The FocusCore Podcast

In this episode of the FocusCore Podcast, host David Sweet interviews Menya Hinga, a certified health coach and co-founder of SOGO Fitness. The discussion revolves around the challenges high-performing professionals face in maintaining their health while balancing work and personal life. Menya shares his personal journey from aspiring lawyer to health coach, emphasizing the importance of sleep, nutrition, fitness, and stress management. He also discusses his approach to sustainable habit formation and offers practical tips for achieving long-term health and fitness goals.In this episode you will hear:Menya's journey into Health and FitnessImportance of the Big Four: Food, Fitness, Sleep, and StressWhy sleep and nutrition are often neglected by busy professionalsThe role of stress management in achieving overall well-beingImpacting Lives Through FitnessThe latest FocusCore Salary Guide is here: 2025 Salary Guide About Menya:Menya Hinga is a Tokyo-based health coach who helps busy professionals simplify fitness. Originally from Massachusetts, he's spent over 13 years helping people get stronger, leaner, and feel better in their bodies. He is the founder of MH Health Coaching and co-founder of SOGO Fitness. He is also a  level one certified functional strength coach, a level one certified nutrition coach, a certified personal trainer. Menya blends practical strategies with proven systems to help clients build habits that last. When he's not coaching, he's reading, playing piano, or getting a workout in by chasing his four kids around the house.Connect with Menya:Website: https://www.menyahinga.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/menyahinga/Connect with David Sweet:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidsweet/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejp Facebook: :https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasiaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/focuscorejp/ Website: https://www.japan.focuscoregroup.com/ “Doin' the Uptown Lowdown,” used by permission of Christopher Davis-Shannon. To find out more, check out www.thetinman.co. Support independent musicians and artists.

In this episode of the Focus podcast, host David Sweet interviews Loïc Pecondon-Lacroix, an accomplished finance-driven leader with experience in B2B industries across China, Japan, and Germany. Loïc, currently the President and Representative director of a ABB group in Tokyo, Japan, shares his thoughts on leadership, business transformation, and the cultural nuances of working in Japan. The discussion emphasizes the importance of patience, shared vision, and flexibility in driving organizational change. Loïc also touches upon digital transformation, ESG investments, managing up, and the future of leadership. Throughout the episode, Loïc's engaging personal motto and experiences highlight his commitment to learning, development, and effective team management.The latest FocusCore Salary Guide is here: 2025 Salary Guide In this episode you will hear:Key strategies for leadership in cross-cultural contexts Lessons in digital transformation and crisis management The hidden impacts of ESG initiatives in the corporate worldHow courage is pivotal in executing ambitious changesLoïc's unique motto and career philosophyAbout Loïc:Loïc is an accomplished finance-driven leader with extensive experience in industrial B2B business across China, Japan and Germany. A Frenchman in Tokyo, Japan, he recently joined the ABB group as President and Representative Director. Loïc's career has developed with 3 core competencies: Strategy, Value Creation, and Governance. An apprentice leader, he is eager to continue to learn, develop and ensure knowledge is shared among teams and peers.Known for his high energy, strong communication skills, and ability to lead and motivate teams, Loïc excels in crisis management, digital transformation, and key relationship building.His motto: “I live and work in a tango of passion and reason, with the tenacious conviction and the discrete ambition to contribute.”Connect with Loïc: https://www.linkedin.com/in/loicpl/Connect with David Sweet:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidsweet/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejp Facebook: :https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasiaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/focuscorejp/ Website: https://www.japan.focuscoregroup.com/ “Doin' the Uptown Lowdown,” used by permission of Christopher Davis-Shannon. To find out more, check out www.thetinman.co. Support independent musicians and artists.Mentioned in this episode:Find out more about salaries, the job market, hiring and what's important to both companies and individuals looking for a job specifically in Japan. 2025 Salary Guide

