The flight attendant who became CEO hopes more women will make it to the top

Tokyo/Hong Kong—Mitsuko Tottori, the first female president and chief executive of Japan Airlines (JAL), discusses the challenges faced by women in reaching top executive positions in Japan. Tottori hopes to see more women in leadership roles and wants Japan to become a place where a woman becoming a president is not a surprise. She emphasizes the importance of women themselves wanting to be active in pursuing such positions. Tottori’s background as a former flight attendant sets her apart from her predecessors, who mostly had different career paths. She assumed her role on April 1 and aims to prioritize safety in the airline. Japan’s gender gap and lack of diversity in top companies remain issues that need to be addressed.