This post is also available in: 日本語 (Japanese)
An interview with Sarah Liu (Part 2 of 2) was featured in Nikkei WOMAN Web as a part of their special feature, “DEI Misunderstood: Solutions for Real Progress,” published on April 23, 2026.
【Media Coverage】
■Nikkei Women Web 23 April 2026 (In Japanese)
Australia’s Cabinet Is 50% Women: “What Japan’s DEI Is Missing”
Driven by Public Demand / Is “Childcare Balance” Really Why Women Quit? What Japanese Companies Need to Know
(Sarah Liu, Founder and Managing Director, TDC Global)
https://woman.nikkei.com/atcl/column/23/031100408/040800006/
Summary:
In Australia’s 2025 federal election, policies aimed at excluding diversity were rejected, leading to the formation of the historic second Albanese Cabinet, where women hold more than half of the key ministerial positions. In the second part of this article, Sarah Liu, Founder of TDC Global, highlights how reflecting these diverse perspectives drives policy forward, while expressing concern over the current situation in Japan.
As a challenge for Japanese companies to break through the stagnation in promoting DEI, she points out a “lack of scale and speed.” Instead of being overly cautious and setting small goals, it is essential to establish ambitious targets without fearing failure, and to maintain a sense of urgency rather than using the excuse that “change takes time.” Furthermore, actively involving male leaders in the discussion and having them become advocates for closing the gap holds the key to progress.
In addition, she emphasizes the importance of identifying the true root causes based on data, rather than assuming that the shortage of female managers is due to “leaving work for childcare” or a “lack of individual motivation.” The data often reveals alternative realities, such as women switching to competitors due to a lack of an inclusive organizational culture, or shifting generational values where the desire to attain management roles is declining among the younger generation as a whole. Japan is urged to adopt a perspective that reframes the issue not just around gender, but also as a matter of generational shifts.
