Celebrated on the 8th of March every year, International Women’s Day (IWD) is a focal point in the movement for women's rights, celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.

We would like to take a moment to recognise the Women of Wantedly, as we celebrate their limitless imagination, their joyous dreams and their boundless strength.

This year, one of IWD's mission is to celebrate digital advancement and champion the women forging innovation through technology.

Leading the pack, meet Akiko, CEO of Wantedly.

Akiko Naka, CEO of Wantedly

Getting her start at Goldman Sachs and Facebook Japan, Akiko believes in social media and dreams of marrying the love of work and social, and allowing one to pursue a career they truly love and are passionate about.

With her entrepreneurial spirit, she founded Wantedly Japan based on these values. Not without challenges and curveballs, Akiko is now the youngest female founder to take a company public in Japan in 2017.

Beatrix Chow, Marketing Lead, Wantedly Hong Kong

Hello, I am Beatrix, the newbie in Wantedly HK and leading the team in business development & marketing.

We spend more than 1/3 of our lifetime at work, and so I believe that it is important the work be something we love and are passionate about, while being able to inject a bit of fun in too!

Building a better work cycle might be challenging but I trust we all deserve it. Life should be fun!

Nia Haruna Thomas, International Operations, Wantedly Japan

At Wantedly, I'm in charge of the International Operations department, mainly working to support our Singapore and Hong Kong offices from our Head office in Tokyo.

My ambitions in life are to gain personal growth through experiences. I strongly believe keeping an open mind and getting out of your comfort zone is key to tapping into all the possibilities that life has instore. I've always been inspired by the strong women around me, especially within my family.

My mother and sister have instilled in me the mindset of finding meaning in everything I do. Early on I have had the opportunity to expand my knowledge through travel, within the U.S where I grew up but also internationally. Consequently, my career choices have also been influenced in such a way that I find myself thriving in a global environment and making connections with people from various walks of life looking for chances to open my eyes to new ideas and thoughts beyond what I could imagine.

Mae Noor, Senior Marketing Manager, Wantedly Singapore

As the lead marketer for Wantedly Singapore, I aim to market and position Wantedly as the go-to platform connecting companies and talents based on passion and values.

I am inspired by the everyday people who’re not afraid of challenges, and go forth to make an impact be it on a community scale or a global one, e.g Greta Thunberg, #MeToo – people and movements that inspire you to be a part of something greater than yourself!

Tiffany Cheung, Client Success, Wantedly Hong Kong

I am the Client Success Lead of Wantedly HK. I plan, create and deliver employer branding strategies for our clients.

I start my career as a fashion buyer. However, behind the glamour, I was buried under countless spreadsheets and calculations which was not exactly my passion. I decided to take a leap of faith and landed in Wantedly where I actually found my passion.

There’s a saying “Take a leap of faith, you will either land somewhere new or learn to fly”. I hope I can empower more people to step out of their comfort zone and follow their passion.

Satsuki Soejima, Customer Support & Community Manager, Wantedly Japan

My goal is to provide an unforgettable experience through Wantedly.

As a member of Wantedly Customer Support Squad and Community Manager, my goal for this FY is to gather as many voices from the users and make the most of it to improve user experience.

I am inspired by creative thoughts and people making changes.

Ai Lopez, Assistant International Operations, Wantedly Japan

I’m an assistant in the Overseas Operation team at Wantedly, mostly in charge of helping with operational tasks and sharing news to both parties in Japan and overseas.

I’m so honored to be able to work in this international department cooperating with international co-workers in Singapore and Hong Kong. My passion has always been to be a helper and I also love serving together with my husband in the church with music and encouragement. We also love hosting people in our home and sharing home cooked meals. I enjoy studying the Bible in its original languages and want to live as Jesus teaches “Love God and love thy neighbor.”

There are many more inspiring women leaders at Wantedly, and together, now let’s raise a toast to all the women trailblazers in your life!