Nao Shibanoki is an alumna of the 2019 TOMODACHI MetLife Women’s Leadership Program. Currently, she drives AI and digital transformation in the financial industry at the Japanese branch of a U.S.-based IT company.

Her vision is to realize a fairer and more inclusive world where all lives can maximize their potential. She completed her graduate studies at the University of Manchester in the UK, focusing on the importance of gender perspectives and the agency of aid recipients in humanitarian assistance. During her student years, she broadened her horizons by volunteering in the recovery efforts following the Great East Japan Earthquake and by participating in international conferences as a Japanese Youth Ambassador.

She draws on these diverse experiences in her current role, leading numerous pro bono projects that support women's empowerment and social contribution initiatives within her company. Outside of work, she runs "HerStory Japan," a community aimed at empowering women. She also actively participates in speaking engagements for students aspiring to pursue careers in IT and STEM fields or to study abroad.

As a "Possibility Model", someone who demonstrates potential, she aims to pioneer unprecedented challenges, paving the way for others and empowering those who follow.