Special Tanner Lecture at Ochanomizu University made a huge success, having over 1200 people, including nearly 300 from outside the university, to come to the Lecture.

Professor Dame Carol Black talked about the situation of gender equality in the UK and the beyond, which is still far from being equal. She emphasized importance of education from childhood in not discriminating boys and girls for their choice of toys. She also made a point of the importance of not being a perfectionist as women often are, and not being afraid of failure and being confident. In addition, she asked for a support from men and the society to support women to realize her leadership. Being committed to several female leadership education in Cambridge, her lecture was full of passion for fostering young female leaders.

Download the PowerPoint lecture slide by Professor Dame Carol Black＞＞

After the lecture by Professor Dame Carol Black, we had a special guest lecture by Honorary Doctorate Atsuko Toyama, a Former Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and currently an Honorary Doctorate at Ochanomizu University. She gave an encouragement to young women through her experience of the time when Japan has almost no women working in companies. In addition, she made advice for the future generations on how they should tackle with all the difficult problems of the 21st century.

In addition to the lecture, we had a Student Discussion Session with students at Ochanomizu University a day before the lecture. By reflecting her personal life experiences as well as her actions taken at Cambridge for fostering female leaders, she advised students to “have a go” for anything they might think that they are not good enough. She emphasized importance of confidence and resilience, leaving being a perfectionist. At a panel discussion by students at Ochanomizu University, she answered many questions on gender equality and career. Being in a friendly atmosphere, she also talked about her dream and how to maintain her looking so young.