Chika Kako is a rarity in Toyota Motor Corp.'s upper echelons.
Last month, the 50-year-old was promoted to the No. 2 job at the luxury Lexus division, becoming the only woman among the automaker's top 53 managers. President Akio Toyoda has made diversifying his executive lineup a priority, but while six foreigners have risen to the company's highest ranks, the elevation of women has been slower.
"To be honest, I never really thought about approaching my work from the point of view of being a woman," said Kako, who Toyota made available for a group interview at its main Nagoya office after an annual roundtable event to introduce new executives. "My mission has always been to just speak my mind."
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.