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Based on an EY study revealing that leading women athletes are more likely to succeed in the business world, EY launched its global Women Athletes Business Network (WABN) program to support women athletes pursuing a second career in business after retiring from sport. This newsletter includes report on the final session of the 4th EY Japan WABN Academy, held in March 2025.
Executive Summary
- EY’s multidisciplinary professionals served as mentors to the EY Japan WABN Academy participants, helping them to address the specific challenges of their individual business plans.
- The Academy’s final session featured “POWER Up,” a self-branding and leadership development program designed by EY and implemented by clients around the world. A female entrepreneur, and also a former athlete, shared her career story and explored ways to succeed in the business field with the participants.
- To conclude their five-month journey at the EY Japan WABN Academy, each athlete presented her business plan to a panel composed of external and EY judges, as well as invited guests. Athletes took part in a graduation ceremony to celebrate their achievements at the Academy.
The final session of the 4th EY Japan WABN Academy was held on 7 March 2025, one day prior to International Women’s Day. The enthusiasm and excitement of the former athletes filled the air.
EY is a global network of nearly 400,000 multidisciplinary professionals providing services in over 150 countries and regions around the world. Harnessing its global network, EY implements the WABN program not only in Japan but also globally. To date, over 100 athletes have participated in the program both in Japan and overseas. During the recent EY Japan WABN Academy, EY business leaders from various sectors served as mentors to Academy members, providing them with guidance over five months. Leveraging the entrepreneurship and marketing skills gained through WABN sessions and the insight offered by mentors, Academy members presented their business ideas in a business pitch before a large audience, and graduated from the WABN Academy.
The final session was the culmination of five months of study: each Academy member presented her unique business pitch before a judging panel of business leaders, including Masato Mizuno, WABN External Advisor and Chairman of the Advisory Board at Mizuno Corporation, and Yuko Sasagawa, Representative Director and President of Imagine Next, who is also a member of the 5 Hundred Club of EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women (EWW).
Shape the future with confidence
EY is committed to driving transformation by assisting clients in confidently shaping the future and jointly addressing the urgent challenges they encounter now and in the future. This commitment is the reason why we chose to explore “confidence” as the theme for the WABN Academy round table.
In her opening speech, WABN Academy Leader Janelle Sasaki explained the concept behind this theme: “Confidence is an essential quality for both athletes and business leaders. EY implemented the “POWER Up” program for athletes from around the world, and I wanted to introduce it to the EY Japan WABN Academy to help Japanese athletes build confidence in their careers and learn leadership skills.”
Moriaki Kida, EY Japan Chairperson & CEO, EY Japan Regional Managing Partner, expressed his hopes for the future of the Academy members.
“The commitment, perseverance, enthusiasm and achievements cultivated and accomplished through sports are valuable assets that can be applied to business. EY Japan WABN Academy supports entrepreneurship to serve as a bridge between entrepreneurs and society. It embodies EY's purpose of ’Building a better working world,’ and forms a part of EY’s circular model for creating value in sports. We place emphasis on this initiative as it underlines our commitment to developing talented professionals that support athletes and communities.
In the US, there are many athletes who, when they retire from sport, join or create a company and are successful in business. They set a great example for younger athletes.
I know that it is impossible for EY to change the world on its own. I hope, therefore, that WABN members will become role models in Japan and demonstrate their leadership skills in the business sector as well.”
POWER Up! How to live our own lives, lead and be the influence
POWER Up is EY’s leadership development and self-branding program designed to encourage people to consider “How to live our own lives, lead and be the influence” through storytelling and group discussions. EY offers the program internally to our people, and to clients and local communities around the world.
The final session covered two of the five topics from “POWER Up”: “Project confidence authentically - Exhibit a firm belief in your abilities” and “Own career journey – Mindfully take control of your career and life.” Two WABN alumni members, one Japanese and one from Brazil, shared their respective career stories.
In a discussion about “Project confidence authentically,” Harue Kamiya, three-time Japan Water Ski Nationals champion and runner-up in the World Over 35 Water Ski Championships 2018, shared her story as a graduate of the 1st WABN Academy. She detailed the four rules that she follows to exhibit her full potential, referencing her experience as the representative director of a building maintenance service company, as well as organizing a local festival for a neighborhood association as a form of social contribution. Kamiya highlighted the importance of 1. respecting the perspectives of others before asserting yourself; 2. avoiding one-sided communication; 3. managing risks; and 4. maintaining your well-being.
“WABN gave me the courage to step into a new world. And now I feel a complete sense of attachment to it.” (Harue Kamiya)
On the second topic, “Own career journey” participants viewed a video of Brazilian Aline Silva, entrepreneur and former wrestler, discussing her experience of participating in the global version of WABN. She described how WABN helped her to develop confidence in her business idea, overcome language and societal barriers, and ultimately led her business to success. Participants then joined smaller focus groups to discuss the areas mentioned by Silva.
