Embracing the Future Through Leadership, AI, and Career
Design
Momoko Asaka (CDA137763), APCDA President 2022–2023
Embracing the Future Through Leadership, AI, and Career Design
The theme of this year’s APCDA Conference was “Embracing the Future Through Leadership, AI, and Career Design.” Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the ways we work, live, and learn have changed dramatically. Careers are increasingly becoming journeys that demand fluidity, meaning, and adaptability. With rapid advances in AI and digital transformation, the very nature of occupations is also evolving. In this context of upheaval, the conference theme felt especially relevant, highlighting what we as career practitioners are now being called upon to address.
Below are highlights from selected presentations at the conference.
Featured Presentation (Part 1):
The Interconnection of Career Development and Mental Health
Presented by Carolyn D. Jones, Former President of NCDA
Carolyn D. Jones discussed how each stage of academic and professional life comes with its own unique challenges—particularly for those struggling with mental health issues. For these individuals, making career decisions and adapting to the workplace can be even more complex. One of the most impactful points she raised was about the “stigma of mental health.” She explained that the fear of disclosing mental illness often negatively affects career choice and retention, and that the keys to mitigating stigma lie in “education” and “social acceptance.”
Two real-life case examples were introduced, both involving issues of social anxiety and workplace isolation, which had led to a loss of confidence and reduced self-efficacy. She emphasized the importance of career practitioners offering continued, empathetic support that addresses inner fears and self-doubt to help enhance self-efficacy. Career and mental health support are deeply interrelated, and practitioners are now expected to serve as change agents who provide integrated support, rather than separating the two. Such person-centered care that attends to emotions and life context is a distinctly human value that AI cannot replicate.
Featured Presentation (Part 2):
AI-Driven Career Design for a Brighter Future
Keynote by Dr. Kevin Glavin
The in-person portion of the conference was held at Zhengzhou University in China, accessible from Narita via a direct four-and-a-half-hour flight.
The opening keynote was delivered by Dr. Kevin Glavin, who has trained under the well-known Dr. Mark Savickas for over 20 years. Dr. Glavin is a global leader in integrating Career Construction Theory with AI and advancing the field of career counseling.
In his lecture, Dr. Glavin pointed out the widespread “de-storied” phenomenon among today’s youth. He referenced terms such as China’s “Tang Ping,” Korea’s “Sampo Generation,” and Japan’s “Hikikomori” to illustrate how young people across Asia are increasingly distancing themselves from traditional models of success and work. He emphasized that this should not be viewed as laziness, but rather as “quiet and intentional resistance”—a meaningful sign of discomfort with inherited life narratives, and potentially the beginning of transformative change.
He argued that traditional career theories such as Holland’s, while still necessary, are no longer sufficient in modern society, and that new support frameworks must be built.
Dr. Glavin then introduced the integration of narrative approaches with AI, showcasing the Career Construction Interview (CCI), a methodology based on Career Construction Theory. This approach helps individuals articulate and reconstruct their personal stories, supporting identity formation and catalyzing transformation “from pain to passion,” and “from victim to creator.”
He shared that development is underway to combine CCI with AI to build an online support environment. This includes chatbot-based dialogue support, real-time summarization and automatic feedback report generation, and the construction of a platform accessible from anywhere in the world.
The keynote conveyed a clear message: career support is not merely about choosing a job—it’s about the re-creation of meaning and narrative. While AI can serve as a useful tool, we must not forget the importance of human-centered, empathy-based engagement. In an era defined by VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity, ambiguity), practitioners must walk alongside those who deviate from conventional life stories and help them discover the gateways to new narratives.
Record Number of Japanese Presenters
We are pleased to report that this year saw a record number of nine presentations by Japanese speakers. APCDA members can view the archived content, including the keynotes mentioned above, until August 26, 2025. We highly encourage you to take a look.
Notice from the APCDA Japan Office
As of April 2025, Ms. Kimiko Kato has assumed the role of APCDA Japan Representative. Here is her message:
“This spring, I assumed the role of Japan Representative for APCDA. As a member, I’ve had opportunities to attend conferences and learn alongside fellow members in Japan. Going forward, I hope to share APCDA’s activities with more CDA professionals, creating opportunities to learn and grow together.
APCDA has strong ties with the NCDA in the U.S., but it is a truly global community, with researchers and practitioners participating from North America, Europe, and throughout the Asia-Pacific region. These areas differ in economic conditions, culture, labor markets, employment practices, and approaches to career development—this diversity is APCDA’s greatest strength and appeal. Cross-regional exchange contributes significantly to the evolution of career development and counseling.
The annual conference is usually held around May, and we’re seeing more participants from Japan each year. I hope many of you will take interest in APCDA as a place for professional development, mutual learning, and cross-border collaboration. I look forward to working with you all.”
—Kimiko Kato (CDA138940)
Upcoming APCDA 2026 Annual Conference
The next APCDA Annual Conference will take place from April 27 to May 8, 2026, at the University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The hybrid format will continue.
Conference Theme:
Expanding Horizons: Inclusive Career Development in Global Transitions
Early-bird registration is available through February 28, 2026. For more
information, please visit the official APCDA website:
🔗 https://asiapacificcda.org/2026-apcda-hybrid-conference/
If you are interested but feel unsure about participating, the APCDA Japan Office is here to support you. Please feel free to contact us:
📧 Email: apcdajapan＠gmail.com (Please replace the at-mark with a half-width character.)