Group Mentoring Program
U.S. Japan Women Leaders Initiative
Group Mentoring Program
Japan Society launched the Group Mentoring Program in 2023 as part of its U.S.-Japan Women Leaders Initiative, aimed at accelerating the professional development of working women in the U.S.-Japan space. Through the Group Mentoring Program, participants will have the opportunity to learn together from mentors who will foster collaboration and community among the mentees while imparting skills and knowledge that will facilitate opportunities for their professional advancement.
Program Duration
The Group Mentoring Program will run for a duration of approximately 6 months, starting from January 2026 and ending in June 2026.
Program Curriculum
As participants in the Group Mentoring Program, mentees will be expected to fulfill the following requirements:
- Attendance at Major Events organized under the U.S.-Japan Women Leaders Initiative. Mentees are encouraged to attend as many of these events as possible.
- Attendance at mentorship sessions is mandatory. Mentors and mentees will be meeting in a group (rather than in pairs) once a month and will alternate between virtual and in-person meetings. Each meeting will be an hour long.
- Mentees are expected to respond to Japan Society’s questionnaires and surveys in a timely and thorough manner. These questionnaires and surveys are mandatory.
Call for Mentee Nominations
This program will target mid-career professional women in the New York metropolitan area, particularly experienced and highly competent women who have a strong desire to further their professional journey. To be eligible for this program, their employer must hold corporate membership with Japan Society. These individuals may be employed for either Japanese or American companies.
If your company is interested in nominating a candidate as a mentee, kindly email Japan Society’s Business & Policy Forum at [email protected]. Nominations must be submitted by November 7, 2025. To ensure a complete nomination, please include the participant’s full name, position title, email address, and brief bio (one paragraph in narrative form).
Please note that space is limited, and there may be a possibility that not all nominees can participate in this year’s program. However, we value all nominations and will strive to accommodate as many candidates as possible.
About the Mentors
Japan Society has meticulously chosen a group of mentors who are committed to fostering women’s empowerment within the U.S.-Japan workplace. These mentors possess exceptional proficiency, knowledge, and expertise in their respective professions, and we are confident in their ability to provide valuable guidance to mid-career professionals seeking to advance their careers. Please find below the mentors for this year’s program.
Stephanie Bowker (Managing Director & General Manager, Co-Head of Corporate & Investment Banking Coverage, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation)
Stephanie Bowker is the Co-Head of Corporate & Investment Banking Coverage (CIBC) at SMBC, having been appointed to this position in April 2024. Prior to this, she was Deputy Head of the Corporate and Investment Bank and Head of the Autos, Transportation & Mobility Group. She joined SMBC in February 2020 and is responsible for a broad array of clients. Prior to joining SMBC, Stephanie was a Managing Director within the Corporate and Investment Bank at Citi. During her 13-year career there, she was the primary relationship manager for a broad portfolio of auto and related companies and had global responsibility for the auto credit portfolio. Stephanie received her Bachelor of Science in business administration from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and her MBA from Georgetown University. She lives in New York City with her husband and daughter.
Miyoko Demay (Executive Representative of World Monuments Fund; Japan and Outside Director and the Member of Board, Nintendo Co., Ltd.)
Miyoko Demay is a highly accomplished strategist and cultural catalyst with an exceptional career spanning global business and non-profit leadership. With a three-decade tenure at Tiffany & Co., she was a key figure in the company’s global operations. In senior roles such as President of Tiffany Japan and Vice President of Global Sales Operations in New York, She led pivotal transformations in corporate strategy, company culture and client engagement. Her current mission is on cultural preservation as the Japan Representative for the World Monuments Fund, where she guides efforts to protect Japan’s tangible and intangible cultural heritage and build robust community partnerships. Beyond this, Ms. Demay provides strategic counsel as an Outside Board Director for Nintendo. A recognized Dame Chevalier of the Ordre des Coteaux de Champagne, she is deeply committed to diversity and mentorship, inspiring and empowering leaders across industries.
