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March marks the start of Women’s History Month, an annual celebration that pays tribute to the remarkable contributions of women to historical events and contemporary society. This celebration resonates not only in the United States, Britain, and Australia but also globally, aligning with International Women’s Day on March 8. This year's theme, "Inspire Inclusion," adds an uplifting dimension to the celebrations. Both Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day serve as global commemorations of women's accomplishments in the social, economic, cultural, and political spheres.
Throughout this month, a diverse range of global activities will unfold, bringing together communities to honor women's achievements, raise awareness for women's equality, advocate for positive change, and expedite progress toward gender parity. Asia Society Japan is proud to contribute to this celebration by hosting a symposium on March 6. This event stands as a testament to our commitment to recognizing and championing the accomplishments of women and fostering discussions that inspire positive change.
Amid Asia Society's "Year of Japan," a series of programs extending until June 2024, the Japan Center has initiated discussions on hosting a conference centered around women's education and leadership. The planning began last August, and, in collaboration with the women’s leadership stream led by Japan Center Founding Member Claire Chino, the aim is to craft a program that will inspire future generations. This involves supporting women and girls in attaining leadership roles, decision-making positions, and pursuing careers in STEM with guidance from experts in these fields.
This conference is structured around two pivotal discussions. The first, "Advancing Women in STEM: A Strategic Outlook for Japan," focuses on the education sector and aims to scrutinize the evolving landscape of STEM in Japan. The panel serves as a strategic platform not only for acknowledging positive trends but also for analyzing, strategizing, and envisioning a future where women in STEM play integral and empowering roles within Japan's professional landscape. The second discussion, "The Future of Women’s Leadership in Business: Strategic Approaches for Transformation," is dedicated to shaping the trajectory of women’s leadership in the business domain. This panel will examine leadership disparities in the U.S., Japan, and globally, scrutinize policy landscapes, and explore what the private sector and individuals can do to enhance the situation.
With global leaders from the Asia Society in attendance, these discussions are poised to be dynamic and engaging, providing a platform for active dialogue and collaboration.
Timeline
4:00 – 4:05 p.m.
Opening remark
4:05 – 5:00 p.m.
Panel Discussion 1:
Advancing Women in STEM: A Strategic Outlook for Japan
5:05 – 6:00 p.m.
Panel Discussion 2:
The Future of Women's Leadership in Business: Strategic Approaches for Transformation
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Reception
Event and Registration Details
- This event will be conducted in in-person and online, and registration is required.
- In-person participation is open to the public. Please pay your fee by credit card (Visa or Mastercard only) or at the door.
- Online participation is open to the public and free.
Speaker Bios
Moderator
Junko Hibiya
Former President of International Christian University
Junko Hibiya is Professor Emerita of International Christian University (ICU), a pioneer of liberal arts education in Japan, established to cultivate globally minded citizens. She became President in 2012 at the university, the first woman to serve as President in the history of the institution. Before joining the administrative stream, she served as a professor of Sociolinguistics. Prior to her tenure at ICU, she was on the faculty of Keio University for fifteen years after receiving her Ph.D. in Linguistics from the University of Pennsylvania in 1988.
Since 2015 she has been a member of the Central Council for Education, a permanent advisory council in the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. She was also elected to a Council Member of the Science Council of Japan (SCJ) 2020, advancing SCJ's international collaborations in her capacity as Secretary of the Committee for International Affairs. From October 2023, Dr. Hibiya serves as Vice President in charge of International Activities of the Science Council of Japan since October 2023.
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Dr. Carol Gluck
George Sansom Professor of History, Columbia University
Carol Gluck is the George Sansom Professor of History Emerita at Columbia University, specializing in the history of modern Japan, international history, and public memory. Her books include Japan's Modern Myths: Ideology in the Late Meiji Period; Words in Motion: Toward a Global Lexicon; the forthcoming Past Obsessions: World War II in History and Memory; in Japanese, Rekishi de kangaeru [Thinking with the Past](2007) and Sensō no kioku [War memory](2019). Former President of the Association for Asian Studies, she is a member of the Board of Japan Society and the Trustees Emeriti of Asia Society.
Dr. Naoko Sugita
Advisor to the Director, Earth Observation Research Center, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
Dr. Sugita has more than 20 years of experience in the space sector. She has held numerous roles and led several projects in fostering innovation with the private sector, international cooperation and strategic research for the executives. Among the projects initiated includes collaboration with a startup and local government, which later won the Prime Minister's award of the Japan Open Innovation Prize.
She is now serving as the Japan lead for Earth Observing Dashboard in cooperation with NASA and ESA, to make information from satellites available to decision-makers and the general public. She is also promoting public-private-academia partnerships through the Consortium for Satellite Earth Observation (CONSEO).
Ds. Sugita earned her bachelor’s degree from the Tokyo University of Foreign studies in 1993, and then went on to earn a Master of Law from Hitotsubashi University in 1995 and then subsequently a Master in Public Administration at the Harvard Kennedy School in 2002. She ultimately received a doctorate from the National Graduate Institute of Policy Studies in 2010.
