Helen IwataPresident & Bilingual Coach, Sasuga Communications

Helen Iwata is an award-winning, bilingual coach who helps busy managers and executives in Japan and beyond to do excellent work without sacrificing their wellbeing.

Originally from the UK, Helen has lived and worked in Japan for over 30 years.

During her ten years with McKinsey & Company in Tokyo, she served as manager of client communications and trained consultants and clients in leadership, teamwork, and communication skills, including presentations and meeting facilitation.

In May 2013, Helen established her own business and is now the go-to expert for multiple multinationals to design and lead their high-level training and coaching programs around leadership, communication, and women’s success.

Helen served for 6 years as faculty for the Tokyo University Executive Management

Program and won the 2017 Waseda University Teaching Award for her Strategic

Thinking and Communication MBA course. 

She’s coached thousands of business professionals throughout Japan, as well as in Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Poland, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

She is a popular and energetic speaker, having taken the stage at the British, French, and Swedish Chambers of Commerce, FEW (For Empowering Women), Google's Womenwill, Nikkei's Woman Expo, TEDx Roppongi, and numerous corporate events. 

Helen is a Nikkei Woman Smart and Nikkei doors columnist, author of the Japanese book Eigo no Shigoto-jutsu, published by Shogakukan, and host of the Sasuga! Podcast, which ranked #2 in Apple Podcast Japan Careers All Time ranking in 2021.

She’s a wife, mother, and… a karate world champion!