Sakie Fukushima “Defied Odds” to Take Bridgestone Board Position

In Japan, only 1.4 per cent of executives are women, so Sakie Fukushima’s rise to become the first woman ever to be elected to Bridgestone’s board of directors is gaining plenty of attention, not least from CNN, which describes the move as “breaking the ‘bamboo ceiling’”.

In a profile piece produced by the American news network, Fukushima credits her success in part to her work at the American corporation Korn-Ferry International, suggesting that “If I was to work for…a large Japanese company, I don’t think I would have come this far. She is currently the representative director and chairman of that company, presiding over its consulting business.

Bridgestone Americas chief executive officer and president Gary Garfield believes Fukushima’s appointment is an example that should be followed by other Japanese organisations, telling them via CNN: “Just branch out and do it. They’ll be stronger for it. I think they’ll be better companies for it.”

Fukushima has master’s degrees from Stanford and Harvard (business and education respectively) having graduated from Tokyo’s Seisen College in 1972. She has occupied boardroom positions at Sony and Japan Stanford Association.