“Women in Action: Choosing Your Career” Event at TIB

On August 25, Governor Koike attended the event “Women in Action: Choosing Your Career” held at Tokyo Innovation Base (TIB). The event featured a panel discussion with the governor, Professor Sheena Iyengar of Columbia Business School, and Chairman Koji Akiyoshi of Asahi Group Holdings, Ltd., moderated by President and CEO Tsukahara Tsukiko of Kaleidist K.K., as well as an exchange of views with high school students from Tokyo.

The governor stated, “I made my first move in my teens. I set a rule for myself to visit every country and stay at least one night in each place. Actually going there and seeing various realities has been immensely useful to this day. I will continue to apply what I have learned to make Tokyo the world's leading city. I want young people to have a go at various things in their lives.”

When asked what leaders and managers should keep in mind to create a workplace where people can choose careers without gender constraints, she responded: "Women make up half of society. I believe that leveraging women's potential will revitalize Tokyo and make it the world's leading city. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Equal Employment Opportunity Act. Addressing various challenges using women's values, perspectives, and working styles actually creates a more comfortable working environment for men too, and leads to harnessing the potential of each individual."

She concluded, “The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is committed to promoting women's empowerment and diversity management. We have issued a joint declaration with corporate leaders who support this view. We aim to build an ecosystem in Tokyo where female employees can thrive and leverage their unique strengths by sharing information. Life is full of exciting things. It is vital not to set your own limits, but to give it a try first.”