Graduands Express Sincere Appreciation: 249 Students Setting Foot on Individual Journeys - Toyota Technical Skills Academy Commencement Ceremony
On February 20, the Toyota Technical Skills Academy held its graduation ceremony, welcoming 249 students into the workforce. Among them was Raimu Okada, who represented the graduates in a moving speech, expressing his admiration for his father, a Toyota employee, and his ambition to follow in his footsteps.
Chairman Akio Toyoda, in his speech, urged the graduates to forge their own unique paths. He emphasized the importance of creating a welcoming workplace for women, particularly in traditionally male-dominated fields like motorsports and manufacturing. Toyoda highlighted his efforts to promote gender inclusion, such as encouraging Toyota staff to participate in women-only rally events like Rally Jameel in Saudi Arabia.
Ririka Ando, a graduate from the high school course, took the opportunity to ask Chairman Toyoda about making workplaces more welcoming to women. Toyoda's response, which can be found in the second half of the video recording of his speech, underscores his commitment to promoting inclusion, supporting women's professional growth, and making Toyota a welcoming place for women technical professionals.
The graduation ceremony was covered by Toyota Times News, which also provided insights into the experiences of some of the graduates. Many expressed gratitude towards their parents for their support during their time at the Academy. Chairman Toyoda, who participated in the ceremony for the eleventh consecutive year, shared in the joy of the occasion, celebrating the achievements of the new graduates.
As these young professionals embark on their individual career paths, they do so with the guidance of a leader who champions diversity and inclusion. Toyota's commitment to compassion-driven leadership and respect for all employees continues to be a beacon for the industry, fostering an environment where everyone can thrive.
[1] Toyota's Commitment to Compassion-Driven Leadership: https://global.toyota/en/newsroom/corporate/25800.html [2] Toyota's Participation in Rally Jameel: https://www.toyota-global.com/newsroom/stories/toyota-takes-part-in-rally-jameel-in-saudi-arabia/ [3] Toyota's Gender Inclusion Initiatives: https://global.toyota/en/newsroom/corporate/26670.html
- The new graduates, equipped with skills from the Toyota Technical Skills Academy, are urged by Chairman Akio Toyoda to prioritize education-and-self-development, career-development, and skills-training to forge their unique paths, showcasing Toyota's commitment to compassion-driven leadership.
- Toyota's continuous efforts in gender inclusion, as demonstrated through their participation in women-only rally events like Rally Jameel in Saudi Arabia, are intended to create a welcoming workplace and support the professional growth of women, which aligns with their objectives of skills-training, career-development, and education-and-self-development.
