From advising hedge fund clients on equity investment ideas, designing online courses and fellowships for change makers, coaching startup leaders, and serving Japanese multinationals through talent development projects — Tomoko’s throughline is clear: a deep commitment to people’s learning and meaningful action.

Whether in finance, entrepreneurship, international development, or talent development consultancy, she has consistently worked with and for people’s growth — empowering individuals, teams, and communities to navigate change with clarity and purpose.

Tomoko’s 20-year career spans:

• Corporate: Goldman Sachs (finance), Globis (organizational learning consulting)

• Global Social Enterprise: Acumen (leadership development, impact investment), UNICEF (mentoring program)

• Startups: Quipper (K-12 EdTech), CoachEd (coaching, leadership development)

• Community Initiatives: Acumen (global volunteer management), JWN (Japanese women’s professional community in NYC)

This range equips her with the agility to move between structured institutions and entrepreneurial ecosystems — always with a people-first lens.

Tomoko’s approach is grounded in a belief that sustainable change emerges from how people learn, relate, and adapt. Her work draws from a range of traditions that bridge personal growth and organizational transformation, including:

• Social Constructivism – learning as co-creation through dialogue and experience

• Systems Thinking – seeing individuals within the context of larger systems

• Adaptive Leadership – mobilizing people to thrive in the face of change

• Connectivism – valuing networks, shared knowledge, and digital learning

• Informal & Experiential Learning – leveraging reflection, environment, and practice

These foundations shape how she designs programs, facilitates learning spaces, and coaches individuals — always with the goal of enabling people to grow within and beyond their roles.

Read more about her guiding philosophy

Tomoko co-leads a vibrant community of Japanese women professionals in New York City, creating shared learning spaces that support personal and professional growth across life stages and industries. As a content creator, she blogs regularly and has produced three Japanese-language podcasts — edamametalk, Manabi no Hanashi, and Moms in Transition — exploring themes such as identity, work-life integration, and transformative learning.

• Executive M.S. in Human Resource Management – Zicklin School of Business, Baruch College

• M.Ed. in Technology, Innovation & Education – Harvard Graduate School of Education

• Certified Professional in Talent Development® (ATD)

• Certified Upbuild Coach®

• Completed Co-Active Coach® Training &PQ Coaching Grant Program

• Completed Mental Health Literacy for Coaches (Institute of Coaching)