MetLife Continues its Support for the TOMODACHI MetLife Women’s Leadership Program, Fostering Women as Global Leaders through 2020

NEW YORK, April 25th, 2016 /3BL Media/ - MetLife Japan has partnered with the U.S.-Japan Council since 2013 in support of the TOMODACHI MetLife Women’s Leadership  Program,  and has decided to extend its financial support for the TOMODACHI MetLife Women’s Leadership Program (TMWLP) for the next five years, through to the year 2020. 

1. Continuation of MetLife Support for the TOMODACHI Program

The TOMODACHI MetLife Women’s Leadership Program was established in 2013 with the aim of developing the next generation of globally active women leaders. Over a ten month period, the program provides highly-motivated Japanese women university students with training sessions for leadership development and financial empowerment in order to hone their leadership skills. Additionally, they are paired with mentors who are currently active mid-career working women to provide one-on-one support and networking opportunities.

As a part of the program, MetLife Japan associates currently active in the front lines engage with the participants during the financial empowerment training by educating the program participants on financial literacy. In the final stages of the program, the participants visit the United States and are provided with various learning opportunities geared toward helping them play an active role as future women leaders. They take part in events such as special seminars held with U.S. government officials and leaders from the business community and non-profit organizations.

As a global company, MetLife places a high value on diversity and inclusion (D&I) and is actively working on initiatives to empower women. The company believes that it is the responsibility of a global company to train women leaders of the future, as well as currently active women associates, and is an investment to the development of society in Japan. Continuous support for the next five years will be carried out jointly between MetLife in the U.S. and MetLife Japan.

The TMWLP was originally held in Tokyo and Osaka and has expanded to a total of four areas with the addition of Fukuoka and Okinawa. In the three year period from 2013 to 2015, a total of 238 women (119 women university students and 119 mentors) have participated. Along with the addition of Sapporo to the list of hosts, a total of approximately 500 new participants (250 women university students and 250 mentors) are anticipated to join the program by 2020.

Regarding continuous support, President of U.S.-Japan Council, Irene Hirano Inouye remarked, “We sincerely appreciate MetLife’s contribution to the TOMODACHI MetLife Women’s Leadership Program. By encouraging Japanese women university students to pursue both personal fulfillment and a career, MetLife has demonstrated its strong leadership as a globally diverse company. With the support of companies like MetLife, we expect to further strengthen educational and cultural exchanges between the United States and Japan through the TOMODACHI Initiative.”

Chairman, President and CEO, MetLife Japan, Sachin N. Shah, also commented, “At MetLife, diversity and inclusion is a global imperative. Over the next five years, literally hundreds of highly motivated Japanese women will develop leadership skills and a professional network through the TOMODACHI MetLife Women’s Leadership Program. We are very proud to foster and inspire so many talented Japanese women to reach for the stars in their chosen career path and, in doing so, we believe we are making a very real difference to the future of Japan.”

2. Recruitment of Participants for the 4th TWMLP

The application period has begun for the 4th TOMODACHI MetLife Women’s Leadership Program for 2016, targeting highly ambitious women university students striving to become global leaders. MetLife is also seeking mid-career Japanese women leaders who are active in the business, education and non-profit sectors to act as mentors.

• Application Period: April 25 (Mon) to June 15 (Wed), 2016
• Eligible Applicants: Women university students (1st or 2nd year) in Japan who can attend training sessions in Tokyo, Osaka, Naha and Sapporo.
• Areas(Tokyo, Sapporo, Osaka, Fukuoka and Naha) will be rotated each year
•  Maximum Number of Participants: 100 (for a total of 50 pairs consisting of one university student and one mentor each) 

About TOMODACHI Initiative
The TOMODACHI Initiative is a public-private partnership between the U.S.-Japan Council and the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo. Born out of support for Japan’s recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake, TOMODACHI invests in the next generation of Japanese and American leaders through educational and cultural exchanges as well as leadership programs. We seek to foster a “TOMODACHI generation” of young American and Japanese leaders who are committed to and engaged in strengthening U.S.-Japan relations, appreciate each other’s countries and cultures, and possess the global skills and mindsets needed to contribute to and thrive in a more cooperative, prosperous, and secure world. Visit us at www.tomodachi.org 

CSR at MetLife Japan
MetLife Japan pursues Children & Youth Empowerment as part of its CSR strategy so that those who will be bearing the future of the ever-changing Japanese society can confidently create their own paths in life. The TOMODACHI MetLife Women’s Leadership Program is one effort through which MetLife Japan supports the next generation.
CSR on the Official MetLife Japan Website: www.metlife.co.jp/about/csr/theme/

Diversity and Inclusion at MetLife Japan
MetLife Japan is actively committed to fostering a working environment characterized by both diversity and inclusion. By respecting and accepting talent with a wide variety of backgrounds and experience, MetLife Japan aims to be recognized as a global company that attracts, hires and retains greatly diverse and highly capable talent and aims to be a company that contributes to its customers and society.

About MetLife
MetLife, Inc. is one of the world’s largest life insurance companies. Founded in 1868, the first year of Japan’s Meiji era, the company is a global provider of life insurance, annuities, employee benefits and asset management. MetLife has operations in nearly 50 countries and holds leading market positions in the United States, Japan, Latin America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

Established in 1973, MetLife Japan operates diverse distribution channels such as captive sales agents, insurance agents, direct marketing and financial institutions. The company provides a broad range of products including life, accident & health and asset formation products to individuals and institutional customers enabling them to prepare against financial risks. Website: www.metlife.com

For inquiries on this matter, please contact:
U.S.-Japan Council (Japan) TOMODACHI Initiative
Public Relations Representatives: Horita and Noguchi
TEL: 03-4510-3400


MetLife Insurance K.K. (MetLife Japan)
Corporate Communications Department: Miyata and Akaishi
TEL: 03-6658-2248 

Corporate Responsibility for MetLife, Inc.
Nandika Madgavkar
Assistant Vice President
(212) 578-5707
nmadgavkar@metlife.com