The narrative around young people in Japan often skews pessimistic—articles say young people are depressed, hopeless. Mao Hotta sees it differently. "I think it's the opposite, actually. Young people are really motivated to work, and women are more empowered ever than before. Now is a huge chance for us to shine." We spoke with Mao about her experience in Japanese finance and why she's optimistic about the future. ---What was the gender balance like at Goldman Sachs Japan? Ma

There is a huge pullback on DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) lately among US companies since President Donald Trump’s election. In fact, 90% of the top 400 companies in the S&P 500 index have cut some references to DEI, while many of those have ditched the term completely *1 . Despite the backlash, DEI remains to be a crucial topic to achieve a more equitable society across the world.  In Japan, “DEI” has shifted from a fringe HR slogan to a board‑level KPI in just a few y

In Japan's labor market, the environment for women to build careers has significantly advanced in recent years. Traditionally, the domestic-centered lifestyle known as the "full-time housewife model" and traditional gender roles were emphasized within the country. However, as societal values diversify, understanding and support for working women are steadily increasing. According to data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the labor force pa