#Japan #Tokyo #Shipood #Miyuki Funaki #Leaders Series

Introduction

Miyuki Funaki, the CEO of Shipood, is amplifying her expertise in leadership, management, and personnel development through various speaking engagements and her feature in Onward's new interview series, "Leaders." This initiative represents an effort to give back the knowledge she has accumulated over her career, which spans company management and public relations.

Speaking Engagement at Nikkei BP

On July 9, 2026, Funaki will take part as a lecturer in the third session of the "Women's Outside Directors Development Course" sponsored by Nikkei BP. She will draw from her extensive experience transitioning from a public relations role to becoming an independent entrepreneur and eventually an outside director at two publicly listed companies. Funaki intends to convey the importance of "the power of questions" and how to develop one’s career axis, providing attendees with actionable insights derived from her rich professional journey.

Importance of Questioning in Governance

During her lectures, Funaki emphasizes that outside directors should be seen as facilitators of important discussions rather than mere problem-solvers. Her session will highlight how to ask pertinent questions that uncover areas often overlooked by management. She encourages directors to frame issues, such as cybersecurity risks, in ways that lead to meaningful discussions and strategic deliberation during board meetings.

Onward’s New Series 'Leaders'

In a recent installment of Onward's interview series, "Leaders," Funaki reflects on her leadership philosophy. This series features leaders from various industries, delving into their perspectives on work and fashion. The first article from Funaki, titled "Nurturing Individual Capabilities into Collective Strengths", delves into her evolution as a leader.

Transformational Leadership Approach

Initially believing that taking the lead was synonymous with taking action, Funaki has shifted her focus to coaching individuals to recognize and articulate their strengths. She is passionate about encouraging people to step forward confidently, using her communication skills to facilitate their personal growth.

The article also addresses her views on the interrelation between work and fashion, as well as her thoughts on stepping away from titles to reconnect with one’s authentic self.

Ongoing Commitment to Knowledge Sharing

Funaki's commitment to sharing insights does not stop there. On July 24, 2026, she will speak at the "Entrepreneur's Meeting Vol. 17" for students and alumni of the Entrepreneur Course hosted by Interwoos. Here, she plans to convey her firsthand experiences in entrepreneurship and discuss strategies for overcoming challenges and involving stakeholders in business endeavors.

Funaki's Reflections

Reflecting on her past, Funaki stated that she once believed a leader's role was to produce results independently. However, her multifaceted experiences have led her to understand that a leader’s true function is to foster an environment where individuals feel empowered to discover their strengths and take decisive steps forward.

Her mission is to share her insights, including lessons learned from failures and challenges encountered throughout her career. Through such initiatives, she hopes to inspire the next generation of leaders and public relations experts.

About Shipood Corporation

Established on February 21, 2011, Shipood focuses on nurturing in-house public relations talent and constructing effective communication frameworks for companies. Under the leadership of Funaki, who has approximately 20 years of experience in the industry, Shipood aims to create organizations where employees can identify and convey their own narratives.

Company Overview

Company Name: Shipood
CEO: Yoshio Funaki & Mayumi Funaki
Location: 1-12-4 Ginza, Chuo City, Tokyo, Japan
Capital: 10 million JPY
Website: Shipood
Services: PR support, talent development, PR strategy formulation, online PR services.

Conclusion

Through her ongoing initiatives and thought leadership, Miyuki Funaki is setting a powerful example of how experience and insight can be shared to nurture the next generation of leaders in the corporate world.