Japan’s cultural makeup, where conformity is valued, has for a long time expected married women to don traditional roles, foregoing any desire to start thriving careers. While the current situation has improved significantly over the past few years, there is still a long way to go, in encouraging women to and presenting ample opportunities to carve enriching careers that do not come to a halt due to societal expectations.
Nevertheless, breaking societal norms and barriers, Seiko Kato, founder of IMPLEO Inc, a content producing and distribution firm based in Tokyo, paved the way for women to chase flourishing careers. Establishing her own company twenty-three years ago, Seiko set an example, not only encouraging women to restart their careers, but also creating an organization where 95 percent of the workforce is women. Creating opportunities for those that wish to work in a dynamic organization, Seiko is dedicated to motivate more individuals to pursue a life of their dreams.
Creating a Women-Led Entity
Seiko’s career in broadcasting began after her graduation, however, experiencing the male-dominated corporate world, she decided to step out of it, and build a career in a woman-led environment. Anticipating numerous challenges and obstacles, Seiko remained determined to overcome all trials to enable women to create a place equal to men, and saw them as opportunities to design her own life, live authentically, and feel greater value in having created something of her own. This led to the formation of IMPLEO Inc.
Growing from an entrepreneurial venture of a highly motivated professional, IMPLEO, today, has 40 employees, and offers services in the domains of broadcasting and video production. The company, handling some operations for public broadcasting, is continuously committed to evolve with the domain’s changing landscape. This agility is facilitated to a large extent by the team’s experience, and the versatility of Seiko’s experiences, garnered over the years working in translation, design, human resources, and producing photographers and creators, along with production and distribution of films and documentaries.
T“Traditionally, broadcasting and video production have been dominated by men. But there is no reason why broadcasting, which should be accessible to everyone, needs to be produced in a male-dominated environment. My goal was to create a workplace where women could work while maintaining both their physical and mental health.
Though working conditions have improved with the times, many aspects of society are still built on malecentric foundations. I believe that by correcting these imbalances, we can create a more inclusive world”, shares Seiko Kato, Founder, IMPLEO Inc.
he company’s current service range focuses on translating public broadcasting programs into English and providing behind-the-scenes support at broadcasting sites. Committed to precision and attention to detail, the company stands out for the accuracy of its translation and other works. In an increasingly AI-driven domain, Seiko maintains the value of human eyes and hearts for achieving 100 percent precision into any broadcasting endeavor, and it is the team’s collective effort to attain greater results that keeps the firm in a trusted position in the sector.
Beyond its excellence, Seiko’s emphasis on communication with the world and creativity- two core values that she keeps at the center of every project, have been monumental in driving the company’s success.
Creating opportunities for those that wish to work in a dynamic organization, Seiko is dedicated to motivate more individuals to pursue a life of their dreams
Carving an Enriching Future
Passionate about breaking stereotypes and defying unequal societal norms and beliefs that target women, Seiko is rallying against preconceived notions that limit womens’ ability to do things, through consistent efforts to grow and expand. Beyond the company’s success, her personal achievements have acted as a fuel for her and the team to pursue greater milestones, and as she envisions the future, she aims to continue setting standards, shattering glass ceilings, and rewriting the narrative, to put women in a stronger position in the corporate world.
“I hope to see more women starting their own businesses, and if given the opportunity, I would love to offer advice and support. There are many business startup schools and how-to books, but I don’t think one needs to strictly follow these. In my case, I focused on securing work, having a prospect of growing demand, finding colleagues to work with, and having some initial working capital. I never felt that creating a formal business plan or seeking bank loans suited me, so I’ve never done those, but I encourage people to understand their needs and proceed accordingly”, adds Seiko.
With this vision, Seiko is on the path to continue growing her legacy, and is currently working on her next venture which is the establishment of an art complex in a scenic location just outside Tokyo. In this complex, Seiko plans to feature a gallery, a café, and an antique shop, and showcase creators from around the world as well as local artists. Through this, she not only aims to boost recognition for global artists that are lesser known in Japan, but also provide a platform to some of the most exceptional local artists which may or may not have achieved the recognition that they deserve.
Excited about this new adventure, Seiko aims to create something of value that also helps her fulfill her aspirations as an entrepreneur.
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