A Dialogue： Supporting Female Students’ Career Choices — Exploring Careers and Graduate School Pathways
On June 26, Sophia University, in collaboration with the 30% Club Japan University Group, hosted a seminar titled “Career Development and Graduate School Pathways for Female Students,” aimed at fostering female leadership and addressing gender disparities.
The event was conducted in a hybrid format, combining in-person participation at our Yotsuya Campus with online streaming. Approximately 120 participants, including female university and high school students from both inside and outside the university, attended.
In the humanities and the social sciences especially, many students hesitate to pursue graduate studies due to concerns that it may disadvantage them in the job market. However, learning at graduate school can be highly beneficial for long-term career development and solving societal issues in an increasingly globalized world.
This seminar aimed to share insights from graduate school alumnae and corporate representatives, creating opportunities to reflect on the significance of graduate education and career development for female students.
In the opening remarks, President Miki Sugimura stated, “Graduate school is not only a place to gain expertise, but also to cultivate critical thinking and practical skills, forming the foundation for future careers.” She expressed her hopes that the seminar would inspire each student to re-examine their potential.
Ms. Yukiko Fukushi, Director of the People and Organization Development Department in the People and Culture Division at NEC Corporation, delivered the keynote speech.
Introducing statistics on graduate school enrollment rates in Japan and abroad, as well as examples of female leaders, the speaker emphasized, “Women around the world continue to pursue education,” and highlighted that “the willingness to learn is increasingly valued by companies.”
In the following talk session, three Sophia alumnae who completed their master’s degrees at the university and are now active in private companies took the stage.
Ms. Kie Yoshitake, who graduated from the Graduate School of Global Studies (Area Studies major) and now works in research at PwC Consulting LLC, shared, “The logical thinking based on accurate information that I developed during my master’s studies is the foundation of my current work,” emphasizing the value of her academic experience.
Ms. Harmony Wada, who completed her studies in the Biological Sciences field of the Graduate School of Science and Technology and now works as an Abema TV original drama producer at CyberAgent, Inc. , described her career as “a journey connecting the dots.” She encouraged students by saying, “Fully engaging with what’s fun right in front of you can expand your confidence and possibilities.”
Ms. Anna Kondo from Dentsu, who graduated from the Molecular Biosciences field of the Graduate School of Science and Technology and now works in animation investment, production, and sponsorship sales at the Corporation, shared a warm message: “My parent’s words — ‘Better to regret doing something than regret not doing it’ — encouraged me to pursue graduate studies. That decision gave me confidence before entering society.”
In the latter half of the seminar, a panel discussion was moderated by Professor Tamao Saito from the Department of Materials and Life Sciences. The panel candidly discussed the benefits and challenges of graduate school, differences from entering the workforce directly after undergraduate studies, and concerns related to life stages.
Participants shared comments such as:
- “I was worried about the cost and falling behind as a working adult, but seeing the confident alumnae made me realize I want to be like them.”
- “I learned that master’s students come from diverse backgrounds and are not confined to the stereotype of ‘researchers,’ which deepened my understanding of their broad potential in the corporate world.”
- “It was striking how all the speakers transformed their graduate school experiences into personal confidence.”
In the closing remarks, Vice President for Student and General Affairs Prof. Kyoko Yokoyama took the stage and said, “It’s often said that women tend to underestimate their abilities (Correll, 2001), and many female students think, ‘I’m not good enough.’ But I hope they cherish the honest feeling of ‘I’m not sure why, but I want to keep learning.’ When students feel that way, we want to be a university that supports them.”
This seminar provided female university and high school students with a valuable opportunity to encounter diverse perspectives on career choices and to think flexibly about their future possibilities.
About the 30% Club
The 30% Club is a global campaign founded in the UK in 2010, aiming to increase the proportion of women in key decision-making bodies, including corporate boards. It operates in over 20 countries, and “30% Club Japan” was established in 2019.
For more details, please visit the official 30% Club Japan website.