Hands-on Program for Women Entrepreneurs Aiming for Global Success — HerRise STEP3

The Startup Lady Association held STEP3 of HerRise, a training program organized by Shibuya City to empower current and aspiring female entrepreneurs.

This session’s theme was “Media & PR Strategy”, featuring guest speakers Chris Kirkland and Yuko Endo, in an interactive, practice-based workshop.

Media & PR Strategy — Storytelling for Impact: Building a Brand That Speaks for Itself

In STEP3, participants learned the fundamentals of PR and branding strategies, aiming to turn their businesses into “brands that tell their own stories.”Participants were also given the opportunity to bring their own challenges to discuss directly with the speakers, deepening their hands-on learning experience.

Chris Kirkland
CEO of Fast Train Japan LLC.

A UK-born tech entrepreneur and co-founder of Tokyo Cheapo, a media platform providing information for visitors to Japan that has grown into an internationally recognized outlet.
In this workshop, he shared practical insights on social media and online marketing strategies, leading participants through exercises tailored to their own businesses.

​Yuko Endo
Executive Officer and Head of Editorial Division at Mediagene Inc.

She oversees Gizmodo Japan, Business Insider Japan, Lifehacker Japan, and Digiday Japan, delivering fresh perspectives on society and business.

Endo also launched Mashing Up, a conference and media project centered on DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) and women’s empowerment, connecting companies and individuals across Japan and abroad.

Shibuya City Press Release:
June 2 – Launch of the Women Entrepreneurs Program “HerRise”
https://www.city.shibuya.tokyo.jp/kusei/hodo/hodo-2025/hodo_20250602.html