In this episode of the FocusCore Podcast, host David Sweet interviews Carlo La Porta, Managing Director of Mpowered Sales about the challenges of disengagement in large Japanese firms. Carlo discusses his 35-year career in Japan, his book on generational management issues, and the importance of empowering employees. He shares insights on the evolution of Japanese business practices, the differences in management styles among generations, and the issue of low employee motivation. Carlo outlines his six-step delegation process and emphasizes the need for better communication and delegation to enhance team performance. He also highlights the plans for expanding MPowered's training programs to help improve leadership and productivity in Japanese SMEs.In this episode you will hear:The evolution of Japanese business practicesThe key to successful delegation and leadershipCarlo's unique journey and what keeps him dedicated The roots of motivation and how to nurture it in the workplaceHow delegation can boost team performance and drive changeCarlo's approach to Mission Command and Servant LeadershipAbout Carlo La Porta:Carlo La Porta is  the Motivation Architect and Managing Director of Empowered Sales K.K. He has built his 35-year career around designing and delivering business solutions in Japan. Drawing on his experience in multinational, multilingual, and multicultural organizations, as well as fully Japanese environments fluent in both local and western business practices. He believes in empowering teams to perform at their best. This conviction led him to establish MPowered Sales K.K. dedicated to evaluating. Employee work life quality and productivity with a focus on Japanese SMEs. Carlo has also written a book in Japanese focusing on people management issues in Japanese environments due to the generation gap. The book is entitled in Japanese, “The Reiwa Era Leadership Revolution” and uh, of course that can be found on Amazon and it's been very, uh, popular with male managers in their forties and fifties. Carlo has held roles at KPMG consulting, bearing point, low end down Masai, which is now aiming Japan and Thompson Financial Services. He's worked with such prestigious clients as IKK Brita, Ong, NTT Urban Develop. Bent, MHI and Luxottica among many others. He's a graduate of Tokyo University where he focused on international trade in Japanese. He holds an N1 Japanese language certification, which means he speaks nipon, go very well, as well as a plethora of other languages, including English, Italian, French, German, and he's lived in Japan for three decades and calls it. The latest FocusCore Salary Guide is here: 2025 Salary Guide Connect with Carlo La Porta:Website: https://mpoweredsales.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlolaporta/Connect with David Sweet:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidsweet/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejp Facebook: :https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasiaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/focuscorejp/ Website:

In this episode, an award-winning strategic communications executive and tech leader, host of the Trending Communicator podcast, Dan, is highlighted for his expertise and influence in the field. He has been recognized on PR Week's Dashboard 25 and the Propel 100 list. With over two decades of corporate and agency experience, Dan specializes in corporate and brand communications, integrated marketing, content strategy, social media, and brand storytelling. His proficiency in emerging trends like generative AI helps organizations adapt to a rapidly evolving landscape. Born in New Jersey and having spent 16 years in Japan, he brings a global perspective and speaks Japanese, reflecting his adaptability and broad insight.The latest FocusCore Salary Guide is here: 2025 Salary Guide In this episode you will hear:Dan's insights on the pivotal role of AI in shaping modern communicationsThe challenges and opportunities for PR tech leaders in 2024 and beyondHow a global perspective enhances strategy and promotes innovationKey trends in Comtech that every leader should watchAbout Dan: Dan is an award-winning strategic communications executive communications technology leader and host of another wonderful podcast, the Trending Communicator.Dan's named two prs PR weeks Dashboard 25 in both 23 and 2024, and recognized on the Propel 100 list of the most influential PR tech leaders in the world for 2025. And he's at the forefront of AI and innovation and communications. With over two decades of corporate and agency experience, Dan brings proven expertise in corporate and brand communications, integrated marketing, content strategy, social media, and brand storytelling. His deep understanding of emerging trends like generative AI and Comtech enables him to bridge the gap between strategy and innovation, helping organizations adapt and thrive in a rapidly evolving landscape.He was born in New Jersey. Spent 16 years in the land of the rising Sun, and he speaks Japanese as well, which is a reflection of his adaptability and global perspective. And this curiosity and ability to connect ideas across disciplines drives his passion for empowering PR and marketing leaders to confidently embrace AI and unlock its full potential.Connect with Dan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nestle/be-inquisitive.com (Company)trendingcommunicator.com Connect with David Sweet:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidsweet/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejp Facebook: :https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasiaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/focuscorejp/ Website: https://www.japan.focuscoregroup.com/ This podcast was proudly produced by Lisa Yasuda.“Doin' the Uptown Lowdown,” used by permission of Christopher Davis-Shannon. To find out more, check out www.thetinman.co. Support independent musicians and artists.Mentioned in this...

In this episode of the Focus Core Podcast, host Simon Jelfs interviews Makoto Tosa, a professional rugby player for NEC Green Rockets and Mitsubishi DynaBoars, and an Executive MBA student at the University of Cambridge. They discuss the fast-paced generational cycle in rugby, Tosa's career journey starting from junior high school in Japan to playing for Oxford and Cambridge University. Tosa shares insights on the differences and similarities between rugby cultures in Japan and the UK and his experiences balancing professional rugby, studies, and family life. They also explore Tosa's MBA project on Gen Z fan engagement strategies and his plans for a future career in sports business.The latest FocusCore Salary Guide is here: 2025 Salary Guide In this episode you will hear:Tosa's rugby journeyThe differences and similarities between rugby cultures in Japan and the UKTosa's MBA project on Gen Z fan engagement strategiesThe Generational Shifts in UK and Japanese rugbyAbout Tosa: Tosa has played professional rugby for the NEC Green Rockets and the Mitsubishi DynaBoars, as well as being a coach. And he also has experience working as an international relations manager for Mitsubishi DynaBoars. He has extensive experience in brand development, international relations, and athlete advocacy. He is one of a very special club of rugby players to have played for Oxford and Cambridge University in the Varsity match, and he is currently pursuing an executive MBA at the University of Cambridge, which includes an MBA project covering Gen Z fan engagement.Connect with Tosa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/makoto-tosa-from-being-the-professional-athlete-to-the-world-of-sports-marketing/Connect with Simon Jelfs:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonjelfs/Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejp Facebook: :https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasiaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/focuscorejp/ Website: https://www.japan.focuscoregroup.com/ “Doin' the Uptown Lowdown,” used by permission of Christopher Davis-Shannon. To find out more, check out www.thetinman.co. Support independent musicians and artists.Mentioned in this episode:Find out more about salaries, the job market, hiring and what's important to both companies and individuals looking for a job specifically in Japan. 2025 Salary Guide

