TOKYO FAMILIES: What is FEW, and who is it for?

VERENA: Foreign Executive Women (FEW) is a business and social networking organization whose aim is to help foreign women in Japan achieve their full professional and personal potential.

FEW welcomes foreign women from all professional backgrounds and at all stages of their careers. It focuses on networking and career development, as well as social and volunteer activities.

FEW was founded in 1981 and has evolved tremendously since its inception.

There are now two chapters, one in Tokyo and one in Osaka, with a current membership of over 250 foreign women. Reaching beyond “executive women,” FEW welcomes women from all professional backgrounds and at all stages of their careers. FEW offers its members the supportive and warm surroundings of the foreign female environment to establish employment contacts or simply to network and make a new group of friends.

TF: Please tell us a little bit about the road that brought you to become President of Foreign Executive Women.

VU: I joined FEW in February 1999. I still remember my first meeting because I felt rather uncomfortable, not being an executive but just having started my career. I was very positively surprised though to see how friendly, warm and welcoming everyone was. Realizing the organization offered wonderful support, I became involved in one of the committees. I joined the Career Strategies Seminar Committee the same year, and joined the FEW Board as Membership Director the following year. I became Vice President of FEW in 2001, and then in September 2002, I was elected President.

Getting involved in FEW was a great way to make new friends and discover skills I did not think I had. My perspectives on other professions and nationalities has widened and I have met some of my dearest friends at FEW.

TF: Please tell us about your Career Strategy Seminar which is coming up?

VU: To help foreign women in Japan have successful careers and make the most out of their time here, FEW is holding the 14th Career Strategies Seminar at Temple University Japan on Saturday, April 22nd. Presentations will be made by foreign professional women who have made their mark in the Japanese business world. In addition to the keynote speeches, there will be a series of interactive workshops which will provide in-depth information on selected industries.