#Japan #Tokyo #Parenting #MaMa Crew #Frontier Inc.

Insights from the MaMa Crew Event

On June 1, 2025, Frontier Inc., based in Shibuya, Tokyo, organized an inspiring offline event titled MaMa Crew – Let's Discuss Women and Careers. This event brought together a dynamic business matching community called Ready Crew, aimed at encouraging discussions centered around the intersection of motherhood and professional life.

Event Overview

The primary theme of the evening was Women × Careers × Parenting. Participants engaged in valuable talk sessions that shed light on the real experiences related to balancing work and child-rearing, characterizing the challenges and acknowledgments that can emerge from these roles. Special guests included Akiko Iwamoto from Zero One Booster and Sayaka Okumura from Four Startups, who, alongside Frontier's Masayo Takase, shared authentic perspectives that resonated with many attendees. Importantly, the event featured a unique “parent-child participation” format, allowing children of the speakers to be present, fostering a warm atmosphere of mutual growth across generations and positions.

Profiles of the Speakers

Akiko Iwamoto: Currently working at Zero One Booster's startup ecosystem design department, Iwamoto's background encompasses experience in BPO companies and staffing. As a mother of one, she balances her professional responsibilities while being a full-time working mother alongside her husband.

Sayaka Okumura: A human capital specialist at Four Startups, Okumura joined the company after a career in apparel retail management. A single mother to a three-year-old, she actively champions the integration of career and parenting, advocating for a thriving workforce for parents in startup environments.

Masayo Takase: As the Executive Officer and Head of PR at Frontier Inc., Takase shared insights from her transition back to work after maternity leave, emphasizing the need to create allies within the workplace.

Key Discussions

At the start of the event, Takase introduced the company and outlined the purpose of the gathering. The moderator, Sashimi Fujisawa from SHABEL, guided the discussion around two major themes:

• - Career Changes Post-Maternity Leave: The speakers reflected on how the balance between parental duties and career has evolved since becoming mothers. Takase mentioned that her perception of time management shifted dramatically; more than ever, she leaned on her network to manage tasks instead of shouldering everything alone.

The other speakers echoed similar sentiments, with Okumura highlighting the importance of visibility in the workplace and embracing the challenges of being a working mother.

• - Balancing Work and Family Life: Each speaker outlined personal strategies they have employed to cope with work and family commitments. For instance, Takase focuses on tasks closely aligned with her KPIs while also making a conscious effort to delegate responsibilities to others.

Okumura emphasized fostering an environment where career advancement remains possible during parental leave, even encouraging those on leave to consider promotions.

Efficient Work Techniques

The discussion transitioned into time management tips tailored specifically for new mothers in the workforce. Takase shared her recent inaugural experiences utilizing ChatGPT for more efficient task completion, while Okumura mentioned how her ability to articulate her thoughts publicly has opened doors to new job opportunities.

The Importance of Family Time

Moving forward, the speakers discussed their approaches to family interactions. Takase balances family and work life by prioritizing time with her children, particularly focusing on communication as a key aspect of building trust. Okumura expressed the importance of treating her child as an independent person during their interactions, allowing them to understand her working commitments more organically.

The Role of Community and Support

Finally, building connections within communities emerged as a major topic. The speakers revealed how forging informal ties in the startup community has been beneficial for their professional growth and provided a solid support network. Iwamoto mentioned creating a peer support group for working parents to thrive together in their respective fields, showcasing how creating spaces for collaboration results in mutual growth.

The MaMa Crew event successfully fostered connections, not only among speakers and attendees but also facilitated conversations between participants, leaving attendees inspired and feeling heard. Feedback from participants reflected a desire for more such inclusive events featuring children.

The next MaMa Crew event is announced to take place on July 14 at SHE Ginza. Stay tuned for more engaging discussions!