33 ASIAN LEGAL BUSINESS – JUNE 2024 WWW.LEGALBUSINESSONLINE.COM WOMEN IN LAW After graduating from law school and practicing law in the United States, Takizawa returned to Tokyo and joined Blackstone, and it has been quite a journey. Early in her career, Takizawa focused on corporate law, specifically in areas such as M&A, cross-border transactions, and strategic alliances. Being a woman in a predominantly male-dominated profession at the time came with its challenges. Takizawa often found herself mistaken for a secretary or being interrupted during meetings. But she wanted to be recognized for her abilities as an individual, rather than being focused on her gender. Takizawa kept her focus on “doing the job that was in front of me,” which became her motto since her law school days. Joining Blackstone provided Takizawa with a supportive and inclusive environment that values the needs of women. She has personally experienced understanding from leadership when she had to attend to her child’s needs. This motivated her to be more involved in promoting this culture at the firm. Today, Takizawa lead Blackstone’s legal team in Japan and co-chair the firm’s affinity networks including Women’s Initiative and Blackstone Women in Legal & Compliance. Together with her colleagues, the team has driven programs focused on recruiting talented women and supporting their careers through mentorship programs and other benefits. Corporate Japan is still catching up with gender diversity. The share of Japanese women in management roles was only 15 per cent, below the global average of 25 per cent and the 30 per cent target set by the Japanese government. Traditional values often still hold sway for Japanese women, making it difficult to balance work and family obligations. Takizawa’s journey has been about challenging old norms and championing new opportunities. It’s not just about the culture; in her opinion, a diverse workplace brings better ideas, smarter decisions, and a whole lot of energy. Through smart hiring, supportive teamwork, and encouraging our portfolio companies to embrace diversity, Blackstone is working towards building a smarter workplace. SAYO KONDO TAKIZAWA Managing Director, Legal & Compliance, Blackstone Tell us a bit about your career trajectory and how did you get to where you are today? The legal profession was not my first career choice; as a child, I’d always wanted to follow in my mother’s footsteps and be a teacher. After several years of private practice as a maritime litigation lawyer, I found myself yearning to do more than drafting affidavits and debating further and better particulars. The adrenaline rush of trial work was a real draw but the other stuff that came along with it was quite a downer. I ended up interviewing for an in-house legal position at UPS and when I was offered the position, I decided to give it a go. 18 years later (and counting), I’m still going. I would not say I have “arrived” yet; but I certainly would not be where I am today without all the amazing mentors and supportive peers. UPS has been a phenomenal place from a professional and personal development perspective. I am not just a business lawyer; I also coach and mentor and I often still get to practice my advocacy skills but in the context of a boardroom. What have been some of the biggest takeaways you’ve cherished as a female leader? The biggest takeaway I hold true as a female leader is always remembering your why. If your motivation is money (and that’s totally fine), chase after it with the knowledge that certain things might fall away in the process. My motivation is – and has always been – my two children. If there is something that chips away in my ability to be the mother they deserve and can be proud of, that has no place in my life. Whether it is showing them what hard work looks like, giving back to the community, keeping yourself healthy so that you can be around for them, or just being still and available at home – I give it my all because they are my why. The other takeaway, which is particularly relevant in the legal profession where standards are exacting, is to be kind to yourself. You will, inevitably, fail. All of us will. But that’s how we learn; and show exactly what we are made of – by gracefully picking ourselves up, dusting the dirt off from our power suit and putting one high-heeled foot in front of the other. ANNA QUAH Vice-President, Legal, UPS Asia Group
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjA0NzE4Mw==