Winding Paths to Success

An inspirational compilation of stories from successful Japanese professional women

In Winding Paths to Success: Chart a Career in Uncertain Times, experienced management consultant Nobuko Kobayashi delivers an engaging and insightful discussion of the professional and personal successes of senior Japanese women executives, academics, and entrepreneurs who started their career in the late ‘80s to ‘90s, the dawn of gender equity at work in Japan. You’ll discover how these remarkable people carved out a long and rewarding career in a challenging environment.

The author describes the substantial diversity of Japanese professional life, exploring the rich and varied histories of women who are often stereotyped and relegated to a one-size-fits-all story. Their creative navigation amid uncertainties inspires anyone who wishes to establish a career in the highly volatile world of today. You’ll also find:

• Personal and forthcoming stories from women executives
• Recommendations for public and private sector employers to further enhance diversity and inclusiveness in the workplace
• Individual strategies for crafting successful careers from a minority position

Perfect for those building a career, managers, executives, entrepreneurs, founders, and other business leaders, Winding Paths to Success is a must-have resource for aspiring and practicing business leaders in Japan and other countries.

Prologue xi

1 Levity 1

Yuki Shingu Makes a Brilliant Comeback to IT Career After Nursing Care Leave 4

Japan—Almost Silent over #MeToo 14

Why Having Women at the Top Is Not Enough 18

2 Independence 23

Makiko Nakamori Approaches Corporate Governance with Resolve 26

Gender Diversity in Japan Inc. Must Blast Past Tokenism 34

Women Must Learn to Harness the Power of Networking 37

3 Purpose 43

Mami Kataoka Believes in the Power of Art to Change the World 46

Every Day Is International Men’s Day in Japan 56

Companies Must Face Up to the Downsides of Workplace Diversity 59

4 Altruism 67

Ayako Sonoda Inherits Altruism and Entrepreneurism Passed from Her Mother 70

Let’s Get Real About Female Equality in Corporate Japan 80

Rolling with the Punches Hurts Japanese Women 84

5 Conviction 91

Miyuki Suzuki Drives Change as Outsider from Within 94

Meetings with Women That “Take Too Long” Are a Good Thing 104

Kawaii Culture Hurts Japanese Women in Business 107

6 Leadership 111

Masami Katakura Realizes Her Leadership Potential with Help from a Mentor 114

Former Princess Mako’s Marriage Holds a Mirror to Japan 123

Japan’s Language Gender Divide Hurts Women at Work 126

7 Growth 131

Ryoko Nagata Stays Clear of Cigarettes in a Tobacco Company 134

Japan Must Break the Glass Fence Keeping Mothers at Home 143

Japanese Companies Must Capitalize on the Gender Gap Disclosure Rule 146

8 Curiosity 153

Noriko Osumi Normalizes Women in Science 156

Japan Needs More STEM Research, Not Tours, to Revive Innovation 167

Women Can Help Revive Innovation for Japan Inc. 171

9 Ambition 179

Yumi Narushima Returns to Benesse After Running a Girls’ School 182

Japan Must Reform Its Antiquated Marriage Laws 195

Japan’s Miss Contests Reflect Society’s High Demands on Women 198

10 Competence 205

Masae Yamanaka Builds Career in Sales Traversing Four Companies 208

C-Suite: The Last Frontier for Foreigners Eyeing Japan Inc. 223

Can Japan Have Prosperity Without Growth? 226

11 Homecoming 233

Chikako Matsumoto, World Bank Alum, Thrives at Japanese Trust Bank 236

Japanese Companies Can No Longer Expect Lifetime Loyalty from Workers 250

Gender Equity Is Coming to Japan’s Workplaces 253

12 Resilience 259

Yasuko Gotoh Breaks Ground for Women Career Bureaucrats 262

Japanese Businesswomen Need More Than a Place at the Table 277

Employers Should Encourage Risk- Taking to Beat Impostor Syndrome 281

Acknowledgments 287

Index 291

NOBUKO KOBAYASHI is a partner at EY-Parthenon, a strategic consulting arm of EY. A Japanese and English bilingual professional based in Tokyo, she contributes opinions and columns regularly to Nikkei Asia, Japan Times and frequently appears on international media platforms such as the BBC. She holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and an MS/BS from the University of Tokyo.

In Winding Paths to Success: Chart a Career in Uncertain Times, management consultant Nobuko Kobayashi delivers an insightful and penetrating discussion of the professional successes of a wide selection of senior Japanese women executives, academics, and entrepreneurs. In this book you will find out how 12 Japanese women battled structural obstacles in challenging environments over the last three decades to carve out long and rewarding careers and to ultimately realize great and worthy achievements.

The author maps out the diversity of the Japanese professional life, describing the rich and varied histories of women who have been too often relegated to stereotypes and clichéd stories. You will discover how these women employed professional jiu-jitsu to convert their minority disadvantages into advantages, providing a route to success amidst individual struggles.

The women profiled in the book are humorous and warmly candid, generous with their stories and observations about the societal work that remains to be done in a traditional corporate landscape still dominated by men. They discuss strategies for individuals to flourish and provide recipes for both incremental and revolutionary societal change that will pave the way for the next generation of female leaders and trailblazers. Each chapter includes recommendations for the public and private sectors to better facilitate the rise of working women.

An incisive and first-hand account of how to make the working world a more inviting and welcoming place for women of all backgrounds, Winding Paths to Success is an essential and engaging new perspective on minorities in business written both for those at the start of building a career and seasoned professionals alike.

Praise for WINDING PATHS TO SUCCESS

“Japan has embarked on the long journey to improve gender equality in the workplace. Winding Paths to Success is a refreshing read that both celebrates the women, who flourished despite the obstacles, and sends a strong message to business leaders to push for a more inclusive workplace.”
—MASAHIKO UOTANI, Chairman and Group CEO, Shiseido Co., Ltd.

“The stories told by Kobayashi provide surprising and compelling new perspectives on the diverse ways Japanese professional women have navigated the obstacles they face.”
—GEOFFREY JONES, Isidor Straus Professor of Business History, Harvard Business School

“Provoking, insightful and enjoyable. A powerful source of inspiration and ideas for leaders in business and beyond.”
—JORGE GARDUÑO, President, Japan and South Korea, The Coca-Cola Company

“In these uncertain times where there is no one-size-fits-all path to success, the stories of the women so brilliantly illustrated in this book, provide real inspiration and encouragement to anyone thinking of stepping into a new stage in their career.”
—GINKA TOEGEL, Professor of Leadership, IMD, Switzerland

“Equality in the workplace remains a pressing challenge and Nobuko’s book offers innovative structural solutions, while also illustrating personal strategies to overcome adversity through the life stories of 12 trailblazing women. Working in a variety of careers, they find a common need for purpose — believing that what they do matters and makes a real difference. A must-read for leaders and anyone striving for inclusive, purpose-driven workplaces.”
—CARMINE DI SIBIO, Global Chairman and CEO, EY

“Winding Paths to Success beautifully captures the courage and creativity of the women who have built their career in the last decades. Their stories, and Nobuko Kobayashi’s insights, provide a valuable perspective to leaders on how to tackle the systemic inequalities still present today.”
—CHRIS MAZZEI, former Global Vice Chair Strategy, EY; Adjunct Professor at Cornell and NYU

“From each career episode of the Japanese women protagonists, emerge universal lessons — double down on your core skills, turn disadvantages into advantages, and seize the right opportunities all while never losing empathy for others. Nobuko Kobayashi brilliantly captures the essence of long-term career and life success in Winding Paths to Success.”
—DR. OTTO SCHULZ, board member of the German Sustainability Award Foundation