The JWLI Bootcamp offers a three day program on entrepreneurial leadership that instills management skills, an action-orientated mindset, and knowledge on creating social change in Japan.
ORGANIZATION
JWLI is a two-year executive leadership development program that invests in emerging women leaders from across Japan and transforms them to be action-oriented leaders. Through a four-week training period in Boston, Fellows will acquire confidence to lead, skills and knowledge to manage, and create a plan to make social change. The four weeks include participation in a five-day intensive entrepreneurial management program at Babson College and visits to successful social sector organizations in Boston to learn their best practices on management and leadership. During this time, the Fellows will also develop their Action Plans to be implemented in Japan. Upon returning to Japan, they will work towards achieving their vision with individual mentors, leveraging the experience and learning they acquired in Boston. jwli.org
Fish Family Foundation
The Fish Family Foundation (the Foundation) is a private family foundation in Boston. The Foundation was established in 1999 to formalize the family’s tradition of responsibility to improve its community and to share the joyof giving with future generations. The Foundation currently focuses on aiding immigration, at-risk youth, and people struggling with mental health.
FOUNDER
Atsuko Toko Fish
Atsuko is a founder and a trustee of the Fish Family Foundation. In the wake of 3.11, Atsuko established the Japanese Disaster Relief Fund – Boston (JDRFB) to support immediate relief in the affected regions of Tohoku. JDRFB raised approximately $1 million and distributed 24 grants to 19 organizations and projects working directly in Tohoku. It has been reported by the grantees that JDRFB’s $1 million grants were leveraged to have $6 million of economic impact. Atsuko also founded The Japanese Women’s Leadership Initiative (JWLI) in 2006. In 2013, the White House named Atsuko a recipient of the Champion of Change Award in recognition of her accomplishments for empowering women in both the U.S. and Japan. Since the recipient of the award, Atsuko established the Champion of Change Japan Award (CCJA) in 2017 as a symbol of hope to unsung heroes in Japan; in Japan, many women community leaders are addressing social issues tirelessly with little-paid. In November 2018, the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette was conferred by the Emperor of Japan in recognition of her contribution to the advancement of women’s leadership.
