“Transform your perceived weaknesses into your greatest assets.”

At the Leadership Night held on Monday, December 15, we welcomed Kathy Matsui, the proponent of “Womenomics” and a General Partner at MPower Partners. The session was moderated by Shizenkan students Ms.Arwa and Mr.Mizutani.

During the session, Ms. Matsui shared her journey from growing up on a farm as a second-generation immigrant to becoming a pioneer in the financial industry. Entering Japan’s financial sector in the immediate aftermath of the burst of the economic bubble, she faced numerous barriers as a “minority”—a woman, a foreigner, and a young professional. Rather than assimilating, however, she chose to differentiate herself by leveraging perspectives that only she could bring.

By shining a light on corporate governance and women’s participation in the workforce—areas that received little attention at the time—Ms. Matsui transformed what were once considered disadvantages into her own distinctive strengths. Reflecting on this period, she remarked, “The phrase I dislike most is ‘it can’t be helped.’ I have always thought about how to change the status quo rather than accepting it.”

As advice to the next generation of leaders, she emphasized that “in any organization, there are people who only complain and those who propose solutions. I hope you choose to be the latter.” Today, through an ESG-focused venture capital fund, she is working to achieve both financial returns and meaningful social impact.

In closing, Ms. Matsui highlighted “empathy” as the value she holds most dear. “In a world that is becoming increasingly divided, we need the imagination to understand perspectives different from our own,” she said, concluding with the powerful message: “My goal is to leave the world just a little better than it was when I arrived.”