Peekaboo Inc.’s Unique Approach: What It Takes to Be a Women-Only Company

Introduction

Peekaboo Inc. has faced numerous challenges, successes, and failures as a women-only company. A company where women take the lead has its own unique set of challenges and attractions. Here, we will discuss the key points necessary for Peekaboo to remain a women-only company, while also touching on the charm of this approach and the actual measures we are taking.

1. Respect for Diversity and Creating an Inclusive Environment

Respecting diversity and creating an inclusive environment is crucial for any company. Particularly in a women-only company, gathering women with diverse backgrounds and experiences leads to amazingly rich ideas. The EPOCHAL brand started by creating UV protection wear for children, so women’s ideas are essential. It’s fair to say that we are making products that only mothers can create!

At Peekaboo, we are undertaking the following initiatives:

Regular Workshops and Seminars: Aiming to create an environment where all employees, part-timers, and interns can easily voice their opinions. We conduct regular job or task meetings, lunch meetings, and groupings for social media postings.
Flexible Work Styles: To support the balance between family and work, especially for those involved in childcare or caregiving, we have implemented remote work and flextime systems. This has been in place since our founding in 2002, allowing us to work seamlessly even during the COVID-19 pandemic. Most of our staff are involved in volunteering and participate in community or city activities. Many hold PTA roles, so we prioritize “activities for children” and “volunteering.”

Inclusive: Inclusivity means embracing and treating all individuals equally, regardless of their background or characteristics. This approach aims to respect diversity and create an environment where no one is excluded, and everyone can participate easily. In other words, regardless of gender, age, disability, race, religion, or sexual orientation, inclusivity ensures that everyone is respected and can thrive as a member of society or an organization. Creating an inclusive environment fosters diverse perspectives and ideas, leading to richer communication and cooperation.

2. Commencing Leadership Development

Developing leaders is essential for the growth of the company and boosting staff motivation. At Peekaboo, we are cultivating female leaders through the following measures:

Training Programs: We actively encourage participation in external skill development programs upon request.
Leadership Training: Mentors accompany employees who are candidates for managerial positions to help them develop leadership skills through experience.

3. Balancing Work and Life

Maintaining a balance between work and life is crucial for women to continue working for a long time.

Enhanced Leave Policies: We flexibly accommodate time off during summer, winter, and spring breaks so that employees can spend enough time with their children.

4. Promoting Internal Communication

Smooth internal communication enhances team cohesion and improves work efficiency. At Peekaboo, we promote open communication through the following measures:

Regular Team Meetings: Providing opportunities for staff to exchange opinions, solve problems, and share ideas.
Encouraging Feedback: Emphasizing feedback among colleagues to foster mutual growth.

Conclusion

At Peekaboo Inc., we leverage the strengths of being a women-only company to the fullest, focusing on creating a comfortable working environment and fostering female leaders. Through these efforts, we provide a place where all employees can thrive and continue to grow as a company.

We hope that Peekaboo’s challenges and successes can serve as an example for other companies. Moving forward, we aim to continue building a company where women can shine.

Kikuko Matsunari
CEO
Peekaboo Inc.