Frances Green (Of Counsel, Epstein Becker & Green, P.C.)
Drawing upon decades of experience as a trial lawyer and trusted counselor, Fran Green counsels global clients on navigating the complexities of workforce management, cybersecurity, and data privacy laws, as well as the opportunities and legal risks presented by the design and deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) in consumer tools and within the employment life cycle. She advises clients in a broad range of industries, including finance, retail, manufacturing, and consumer goods. As an AI Governance Professional certified through the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP), Fran assists clients as they integrate AI in consumer-facing operations and augment the skills of their workforces. She is committed to ensuring safety and trust in the development and deployment of ethical AI and the ongoing management of AI systems. Fran utilizes her advanced legal degree in Cybersecurity and Data Privacy as a featured contributor on disruptive technologies for ALM’s New York Law Journal and is privileged to be a working group member of the AI Safety Institute Consortium of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The U.S. AI Safety Institute (AISI), located within the U.S. Department of Commerce at NIST, was established under presidential Executive Order 14110. AISI is tasked with developing the testing, evaluations, and guidelines that will help accelerate safe AI innovation in the United States and around the world. Additionally, Fran is a working group member of the Society of Actuaries Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute Consortium / Actuarial Innovation and Technology Strategic Research Program. She is also a member of the New York State Bar Association’s AI & Emerging Technologies Committee. To read her complete bio, click here.
Erika Kingetsu (Managing Director, Morgan Stanley)
Erika Kingetsu is a Managing Director at Morgan Stanley and the Co Head of the US based Institutional Equity Sales team. She has previously held roles in International, Asia and Japan Equities. Erika joined Morgan Stanley in 2004 after spending her prior years at JP Morgan. She has a BA from Cornell University and an MBA in Finance from the Stern School of Business at NYU. Erika is on the ISG & IED Diversity Council and on the Multicultural Forum committee. She is also a member of the Council of Foreign Relations. She is an active Board member at Greenwood Projects – a non profit organization providing support and opportunity to under resourced scholars focused on Finance. She also sits on the Global Talent and Diversity Board at the Asia Society in New York. She is married with twin boys.
About the U.S. Japan Women Leaders Initiative
 | Japan Society is committed to empowering women in the U.S.-Japan space through the U.S. Japan Women Leaders Initiative and our partners. Featuring two dynamic events with leading speakers each year plus more intimate, hands-on workshops, The U.S.-Japan Women Leaders Initiative is a platform for learning and empowerment, and for ongoing discussion and connection. Addressing a key aspect in the U.S.-Japan relationship, it aligns with Japan Society’s longstanding mission to convene important conversations on topics that bind our two countries together, and to forge deep connections between the U.S. and Japan for positive change. |
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Japan Society is committed to empowering women in the U.S.-Japan space through the U.S. Japan Women Leaders Initiative and our partners. Featuring two dynamic events with leading speakers each year plus more intimate, hands-on workshops, The U.S.-Japan Women Leaders Initiative is a platform for learning and empowerment, and for ongoing discussion and connection. Addressing a key aspect in the U.S.-Japan relationship, it aligns with Japan Society’s longstanding mission to convene important conversations on topics that bind our two countries together, and to forge deep connections between the U.S. and Japan for positive change. Learn more. |
The U.S.-Japan Women Leaders Initiative is generously supported by Advocate sponsors.
ADVOCATE
Business & Policy Forum is generously supported by Japan Society Global Leaders & Corporate Partners.
GLOBAL LEADERS
CORPORATE PARTNERS
Japan Society programs are supported by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
Japan Society’s 120th anniversary initiatives and related programs are generously supported by Champion Sponsor, MUFG Bank, Ltd.; Advocate Sponsor, Mizuho Americas; and Friend Sponsor, Mitsubishi Corporation (Americas).
