BoardRoom magazine Top Private Club Presidents of 2021

BoardRoom magazine annually recognizes the world’s top private club presidents, captains and chairs as Private Club Presidents of the Year, for their outstanding work, their understanding of the industry, and roles and responsibilities of the club’s board of directors.?In this continuing series, BoardRoom introduces all of the Top 21 Presidents for 2021, this article features Yoshiko Inoue, president at The Yale Club of New York City in New York, NY.?Private club board presidents play a huge role in the professional operations of their clubs as a volunteer working diligently with their board of directors and general managers, striving for well-informed, but not emotional decisions. This recognition by BoardRoom magazine has attracted board president nominations from clubs and other nominators around the world.

Yoshiko Inoue, President

The Yale Club of New York City | New York, NY

Yoshiko Inoue took on the mantle of president at The Yale Club, a BoardRoom Distinguished Clubs in New York, during the height of the pandemic and guided the club with clarity, fortitude, and grace.?

She made the difficult decisions that ensured The Yale Club of New York City weathered the crisis. Her astute financial background and cool-under-fire temperament made her the right leader at the right time.

“I was fortunate to partner with the club’s GM Amber Read and club leaders, as our shared values, alignment of vision, and mutual respect propelled us forward even in the darkest days,” explained past president Inoue.?

“Generating consensus and buy-in enabled us to earn the confidence of members and employees. As disruptive as the pandemic has been, it also presented an opportunity to reassess historical norms and make impactful changes to position the club for a brighter future.”?

Like many clubs facing the public health crisis, The Yale Club weathered two of the most challenging years in its 125-year history during 2020 and 2021. Through thoughtful and frequent communications, Inoue and club leaders conducted member surveys and financial analysis to develop a reopening that prioritized health and safety and conserved capital.

The Yale Club has a council comprised of engaged members in place of a board of directors, which works collaboratively with the GM Read to establish policies and rules for facilities. Read handles the day-to-day operations. Through this teamwork with the executive management and the club’s membership and marketing team, Inoue was able to accelerate the process and launch a member-facing app in October 2021.?

On the club’s to-do list for many years, the app’s successful implementation has streamlined and simplified the member experience by enabling members to manage billing and reservations and connect with club staff in real-time.

Inoue graduated from Yale with a BA in Economics and earned an MBA from Wharton. She joined the club in 2000, starting her governance involvement in various committees, including chairing the finance and house committees. Inoue began her term as president in June 2020. With a background in investment management, she oversees asset allocation at American Family Insurance. She lives in NYC with her husband and son.