Women in Work: What Can Companies Do to Level the Playing Field? - Photos
On Tuesday 4 March 2025, we held the second panel discussion within our ‘Women in Work: Japan’ series at the headquarters of our corporate donor SMBC in central London. This in-person event followed an online conversation about gender equality in the aerospace sector with astronaut Naoko Yamazaki, as well as a panel discussion at Nomura which focused on Japan’s broader gender gap in politics and the economy, both events were held in 2024.
The event was moderated by Kana Inagaki (Industry Editor, Financial Times), who guided the discussion with her extensive experience reporting on Japan’s corporate landscape. Our distinguished panellists were:
- Yoko Dochi (Board Member, Kirin Holdings Company, Rinnai Corporation, Nippo Ltd)
- Jane Sethi (Chief Human Resources Officer for EMEA, SMBC)
- David Mitchinson (Founding Partner and CIO, Zennor Asset Management)
On this occasion, the panellist explored what companies can do to better facilitate and support women's progression within the workplace The discussion examined how businesses can create a level playing field for women, drawing on the experiences of industry leaders who have successfully implemented initiatives to drive gender diversity and inclusion. The panel discussed Japan's aims to achieve 30% female board representation in top-tier companies by 2030. Panellists shared insights into the effectiveness of mentorship programs, flexible working policies and strategies for addressing gender pay equity. There was a clear need to implement initiatives at all levels to build a pipeline of talent to support with greater gender diversity at board level and address the stigma facing women in the workplace.
On this occasion, the panellists explored what companies can do to better facilitate and support women's progression within the workplace. The discussion examined how businesses can create a level playing field for women, drawing on the experiences of industry leaders who have successfully implemented initiatives to drive gender diversity and inclusion. The panel discussed Japan's aims to achieve 30% female board representation in top-tier companies by 2030. Panellists shared insights into the effectiveness of mentorship programs, flexible working policies and strategies for addressing gender pay equity. There was a clear need to implement initiatives at all levels to build a pipeline of talent to support greater gender diversity at board level, and to address the stigma and barriers that women encounter in the workplace.
The event also featured a video message from Julia Longbottom CMG (British Ambassador to Japan) who spoke about her own journey, her hopes for The UK Diplomat Service and its progress and her hopes for Japan's EDI agenda.
Following a dynamic and engaging Q&A session with the audience, the evening concluded with a sake tasting reception, featuring a variety of sake from Japan’s northernmost to southernmost regions. Attendees had the opportunity to network and continue discussions on how to drive meaningful change for women in the workplace.
The Japan Society is extremely grateful to our Corporate Partner, SMBC, for hosting this event. We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to Sake Samurai for their generous support in providing sake for the reception.
