AWLF Online Summit Vol.3｜Event Report

AWLF Online Summit Vol.2｜Event Report

Date: Friday, September 12, 2025

On Friday, September 12, 2025, the Asia Women Leaders Forum (AWLF) held its third Online Summit.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who joined us from across Japan and abroad, and especially to our inspiring guest speaker, Ms. Yoko Shinoda (Yuile), for her generous and thoughtful sharing.

■ Guest Speaker: Ms. Yoko Shinoda (Yuile)

Soul Shift Navigator / Certified Trainer by the American NLP Association

Yuile has worked as an interpreter for some of the world’s most influential leaders, combining her exceptional language skills with deep emotional intelligence. Her career, guided by what she calls a “soul-led journey,” has empowered countless individuals to discover new perspectives and possibilities.

She shared how she has gracefully navigated shifts in work and lifestyle across generations—from her days as a fashion writer for Shogakukan magazine using telex and fax, to her present-day holistic work. Each story resonated deeply with the participants, offering valuable insight into the idea of “authentic leadership.”

Yuile also spoke warmly about how she adjusted her career in alignment with her daughter’s growth. Referring to parenting as “a laboratory of learning,” she offered reflections filled with humility and maternal warmth.

One of the most touching moments came when she shared that her daughter, now an adult, had told her: “I want to study NLP too. I don’t want to just follow others—I want to choose my own path.”
It was a beautiful testament to the power of empowerment through love.

■ Key Messages: Leadership Through Transformation and Resonance

“I have lived by listening to the voice of my soul.”

With these words, Yuile spoke of a life guided by intuition and sensitivity, even while juggling the demands of work and family.

A particularly striking insight was when she said:

“It’s not about how you say it—it’s about the energy you bring to the space.”

She emphasized that our “way of being”—even more than words—is what cultivates trust and connection.

From her long career in interpretation, she reflected:

“It’s not knowledge that moves people, but intention and energetic resonance.”

“When you listen to your inner stillness, you begin to truly connect with the outer world.”
“When you live by your soul, you naturally become someone who inspires transformation around you.”

These insights invited all of us to rethink leadership not as the act of leading others, but as a state of harmonizing with the world from within.

■ Reflective Workshop: Facing Life’s Three Big Questions

In the second half of the summit, Yuile led a guided reflective workshop, inviting participants to quietly explore their inner landscape.

She presented the “Three Big Questions of Life”:

What do you want to experience?
Who do you want to become?
Whom or what do you want to contribute to?

With these questions projected on screen, she gently encouraged everyone to take pen and paper and respond freely. Despite the physical distance, a shared sense of stillness and presence emerged across screens.

This quiet reflection gave each participant the chance to realign with their personal values and life themes—and to consider what truly matters from this point forward.

■ Guided Time: Returning to Inner Stillness

To close the session, Yuile invited participants into a calming, guided breathing meditation.

“Bring your awareness to your breath.”
“Feel your presence in this very moment.”
“Let’s return to the quiet within.”

With eyes closed and breath deepened, participants experienced a gentle return to their center—a moment of still connection with themselves.

This practice served as a powerful reminder that “before moving outward, we must first return inward.” It was an embodiment of leadership grounded in authenticity, stillness, and presence.

■ Looking Ahead

AWLF aims to nurture 10 million women leaders across Asia by 2030, and is preparing for a major international summit in 2026 to be held at the United Nations ESCAP headquarters in Bangkok, bringing together 333 women leaders from the region.

This online summit marked another step on that shared journey. We are deeply grateful to all who took part.

AWLF will continue to host monthly Online Summits on the second Friday of each month, and we warmly welcome your participation in the next one.