Yukiko Takahashi, a member of the 4th WABN Academy and former Olympian swimmer (2004 Athens Summer Olympics), later commented that she received empowering advice from Masato Mizuno, who was seated next to her during the discussion. Having expressed her concerns that “Like Aline Silva, I have struggled to feel confident about myself because I dedicated my entire life to sports,” Mizuno responded that “I don’t think you should try to appear smart. What you have achieved so far is already admirable.”
“I used to think that my experience as an athlete was irrelevant to functioning as a working member of society. But today, I was reminded for the first time that it is my valuable asset,” Takahashi said with a relieved look on her face.
During a break between sessions, Kisato Nishimura, a graduate of the 1st WABN Academy, used her experience as a former US NFL cheerleader to demonstrate and lead a quick cheerleading-style exercise for participants. It helped to lift everyone’s energy levels ahead of the business pitch which was the final stage for the Academy members.
Business pitch by members of the 4th WABN Academy
The second half of the event featured a business pitch by each member of the 4th WABN Academy. Although pitching a new business idea requires a high level of presentation skills, each Academy member delivered an outstanding presentation. Kei Marumo, the event facilitator and a bronze medalist in artistic swimming at the Rio 2016 Olympics, praised their achievement as “most of the ideas presented were based on their own experiences and vividly reflected their unique personalities.”
Ryoko Utsumi, who was the first presenter, is a former professional basketball player who won the Empress Cup seven times and competed in the Japan qualifiers for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. Utsumi, who is fluent in English, presented her plan to create an after-school basketball academy to support foreign families, including embassy staff and their children, living in Japan.
The idea originated from her own childhood experience, where basketball helped her overcome isolation while she was living in the US.
“This plan stems from my desire to now be the person who supports others. At the beginning of the process, I had no clear business vision except for two keywords: basketball and English. My mentor helped me identify other related keywords and align my experiences with what I wanted to achieve.”
“WABN helped me to gain the confidence to live my life to the fullest based on my own decisions.” (Ryoko Utsumi)
Takahashi also reflected on her feelings of regret on her business pitch. The former Olympian had to abandon pursuing a career as an instructor due to pregnancy and childbirth. To address the ongoing struggles faced by young women even 20 years later, she presented a plan to create a business that supports career development for female instructors.
“After retiring from professional sports, I wanted to contribute to society, but I was at a loss about what to do. My time at WABN has been very meaningful, and I feel it will help me to move forward. “(Yukiko Takahashi)
Yuko Sasagawa, one of the judges, offered an empowering message to Takahashi: “I hope you will approach your business as a project to transform Japanese society’s strong bias about gender roles.”
Megumi Ikeda, a former fencer who represented Japan at the 2004 Athens and 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, and Hiroe Minagawa, who ranked fifth in women’s wrestling at the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics, aim to achieve a healthier society based on their knowledge and experiences as athletes.
Minagawa is involved in a business that provides online personal fitness training programs incorporating wrestling moves, while Ikeda serves as a board member of an incorporated association that offers conditioning support for postpartum women and junior athletes. From their respective perspectives, they presented business models that leverage sports to address societal needs, such as reducing healthcare costs and extending healthy life expectancy.
A common trait for these two athletes, prior to attending the Academy, was a lack of confidence in themselves.
Minagawa commented, “When I was exposed to different professional and social situations outside sport, I felt that my experience competing in the Olympics was almost a burden.” Ikeda added that she “always lacked confidence and it was a cycle of being defeated and then trying again.”
However, after attending the WABN Academy, Minagawa realized that “the most important thing for me is just to be fearless when I begin something.” Ikeda also reflected on her time at the Academy, adding that “I learned that to advance a business, it’s important to delegate tasks to others. I also received objective advice from accounting professionals on how to make my project more relatable to everyone.”
Ikeda was passionate about explaining her future vision for “transmitting athletes’ conditioning knowledge to more people.”
“WABN allowed me to reflect on my strengths, weaknesses and who I am. I now understand what I want to achieve in the future.” (Megumi Ikeda)
“I decided to participate in the WABN Academy because I was struggling to figure out my future work style.” (Hiroe Minagawa)
Miki Kamada (Para-swimming/Incheon 2014 Asian Para Games bronze medalist) presented a business to support athletes’ second careers, while Asako Mizuno (surfing/ranking 2nd in the 2014 JSPA Annual Tour) proposed a business model that provides opportunities for children not regularly attending school to try surfing and that assists the career development of professional surfers. The judges gave a very positive evaluation of their commitment to addressing social issues, like that of other Academy members.