In this episode of the Focus Core podcast, we dive into the innovative world of Japanese startups and corporate innovation with Tim Romero, partner at Jira Ventures and host of the Disrupting Japan podcast. Tim shares insights from his 30-year journey in Japan's startup scene, discussing the evolving ecosystem, key changes in corporate collaboration, and the challenges and opportunities for foreign entrepreneurs and investors. He also reflects on his experiences as a rock musician, professional podcaster, and educator, offering valuable lessons on leadership, sustainability, and technology's role in Japan's future.The latest FocusCore Salary Guide is here: 2025 Salary Guide In this episode you will hear:Tim's transformative experiences in the tech industryThe evolution of startup culture in JapanThe cultural challenges and opportunities in Japanese marketsFuture trends in entrepreneurship and international collaborationAbout Tim : Tim Romero is a partner at Jira Ventures and is the very well known host of the successful podcast “Disrupting Japan”, which has been going for over 10 years.Tim is deeply involved in Japan's startup community as an investor, a founder, author, and educator, and he has founded several startups in Japan over the past 30 years. Tim has also taught entrepreneurship and corporate innovation. He has led Google for Startups in Japan and worked with various enterprises in Japan for startup investment and innovation strategy. Connect with Tim Romero:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timromero/ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@disruptingjapan7899?si=k5T0GbmULUaAj8uQ Website: https://www.disruptingjapan.com/ (Disrupting Japan)https://www.jera.co.jp/en/corporate/business/ventures (Jera)Connect with David Sweet:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidsweet/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejp Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasiaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/focuscorejp/ Website: https://www.japan.focuscoregroup.com/ “Doin' the Uptown Lowdown,” used by permission of Christopher Davis-Shannon. To find out more, check out www.thetinman.co. Support independent musicians and artists.Mentioned in this episode:Find out more about salaries, the job market, hiring and what's important to both companies and individuals looking for a job specifically in Japan. 2025 Salary Guide

In this episode of the FocusCore Podcast, host David Sweet interviews Roop Kaistha, the head of Asia Pacific at AMS, about the evolving landscape of talent acquisition in Asia, particularly in Japan. With nearly two decades of experience, Roop shares her career journey, insights on the challenges and opportunities in talent acquisition, and the importance of relationship-building in recruitment. The latest FocusCore Salary Guide is here: 2025 Salary Guide In this episode you will hear:The importance of being market ready for Asian markets particularly in communication method choicesThe future of hybrid work vs in office only and the challenge of keeping engagement levels up The role of technology and AI in recruitment and some of Roop's favourite toolsThe future trends in recruitment in AsiaAbout Roop:Roop brings two decades of experience working across multiple markets, spending the last 15 years in Outsourcing and Talent Acquisition. She has a proven track record in the strategic management of large scale RPOs and MSPs across Asia Pacific. She has held various roles including Solution Design, Implementation, running the Innovation Centre for Asia Pacific and, most recently, as Regional Head of RPO and Professional Services.Roop was appointed as Regional Managing Director of APAC in 2022. She heads the APAC leadership team, driving APAC's growth strategy and business plan objectives. Roop ensures the firm continues to exceed the expectations of clients across Asia, and to deliver further growth in this vital region.Connect with Roop: https://www.weareams.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/roopkaistha/ Connect with David Sweet:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidsweet/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejp Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasiaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/focuscorejp/ Website: https://www.japan.focuscoregroup.com/ Mentioned in this episode:Find out more about salaries, the job market, hiring and what's important to both companies and individuals looking for a job specifically in Japan. 2025 Salary Guide

