Women of May: Leading the charge

I lead the implementation of our MaaS offerings in Japan. Before that, I was the Product Lead on TeleAssist and Fleet Command Center (shout out to those teams!), primarily focusing on ensuring we can support L4 operations safely and at scale. My role involves managing the product lifecycle from conception through launch, collaborating with engineering teams to ensure our products meet market needs and safety standards, as well as engaging with customers and stakeholders to align our offerings with broader transportation goals.

Being a woman at May Mobility is empowering. The company fosters an inclusive environment where diversity is not just celebrated but is considered a critical component of our success. May Mobility actively works to create a supportive atmosphere where all voices are heard, and women are encouraged to take on leadership roles and participate in decision-making processes.

My experience as a woman in tech, especially within the rapidly evolving autonomous vehicle industry, has significantly honed my resilience. Facing challenges head-on and navigating through a male-dominated field have instilled in me a strong determination to succeed and break barriers. This resilience influences my professional work by driving me to push boundaries, innovate relentlessly, and advocate for myself and others. It has taught me the importance of persistence, adaptability, and the courage to voice my ideas and stand firm in my convictions.

May Mobility supports women through various initiatives, including mentorship programs, leadership training, and networking opportunities designed to boost women's careers in technology and leadership. The company also promotes work-life balance through flexible working arrangements, which is particularly beneficial for women managing family responsibilities.

My work at May Mobility benefits other women directly by creating more opportunities for women in technology and leadership positions. By leading by example, I hope to inspire other women to pursue careers in STEM and to take on challenging roles in their fields. Indirectly, the products and solutions we develop aim to make urban mobility safer and more accessible for everyone, including women, which can have a profound impact on their lives by providing them with greater independence and security.

I lead the Marketing and Communications team, which plays a central role in building a positive perception of May Mobility and improving public awareness, trust and excitement for our service. Our work covers brand and demand, market positioning, PR and social media. We work with stakeholder audiences, including press, analysts, industry influencers, investors and riders.

May Mobility is a great place for women to work and build their careers. Yes, it’s an engineering-driven organization like many tech startups, but respecting and honoring diversity is in our DNA. Inclusion of people from a range of backgrounds, genders and sexual orientations is evident in the daily thread of our business, and in the number of groups and activities created by employees to educate the organization.

We have two women in our C-suite and a female VP (me!). May strives to be a responsible, diverse employer and, judging by the feedback in our internal employee surveys, we’re doing a good job.

Of course, this is an ongoing process and we collaborate across the company on continued efforts and ideas to bring more equity and inclusivity to women and other diverse groups.

It’s important for women to have a supportive network, and to continue to advocate for equity for women in the workplace. I like to help women coming through the ranks by mentoring and sharing my experiences.

Women can often have intersectional experiences, meaning that other factors such as race, ethnicity, sexuality, or being differently-abled add complexity to their challenges. These women often bring additional valuable perspectives to work that drive progress and make companies more successful.

We have a Women of May group that offers connection and support at work. WoM offers a mentoring program for females, and the group holds online and in-person events quarterly.

May Mobility honors International Women’s Day and we’ve given our entire team the 8th of March off to observe and respect our contribution at work.

I hope that leading by example will influence, and sharing my experience at Women of May events will be informative and influential for our female leaders coming through the ranks. I mentor female entrepreneurs at the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center and this volunteer activity is something that I value, and also believe brings value to the entrepreneurs. Female entrepreneurs are still in short supply and my personal mission is to make a contribution to help tip the balance.