Founder Profile
Tomoko Matsukawa
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From advising hedge fund clients, designing fellowships for changemakers, and coaching startup leaders to supporting Japanese multinationals on talent strategy, Tomoko’s throughline is clear: a deep commitment to how people learn and take meaningful action.
Across finance, social enterprise, and organizational development, she empowers individuals, teams, and communities to grow with clarity, purpose, and resilience.
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Over two decades, Tomoko has worked across sectors and scales:
Corporate: Goldman Sachs (finance), Globis (organizational learning consulting)
Global Social Impact: Acumen (leadership development, impact investment), UNICEF (mentoring program for staff)
Community Initiatives: Acumen (global volunteer network), JWN (Japanese women’s network in NYC)
This range enables her to move fluidly between institutions and innovation—always grounded in people-centered growth.
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Tomoko’s work is grounded in the belief that sustainable change happens through how people learn, relate, and adapt—not just what they know.
Her approach integrates:
Social Constructivism – learning through dialogue and experience
Systems Thinking – understanding individuals in the context of larger systems
Adaptive Leadership – helping people lead amid complexity and change
Connectivism – leveraging networks and shared knowledge
Experiential Learning – designing environments that foster reflection and real-world application
These foundations guide how she facilitates growth—both within individuals and across organizations.
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As a community builder, Tomoko co-leads a network of Japanese women professionals in New York—creating shared learning spaces for growth across life stages and industries.
As a content creator, she has blogged for over a decade and produced three Japanese-language podcasts: edamametalk, Manabi no Hanashi, and Moms in Transition. Her work explores themes like identity, cross-cultural life, parenting, and transformative learning.
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Executive M.S. in Human Resource Management – Zicklin School of Business, Baruch College
M.Ed. in Technology, Innovation & Education – Harvard Graduate School of Education
Certified Upbuild Coach®
Completed Co-Active Coach® Training &PQ Coaching Grant Program
Completed Mental Health Literacy for Coaches (Institute of Coaching)
What People Are Saying
A Peek Into How Tomoko Thinks and Leads
Tomoko believes that self-awareness isn’t just a personal asset — it’s a foundation for better teams, deeper learning, and more meaningful collaboration. She regularly draws on a mix of assessment tools to better understand herself and help others navigate differences with empathy and clarity.
Here’s a glimpse into her own profile:
StrengthsFinder Top 5: Ideation, Strategic, Woo, Positivity, Communication
PrinciplesYou: Impresario (followed by Promoter and Inspirer)
Keirsey Temperament: Teacher (ENFJ as part of the Idealist group)
The Values Bridge: Scope, Non Sibi, Voice, Belonging, Familycentrism
Top Saboteur: Stickler (followed by Pleaser)
These tools don’t define her — but they offer insights into how she approaches learning, leading, and supporting others.