In this episode of the FocusCore Podcast, Tokyo-based certified meditation teacher Misha Yurchenko discusses the importance of mindfulness, especially in corporate settings. With over a decade of experience, Misha shares his journey through burnout and how it led him to found Tokyo Mindfulness. The conversation covers how mindfulness can be integrated into daily life and corporate culture, the distinct roles of mindfulness and meditation, and practical advice for new leaders. This insightful discussion offers actionable steps for leaders and individuals seeking to enhance their well-being and productivity.The latest FocusCore Salary Guide is here: 2025 Salary Guide In this episode you will hear:How Misha overcame his severe burnout from his venture-funded startupWhy the Western concept of mindfulness is not so common in JapanThe importance of short, consistent mindfulness practices Corporate examples such as the story of Rakuten's successful implementation of mindfulness programsAbout Misha:Misha Yurchenko is a Tokyo-based certified meditation teacher with over a decade of meditation experience. He has attended retreats worldwide, practicing a range of techniques. After experiencing extreme burnout from his venture-funded startup, he retreated to the mountains for a month of meditation. He later founded Tokyo Mindfulness, dedicated to helping others break free from their limitations. Misha combines meditation, breathwork, and nervous system healing in a practical and integrated approach to assist people in letting go of the ego, releasing old habit patterns, and finding inner freedom. He is the author of several books, writes a weekly Substack, and lives in Nerima with his family.Connect with Misha :Website: https://tokyomindfulness.com/Events & Retreats: https://www.meetup.com/pro/conscious-living-japan/Community & Newsletter: https://tokyomindfulness.substack.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyomindfulnessjapan/Connect with David Sweet:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidsweet/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejp Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasiaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/focuscorejp/ Website: https://www.japan.focuscoregroup.com/ “Doin' the Uptown Lowdown,” used by permission of Christopher Davis-Shannon. To find out more, check out www.thetinman.co. Support independent musicians and artists.

The latest FocusCore Salary Guide is here: 2025 Salary Guide Welcome back to the FocusCore podcast with host Dr. David Sweet. This week we are talking about leadership and business mastery with Dr. Greg Story, President of Dale Carnegie Tokyo Training Japan. Greg is an author of a suite of books focusing specifically on mastering various aspects of doing business in Japan. He also releases multiple podcasts weekly and is a certified master trainer in all of the major Dale Carnegie training courses. So join us for this enlightening conversation about leadership, communication and the unique dynamics of doing business in Japan.In this episode you will hear:How Greg started Dale Carnegie Tokyo Training JapanWhy on the job training is not working for Japanese companies anymoreAbout Greg's books teaching mastery in business and leadership in JapanThe importance of middle management in retaining quality talentHow technology like AI is changing recruitment in JapanThings mentioned in the episode:Dale Carnegie Tokyo WebsiteDr. Greg Story's author page on AmazonDr. Greg Story's podcast page on Apple PodcastsAbout Dr. Greg Story:A Ph.D. in Japanese organisational decision-making, and a 40 year veteran of Japan, he has broad experience, having been Country Head of four organisations in Japan.He launched a “start up” in Nagoya, and completed “turn-arounds” in both Osaka and Tokyo for Austrade.In 2001 he was promoted to Minister Commercial in the Australian Embassy and the Country Head for Austrade.In November 2003, Dr. Story joined Shinsei's Retail Bank, which interestingly was a special combination of “start-up” and “turn-around”. He had 550 staff in his Platinum Banking Division, responsible for two-thirds of the revenue of the Retail Bank, eventually becoming the Joint CEO of the Retail Bank.In July 2007, Dr. Story became the Country Head for the National Australia Bank in Japan.In October 2010, he became President of Dale Carnegie Tokyo Training Japan. He is a Master Trainer and an international award winning Sales Leader with Dale Carnegie. He is a thought leader and has written eight books: Japan Sales Mastery, Za Eigyo (The 営業), Japan Business Mastery, Japan Presentations Mastery, Anata mo Purezen Tatsujin (あなたもプレゼンの達人), Stop Wasting Money On Training, Toreningu de Okane Wo Muda Ni Suru No Wa Yamemashoo (トレニングでお金を無駄にするのわやめましょう) and Japan Leadership Mastery.He is an Adjunct Professor in the International Business Faculty of Griffith University. A 6th Dan in traditional Shitoryu Karate, he applies martial art philosophies and strategies to business issues.Connect with Dr. Greg Story:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregstory/Connect with David Sweet:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidsweet/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejp Facebook: :

The latest FocusCore Salary Guide is here:2025 Salary GuideWelcome to the first episode of 2025 for the FocusCore podcast! This week we are joined by yet another amazing guest at the forefront of marketing and business leadership in Japan, Ricardo Tasca. Ricardo is currently the General Manager and Representative Director of Hill's Colgate (Japan). Ricardo has years of experience leading marketing innovation and success in Japan, Brazil, Mexico and New York. In this episode Ricardo shares some unique experiences of being a leader in the pet care industry in Japan, as well as discussing global trends and innovations in marketing and brand management happening now and in the future.In this episode you will hear:What makes the Japan market uniqueWhat Ricardo sees as emerging trends in the Japanese consumer marketHow the pet care industry is evolving in Japan and globallyThe importance of sustainability to Hill's Pet Nutrition JapanHow investing in R&D helps brands innovate and be competitive in the marketThings mentioned in the episode:Hill's Food, Shelter, & Love Program: https://www.hillspet.com/food-shelter-love/my-shelterAbout Ricardo:Ricardo Tasca is the General Manager and Representative Director of Hill's Colgate (Japan) Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Hill's Pet Nutrition and Colgate-Palmolive Company. He has held that position since January 1st, 2022. Prior to that, Ricardo served for three years as the Marketing Director of Hill's Colgate (JAPAN) Ltd. From 2016 to 2018, Ricardo served as Associate Director of the Global Marketing and Innovation Team for Hill's Pet Nutrition. Ricardo joined Colgate Palmolive in his native Brazil in 2003 as Assistant Brand Manager. He progressed through positions in Marketing and Retail Marketing, becoming Group Brand Manager for Colgate Toothpaste in 2009. In 2010, Ricardo moved to Colgate Palmolive Mexico, to lead the Latin America Innovation for Mouthwashes and Sensitive Toothpaste. In 2012, moved to Colgate Headquarters in New York as the Marketing Manager of the Global Toothbrushes business, leading global strategy & innovation for key segments of the category. Ricardo holds a degree in Business administration from the FAAP University in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Connect with Ricardo:Website: https://www.hillspet.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricardo-tasca-11914418/Connect with David Sweet:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidsweet/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejp Facebook: :https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasiaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/focuscorejp/ Website: https://www.japan.focuscoregroup.com/ “Doin' the Uptown Lowdown,” used by...

