The 13th FEW Career Strategies Seminar took place on April 17th, 2004 at Temple University in Minami Azabu.

More than 90 women, including FEW members and non-members, turned out for this high energy, information-packed, networking event. Participants hailed from all industries, ages, and areas of Japan. Many participants were seekings job, others were looking for a change, and quite a few simply enjoying the company of a group of inspiring women.

Speaking of inspiring women, Alison Pockett, known to us as both president of Magellan Tresidder Tuohy Ltd. and as president of the British Chamber of Commerce Tokyo, was kind enough to emcee the day. She was joined by keynote speakers Debbie Howard, president of Japan Market Resource Network and president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ), and Carolyn Pover, a Tokyo-based entrepreneur, author (Being A Broad in Japan) and budding comedienne.

Following the rousing keynote addresses, participants adjourned for lunch (Thank you sponsors!) and then broke into small groups to attend several of the discussions led by women who've made careers in IT, advertising, finance, sales & marketing, consulting, writing/editing, HR and training, PR, and last but not least, women entrepreneurs.

The day ended with a raffle of 49 donations, from restaurant vouchers to bottles of champagne and discount vouchers for seminars followed by wine and cheese (thank you again, sponsors!).

Created by women for women in Japan in 1990, the FEW Career Strategies Seminar is designed to address many of the issues foreign women face in working in Japan with both inspirational accounts and practical information.

The next Seminar will likely be held in late 2005 or early 2006.

Free to all participants is the comprehensive Career Guide 2004. This guide is a must have manual outlining resources and instructive information about working in Japan.