“When I prepared for my business pitch, the specific guidance from my mentor on profitability helped me to develop my critical thinking skills.” (Miki Kamada)
“WABN provided me with a great opportunity to learn about various aspects of business, including the process that female entrepreneurs undergo.” (Asako Mizuno)
After the pitch round, Janelle Sasaki, WABN Leader, awarded graduation certificates to each member of the 4th WABN Academy. The Academy ended with an address by Tomoka Nemoto, the Executive Sponsor of EY Japan WABN. “Although everyone seemed hesitant at the start, I am happy to see each of you delivered unique presentations with confidence,” said Nemoto. “I hope that you will leverage the networks you have established as WABN alumna to expand your opportunities in the future.”
Comment from Masato Mizuno, WABN External Advisor and Chairman of the Advisory Board at Mizuno Corporation
“Since 2014, I have had the honor of serving as an advisor for EY Japan WABN, a program dedicated to supporting female athletes who aspire to challenge themselves in the business sector, and to facilitating their career transition after retiring from professional sports. I would like to express my deepest respect for the remarkable achievements of the program, which are the result of the combined efforts of passionate and highly skilled mentors, as well as the unwavering dedication to self-development demonstrated by the mentees. Even though we are living in challenging times, including a global pandemic, natural disasters around the world caused by climate change, and economic turmoil sparked by unjust wars, I have high hopes that you, as graduates, will overcome these difficulties and excel in the business world by leveraging the skills and expertise gained through this program.”
WABN Academy members and mentors
Here you can find comments from the 4th WABN Academy athlete members, as well as the EY business leaders who have served as mentors to the 1st to 4th WABN Academy members over the past four years.
1. Megumi Ikeda, OLY Fencing
“During the Academy, my mentor provided me with valuable feedback from perspectives that I had never previously considered. I learned so much from her insights. It was also truly inspiring to learn about the thoughts and efforts of my fellow athlete participants. In the final session, I was able to rediscover the importance of having confidence and thought that the potential of female athletes is limitless. Thank you very much for this valuable opportunity.”
Primary mentor: Yoko Ito
Partner, Division 4, Ernst & Young ShinNihon LLC.
“The wonderful thing about Megumi Ikeda is that she speaks in a bright and brisk manner, is acutely intelligent and has clear business objectives. Her focus is human health. To achieve her goal of improving people’s quality of life, she aims to reduce healthcare costs by promoting fundamental improvements to our health. She has already implemented various initiatives, including collaborative projects with municipalities, in parallel with her participation in the WABN Academy. During our mentoring sessions, we discussed the difficulties of monetizing health-related initiatives. Consumers are willing to pay monthly fees for swimming or ballet lessons, but they are reluctant to pay for services that promote well-being. I believe this is an extremely important theme in the context of longevity, and I would like to continue our dialogue on this topic.
Secondary mentor: Michiyo Hirose
Partner, Division 1, Ernst & Young ShinNihon LLC.
“I was amazed by how Megumi Ikeda has a clear vision of what she wants to do based on her own experiences, how she articulates her thoughts with passion and can engage an audience. As she has been active in a wide variety of fields since retiring, she already had her own networks, was action-oriented and understood realistic challenges. I was constantly amazed by her speed and ability to immediately act on the perspectives gained through mentoring and to build on them to gain new insights. She demonstrated the spirit of a top athlete. During the business pitch, she articulated her increasingly strong convictions and empowered vision with confidence. I am convinced that she will continue to thrive and exhibit her ’POWER,’ and I am committed to supporting her journey. I was able to learn a great deal and be inspired as well so I am grateful for this valuable opportunity.”
2. Ryoko Utsumi, Basketball
“At first, I had only a vague idea of what I wanted to do. I wasn’t sure if I could realize my idea, and I didn’t know how to proceed. It was all just a dream. In each session of the WABN Academy, I was inspired by so many people. Thanks to my mentor, who provided close guidance and accompanied me all the way to my goal, I was able to evaluate both my true feelings and the practical aspects of business, one by one. I was also able to expand my network and discover the broader potential within myself. Now, as a graduate of the Academy, I am really energized for the next step. Thank you so much - the experience has been invaluable!”
Primary mentor: Takako Sogi
Partner, Forensics Division, Ernst & Young ShinNihon LLC.
“As we continued the mentoring sessions, I saw how Ryoko Utsumi’s plans and direction were becoming clearer. I particularly recall the moment when she said that ’I’ve realized that the emotions I experienced as a child are the foundation for what I’m doing, and now I see my direction!’ Despite being the first to present in the final pitch round, she delivered her presentation in a very calm manner, embodying her hospitality-oriented mindset and passion. I hope she will continue her work to realize her plans!”
3. Miki Kamada, Para-swimming
“Participating in the Academy offered me an opportunity to really focus on various issues, reflect on my career path, and contemplate my future. Thank you.”