The latest FocusCore Salary Guide is here: 2025 Salary Guide On this episode of the FocusCore podcast we are joined by global leadership expert Paul Dupuis. Paul has over 25 years of professional experience in multiple countries across Asia including Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea and India. He is also the founder and CEO of Take-5 Global K.K., a consultancy firm focused on coaching, business advisory, leadership development and M&A in Japan and India. Paul joins us to share some of his insights into being a great leader in Japan and globally, as well as how to grow and develop successful leaders in your company. In this episode you will hear:What foreign companies admire about Japanese business cultureUniversal tenets of good leadershipHow to succeed as a business leader in JapanThe importance of listening more than you speakHow trust helps empower and enable people to be great leadersPaul's 5 E's of leadership from his book; The E5 MovementThings mentioned in the episode:Paul's book; The E5 Movement: https://e5-movement.com/The Japanese version; The 5 Golden Rules of Leadership:https://e5-movement.com/%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E8%AA%9EHockey Foundation Website: https://hockeyfoundation.org/About Paul Dupuis:Paul Dupuis is the founder and CEO of Take-5 Global K.K., a consultancy firm focused on coaching, business advisory, leadership development and M&A in Japan and India. Paul has over 25 years of professional experience in multiple countries across Asia including Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea and India. Prior to founding Take-5 Global K.K., Paul was CEO & Chairman of Randstad Japan (2021-2023) where he led one of the largest operating companies for Randstad globally to achieve exceptional revenue growth and record profitability. During his tenure as MD and CEO of Randstad India (2017-2021), he led the turnaround of the company to become the leader in the Indian market. Paul was recognized by Great Place to Work® Institute (India) as one of India's Best Leaders in Times of Crisis 2021. From 2011-2013 he was based in Singapore as Head of Asia for en-japan (TSE 4849.t). A recognized thought leader, Paul frequently appears in media, and is a guest speaker at MBA schools and professional associations across Asia on topics related to Japan & India, with a focus on transformational leadership, high performance, team building, strategy and organizational development. He is a member of the MBA Faculty at GLOBIS University Graduate School. He is a non-executive Board Member of T.Hasegawa, a publicly listed company (TSE 4958). Paul is a member of the Board of Directors of HOPE International Sustainable Development Agency (JP), focusing on clean water projects and microcredit programs in Cambodia, Sudan and the Philippines, with a mission to help the neglected poor become self-reliant. Paul is fully bilingual in English and Japanese. He published his first book on leadership, The E5 Movement in June 2020. In 2023, the best-selling Japanese version was published: The 5 Golden Rules of Leadership. Paul is an active member of the Japan Association of Corporate Executives (Keizai Doyukai), and is the Vice-chairman of the marketing committee of the Japan Ice Hockey Federation. He is a passionate ice hockey...

The latest FocusCore Salary Guide is here:2025 Salary Guide This week on the FocusCore podcast, host David Sweet is joined by Simon Jelfs, Managing Director of FocusCore Japan. In the episode David and Simon discuss the biggest talent trends that will impact Japan's recruitment landscape in 2025. These trends include things like new technologies and work structures impacting business in general, as well as the future of HR and recruitment specifically. This conversation is essential listening for companies looking to adapt and be competitive in Japan's ever evolving market in the new year!In this episode you will hear:The real challenges and opportunities of AI in recruitmentWhy cybersecurity, data analytics, and adaptability are more essential than everHow HR is driving growth through upskilling, reskilling, and strategic planningThe importance of a strong Employee Value Proposition when attracting talentThe future of flexible work models in JapanAbout Simon Jelfs:​Simon is from the UK and has over 20 years accounting and finance recruitment experience in Tokyo. He is the Managing Director of Focus Core which focuses on providing executive search in Japan.Connect with Simon Jelfs:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonjelfs/Connect with David Sweet:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidsweet/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejp Facebook: :https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasiaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/focuscorejp/ Website: https://www.japan.focuscoregroup.com/ “Doin' the Uptown Lowdown,” used by permission of Christopher Davis-Shannon. To find out more, check out www.thetinman.co. Support independent musicians and artists.Mentioned in this episode:Find out more about salaries, the job market, hiring and what's important to both companies and individuals looking for a job specifically in Japan. 2025 Salary Guide

