Mitsi O.S.K. Lines announced that on March 7, on the occasion of March 8 International Women’s Day , MOL and JFE Steel Corporation jointly held an interactive event called “W Dialogue.” The event encouraged participants to think about creating workplaces that transform diversity, including gender, into a strength by sharing each company’s initiatives and role models related to the promotion of women’s empowerment and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. The event was open to employees of both MOL and JFE Steel, as well as group employees of both companies. In all, about 250 participants joined the event in person and online.

The event began with leaders of the divisions hosting the event introducing each company’s DE&I measures and women’s activities. The next session featured female executives from both companies, who talked about the present and future of women’s roles in management strategies. JFE Holdings, Inc. Audit & Supervisory Board Member Nakaba Akimoto commented, “While DE&I promotion is a gender-neutral initiative, it is also true that women are still at a disadvantage when it comes to demonstrating their abilities. It is necessary to remove this disadvantage, secure outstanding human resources with a long-term perspective, and optimize the effective use of their abilities.” From MOL, Director Junko Moro took the stage and encouraged the participants, saying “Just as the Nordic countries have done in the past, Japan needs everyone to actively contribute to maintaining a safe and secure society and achieving economic growth. The sense of growth can be realized later, so I encourage everyone not to rush and to embrace opportunities and new challenges without hesitation. Individual values and career paths are diversifying. Organizational leaders should avoid viewing their subordinates and juniors through the lens of their own preconceptions and values, and instead focus on building trust and engaging in assertive dialogue.”

In the second half of the event, four employees from both companies took the stage for a panel discussion on their careers and how they feel about diversity. The final program included a dialogue among the audience participants, who split up into small groups to exchange opinions on the promotion of women’s activities and DE&I.

Both companies aim to create organizations in which diverse personnel can take on central roles in the next generation, and this was a valuable opportunity for employees to interact across companies and industries and think about gender equality and diversity, as well as their own careers.