Primary mentor: Teruyo Okubo
Partner, Division 5, Ernst & Young ShinNihon LLC.
“At the start of the program, it was clear to me that Miki Kamada was struggling to decide what to do. I believe that it is her first experience of creating something from scratch but, through our repeated conversations and feedback, I feel that she began to see her goal. I believe that her greatest strength is perseverance and determination to reach her goal, to never give up. I think that she was able to deliver an excellent and practical presentation in the business pitch.”
4. Yukiko Takahashi, OLY Swimming
“The five months I spent at the WABN Academy was a period of transition for me, from losing confidence to making a fresh start. I was nervous on the first day, but it was also inspiring to reaffirm the value of athletes. With the passionate guidance of the instructors, I was able to cultivate a positive attitude along with business knowledge. Through mentoring I discovered my passion and strengths and learned to accept my shortcomings. It was a valuable experience for me. I was also able to give a concrete shape to my ambiguous business ideas, thanks to the detailed advice of my mentors. The knowledge that I gained through this experience is invaluable. I am truly grateful.”
Primary mentor: Tomoka Nemoto
Partner, Division 2, Ernst & Young ShinNihon LLC.
“At each mentoring session, Yukiko Takahashi summarized and expressed her thoughts and feelings about female athletes and children in her own words. During the business pitch, she delivered her presentation with great confidence. I hope that she will continue to nurture the connections she has established with fellow athletes, municipalities and other organizations, as she moves forward to realize her own purpose. I will be supporting her on this journey.”
5. Hiroe Minagawa, OLY Wrestling
“I always had a complex about my lack of exposure to different professional and social situations outside sport. When I heard in one of the sessions that the exceptional commitment, determination and perseverance that athletes demonstrate in achieving their goals are fully transferable to the world of business, it gave me confidence and affirmation of what I achieved in my sporting career. Since realizing that what I once thought was a weakness is a strength, I can see greater opportunities for me in the future.”
Primary mentor: Natsuko Higano
Partner, Consulting Division, EY Strategy and Consulting Co., Ltd.
“What’s remarkable about Hiroe Minagawa is her ability to openly communicate her visions and challenges, as well as to articulate the specific support that she needs to achieve her goals or overcome those challenges. Although she seemed concerned about her lack of business experience, I believe that interacting with other people in the WABN Academy helped her to realize that her experiences and relentless commitment are fully transferable to the world of business. The experience of pitching a business enabled her to draw a roadmap for realizing her business goals. She effectively showcased both a concrete mission and the high possibility of achieving it.”
6. Asako Mizuno, Surfing
“By participating in the WABN Academy, I was able to reflect on myself and rediscover my purpose. I had a truly wonderful time. I gained an understanding of the value of athletes that I previously lacked, met new people and discovered new opportunities.”
Primary mentor: Maki Tsuchida
Director, People Advisory Services, Ernst & Young Tax Co.
“In addition to her career as a professional surfer, Asako Mizuno also had experience of running her own business as a Pilates instructor, so she had a keen sense of business from the outset. She has a very strong desire to contribute to society through sports (surfing), with a particular focus on supporting the growth of children. This clear principle enabled us to have focused conversations during our four mentoring sessions. I believe that her excellent research skills and high motivation for self-improvement have also helped her to gain valuable insights through this Academy.”
Summary
EY is committed to driving transformation by assisting clients in confidently shaping the future and jointly addressing the urgent challenges they encounter now and in the future. EY Japan WABN Academy, in collaboration with business leaders both within and outside EY, offers programs designed to empower women athletes to transition into the business sector with confidence.
EY publications [in Japanese]
“The first book every athlete should read for career guidance” (Publisher: Dobunkan Shuppan, March 2025)
Based on the belief that active sports are an integral part of a prosperous society, Ernst & Young ShinNihon LLC. is committed to contributing to the development of sports. This book aims to facilitate a successful career transition for athletes and empowers athletes to take the next step in their career by reaffirming their strengths and providing fundamental insights into social systems. The book is recommended for athletes and also those who support them.
“The company management handbook: Fundamentals of company building for women entrepreneurs” (Publisher: Dobunkan Shuppan, February 2025)
Ernst & Young ShinNihon LLC. supports female entrepreneurs with a primary focus on all aspects of business management through its Entrepreneurial Winning Women (EWW) initiatives. This book provides a comprehensive explanation of what you need to know to build a company, specifically for EWW members and everyone who is new to running a business. The book includes many diagrams and illustrations, along with easy-to-understand explanations, for a stress-free read by female entrepreneurs with busy personal and professional lives.
Since first publication in 2014, the book has been fully revised to incorporate the recent increased interest in purpose-driven management.
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