Welcome to the latest episode of the FocusCore podcast. In this episode we are talking about the field of Genomics and how the applied genomics technology company, Illumina is pushing the boundaries of genomic biotechnology for research and in applied medicine. Our guest is General Manager and Representative Director of Illumina KK, Arjuna Kumarasuriyar. Arjuna has commercial experience in sales, marketing, channel management and commercial operations, as well as an academic background in biotechnology and molecular biology. In the episode we dive deep into what genomics is and how it is evolving, as well as hearing some of Arjuna's insights into Japan's unique business landscape.In this episode you will hear:What the term genomics means and how it differs from geneticsWhat made Arjuna change his study from medicine to biotechnologyAbout Illumina's work in biotechnologyHow the technology Illumina is developing is fundamentally changing healthcare around the worldWhat Arjuna has learnt about doing business in JapanHow AI technology might impact genomicsAbout Arjuna Kumarasuriyar:Arjuna Kumarasuriyar has Commercial experience in sales, marketing, channel management and Commercial Operations in the life sciences sector. The majority of Arjuna's career has been in genomics with Illumina covering business across the Asia Pacific region. The first eight years of his career at Illumina were in sales, marketing and sales management roles. The next eight years he established and grew a commercial operations function to support the rapidly expanding commercial team in Asia through analytics, processes, technology, training and back office functions. Arjuna has been General Manager and Representative Director of Illumina KK since January 2023. He is passionate about finding ways for teams to perform at their best whether it is shaping organizational structures and culture or getting into the operational enablement to enable efficient and effective customer value creation.Arjuna has a Bachelors in Biotechnology and a PhD in Molecular Biology from the University of Queensland, Australia. He joined Illumina in 2007 after working in R&D, quality assurance, and technology transfer roles for several biotech companies and government agencies in Singapore and Australia. Connect with Arjuna Kumarasuriyar:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjunakumarasuriyar/X: https://x.com/ArjunaKConnect with David Sweet:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidsweet/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejp Facebook: :https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasiaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/focuscorejp/ Website: https://www.japan.focuscoregroup.com/ “Doin' the Uptown Lowdown,” used by permission of Christopher Davis-Shannon. To find out more, check out www.thetinman.co. Support independent musicians and artists.

Welcome back to the FocusCore podcast. In this episode we are talking to a titan of the food industry in Japan, Paul Kraft. In his over twenty years experience, Paul has launched and led multiple brands to succeed in the Japanese market. He is now the Founder and President of JapanIQ, a company that specializes in helping companies avoid missteps and drive growth in the unique Japanese business landscape. In this episode we discuss the Japanese retail food market, what works, what doesn't, and future trends we can expect to see unfold in the coming years.In this episode you will hear:About challenges Paul faced when he first started working in JapanHow the Japanese grocery market differs from other countriesHow Paul, and JapanIQ, has helped foreign companies avoid common pitfalls of doing business in JapanThe leadership qualities Paul looks for when hiring in JapanInsights into Japanese consumer behavior now and in the futureAbout Paul Kraft:Paul Kraft helps medium-sized foreign firms expand and optimize their footprints in the perplexing Japanese market. With over 20 years in the trenches navigating Japan Inc., Paul knows what lasts, what languishes, when to pivot, and when to start from scratch. Paul took HARIBO gummi bears from #8 to #1 in 4 years, led Starbucks' CPG entry into the Japanese mass market and department stores – including #1 at CVS. He launched the HoneyBaked Ham restaurant chain in their first-ever international market and grew Nestle Nespresso's Japanese foodservice business by 20+%.Paul specializes in Route-to-Market Analysis, Partner Identification, Hiring (and Firing), Empowering the Local Team to Speak Up, Value Chain Analysis, Strategic Planning, Translating Brands to the Japanese Market, Forecasting, Market Research, Marketing Communication, Japan Crisis Management, Live TV Interviews, Thought Leadership, Meeting Retailers, Launching New Products, Quality Control Checks, Factory Audits, and Market Audits.Connect with Paul Kraft:Website: https://www.japaniq.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kraftpaulYouTube: www.youtube.com/@JapanIQConnect with David Sweet:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidsweet/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejp Facebook: :https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasiaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/focuscorejp/ Website: https://www.japan.focuscoregroup.com/ “Doin' the Uptown Lowdown,” used by permission of Christopher Davis-Shannon. To find out more, check out www.thetinman.co. Support independent musicians and artists.

