With women making up approximately half of our workforce, SMBC Group recognizes that empowering women is crucial for corporate growth. We are actively implementing measures to support the career advancement of our female employees.
SMBC Group's women's empowerment in figures
Approximately half of our workforce consists of women, and we are actively promoting their advancement to managerial positions. SMBC Group is a member of the “30% Club Japan” (※) and is committed to empowering women and diversifying senior management.
In line with this commitment, we have established gender diversity goals for our Board of Directors.
- ※ Please refer to “Support for various alliances” below
Link to details in Sustainability Data Book
Numerical targets/plans for Group companies
Our Group has been taking a unified approach since the Act on Promotion of Women's Participation and Advancement in the Workplace came into force on April 1, 2016.
Each company develops an action plan to ensure the steady implementation of these initiatives.
Numerical targets/plans related to the promotion of women into managerial positions
Key Initiatives to Support Women's Empowerment
Career development support
We conduct training programs, including outside training, to help women overcome the unique challenges they face at each stage of their careers from junior employee to senior management.
Leadership training
Aiming to train the next generation of executives, we are annually conducting the “Women’s Leader Program Next,” a training program for select female employees. It provides opportunities to acquire business skills, such as the high degree of vision required of management executives and the thinking skills needed to make critical decisions for the organization. In this program, top management members attend each session, providing a unique opportunity to directly communicate their expectations to participants and offer advice and support, primarily through feedback on participants' commitments.
Support for various alliances
SMBC Group supports the vision of the "30% Club Japan*" and participates as a member. We are also part of the organization’s TOPIX Presidents’ Association, whose core members are from the TOPIX 100. Additionally, we support G20/EMPOWER, a private-sector alliance aimed at empowering women and encouraging their participation in the economy. We participate as an advocate company supporting the alliance’s activities in Japan.Furthermore, the Chairman of SMBC Group’s Board of Directors was appointed Co-Chair of the World Economic Forum's Gender Parity Accelerator Program in FY2022.
- * The parent organization for activities in Japan constituting part of the "30% Club" global campaign started in the UK in 2010 with the aim of increasing the proportion of women on boards of directors and in other key corporate decision-making bodies. Its membership comprises top corporate managers who regard gender issues as "urgent business issues" and promote diversity efforts on their own initiative.
30% Club Japan
Interview
External evaluation and awards
Our efforts to promote the empowerment of women have received positive external recognition from various sources. SMBC has been selected as a "Nadeshiko Brand" company by the Ministry of Economy. Additionally, SMBC has achieved "Eruboshi" certification, awarded by the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare, for having excellent initiatives in place to promote active participation by women.
Nadeshiko Brand
Listed companies jointly selected by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Tokyo Stock Exchange for excellence in promoting the active participation of women.
Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index
Developed by Bloomberg in 2017, the BGEI ranks firms according to their actions on gender equality, as well as related disclosures and outcomes.
Eruboshi
Companies certified by the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare as having excellent initiatives in place to promote active participation by women.
Catalyst Special Award
Received the Catalyst Special Award hosted by Catalyst, a non-profit organization established in the United States to globally support efforts to promote women's participation
Recognition and Accreditation