Have you ever discovered new possibilities for your future through a new experience?
Through “Girls Meet STEM,” a workplace experience program for junior and senior high school girls in STEM fields in which Honda participates, students are given opportunities to experience the realities of technology and work through hands-on robotics experiences and conversations with female engineers. At the event, Honda shared the importance of simply “giving it a try.” This mindset—opening up possibilities through experience—also lies at the heart of Honda’s approach to manufacturing since its founding.
From imagination to experience: expanding possibilities through Girls Meet STEM
In Japan, interest in science and engineering fields continues to grow, yet women remain underrepresented in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). Many students still feel that STEM career paths can be challenging to pursue. (According to the Yamada Shintaro D&I Foundation, women accounted for approximately 19% of STEM university entrants in 2023.)
Girls Meet STEM was created against this backdrop as an experiential program in collaboration with companies, providing opportunities for students to engage directly with workplaces and professionals. Before deciding on their future paths, participants can encounter real work environments and values, helping them discover their own interests and possibilities.
Honda strongly supports this initiative and hosted an event at the Honda R&D Innovation Lab Tokyo, one of Honda’s research and development hubs, to help broaden participants’ future options.
On the day of the event, 19 students—from first-year junior high school to second-year senior high school students—were selected through a lottery to participate. Through conversations and hands-on experiences, Honda shared both the spirit of “wanting to help people,” which forms the foundation of its manufacturing philosophy, and the development mindset of “giving it a try” without fear of failure.
Mobility experiences and conversations that expand future possibilities
The event began with an introduction to Honda’s businesses, followed by hands-on sessions where participants experienced advanced technologies firsthand. Featured during the session were the mobility robot UNI-ONE and the micro-mobility robot WaPOCHI.
UNI-ONE was developed with the aim of creating a society where everyone can move freely and equally, regardless of age or physical ability.
Students who experienced the mobility firsthand commented, “I was surprised by how quickly it started up,” and “It felt very stable and reassuring to ride.” The experience allowed participants to directly engage with cutting-edge technology and made manufacturing and engineering careers feel more approachable.
A roundtable discussion with female Honda employees followed, where students openly asked questions about career paths and future choices in a relaxed atmosphere. Employees shared messages such as, “Diverse perspectives create new ideas,” and “It’s important to gain many different experiences and meet many different people while you are still a student.”
After the event, participants shared comments including, “I had thought Honda was simply a car company, but learning that it creates products that help people broadened my perspective,” and “My interest in engineering has grown.” For many, the experience became an opportunity to think more deeply about their futures.
Female engineers’ career journeys and taking the first step
Uenishi, one of the speakers at the event, pursued a science and engineering path inspired by her admiration for automobiles and joined Honda as a new graduate. After working in automobile development, she transferred to the New Business Development Division because she wanted to hear customers’ voices directly. Today, she is involved in planning and sales for new businesses such as UNI-ONE, approaching her work with the mindset that solving inconveniences she personally feels can ultimately help others.
Meanwhile, Eto, who came from a humanities background, joined Honda mid-career from another industry because she wanted to work on products closer to consumers. She now works in planning and sales within the New Business Development Division. Although she initially felt uncertain about joining a technology-focused company, she now finds motivation in being able to directly contribute to people through products and experiences moments where her work brings joy to others.
What the two shared in common was the importance of real experiences. In an age overflowing with information, they emphasized the value of seeing, touching, and judging things firsthand, as well as the importance of simply “giving it a try” as the first step toward expanding possibilities. They encouraged students to avoid being overly influenced by outside opinions and instead continue shaping their own careers through personal experiences.
Letting go of preconceived notions and trying something firsthand—this way of thinking can also serve as a valuable perspective when considering one’s future career. Honda will continue supporting the challenges and aspirations of each individual.
Honda’s initiatives and career opportunities