This time, we interviewed Masahiro Watanabe, who is a systems engineer at an IT company and the president and principal of Biiku Gakuen. We talked about a wide range of topics, including how his involvement in human resource education in Boston, USA, led him to start Biiku Gakuen, and his hobby of flower arranging. (Interview, composition, and writing by Tomoko Ota Botting)

 

--While running Biiku Gakuen, you have also been working as a systems engineer at an IT company for over 30 years. First, can you tell us a little about your career as a systems engineer?

 

(Masahiro Watanabe, titles omitted below) As you may have guessed, I develop systems for IT-related companies. I have been involved in systems development for finance and public institutions for over 30 years. I have also managed many projects worth over 100 million yen a year.

 

-I would like to ask you about the trigger and background of starting up "Biiku Gakuen", which supports women's entrepreneurship beyond the boundaries of the IT field.

 

(Watanabe) Since 2006, I have been involved in training new employees at a global company headquartered in Boston, USA, and in the management of professional sports. This experience led me to think, "I believe that Japanese women have the best global values in the world, and I want to support their dreams."

 

I was a team leader in a global environment, and in one word, I found it interesting to hire and develop talented people. So I started planning cross-industry networking events and events in my private life, and as a result, many people were pleased, and as time went on, I started receiving more consultations from entrepreneurs in various industries about business planning and events. So in March 2009, I founded "MW GLOBAL LLC". MW GLOBAL LLC specializes in business matching, and provides a place where you can realize a close and realistic joint business that is different from a regular business networking event. After that, I launched "Biiku Gakuen" in 2013 to realize the vision I had while working for a global company: "I want to nurture women with potential and send them out into the world."

 

-Please tell us about Biiku Gakuen's activities.

 

(Watanabe) Biiku Gakuen's specialty is "business matching." By matching entrepreneurs, a chemical reaction can occur, providing an opportunity to create new business models. Unlike regular business networking events, I believe that we are able to propose joint business opportunities that are beneficial for both parties and introduce high-quality human resources. I think this is because I personally meet with the entrepreneurs I work for and scout them directly.

 

-In addition to providing business matching services to promising female entrepreneurs through the operation of Biiku Gakuen, you also manage "The Internationale Kawaii Academy," which nurtures human resources who can be active globally.

 

(Watanabe) "I want to support the development of female entrepreneurs" has been a consistent desire in my business, and at "The Internationale Kawaii Academy" I promote the products and content of female entrepreneurs, and help with sales representatives for seminars and overseas sales.

 

I have built a network with members active around the world, such as in Boston, Paris, and Cebu, and I would like to continue to increase the number of members around the world and create a community of high-quality members.

 

"The Internationale Kawaii Academy" also publishes overseas columns by writers living in the UK and Canada. This is with the hope that if there are women who feel "crowded" or "uneasy" in their current situation, they will be able to see things in a more balanced way by learning about a different world. I have seen close-up examples of women who feel blocked up and can shine more if they can just get a chance, so I hope to convey what is happening overseas in the present tense and provide people who are struggling with this opportunity to take the next step.

 

-As someone who is well versed in IT, what do you think about the current situation surrounding female entrepreneurs?

 

(Watanabe) When starting a business, problems such as money, resources, and legal systems arise, but with the development of the Internet and technology, it is not as difficult to solve these problems as it was in the past. Skills can be bought and sold using the Internet, and negotiations do not necessarily have to be conducted in person, which helps to reduce costs. Lessons and consultations can be done from remote locations, and if you are adept at using tools, the distinction between virtual and real life can be blurred, making it easy to expand your business globally. The hurdles to starting a business have been lowered compared to the past, and conversely, the fields and markets in which you can take on new challenges have expanded.

 

At the same time, I feel that the flexibility and boldness of women who are not bound by preconceived notions make it easier to enrich their careers in this day and age.