Joy Jarman-Walsh, 51, originally came to Japan in 1991, teaching English, and then communication, business and tourism studies at the university level for 23 years. Last year, she pivoted to a freelance career as an inbound tourism consultant, and now combines that with running “Seeking Sustainability Live” (“SSL”), her multichannel livestream talk show. She lives in Hiroshima.
1. What led you to give up your teaching career to become a consultant? I loved teaching and supporting students but felt pressured to work longer hours away from my family. The promotion path was unclear, and I was limited in study and research options. As inbound tourism was booming, I felt I might be able to find a more rewarding career, have a healthier work-life balance and be able to do more good as an entrepreneur.
2. What have been the biggest challenges and benefits? Everyone told me I was crazy to leave a tenured position, but it felt like a golden cage. The greatest thing is also the scariest thing: There are endless possibilities, but where and how should I focus my targets and enthusiasm?