Yuri Kitahara works as a co-ordinator between Toshiba’s Power Systems Company and Westinghouse on the development of IT platforms and the design and construction of nuclear power equipment, a position she took up after having taken part in Toshiba’s career support programme for women in autumn 2006.

Part of the course involved identifying and planning a career path for the subsequent five years, and Ms Kitahara wanted to be a co-ordinator working with overseas subsidiaries. But she says that building a career path was not the only benefit from the course.