PROFILE

Rie Hirakawa graduated from Doshisha University and then joined Recruit Co., Ltd. in 1991. After earning an MBA from the University of Southern California in 1998, she started a study abroad brokerage company, which she managed profitably for 10 years. In 2010, she was appointed to Yokohama Municipal Ichigao Junior High School as the first female civilian principal of a public junior high school in Japan, and in 2015, principal of Nakagawanishi Junior High School in Yokohama City. In 2018, she became the superintendent of the Hiroshima Prefectural Board of Education (annual budget of 158 billion yen) were she managed 26,000 faculty and staff. During that time, she also served as a member of two Ministry councils, and as an expert on the Education Revitalization Implementation Council. She now advises companies and schools on how to change education in Japan.
Ms. Hirakawa is the author of "Let's Become a Creative Principal" (Institute for Educational Development), "For Your Child to Become an Independent Adult" (Sekai Bunka Sha), and "The Power of a Boss to Move Female Subordinates Successfully" (Japan Management Association). Her Voicy channel is: "Rie Hirakawa's Education and Child-Rearing tips".