Women leaders in IP business consultancy, patent law, and strategy now make up 32 percent of the global IP profession, with roles expanding in leadership. A recent survey found that women patent attorneys outnumber men in countries like Sweden and Finland. Yasuko Tanaka, CEO of S-Cube Corporation, embarked on her career in the Intellectual Property (IP) department at Teijin, a leading Japanese chemical and pharmaceutical company. Over 15 years, she developed expertise in patent searches and global pharmaceutical patent prosecutions. In 2005, she joined Pfizer Japan, gaining valuable insights into Japan-specific IP strategies within an international pharmaceutical giant. Seeking diverse industry exposure, she transitioned to 3M Japan, handling IP matters across varied sectors.

Yasuko's career across Japanese and American multinationals has provided her with a deep understanding of cross-cultural dynamics. Through her work, she is committed to improving the global competitiveness of Japan by leveraging intellectual property to add value to businesses.

Embarking on a distinctive exchange with The Global Women Leader magazine, Yasuko divulges the intricate facets of her journey as a prominent leader in Japan. Let's explore further.

Can you introduce S-Cube Corporation and explain your key roles and responsibilities as its CEO?

My three personal objectives when I started S-Cube Corporation were to increase Japan's competitiveness in the global market, show how intellectual property (IP) affects company success, and invest in human resources. S-Cube Corporation focuses on developing international IP talent and providing IP consulting services to the pharmaceutical industry. The two main areas of our work are IP consulting, which includes strategic advice, and IP firms, which act as direct representatives of our clients.

As the CEO, I take on all duties and act as a strategist as well as an active participant. I oversee the group, establish the direction, make important choices, and provide direct assistance when required, making sure that our mission is in line with my main goals.

What are your current focus areas for driving growth at S-Cube Corporation?

Our priorities include developing global intellectual property (IP) human resources and assisting the pharmaceutical industry. We offer customized guidance on intellectual property issues and patent tactics to satisfy each client's particular requirements.

Our special IP English communication course is one-of-a-kind and aims to address the difficulties faced by Japanese IP professionals in their international work. When it comes to global operations, Japanese businesses face a gap because the IP language is very different from general legal or business English. Our course gives clients the skills they need to succeed in global settings by providing IP-specific instruction in writing, presenting, negotiating, and discussing.

What have been your biggest professional achievements so far?

It was a huge accomplishment to launch my company twelve years ago, and I am proud of what I have accomplished since. I started with no clients, no huge company name to rely on, and no prior experience working for patent or consulting firms. Establishing credibility as an independent professional without the support of a reputable organization was extremely difficult.

I put a lot of effort into proving myself over the years, earning clients' trust and producing outstanding intellectual property (IP) training and consulting outcomes. My greatest professional accomplishment has been turning S-Cube Corporation into a reputable business that trains global intellectual property talent and supports the pharmaceutical industry.

Gaining credibility is still a constant endeavor, particularly when it comes to first-time encounters with potential clients. However, I am proud of the trust we have established thus far and am determined to uphold and grow it going forward.

What is your success mantra as a leader?

My mantra for success is to move on from negative experiences as soon as possible and start each day with a new perspective. I believe that genuine leadership is built on authenticity and therefore, I also make it a point to always be honest, especially with myself.

How do you envision the patent and IP advisory landscape evolving in Japan by 2025, and which industry trends are you most optimistic about?

I see Japan's patent and IP advisory landscape changing dramatically by 2025, with pharmaceutical companies implementing new IP strategies to protect their companies and take on rivals. Leveraging intangible assets like intellectual property will become crucial as mergers, acquisitions, and management buyouts (MBO) increase to thwart foreign takeovers.

I am hopeful that I can help businesses create innovative IP strategies and optimize the value of their current assets in order to support these trends. We want to be at the forefront of helping clients navigate these revolutionary changes as intellectual property (IP) becomes more and more important to business growth and protection.

A business leader you admire and why: Hideko Mihara, my boss at Teijin, inspired me by showing that a woman with a similar background could break the glass ceiling and rise to become a department head and board member.

Yasuko Tanaka, CEO, S-Cube Corporation

Yasuko Tanaka, a biochemistry graduate from Chiba University, is a Japanese patent attorney and business consultant specializing in pharmaceutical and chemical intellectual property. She has extensive experience in global patent prosecution, IP strategy, and cross-cultural communication, gained through roles at Teijin, Pfizer Japan, and 3M Japan. She was a part-time lecturer at the University of Toyama in the first semester of 2016 and is currently a part-time lecturer at the Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, a technical advisor for IP-related litigation, and an outside director of Strategic Capital, Inc.