In early 2025, Chizuko Kimura became the first woman in over 120 years of the Michelin Guide’s history to be recognized for her work as a sushi chef. This groundbreaking achievement did not happen in Japan, where tradition still limits women’s presence in the sushi world, but in Paris, where she leads her late husband’s restaurant, Sushi Shunei , with precision, passion, and quiet strength. What does it take for a woman to reshape tradition and claim her rightful space in today’s world? For centuries in Japan, women were traditionally forbidden from becoming sushi chefs, as explained by Tokyo Weekender. An old belief held that women’s hands were “too warm,” affecting the delicate taste of sushi, and that their presence in the kitchen was “too distracting” for the precise craft required. This long-standing mindset kept doors closed to women—until figures like Chizuko Kimura began proving that mastery knows no gender. I reached out to Chizuko because her story resonated with me on a deeply personal level. Having undergone my own profound transformation —leaving behind everything familiar to rebuild a life aligned with purpose—I saw in her journey a quiet echo of my own. We both had to redefine ourselves, step into the unknown, and hold on to courage as we navigated loss and reinvention. We met at her restaurant in Montmartre, Paris for a heartfelt conversation, where she generously shared her story with clarity and humility.
Isn’t it beautiful how some mornings arrive quietly yet stir something deep within the soul? Today was one of those mornings for me. After two nourishing weeks resting my soul in the arms of wild beauty—the rugged coastlines, fragrant maquis bushes, and gentle lull of waves on the French island of Corsica—I returned to Nice yesterday with a heart full of wonder. This morning, after a visit to the eye doctor, I walked home along the Promenade des Anglais—the place where the city of Nice meets the sea. And then, there it was. The Baie des Anges, sparkling in shades of emerald and azure, dancing with the light of early summer. I paused to take a photo, but no camera—not even my old phone 😊—could capture what I felt in that moment. I realized I had moved from one kind of beauty to another. Gratitude rose within me like the tide.
“Women leaders today are not replicating the past. We are redefining leadership on our own terms. With emotional intelligence, a spirit of collaboration, and strength forged in adversity, we are charting a new course. We lead with vulnerability, not as a weakness, but as a source of power that deepens our connection to others and fuels authentic transformation.”