Yukari is a Senior Youth and Gender Specialist in the World Bank South Asia Social Development team, and the Partnership Coordinator for WePOWER. Before joining the Bank, she was a pioneer of social entrepreneurship in Japan. She founded and ran a youth empowerment social enterprise for over 10 years. Her innovative social business model was scaled by the Japanese government, expanding it nationwide. She was also the Director of the Women’s Economic Independence Project at the San Jose Municipality in Costa Rica, a JICA-financed program focusing on vulnerable women. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering and Computer Science and a Master’s Degree in Media and Governance.