Stakeholder Roundtable on Women’s Leadership Towards Green Transformation

Cross-border dialogue between Japan and India advances research and action on women’s leadership and sustainability

NUCB Business School, in collaboration with the Goa Institute of Management (GIM), India, hosted its inaugural stakeholder roundtable titled “Women’s Leadership Towards Green Transformation” via Zoom. The event brought together academics, practitioners, and thought leaders from Japan and India to exchange insights on women’s leadership in the context of sustainability and green transformation across Asia.

The session was jointly anchored by Professor Rebecca Kim, Associate Dean at NUCB Business School, and Visiting Fellow Dr. Divya Singhal of GIM. Together, they guided a dynamic and thought-provoking discussion that explored how women’s leadership is evolving in response to pressing social, economic, and environmental challenges.

A Diverse Lineup of Thought Leaders

The roundtable featured distinguished speakers representing research, civil society, and policy-related institutions:

• Ms. Setsu Suzuki (FemUniti, Japan)
• Dr. Ananya Chakraborty (World Resources Institute, India)
• Dr. Yoko Nishida (NUCB Business School, Japan)
• Dr. Michiko Chugei (Hitotsubashi University, Japan)

Each speaker contributed unique perspectives grounded in both research and practice, highlighting the importance of cross-sector and cross-country dialogue in advancing women’s leadership.

Key Themes from the Discussion

The conversation centered on the evolving role of women leaders in Japan and India, particularly in relation to sustainability transitions and inclusive economic growth. Four key themes emerged:

1. Bridging the Global Gender Gap
While women’s educational attainment continues to rise globally, structural barriers and persistent cultural expectations still limit career advancement. Both Japan and India face ongoing challenges in global gender gap rankings, underscoring the need for systemic change across corporate and academic environments.

2. Driving Resilience in SMEs and Business Succession
Women are increasingly central to the continuity and resilience of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Empowering women in business succession is not only an issue of equity, but also a critical factor in sustaining economic stability and local enterprise ecosystems.

3. Fostering Grassroots Climate Leadership
Across both countries, women are actively leading climate and environmental initiatives at the community level. These grassroots efforts provide valuable, practical insights that can inform broader corporate sustainability strategies and accelerate meaningful green transformation.

4. Turning Research into Policy and Action
A key outcome of the discussion was the shared recognition of the need to translate academic and field-based insights into actionable policy recommendations. Participants emphasized the importance of sustained collaboration to ensure that research contributes directly to real-world impact.

Looking Ahead

In closing, Professor Kim and Dr. Singhal expressed their sincere appreciation to all speakers and participants for their thoughtful contributions and active engagement. They reaffirmed the importance of continued collaboration between NUCB Business School and GIM in advancing research on women’s leadership and sustainability.

The roundtable also marked the beginning of a broader initiative to establish an ongoing series of discussions, aimed at fostering dialogue, supporting emerging women leaders, and strengthening academic-practitioner linkages across Asia.