Clé de Peau Beauté, a luxury skincare and makeup brand, has announced that Sachiko Nakajima will receive the Power of Radiance Award for 2025. This accolade recognises Nakajima’s dedicated efforts to advance STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) education, especially for girls. Nakajima made history as the first Japanese woman to win a gold medal at the International Mathematical Olympiad during her high school years and has since become a prominent advocate for STEAM education.
In addition to her achievements in mathematics, Nakajima is a jazz pianist and the leader of Kurage Band Vida: Concerto of Five Senses, a musical ensemble that combines art and education to inspire interest in STEAM subjects. Her passion for this field led her to establish steAm, Inc. in 2017, an organisation committed to unlocking the creative potential of individuals through STEAM education.
The Power of Radiance Awards, founded in 2019, aims to honour women making significant contributions to girls’ education in their communities. The initiative aligns with Clé de Peau Beauté’s belief that empowering girls through education, particularly in STEAM, is essential for fostering a better world.
Clé de Peau Beauté highlights the pressing need for gender equality in STEM fields, particularly in Japan, where it ranks 118th out of 146 countries in the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2024. Despite Japanese girls excelling in mathematics and science, only 16% of STEM graduates in Japan are women. Nakajima’s initiatives focus on dismantling the barriers that hinder women and girls from pursuing careers in these areas.
Through the Power of Radiance Awards, Clé de Peau Beauté aims to build a global network of women advocating for positive change. At a recent event in New York celebrating the International Day of the Girl, Nakajima met Reshma Saujani, the recipient of the 2024 Power of Radiance Award and founder of Girls Who Code. The two discussed strategies for women to support each other and empower future generations of girls in STEAM.
As the 2025 Power of Radiance Award recipient, Nakajima will receive a grant to extend the impact of her work. One of her notable initiatives is her collaboration with The Asia Foundation on the “STEM ConnectHER” project, which aims to create a regional network of women in STEM across the Asia-Pacific. This project will offer mentorship and support to university students and professionals in the field.
Additionally, Nakajima is involved with “Suri-Joshi,” a programme designed to encourage girls and their mothers to explore mathematics through engaging workshops and online content. This initiative seeks to challenge stereotypes and make math more enjoyable and accessible to young women, especially in areas lacking female role models in STEM.
As Thematic Project Producer for the Playground of Life: Jellyfish Pavilion at Expo 2025, Nakajima will use her expertise to create a collaborative space where learning and art come together.
In her acceptance statement, Nakajima expressed her gratitude for the award, stating, “It is an honour to receive Clé de Peau Beauté’s Power of Radiance Award… I believe gender equality in STEAM is vital for a progressive society.”
Clé de Peau Beauté reaffirms its commitment to empowering girls and women through the Power of Radiance Awards, believing in the transformative potential of education to create a brighter future for communities worldwide.