On the latest episode of the FocusCore podcast, host David Sweet discusses the current Media and Marketing landscape in Japan with John Flanagan, President and Managing Director of A+E Networks Japan and SE Asia. John has 30 plus years experience in the Media industry in Japan and has seen it evolve, including the rise of streaming services and the current advances in AI technologies. John also has extensive marketing experience and has some great advice for foreign business leaders looking to effectively market to Japanese audiences.In this episode you will hear:About the unique marketing landscape in JapanThe importance of understanding your target marketHow the media industry is currently evolvingThe importance of good storytelling when it comes to marketingSome of the challenges facing streaming services in Japan and globallyAbout John Flanagan:John Flanagan is President and Managing Director of A+E Networks Japan and SE Asia. Flanagan is a media professional with over 30 years' experience in Japan. His career highlights include launching J:COM and running marketing at 20th Century Fox and iTunes in Japan. Flanagan also teaches marketing part time at Japan's largest MBA school, GLOBIS University. He graduated from Colorado College, which included one year's study at Waseda University in Tokyo. Flanagan later attended INSEAD.Connect with John Flanagan:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/johnflanaganasiaA+E Networks Website: https://jp.aenetworks.com/Connect with David Sweet:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidsweet/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejp Facebook: :https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasiaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/focuscorejp/ Website: https://www.japan.focuscoregroup.com/ “Doin' the Uptown Lowdown,” used by permission of Christopher Davis-Shannon. To find out more, check out www.thetinman.co. Support independent musicians and artists.

Welcome to the latest episode of the FocusCore podcast. This week we are talking with Sanae Endo, a seasoned HR professional, coach, and engagement consultant with a wealth of experience spanning over two decades. Join Sanae and host David Sweet as we dive into her journey, explore the trends shaping HR in Japan and beyond, and gain valuable insight into creating thriving, inclusive organizational cultures.In this episode you will hear:Pivotal moments that shaped Sanae's career in HRHow to have more inclusive communication as a leaderThe challenges of implementing DEI initiatives in multinational companiesHow you can drive change within your organizationThe impact of AI on HR, now and in the futureAbout Sanae Endo:Sanae Endo is a seasoned HR professional, coach, and engagement consultant with a wealth of experience spanning over two decades.Her expertise encompasses executive coaching, union negotiation, recruitment, and training, global leadership, public relations, and strategic HR management. She has been a pivotal figure in driving organizational improvement across various industries. Throughout her illustrious career, Sanae has held key positions in some of the world's leading companies. She served as the Japan Country HR Manager at Caterpillar, HR Business Partner at Coca-Cola East, HR VP at Hitachi-Johnson Controls Air Conditioning, General Manager of HR Talent at AXA Life, HR Senior Director at Gap, HR Director at Estée Lauder, and currently she is the VP of Communication and Engagement Officer at SkyDrive. Sanae holds an MBA from the University of Wales, and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from San Francisco State University. She is also a Certified Six Sigma Black Belt and a Hogan Certified Assessor.Connect with Sanae Endo:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sanae-endo-026275110Connect with David Sweet:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidsweet/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejp Facebook: :https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasiaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/focuscorejp/ Website: https://www.japan.focuscoregroup.com/ “Doin' the Uptown Lowdown,” used by permission of Christopher Davis-Shannon. To find out more, check out www.thetinman.co. Support independent musicians and artists.

In this latest episode of the FocusCore podcast, host David Sweet is joined by Timothy Connor from Synnovate, a company that helps companies launch and succeed in the Japan market through four key practice areas. If you are a business leader in the Japanese market this conversation will provide some invaluable insights. In the episode Timothy explains the concept of strategic leadership and outlines the five leadership archetypes that are required at the different stages of an organization's growth. In this episode you will hear:How Timothy pivoted from designing apparel to marketingTimothy's approach to identifying essential customer experience touch pointsWhat a social listening exercise is and how it can help your companyWhy last impressions can be more important than first impressionsAbout strategic leadership and the five leadership archetypesThe different skill sets required for each of the leadership archetypesAbout Timothy:Timothy Connor is a bilingual and bicultural longtime resident of Tokyo Japan. He has 25 years of experience in consumer related businesses, both B2B2C and B2C. During this time, he has developed a deep understanding of the Japanese market, its consumers, and the unique aspects of doing business in Japan, where trust relationships are essential.As CEO of Synnovate, he develops road maps to growth, leads the implementation, and works synergistically with the local master distributor or franchisor to achieve growth. He uses his bilingual and bicultural expertise to liaise and create a trust relationship with the distributors and partners to then innovate in products, sales and marketing channels, and activation promotional activities. As a non-Japanese, he can often see opportunities that the Japanese partners cannot and has more flexibility than a Japanese partner to do things outside the box. Marketing to Japanese consumers requires a highly developed customer experience and attention to the finest details of quality, an aspect sometimes overlooked by foreign brands.Previously Managing Director in charge of corporate development and the marketing service business group of an American owned firm. His role was to find new business opportunities, devise the market strategy for sales and distribution partners, develop the organization, and subsequently run the new business.These experiences motivated him to develop the concept of strategic leadership and the five “types” of leadership that can become necessary in the growth journey of any business.Connect with Timothy:Website: https://www.synnovate.jp/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothyconnor/Connect with David Sweet:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidsweet/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejp Facebook: :https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasiaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/focuscorejp/ Website: https://www.japan.focuscoregroup.com/ “Doin' the Uptown Lowdown,” used by permission of Christopher Davis-Shannon. To

