TED KATAGI AT THE 2022 ASIA-PACIFIC WINConference

On Tuesday, 13th of December, the 2022 Asia-Pacific WINConference for Inclusion, Joy, and Regeneration was held. It gathered 26 attendees from all over the world and 10 speakers among which was Kenja’s CEO, Ted Katagi. Moderated by Kristin Engvig, founder and CEO of WIN, the conference shone a light on the latest trends in DEI, sustainability, and women in the regional context.

Ted Katagi, founder and CEO of Kenja, and Aiko Kozaki, Executive Advisor at Waris, kicked off the afternoon by exploring gender inequality in Japan. They observed that the current low rankings of Japan in digital readiness and gender equality were rooted in its unique culture that made change slow in pursuit of harmony and perfection. Thus, beyond a change in rules and processes at an institutional level, the discussions highlighted the need for social change led by leaders in the community.

This message was further driven by the insights shared in the following panel session, “The Future of Companies & Careers”, led by Masako Sato, Director, Regulatory Affairs & Quality Management at DSM Japan, Sama Vasisht, Founder of Synergy Holistic, and Michelle Simpson, Global Operations Leadership Team at Fortescue Future Industries. The panel put a special focus on the progress made in a decade on the topics of inclusion, but also emphasized that the role of technology in driving change had less weight than the actions of individuals. While technology is an enabler, what matters is an individual’s contribution to creating safe spaces within communities.

The third session featured Ditta Sandico, Fashion Designer at Cache Apparels, who contributes to empowering local communities in the Philippines, and Carmel Power, Chief Sales Officer at Quintis who shared her visions for the future and presented her effort in creating these safe spaces.

The conference ended with a deep dive into AEquacy, a human-centered organizational design and operating system, and its implementation within Nespresso Italy’s processes in pursuit of self-management by Giovanna D’Alessio, Partner at Asterys, and Simona Liguoro, HR Director at Nespresso Italy.