Women Creative Industry Leaders in the Spotlight at the Osaka World Expo

The Hungarian Fashion & Design Agency held an international panel discussion at the 2025 Osaka World Expo in the Women’s Pavilion. The event focused on women’s role in the creative industries, their opportunities and their impact on shaping the future. Renowned Japanese and European experts shared their insights from the fields of fashion, design, media, and business.

A major international panel discussion organised by the Hungarian Fashion & Design Agency (HFDA) took place at the Women's Pavilion at Osaka World Expo 2025 on the 7^th of June. The event titled "From Inspiration to Influence: Women Driving Creative Change" discussed the role, impact, and possibilities of women in creative industries from the aspects of experts from different cultural contexts.

The discussion aimed to reveal how women are shaping the creative sectors of the future, be it fashion, design, arts, or technological innovation. The participants addressed questions such as how to make the industries more inclusive for women professionals, which skills – such as emotional intelligence, a problem-solving attitude, or communication skills – are particularly strong for them, and what advice young women who want to succeed in the field should take.

The conversation also covered the importance of mentoring women, the inspiring effect of role models and pioneers, and the strategies that promote professional advancement in the creative industries. The panel discussion particularly emphasised the possibility of creating regional and global collaboration opportunities.

The speakers included Zsófia Jakab, CEO of the HFDA and Ministerial Commissioner for Creative Industry Development and Sectoral Coordination, who spoke about the international embeddedness of the Hungarian creative industries and the opportunities for supporting young talent. Nakamura Akiko, deputy editor-in-chief of Elle Japon, showed how women have changed the fashion media through her editorial experiences. Tsuchikawa Sumiyo, country manager of HearstLab Japan, shared her thoughts about supporting women entrepreneurs and expanding social engagement. The discussion was moderated by the renowned Italian fashion and business expert Orietta Pelizzari.

The event marked another important milestone for the HFDA in increasing the international visibility of Hungarian creative industries, with a special focus on supporting women creative industry actors, leaders, and creators and building a sustainable, innovative future. Expo 2025 served as an exceptional platform for creative professionals to engage in international dialogue, share best practices, and build relationships with the global creative community.