[Event Report] CCCJ・McGill MBA Japan Gender Diversity Roundtable

CCCJ ・McGill MBA Japan Gender Diversity Roundtable

「参加者のリアルな体験談から多くの学びと発見がありました。特に強く感じたことは、職場における女性の問題は、男性も含めた働く人全体の問題でもあることです。働き方そのものを変えていくことが必要」－小須田　明子氏

"I learnt and found a lot from real practices of all participants. Particularly, I felt that issues concerning women at work place are often applicable for all workers including men. Work style itself needs to be changed”- Ms. Akiko Kosuda

On June 23rd at TMI Associates in Roppongi Hills, CCCJ・McGill MBA Japan Gender Diversity (Womenomics) Roundtable was hosted by Akiko Kosuda - member of the CCCJ's Honorary Board of Advisors, Senior Advisor to the Japan PFI/PPP Association, and Tokyo Girls Collection Executive Committee Supervisor. The goal of this session was to bring together business people from the CCCJ's membership as well as the greater international chamber network to come together, learn from one another and discuss Gender Diversity issues in and beyond corporate Japan. 15 people from international communities in Tokyo participated in this event.

The highlights and key takeaways from this discussion were:

  • Benefits of creating flexible work environment not just for women but also for men 
  • How women can overcome obstacles they face in male-dominated work environment
  • Differences of work cultures in North America and Japan
  • Using “external pressure” to bring positive changes
  • Customers’ unconscious biases toward female managers
  • Importance of establishing good child-care and mentoring programs both women and men can take advantages of at earlier stages of their career 
  • With “Women or Girls Only” practices or policies, true diversity cannot be achieved 

The content of this roundtable will be shared in our new publication, “The Canadian” in October.

Background:

Japan was ranked 104th out of 142 countries on the World Economic Forum (WEF)’s Global Gender Gap sub-index on economic participation and opportunity in 2014. The Japanese government is advocating the ‘20-30’ campaign that calls for raising the percentage of women in management positions from the current 10% to 30% by 2020. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has made ‘Womenomics’ one of the key elements of his growth strategy, calling for “creating a society in which women shine,” while Japanese companies have just begun taking steps toward gender diversity in management.

Canada was ranked 19th behind developing countries such as South Africa (18), Burundi (17), and Nicaragua (6). “Twenty years ago Canada ranked first amongst nations in international measures of gender equality,” said Kate McInturff, Senior Researcher at the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.

While the diversity efforts of the past several decades have resulted in some improvements in women’s participation rates and career trajectories, we’re still decades away from true gender equality – if we keep doing what we’re doing,” said Pat Milligan, President of Mercer’s North America Region. “It’s time to act differently to realize the benefit of their full participation and address the unique needs of female employees.

This session is part of the CCCJ's Gender and Diversity event and advocacy series which aims to catalyze and support Gender Diversity and Inclusion efforts by giving Roundtable participants a chance to discuss meaningful ways in which Gender Gap issues can be challenged.

This event was generously supported by CCCJ Corporate Sustaining Member TMI Associates and Corporate Member McGill MBA Japan

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