In addition to JAXA, she has worked at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Technology, Science, and Technology. Currently, at JAXA, she is the Advisor to the Director of the Earth Observation Research Center. Having served as the Director of Gender Equality Office of JAXA, she continues to support the succeeding Work-Life Support and Diversity Office.
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Moderator
Mitsuru Claire Chino
Attorney at Law (California)
Mitsuru Claire Chino is a bilingual and bicultural (U.S. and Japan) senior business executive with a Fortune Global 500 company and an international lawyer with 30+ years’ experience. She was a partner of an international law firm prior to joining ITOCHU, a diversified industrials. With ITOCHU over the years, she has served as Global General Counsel, CEO of its North American operations as well as other senior executive positions.
She is a graduate of Smith College (B.A. cum laude) and Cornell Law School (J.D.), where she serves on the advisory board. She is also a classically trained singer who has studied voice at the Juilliard School of Music (Evening Division).
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Kathy Matsui
General Partner, MPower
Kathy is co-founder and General Partner of MPower Partners, Japan’s first ESG-integrated global venture capital fund. MPower Partners’ mission is to empower entrepreneurs providing tech-enabled solutions to societal challenges and to drive sustainable growth through ESG integration. Kathy previously served as the former Vice Chair of Goldman Sachs Japan and Chief Japan Equity Strategist. Her groundbreaking ʻWomenomicsʼ research spurred the Japanese government to promote gender diversity, and she has advised corporations on governance and diversity best practices.
Kathy serves as an external board director of Fast Retailing Inc., adjunct professor at Kyoto University’s Graduate School of Management, co-chair of the Board of the US-Japan Council, board member of the Asian University for Women (AUW) Support Foundation, director of the Fast Retailing Foundation, member of the Council on Foreign Relations, The Nature Conservancy Asia Pacific Council, Yamauchi Foundation, the Bretton Woods Committee Advisory Council, Keizai Doyukai, the Japan Society Fund Against Breast Cancer, and the Mori Arts Museum Board of Trustees. In 2020, she published a best-selling Japanese book entitled "How to Nurture Female Employees."
Kathy earned an AB, magna cum laude, in Social Studies from Harvard University and an MA from Johns Hopkins University, School of Advanced International Studies. She conducted research on Japanese foreign policy at Kobe University Graduate School on a Rotary Scholarship.
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Betsy Z. Cohen
Global Vice Chair & Secretary, Asia Society
ASPI Council Member
Chairman, FinTech Masala
Betsy Z. Cohen is the Chairman of FinTech Masala. She is also founder of The Bancorp, where she served as the Chief Executive Officer from 1999 through 2014. She is a creator of financial businesses with over 30 years of experience in banking, real estate and financial law, as well as real estate lending, investing and development. Mrs. Cohen was the second female law professor on the east coast, teaching antitrust law and government regulation of business at Rutgers University Law School. She co-founded a Philadelphia law firm specializing in complex real estate and financial concerns.
In 1974 Mrs. Cohen founded Jefferson Bank in Pennsylvania where she served continuously as Chairman and CEO as well as Chairman and CEO of its holding company, Jeffbanks, Inc., the largest financial institution in Pennsylvania. In 1999, she founded The Bancorp, an FDIC-insured virtual bank providing services to small and mid-size businesses and their principals in the Philadelphia- Wilmington market area through its community bank Philadelphia Private Bank, and on private-label affinity group programs for organizations and institutions, including merchant card servicing.
Mrs. Cohen is the recipient of numerous awards, among them named in 1997 one of 50 leading female entrepreneurs of the world by the National Foundation for Women Business Owners, ranked in several years among the 25 outstanding Women Bankers and in 2009 named By US Banker as one of 25 Women to Watch.
Mrs. Cohen is affiliated with many corporate and non-profit boards, currently serving as Chairman of Fintech Masala; Vice Chairman, Executive Committee member and Secretary of Asia Society; Founding Member of the Asia Society Policy Institute; Trustee of The Brookings Institute; Honorary Trustee of the Metropolitan Museum of Art; and Treasurer, Managing Director, and Finance Committee member of The Metropolitan Opera.
Mrs. Cohen is a graduate of Bryn Mawr College and received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Pennsylvania.
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Paddy Jordan
Vice President of Human Resources, Japan & Korea
Coca-Cola Company
Paddy Jordan is the Vice President of Human Resources, Japan & Korea, for the Coca-Cola Company. Paddy joined the Coca-Cola System in 2017. In 2018 he was appointed as the Vice President of Human Resources for their South Pacific Business, based in Sydney. He moved to Japan in 2019 to take on his current role.
Paddy is originally Irish, born in Dublin and hold a Bachelor of Business Studies Degree. He commenced his career in Corporate Banking, as a Banker, working for Allied Irish Banks plc. In 2001 he moved to Australia and continued his career in Financial Services in front line Customer roles before he changed his career when he moved into Compensation & Benefits. Paddy spent several years specializing in Compensation & Benefits, doing may roles including compensation analysis, consulting, and executive compensation design. He moved into Human Resources in 2010 working for National Australia Bank, before he moved to Coca-Cola.
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