Our Coaches
Coach Partners
Mayumi Brenner
Cross Border Connect
Career Coach Specializing in Overseas Career Transitions and Global Careers.
After studying in the UK, Brenner Mayumi relocated to Hong Kong, working at a Japanese bank and an American event company before serving as the Hong Kong and China President for Tempstaff (now Persol Holdings). Over 16 years, she supported thousands of individuals in career transitions and provided HR and labor solutions to thousands of companies. She successfully established four offices in Hong Kong and China and led joint venture and integration projects with a U.S.-based recruitment firm,Kelly Services.
In 2017, she moved to California, USA, and founded Cross Border Connect (CBC), a career coaching company that supports individuals aspiring to pursue global careers. She is a certified coach by the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and a proud mother of three.
John Edward McGraw
Hiyaku Coaching
John Edward McGraw helps newcomers, governments, and businesses connect across cultures to succeed in less time and pain.
Canadian by birth, John’s passion for culture came from living and working in Japan for several years as an EFL (English as a Foreign Language) instructor. After moving back to Canada, he became a Certified Intercultural Coach and Facilitator and founded Hiyaku Coaching to help bridge cultural divides in Canada.
John has worked with nonprofit organizations helping newcomers settle into Canada, coached international professionals on adapting to Canada’s workplace culture, and trained and advised a Canadian municipal government’s upcoming trade mission to Japan.
Kasia
Ikigai Connections
Kasia (カーシャ) a trilingual American who spent 8 years in Japan, including high school, college, graduate school, and her professional career. She earned her Bachelor’s from Boston University and Master’s from Tokyo’s Ochanomizu University.
Kasia’s career utilizing Japanese language and cultural skills began in 2003 with concert promotion, and later moved to interpreting/translating, electronics, and the automotive industry. She was able to do this while living in Japan, Poland, Italy, and the US.
Since starting Ikigai Connections in 2018, Kasia has been featured in various Japan-related podcasts, websites, and webinars, including the US-Japan Bridging Foundation, USJETAA, Laurasian Institution, and BFF Tokyo. Her goal is for NihongoJobs.com to become the go-to job board for all Japanese jobs in the US.
Yuki Gotanda
Yuki Gotanda Coaching & Consulting Inc
Yuki is an ICF-certified Coach, Erickson Certified Professional Coach (ECPC), and Trauma-Informed Certified Coach (TICC). Yuki works with clients in different stages of their career development (young professionals, mid-career professionals, leadership transition, senior leaders, and the third age/retirement). Partnering with her clients, Yuki takes a holistic approach, focusing on the client’s longer-term career/life satisfaction.
Before becoming a coach, Yuki worked in the International development/humanitarian sector. She has over 20 years of international experience in the private sector, UN, and NGOs and worked in 19 countries throughout Africa, Asia-Pacific, North America, and Europe. Having managed humanitarian projects in hardship duty stations, Yuki strongly believes in the importance of staff wellness and career development support.
She currently offers coaching services in English and Japanese
Emily Frank
Career Catalyst
Emily is a professional career counselor with over 15 years of experience, ranging from
higher education to private practice. She was a JET Program participant in Hokkaido
and likes to work with people interested in US-Japan relations. She has a passion for
working with creative people and those transitioning back to life in the US. Her practice covers deeply personal topics like identity and finding meaning, as well as such nitty-gritty things like resumes and salary negotiation
She holds a B.A. in East Asian Studies from Smith College and an M.A. in professional
counseling from Regis University in Denver, CO. She calls Denver home, but is happy
to work with people all over the world.