Mako Oishi: Unlocking the Potential of Female Students

2022/06/22

Spring 2013. Through a series of coincidences, I ended up participating in a workshop hosted by Hanalabo. It was a six-month project focused on revitalizing a literary museum in Yokohama, covering everything from idea planning to execution. To be honest, I didn't think I had the skills to create anything, and I was full of anxiety.

Once I joined, the design-thinking-based program felt fresh to me—someone who tended to look for the "right" answer—and above all, it was fun. After the ideation workshop, I worked hard to bring those ideas to life. While I relied heavily on the help of those around me, it led to results beyond my expectations, and the process was a series of realizations like, "I didn't know I had this kind of strength." Since then, I have met many wonderful female mentors through Hanalabo, which gave me the opportunity to expand my own potential.

I wanted to give back to Hanalabo. After graduation, I took a job at a private company, but I had no hesitation about staying involved with Hanalabo as a pro bono staff member. I participated in various programs and witnessed how the students transformed. My desire to further expand Hanalabo's activities grew stronger, and I just took my first step as a co-representative last year.

When talking to female students, there are still moments when I feel they have unconsciously internalized gender biases, such as the pressure to behave "femininely." I believe this leads them to underestimate their own abilities or narrow their options. As a result, many women say they lack confidence because they haven't had enough opportunities to take on challenges.

At Hanalabo, we provide various programs for female students to experience knowing themselves, testing themselves, understanding society, and engaging with society. Projects are basically conducted only with members of the same gender, and we do not appoint specific leaders. This allows them to experiment with their own style of leadership freely, without being bound by the "femininity" expected by society. Even if they fail, the act of taking on a challenge is wonderful in itself. We strive to design programs that build self-efficacy through small successes, such as conducting thorough reflections involving professional women.

Through Hanalabo's activities, I hope as many women as possible can realize their own potential and take a positive step forward as active participants in shaping society. I want to continue challenging myself as well.