Women in Pharma: The History of CPHI Women in Japan

Our monthly Women in Pharma series highlights the influential lives and work of impactful women working across the pharmaceutical industry, and how the industry can work towards making the healthcare industry and workplace more equitable and inclusive.

1. Could you tell us how the CPHI Women project, held as a co-located event with CPHI Japan, was born and has evolved?

CPHI Women was launched in 2014 as one of the co-located events of CPHI Japan. It is a project aimed at supporting networking among women working in the healthcare industry, centred on the pharmaceutical sector. From the first event, over 60 active female employees, mainly from pharmaceutical companies, participated and lively exchanges of opinions took place in a casual atmosphere, transcending differences in company, position, age, and environment, from the standpoint of fellow working women.

One of the major factors that has enabled this project to continue as a regular event at CPHI Japan for over 10 years is the co-operation we have received from female leaders engaged in senior management positions in Japan's pharmaceutical industry. From the project's inception, they have volunteered to take on roles in theme setting, speaker selection, and serving as mentors in group discussions. In organising the event, we have always been mindful of creating an event by the industry people to meet the needs of the people who work for the industry.

2. This year's CPHI Women was held in collaboration with HBA Tokyo branch (Healthcare Business Women’s Association). How was this collaboration experience?

At this year's event, for the first time, we had the HBA Tokyo branch collaborate as planning partners, contributing to content planning from the early stages. The theme they proposed for this year was ‘Imposter Syndrome.’

Until last year, we had focused on challenges within Japan's healthcare industry, but this year we were able to take up as our theme an issue that is serious in countries around the world but is not yet commonly heard of in Japan. This was a new development, and we were surprised by the magnitude of the response. I believe this result was only possible because the HBA Tokyo branch collaborated on the project.

3. Were there any other elements from the collaboration with HBA Tokyo branch that will influence the future development of the project?

CPHI Women in Japan has been structured in two parts: a panel discussion by industry leaders followed by group discussions. Regarding the first part, we adopted a format that allowed not only women but also men to participate from an early stage. However, regarding the second part, we had been operating them as women-only.

Since last year, men who wished to participate were able to join the discussions, but we had not yet actively promoted this on the organiser's side.

In this context, following recommendations from HBA, this year we clearly announced that men could participate in the group discussions and recruited participants accordingly. Considering the fundamental concept of ‘CPHI Women’, which is to facilitate free exchange of opinions transcending differences in age, affiliated company, position, and other circumstances and environment, we felt it was extremely natural and appropriate to provide a discussion space that transcends the barrier of gender.

4. What is the significance of holding CPHI Women in Japan? What kind of event do you think is needed now for women in Japan's pharmaceutical industry?

Generally, it has been thought that Japan is a male-dominated society, and it is difficult for women to advance and attain high positions equal to men, and I presume many people overseas still think this way. And in fact, it is true that there had been such aspects structurally and historically in society.

That said, Japan already has many policies in place to support women's participation in society and career continuation after marriage and childbirth. Also, in recent years, with work style reforms that have rapidly progressed regardless of gender, I feel that the environment has become much more conducive to work for married women as well. On the other hand, amid rapid change, there are voices questioning whether the measures currently being implemented are truly functioning. Furthermore, in today's world where diversity is emphasised, questions are arising about whether it is appropriate to lump everyone together under the term ‘women.’ The themes that CPHI Women addresses are by no means one-dimensional or simple.

In this context, as long as we are holding it as one of the programs of CPHI Japan, a B2B trade event, I want CPHI Women to continue to be ‘an event for women who want to work.’ Ensuring that women have equal project opportunities as men, and securing an environment where they can choose those offers, is not solely a matter for the companies where they work. Government support, workplace policies, the environment, and an understanding of those around them including family, and above all, the individual's own intention regarding what they want to do are important. At the same time, I believe these changes depend on one's stage in life and their career.

In such circumstances, I expect CPHI Women to be a place where women who wish to excel in their work can gather. It is a place for women with the same aspirations to confirm their intentions and exchange opinions, so that they can thrive by securing opportunities and options in their work regardless of gender. I believe that recognising the existence of like-minded individuals and building networks among them will become a great force for changing the entire industry.

5. What role does CPHI Women play at CPHI Japan as a trade show, and what impact can it have?

As the organiser, I believe the greatest appeal of CPHI Japan as an industry trade event is that it is a place where people engaged in pharmaceutical businesses with Japan, both domestically and internationally, meet, and where new business is born through the intersection of information.

This does not only mean direct ‘purchasing activities.’ I believe that building global networks and developing human resources for the next generation are also important factors for creating new business.

In order for CPHI Japan to continue to be the best promotional venue targeting the Japanese pharmaceutical market for suppliers in Japan and around the world, it is important to continuously hold co-located events like CPHI Women. By doing so, we can provide reasons to gather there — in other words, new added value — for industry professionals, including pharmaceutical manufacturers who are the core visitors. I believe this is also the greatest contribution to the industry that an exhibition organiser can make.

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