From Flight Attendant to CEO: Empowering Women in Leadership

Mitsuko Tottori acknowledges that Japan still has a long way to go in terms of promoting women to top leadership positions. She made history in January by becoming the first female president and chief executive of Japan Airlines (JAL), marking a significant milestone in a career that began almost four decades ago when she started working as a flight attendant for the airline.

Her success is uncommon in a country where women often encounter obstacles to advancement.

During an interview at the airline's headquarters in Tokyo, she expressed her belief that Japan is working towards a goal of having more female managers. She hopes that in the near future, it will be normal for a woman to become a president in Japan.

"We are committed to increasing the number of women managers. It is important for women to be proactive and strive for leadership roles. I hope to see more women in managerial positions in the future," she expressed.

Tottori, 59, started working at the national carrier in 1985. After thirty years, in 2015, she was appointed as the senior director of cabin attendants and continued to progress through the ranks.

Tottori's background stands out from her predecessors. It is quite unusual for a former flight attendant to reach the highest position. Out of the last 10 JAL presidents, seven were graduates of the prestigious University of Tokyo. In contrast, Tottori attended the two-year Kwassui Women’s Junior College in Nagasaki, which is part of a network of institutions known for their contribution to women's higher education.

The president before Tottori had a background in aviation maintenance, while the one before him began his career as a pilot.

Tottori, pictured in 1985 using an in-flight phone, began her career as a cabin attendant at Japan Airlines.

Japan Airlines recognized Tottori for her expertise and experience in safe flight operations and service throughout her career. She was promoted to a senior position due to her valuable insight and contributions to maintaining safe operations during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Tottori took over as the new leader on April 1. Her appointment comes at a challenging time for the airline, following the fiery collision of flight 516 at Tokyo’s Haneda airport on January 2 and ongoing safety issues at Boeing (BA).

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The Airbus A350 passenger plane collided with a coast guard aircraft on the runway at Haneda, resulting in the tragic death of five individuals. Despite this tragic incident, all 379 passengers on JAL flight 516 were successfully evacuated thanks to the commendable safety protocol followed by the crew. Their swift and composed response was highly praised.

Tottori, who witnessed the accident unfold on TV, commended both the crew and passengers for their prompt evacuation during the emergency.

"I believe the cooperation from our customers was amazing. They followed the flight crew's instructions calmly, which was crucial. Additionally, the full realization of the safety training results played a significant role," she mentioned.

Tottori emphasized that safety would be her top priority. During the year she started working for the airline, JAL flight 123 from Tokyo to Osaka crashed, resulting in the tragic loss of 520 out of the 524 passengers on board, making it the deadliest single-aircraft accident in aviation history.

Japan Airlines' A350 airplane is on fire at Haneda international airport in Tokyo, Japan January 2, 2024. REUTERS/Issei Kato

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Safety rules that have been learned from tragic incidents have played a crucial role in saving lives during the Tokyo plane crash. Shukor Yusof, the founder of Endau Analytics, a company that monitors the aviation industry, emphasized the importance of safety in aviation. He mentioned that Tottori's experience will contribute to enhancing safety protocols even more.

Japan is known for its strong culture of safety, which is considered superior to many other countries, including developed ones. Despite this, JAL has experienced several significant accidents in the past, such as flight 123 in 1985 and the most recent one in January 2024. One individual believes that a woman, particularly someone with experience as a cabin crew member, could further enhance the already stringent safety measures at JAL.

Gender gap is a concern that needs to be addressed, as there is a noticeable disparity between male and female representation in certain industries. It is important to recognize the value that women can bring to the table, especially in roles where safety and customer service are top priorities. By promoting diversity and inclusivity, companies like JAL can benefit from a more balanced and effective workforce.

Japan Inc is currently facing challenges in addressing a significant gender gap and enhancing diversity within top companies. Tottori's appointment is part of the efforts to tackle this issue.

According to the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Index 2023, Japan is ranked 125 out of 146 countries. This marks a drop of nine places from the previous year, placing Japan well below other developed nations in the Group of Seven.

Regionally in Asia, Japan ranks the worst for gender parity, coming last behind Myanmar and Fiji.

Mitsuko Tottori, incoming president of Japan Airlines, speaks during a news conference in Tokyo on January 17, 2024.

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As of 2023, the Global Gender Gap report found that only 12.9% of senior and leadership positions were occupied by women.

In January, Tottori expressed her hope of inspiring female employees facing career challenges or life events by taking on the role of president. She aims to encourage and empower them to move forward in their own careers.

The government has set a target for women to hold 30% of senior management roles at major listed companies by 2030. They also plan to support initiatives that will help create more opportunities for women to advance in their careers. However, progress towards this goal has been sluggish.

Dr Seijiro Takeshita, a professor at the University of Shizuoka, believes that corporate Japan needs to do more to have women in leadership roles, including C-suite positions. According to him, traditions and cultures make it challenging, but progress is being made. He sees a woman becoming the CEO of a top Japanese company as a very positive development.

Tottori's appointment is seen as a positive move by the public and stakeholders. She took a non-traditional path and worked her way up within the company.

According to Takeshita, the promotion of a former cabin crew member to CEO is well-received, especially by JAL employees. They prefer to see one of their own colleagues become CEO instead of someone from another company, government officials, or former politicians.

JAL has recovered nicely following the Covid-19 pandemic, taking advantage of the increased interest in tourism in the country, as noted by Yusof.

He also mentioned that ANA, the domestic competitor of JAL, is also performing strongly. The yen's ongoing weakness is beneficial for tourists, but it has resulted in fewer Japanese people traveling abroad.

— CNN’s Junko Ogura, Mayumi Maruyama and Juliana Liu contributed reporting.

Editor's P/S:

Mitsuko Tottori's appointment as the first female president of Japan Airlines is a significant milestone in the country's efforts to promote gender equality and diversity in leadership positions. As a former flight attendant, her unconventional career path and focus on safety and customer service bring a fresh perspective to the airline industry. Tottori's success highlights the importance of breaking down barriers and creating opportunities for women to advance in traditionally male-dominated fields.

Japan still has a long way to go in addressing its gender gap, as evidenced by its low ranking in the Global Gender Gap Index. Tottori's appointment is a positive step towards achieving the government's goal of having more women in senior management roles. Her leadership will inspire other women to pursue their career aspirations and demonstrate the value of diversity and inclusion in the workplace. The airline industry and corporate Japan as a whole can benefit from the unique perspectives and skills that women bring to leadership positions.