A Decade of Progress: ANA Group's DEI Forum Charts a Course for the Future The 11th annual forum celebrated 10 years of DEI initiatives while inspiring colleagues to drive the next chapter of innovation and global growth.
In December 2025, the ANA Group marked a significant milestone by hosting its 11th annual Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Forum. With colleagues joining from around the world, the event embraces the theme “Leap Forward! - Beyond 10 Years,” serving as a moment to reflect on a decade of progress and to energize the next phase of DEI initiatives at the ANA Group.
Throughout the forum, top executives and guest speakers emphasized the actions of each individual are key to providing a “leap forward” into the future.
The DEI Promise
Shinya Katanozaka, a member of the board and chairman of ANA Holdings Inc. (ANAHD), opened the forum reflecting on the past decade and what DEI means for the ANA Group. As the President of ANAHD who introduced ANA’s “DEI Promise” in 2015, Katanozaka acknowledged the company’s achievements.
“We can have confidence in the progress we have made in the past 10 years. However, there’s still room to grow,” said Katanozaka. “Let’s work together to build ANA’s unique diversity that can generate new value creation and innovation.”
People-driven Future Strategies
A highlight of the forum was a discussion between Shinichi Inoue, president and CEO of ANA and Akio Yamaguchi, general manager and president of IBM Japan, on how DEI transforms organizations.
“DEI is an essential function for businesses and should not be seen as something to supplement it,” said Yamaguchi. He explained that the keys to unlocking the power of individuality are sharing a common company purpose, recognizing unconscious biases and fostering open communication and compromise.
Both leaders agreed leveraging diversity is crucial for the personal and professional growth of every employee, which in turn fuels the company’s further growth and success.
Insights from Diverse Perspectives
The forum amplified voices from across and outside the organization. A panel featuring four colleagues from diverse fields ranging from IT, architecture and logistics shared their unique insights with the ANA Group. Taking their experiences from outside of the company, they noted the strong loyalty among employees and stressed the importance of strengthening internal communication.
The Future of Globalization
This theme continued in a session on globalization led by Shinichi Hayase, executive vice president and the Group's Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer (CDO). Joined by overseas colleagues, the discussion explored the realities of global markets and how to better support employees worldwide.
Participants shared what values and practices are necessary for the ANA Group to thrive on the global stage, highlighting the strength of ANA’s signature hospitality delivered by local airport staff.
“Leap forward” Into the Future
Closing out the 11th DEI Forum, Koji Shibata, president and CEO of ANAHD, expressed that strong DEI initiatives and cross-functional collaboration will be the driving force for overcoming organizational challenges and improving the speed of decision-making.
Across every session, a central message emerged: the power of the individual to drive change. Participants were encouraged to consider what immediate actions they could take to help evolve the ANA Group.
Building on the confidence of a decade of progress, the ANA Group is poised to unify the strengths of each employee to “leap forward” the company into the future, aiming for new heights in an increasingly global landscape.