I serve as the Chairman of the KEIDANREN Diversity Promotion Committee and as the Chair of the 30% Club Japan. It is my honor to collaborate with many top management and HR executives to drive diversity in talent and transform the Japanese corporate culture. Nothing is more disappointing to see than Japan being ranked 125th in the Gender Gap Index, as the world's third-largest economy (as of 2022). I believe that this issue, which is both economic and political, is one of the key factors that caused the "lost 30 years" of our economy.

In 1981, at the time when Japanese companies were dominating the worlds business environment, I was studying at the business school of Columbia University. I was amazed by the vast variety and energy of my classmates who were aspiring to become business leaders. One-third of the class was female, and it was composed from 35 different countries. Today, after 40 years, I am happy to see that serious discussions and initiatives are finally beginning to take place in Japan. It is a very positive step that 225 companies of KEIDANREN have declared their commitment to achieving 30% female executives by 2030. However, it is evident that these targets are merely a means and not our ultimate goal. Why is it necessary to diversify and how does it generate corporate value? I believe that Steve Jobs' "Think Different" slogan, which he introduced in 1997 at Apple, captures the truth. Rather than thinking along the lines of past successes, we need to create innovative technologies and products through totally new perspectives, insights, and ideas. Uninspiring, homogeneous, and predictable approaches are no longer acceptable. How about breaking down organizational hierarchies that hinder young talents from expressing themselves. Applauding those who stand out from the crowd. And respecting "uniqueness" to generate new ideas through proactive debates instead. Isn't this what we aim to achieve through diversity?

Now, how much diversity do you have in your mind? To achieve a truly diversified atmosphere, we need to create an environment where individuals with multi backgrounds, such as gender, nationality, age, disabilities, and professional experiences, can actively participate. This is only possible through the strong commitments of us, business leaders. We can only "Think Different" through a "Different Mind."