I think you know I can rise to the challenge and maybe part of that is again my moral compass and the strength and the courage that my mom had demonstrated and exemplified that I take inspiration from and I draw strength from that that I can be as strong and I can do the things that I need to do. Good. What is the bravest thing you've ever done? Bravest thing I've ever done. You've been all over the world. Yeah I have to say and I shared this earlier with others. I think the bravest thing I've ever done and the hardest thing I've ever done was to respect my mom's wishes when she was at the you know end of her life to to respect her right to choose that she wanted to be to be able to move on to the next realm and not to be put on life support and not to you know to respect her wishes and her right to you know to choose her her health care directives and and what she needed to and that was the hardest thing for me that was the most courageous thing I did was to respect her wishes but it was also the most difficult thing for me to do. We have our life stories are so similar and our time is so short. We have so much more to discuss. I want to thank you for sharing your story on Sister Paro. We really appreciate that. I want to thank you though for Sisters Empowering Hawaii. You are part of that organization and you should check out the website for Sharon because that's how I actually got to know Sharon and I think that's a really important organization and the work that you do to honor women and to help women with scholarships because we need to give a hand up and we need to be role models for other women and give them support and I think you do that as well Sharon. So I wanted to take that time to say thank you so much for what you do. Thank you so much. Thank you Sister Power, Oaches of Aloha, Peace and Love.