About Us
two+talent was built by two co-founders who have combined 20+ years of professional experience in management consulting and financial services. At one point we both decided to leave our professional careers behind, and we flourished with more free time in our lives, not bound by the traditional 5 days a week, 9-5 (or 9-9, realistically speaking) in-office roles. We became mothers and entrepreneurs of our businesses in other industries, but this was only possible because of the sustainability and flexibility we had.
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Would we have left our careers when we did, if we had been offered the opportunity for part-time professional roles and job sharing? Probably not.
We met and spoke to many former professionals who, like us, would love to work in a part-time role whilst progressing in their careers, but lamented that this was not an option in many industries and roles that required 100% coverage. Meanwhile, companies were missing out on top talent because they did not have a job-sharing or matching process.
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We started two+talent to solve the frustrations on both sides. We look forward to working with you to find the right partners+role fit.
Our Values
+ means… - working together comes at the heart of everything we do. We look to bring joy and add value to our team and client’s professional and personal lives.
Partnership - the right fit is meant to be. Our goal is to be a guide for individuals and companies to make sincere and intentional decisions.
Respect - each person's needs are different. This is where we come in. We respect our diversity of experience and needs, and aim to find a fit to meet yours.
The Team
Who We Are
Shoko Okuda
Founding Partner
Shoko is a co-founder of Two+ Talent in the UK, while also overseeing her family business in the US — all while embracing life as a proud mother of two. With over 11 years of experience at Bain & Company in Tokyo and London, she honed her expertise in the Global Customer Practice and worked extensively in the Financial Services sector. Upon return from maternity leave, she found her passion for staffing in Bain's Talent team, helping find the right roles and fit for Consultants in the London office. Shoko holds an MBA from London Business School and a BA in Economics and Operations Research from Columbia University.
Fun fact: Shoko was a National Open Tennis Finalist in the U.S. Girls U16 category, and she has two extremely fluffy cats, Stella & Nacho.
Yixin Zeng
Founding Partner
Yixin is the co-founder and manager of Two+ Talent. Beyond the business world, she runs an artistic swimming choreography studio, competes at a top level in the sport, and is pursuing a degree in Data Science — all while juggling and enjoying the rewards of motherhood. Earlier in her career, Yixin spent a decade as a trader at Morgan Stanley, specialising in various products across its New York, Tokyo, and London offices, before transitioning to a role as an investment analyst at a global credit hedge fund. She earned her BA in International Politics & Economics with a German minor from Middlebury College.
Fun fact: Yixin has appeared in Emirates' safety videos, a few car and cosmetics commercials, as well as a film!
...And How We Became Two+ Job Share Partners Ourselves
We first met in Tokyo over 10 years ago, when Shoko was a consultant at Bain & Company, and Yixin was a trader at Morgan Stanley. Shoko, a Japanese native who grew up in the U.S., and Yixin, born in Japan to Chinese parents and later educated in China and the U.S., quickly bonded over our shared mix of cultural backgrounds and professional ambitions.
A few years later, we both found ourselves in London, starting families and new chapters in life. Fast forward to today—having transitioned from our corporate careers and each pursuing exciting projects—we decided to join forces and co-found Two+ Talent. It’s the perfect job-share partnership, offering us the flexibility to balance work and life in meaningful ways.
We know how enjoyable this has been for us - so we'd love to share this joy and opportunity with you, our future Two+ Talent Partners!
