Mayu Kuroda joined Xerox after graduating and worked in corporate sales before the company was wound up. Since then she has been working in HR at an insurance company where she has set up call centers etc. She is doing her MBA now.
What do you think Japanese companies and/or government needs to do to help women in Japan?
It’s hard for women to get back into the workforce after they have left to have a family. We need to support women so they don’t need to put careers on hold. Short term and flexible work styles will help families.
What advice do you have for the next generation of women in Japan?
Be fearless and enjoy your life as a person, not simply as a woman or as a wife or mother. You don’t have to chose, you can do it all. When you look back on the road you travelled, it will then be worth it. Let’s enjoy our life - we only have one after all!
黒田真由さんはゼロックスグループの会社で、コピー用紙を中心としたオフィス用品の法人営業を担当。入社7年目で、この会社が解散。lその後は、保険会社の人材育成、コールセンターの立ち上げ、経営企画などに携わる。
日本の政府や企業に期待する、女性が活躍なるための支援はどのようなものがあるでしょうか？
家庭に入ってしまった女性をもう一度ビジネスの場に引っ張り出すのは、難しい。キャリアを切らないことのサポート。例えば、一ヶ月とかの短期間からの休職制度の充実。出産、子育てなどでビジネスの場から離れてしまった人への復職支援など。復職支援は、MBAホルダーがボランティアなど。