TOMODACHI MetLife Women’s Leadership Program Alumni Community Launches to Commemorate Program’s Fifth Year
Joint Press Release
TOMODACHI MetLife Women’s Leadership Program
Alumni Community Launches to Commemorate Program’s Fifth Year
Network will support young women beyond institutional frameworks
TOKYO, June 11, 2018 – To commemorate the fifth anniversary of the TOMODACHI MetLife Women’s Leadership Program (TMWLP), MetLife Japan and the TOMODACHI Initiative announced the launch of the TMWLP Alumni Community at the program’s Annual Conference on June 10.
The Alumni Community is a digital platform that connects all women who have participated in the TMWLP since it began in 2013 so they can support each other’s ongoing leadership journey. As it grows, the TMWLP Alumni Community aims to nurture a group of next-generation leaders who will collectively advance an agenda of women’s empowerment in Japanese society.
To foster the next generation of global female leaders, TMWLP provides female students with over ten months of leadership development training and one-on-one mentoring from female professionals. Since it began, 438 women (219 university students and 219 mentors) have participated in the program.
Against a backdrop of rapid social and technological change, conventional employment practices and ways of working are shifting dramatically. In light of this, it is critical that young professionals learn to own their lives, design their careers and achieve their goals. Ultimately, the TMWLP Alumni Community offers a network female professionals can use to support each other and equip themselves with the skills and experience to achieve success on their own terms.
MetLife Japan and the TOMODACHI Initiative also aim to facilitate collaboration between the TMWLP Alumni Community and other networks that are empowering women in the workplace, regardless of sector, meaning TMWLP participants can expect to connect with like-minded professionals beyond the traditional framework of institutions.
TMWLP is expected to engage nearly 750 women by 2020. The program will continue to provide Japanese women with opportunities to grow, and the support systems they need to help them become agents of change in society.
MetLife Japan Chairman, President and CEO Sachin N. Shah remarked, “We all have a role to play in supporting women’s empowerment in Japan. To bring about the change we all want to see, the business community, government and society all need to play their role in achieving progress on this important issue. With the launch of the TMWLP Alumni Community, I am excited that past and present program participants will have the support, resources and network they need to become the global leaders of tomorrow.”
U.S.-Japan Council (Japan) Representative Director and President Irene Hirano Inouye said, “The TMWLP Alumni Community will provide a unique extended network and opportunities for the alumni to become the next generation of leaders. I am sure that the alumni community will make a positive contribution to the future of U.S.-Japan relations. The TOMODACHI Initiative will continue to invest in young female leaders in Japan, with the support of our committed partner MetLife, a champion of women’s empowerment.”
Reference:
- TOMODACHI MetLife Women’s Leadership Program Annual Conference for the Fifth-Year Graduates
On June 10, the Annual Conference was held in Tokyo to celebrate the graduation of the fifth-year program participants. This year, with the theme of “Own Your Life, Design Your future”, special guests included Rena Suzuki (Co-founder of Lean In Tokyo, and Venture Capitalist at Inclusion Japan, Inc.), Yuka Shimada (Head of HR, Board of Directors, Unilever Japan), Kathy Matsui (Chair, Board of Councilors, U.S. Japan Council (Japan), and Vice-Chair of Goldman Sachs Japan), and Christina Ahmadjian (Professor, Graduate School of Business Administration, Hitotsubashi University) shared their insights.
The fifth-year TMWLP mentees and mentors
- Application for the TMWLP Class of 2018-19
- Application Deadline: By midnight, Monday, June 18, 2018
- Locations: Tokyo, Osaka, Sapporo and Naha
- Number of Participants: 50 female university students and mid-career female professionals, respectively
- Language Requirement: English
- Program Period: September 2018 – June 2019
- Overview:
- 5 leadership development training sessions and one-on-one ongoing mentoring support in Japan
- U.S. Trip** (A week-long study trip designed for 50 students)
- Annual Conference in Tokyo**
** The program will cover travel and lodging
- Apply to the program at http://usjapantomodachi.org/2018/05/24693/
About the TOMODACHI Initiative
The TOMODACHI Initiative is a public-private partnership between the U.S.-Japan Council and the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, with support from the Government of Japan. Born out of support for Japan’s recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake, TOMODACHI invests in the next generation of Japanese and American leaders through educational and cultural exchanges, as well as leadership programs. The initiative seeks to foster a “TOMODACHI Generation” of young American and Japanese leaders who are committed to and engaged in strengthening U.S.-Japan relations, appreciate each other’s countries and cultures, and possess the global skills and mindsets needed to contribute to and thrive in a more cooperative, prosperous, and secure world. Visit us at www.tomodachi.org
About MetLife Insurance K.K.
MetLife started operations in 1973 as the first foreign life insurance company in Japan. Since then, it has provided an innovative and broad range of products through diverse distribution channels to individual and institutional customers. Currently operating as a Japanese corporation, MetLife Insurance K.K. is committed to providing trusted navigation to help people become more self-reliant and able to pursue more from life. For more information, visit http://www.metlife.co.jp
