Our Story
JWIBA | pronounced "Jay-Wee-Ba"
Japanese Women's Initiative in the Bay Area
â– JWIBA's Vision
Through the JWIBA network, we aspire for women connected to both the San Francisco Bay Area and Japanese society to support one another, enabling each to build rich and authentic careers and lives.​
We aim to give back to society by applying the knowledge gained in the Bay Area, striving to create a world where individuals, regardless of gender or background, can fully realize their potential and thrive.
â– About JWIBA
JWIBA began in 2022 with four founding members and was officially established as a nonprofit organization (501(c)(3)) in California in 2024.​
Japan ranks 118th out of 146 countries in the Global Gender Gap Index (GGI) (Note 1), with significant disparities in the economic sector, including wage gaps and low representation of women in leadership roles.​
Life events such as marriage, pregnancy, and childbirth significantly impact women's career development. When combined with transitions like overseas assignments or studying abroad, new challenges emerge:​
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Managing childcare and daily life in unfamiliar environments​
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Language barriers and difficulties in re-entering the workforce abroad​
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Anxieties associated with being a minority in the U.S.​
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Overlapping timelines of career assignments and optimal childbearing years, coupled with insufficient support for fertility treatments​
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Existing expatriate systems that do not fully accommodate women's diverse life stages​
Recognizing the energy and potential of women striving to shine authentically in the Bay Area despite these multifaceted work-life balance challenges, JWIBA was launched in 2022.​
Gradually, like-minded members came together, and with the support of Stanford University's US-Asia Technology Management Center (Note 2), we have fostered a supportive and flexible network that empowers Japanese women to pursue their own paths.​
To date, over 1,200 individuals have participated in JWIBA events, encouraging one another and continuing to grow together.​
(Note 1) Global Gender Gap Report 2024
https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_GGGR_2024.pdf
(Note 2) US-Asia Technology Management Center, Stanford University