Keynote Speaker Yuri Hirayama Was Featured At The Education 2.0 Conference
Yuri Hirayama Shared Her Vision For Empowering Women & Youth
At the Education 2.0 Conference, Yuri Hirayama shared real stories and strategies on empowering women and youth through education, collaboration & sustainability.
Las Vegas, USA, July 29, 2025 — The Education 2.0 Conference, held at the Luxor Hotel & Casino from March 4 to 6, 2025, welcomed global leaders in education, innovation, and community development. Among them was Yuri Hirayama, a veteran educator, researcher, and founder of the Yuri Education Center. Drawing from more than two decades of classroom experience and academic work, she shared practical strategies for building confidence, leadership, and a sense of connection among students and young women.
Yuri is currently pursuing a PhD focused on sustainability, leadership, and global education, while also completing an MBA. In 2023, she established the Yuri Education Center to help create inclusive learning environments. One of her early projects brought mothers and babies together in underused community centers, where she taught music and English and encouraged social bonding. These gatherings were designed to reduce isolation, provide emotional support, and build learning communities in local neighborhoods.
She also launched sustainability-focused programs for school-aged students that encouraged hands-on problem-solving. Under the theme “Waste to Wow,” students repurposed discarded items like motorcycle tires, mountain climbing ropes, cosmetics, and school bags to create new, functional products. These projects introduced students to the principles of SDG 12, which promotes responsible consumption and production, while encouraging innovation and environmental awareness.
Her keynote session, titled “How To Support The Empowerment Of Women And Youth Through Education And Networking,” explored how discussion-based learning and global exchange can uplift communities. She emphasized that Japanese classrooms often lack opportunities for open dialogue and self-expression. By connecting her students with peers from countries such as Pakistan, India, Hong Kong, and several African nations, Yuri observed significant growth in their confidence and ability to express ideas.
One notable story she shared involved a 13-year-old student from Pakistan who collected ghost fishing nets polluting the ocean and worked with local women to transform them into soccer goals. This initiative combined environmental responsibility with social entrepreneurship and represented the kind of change her programs seek to spark.
Yuri concluded the session at the education conference by affirming the importance of building inclusive platforms where youth, educators, and professionals can learn, lead, and act together. Through the Yuri Education Center, she continues to unite voices across continents and empower the next generation of creative, compassionate, and capable leaders.
About Education 2.0 Conference
The Education 2.0 Conference is a three-day education event hosted in Dubai and Las Vegas. The summit brings together educators, edtech innovators, policymakers, and academic leaders to explore ideas, tools, and practices that can enhance learning experiences. Through speaker sessions, panel discussions, and networking opportunities, the education conference promotes collaboration and practical dialogue aimed at improving education across all levels. To learn more about upcoming editions, visit www.education2conf.com.