The 2007 ACCJ Symposium on Women in Financial Services, organized by the ACCJ Financial Services Committee, marked the ACCJ's first ever full-day symposium, attracting more than 350 participants. This year's followed last year's event and focused on the opportunities and challenges related to the recruitment, development, and promotion of females working in financial services organizations.

Following welcoming remarks by ACCJ Chair Debbie Howard, Diet member Kuniko Inoguchi, distinguished member of the House of Representatives, gave the keynote address at the morning plenary session. Ms. Inoguchi's presentation was followed by two panel discussions that focused on the themes of "Leadership" and "Challenges in the Workplace."

Members of the panel discussions included: Cheryl De Souza, Managing Director for Diversity and Inclusion at Lehman Brothers Asia, Rumiko Hasegawa, Managing Director at Goldman Sachs Japan Co., Ltd., Keiko Honda, Director at McKinsey & Co. Inc., Mari Kano, Chief Manager at Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc., Kumiko Kinjo, Director of Internal Audit at Hartford Life Insurance K.K., Joyce Phillips, President and COO of American Life Insurance Co., Hiroko Tatebe, Founder and Executive Director of GOLD, and Emi Ueji, Managing Director at Morgan Stanley Japan Securities Co., Ltd.

Patricia Bader-Johnston, Director of Communications for IBM Japan, Ltd. and Anna Stephenson, Director of Operational Risk Management for Citibank Japan, moderated the two panel discussions.

Following a sit down lunch, attendees had the opportunity to participate in afternoon workshop sessions. One workshop organized specifically for human resources and diversity officers focused on best practices in diversity and inclusion. Additional workshops for junior- and mid-career professionals included: "Negotiating and Navigating Your Organization;" "Communication Skills to Make Your Career;" "Building Your Individual Brand;" and a Japanese-language workshop on "Career Design to Promote Work-Life Balance."

Diet member Kuniko Inoguchi.

(left to right) Mari Kano, Cheryl De Souza, Anna Stephenson, Hiroko Tatebe, and Kumiko Kinjo.

The 2007 ACCJ Symposium on Women in Financial Services attracted more than 350 participants.

A networking reception with cocktails and hors d'oeuvres capped off the successful day-long event.

Thanks to generous sponsorship from numerous ACCJ member companies, the Symposium was available at affordable rates to participants. Symposium sponsors were: (Platinum Level): Citigroup, State Street; (Gold Level): Lehman Brothers, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, Shinsei Bank, UBS; (Bronze Level): Aflac, AIG Companies, Goldman Sachs Japan Co., Ltd., The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (Japan).

Jonathan Schuman, Co-Chair of the ACCJ Financial Services Committee and lead organizer of this event as well as last year's inaugural Symposium, commented that: "ACCJ financial services members have a huge incentive as employers, investors, and service providers to boost the return on human capital in our organizations, particularly by enhancing the recruitment, development, and promotion of talented females in our organizations. This requires recognition of multiple challenges and a strong commitment to addressing those challenges. It is very encouraging to see so many of our member companies actively engage in, and support, the discussions held at this year's Symposium."