Reading Time: 8 minutesE iko Sato Kodama’s, ’82, career trajectory has taken unexpected turns since her time at Meredith. She first heard of Meredith from a North Carolinian classmate as a high schooler attending an international school. Upon visiting, she fell in love with the beautiful campus and knew it was the right college for her.

“I thought the students were well taken care of because of the small and tight-knit community,” said Sato Kodama. “My mother went to a historic women’s university in Japan, so I wanted that experience too.” 

Her college experience was enriched by the great hospitality shown by the Meredith community. She made strong friendships in college that have lasted decades. As an undergraduate, she connected with Mary Lily Gaddy, ’42, and the Hamrick family (after which the Gaddy-Hamrick Arts Center is named) who welcomed Sato Kodama into their home during college breaks and showed her around Raleigh.

Sato Kodama developed hospitality and communication skills that are still applicable today through the relationships she formed at Meredith. “You cannot learn these skills just by studying but rather by interacting,” she said. 

After graduating with a degree in economics, Sato Kodama pursued a career in finance in both Tokyo and New York. Eventually, she settled in Japan and married her husband, who is the fifth-generation president of the family-owned Kodama Brewing Company. The brewery, founded in 1879, produces and exports sake (Japanese rice wine), shoyu (soy sauce), and miso (soybean paste). 

Originally, Sato Kodama chose to be a stay-at-home mother. Once her children were older, however, she started helping her husband with office work while their children were in school. “This was when websites were first launching, and Japanese cuisine was gaining popularity in the United States,” said Sato Kodama. “Kodama Brewery started to reach out to international markets, so I translated the company’s documents into English.”

Her interest in working at the brewery company full-time was cemented after she was asked to write about the Kodama’s family history in English for the Akita International University. Today, she is the vice president of global marketing for the company.

In this role, Sato Kodama works as a liaison between the company and sake importers from 16 countries in North America, Asia, Europe, and Oceania. She often travels to these regions to build relationships with the company’s importers, using the hospitality and communication skills she learned as an undergraduate. “I enjoy meeting people from around the world to introduce our food, culture, products, and family history. One of the most challenging aspects of my work is finding the right partner. Building trust and relationships is important to do business together,” she said. 

“Looking back at my life, I feel we are made up of a combination of all the things we learned and experienced. I did not always realize all these experiences would tie in together,” said Sato Kodama about how Meredith shaped her. “I am grateful for the friends and people I met during my years at Meredith and cherish my memories. It has made a difference in making me who I am.”