Addressing social issues in Japan

In my current position I’m director of an executive support department, where I’m mainly engaged in supporting companies in promoting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). My work is an effort to build stronger, more dynamic organizations by enabling all employees to make the most of their individual talents regardless of attributes such as race, feeling inspired in their work and holding a diverse range of ideas and views. I start by listening earnestly to employees’ voices through one-on-one interviews and questionnaire surveys. Based on that information, I then clarify issues and target states through repeated discussions with the corporate client. I then proceed to frame specific responses, bringing operating departments on-board. I work closely with client teams to implement the solution, ultimately with the goal of forming a promotional framework and organizational culture through which the corporate client can run the solution autonomously.

In the 2024 gender-gap index, Japan placed 118th out of 146 countries (120th in economic terms), the lowest among all advanced countries. I feel personally that this is an issue of enormous importance. If I can do something, in my own little way, to create a better society through my support of corporate clients, that gives me enormous job satisfaction. And when I receive reports that a company’s employees feel more content and motivated in their work, I get a sense of accomplishment that’s out of this world.