Unconscious Bias

When I was in charge of finance for the Asia-Pacific region at a U.S. investment bank, there was a time when the Asian financial markets were significantly turbulent.

To exchange views on the market situation, I visited an official of an Asian central bank, equivalent to a board member at the Bank of Japan.

While waiting in the room, the board member who appeared was a woman. I momentarily recognized my own surprise and confusion. Despite my daily commitment to diversity within the company at that time, this moment made me realize that I still had “unconscious biases.”

Reflecting on it now, I believe the backdrop to this was that, unlike in New York or London, the government and central bank officials I had met from Japan and other Asian countries were predominantly male.

On the other hand, when we exchanged business cards, I noticed her glance at the Japanese writing on the back of mine and murmur, “Why is a Japanese person in charge of Asia…?”

I believe she had expected an American or British person to visit, having heard that the person in charge from a U.S. company would be coming from Hong Kong.

There’s no one on this planet who is perfect when it comes to diversity or who doesn’t have “unconscious biases.” Each country and region have its own customs and cultures, and there isn’t a single correct answer.

I believe it’s essential to always be aware of this and to accumulate these moments of realization one by one.