Welcome back from the August break. On this episode of the podcast we sit down with the Managing Director and President of DSV Solutions in Japan, Scott Smalley. Scott is a senior management executive with over 35 years of experience, 25 of which have been dedicated to global logistics in Japan. Scott is bilingual, multicultural, well-connected and highly respected within the logistics industry and business in general in Japan. In this conversation we learn some of Scott's strategies and advice for managing global operations in Japan, and multinationally.In this episode you will hear:Some of the unique advantages to working in global logistics for different companies all over the worldScott's advice on how to get started in sales and be effectiveThe challenges involved in managing a logistics company in JapanHow DSV Japan are achieving their sustainability goalsHow leaders can create stronger future organizationsAbout Scott Smalley:Scott is a senior management executive with over 35 years of experience, 25 of which have been dedicated to global logistics in Japan. Currently, he serves as the Managing Director and President of DSV Solutions in Japan. Scott's professional journey has been marked by a unique blend of strategic sales and operational expertise in global supply-chain management and logistics. As a bi-lingual, multicultural professional, Scott brings a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of the intricacies involved in managing global operations.Although contract logistics has been Scott's primary professional focus, he has extensive experience in freight forwarding and global customer relationship management. Throughout his career, he has collaborated with peers around the world to tackle complex supply-chain challenges, leveraging his global connections and insights to drive successful outcomes.Scott's career is defined by a strong entrepreneurial spirit and a keen focus on the bottom line. He has consistently demonstrated his ability to design innovative supply-chain products and services, leading by example to ensure successful implementations. Scott is also deeply committed to coaching and encouraging his business teams to excel, helping them achieve results beyond their expectations. Scott's peers consider him well-connected and highly respected not only within the logistics industry but also among multinational management professionals worldwide.Connect with Scott Smalley:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/scott-smalley-0186aDSV website: https://www.dsv.com/en/countries/asia/japanConnect with David Sweet:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidsweet/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejp Facebook: :https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasiaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/focuscorejp/ Website: https://www.japan.focuscoregroup.com/ “Doin' the Uptown Lowdown,” used by permission of Christopher Davis-Shannon. To find out more, check out

During the month of August we will be enjoying some summer weather and taking a break from recording new episodes. To satiate your thirst we will be re-releasing the hottest episodes of the year, every week, for you to enjoy with a Mai Tai by the pool like David will be.In this episode of the podcast from March this year, we switched things up and had guest host Simon Jelfs, Managing Director of FocusCore Japan, interview Dr. David Sweet to find out what makes him tick, in business and in life. David is originally from Denver, Colorado with 25 years recruitment experience in Japan, all of it in leadership roles. He established FocusCore Japan in 2011. He's a father of two, a keen runner, a writer, and an ukulele player. Listen to the episode to learn more about how David manages to be so proactive and motivated in business and in life, and gain some invaluable insight into the Japanese labor market and recruitment landscape. In this episode you will hear:About David's love of running marathons and his plans to run the Barcelona marathonHow David manages to stay so proactive and motivated in business and life in generalHow international business leaders view the Japanese marketDavid's advice to APAC leaders looking to improve recruitment performance in JapanAbout the ageless leadership skills that stand the test of timeAbout Simon Jelfs:​Simon is from the UK and has over 20 years accounting and finance recruitment experience in Tokyo. He is the Managing Director of Focus Core which focuses on providing executive search in Japan.About David Sweet:David Sweet is the founder and CEO of FocusCore Group. For the past 25 years, he has helped companies hire the best executive talent in Tokyo. He is also a certified executive coach and author of Sweet Success, Sweet Sales, Recruit! Becoming the Top-Biller, as well as having been interviewed for the book, “Facebook & LinkedIn 対応履歴書いらずのソーシャルメディア転職術” for his expertise in using Social Networking for recruitment in Japan. He also is a published poet, including Gus (illustrated by Jennifer Shinkai), Split Infinity Forward, and Pop Rocks. He holds a Ph.D. in Leadership Development and a M.A. in Communications from Regis University in Denver, Colorado. Connect with Simon Jelfs:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonjelfsConnect with David Sweet:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidsweet/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejp Facebook: :https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasiaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/focuscorejp/ Website: https://www.japan.focuscoregroup.com/ “Doin' the Uptown Lowdown,” used by permission of Christopher Davis-Shannon. To find out more, check out www.thetinman.co. Support independent musicians and artists.

During the month of August we will be enjoying some summer weather and taking a break from recording new episodes. To satiate your thirst we will be re-releasing the hottest episodes of the year, every week, for you to enjoy with a Mai Tai by the pool like David will be.In this re-release episode from February, I turn the podcasting tables on my guest Catherine O'Connell, who is host and cohost of two fantastic podcasts; Lawyer On Air and Jandals in Japan. If you haven't listened to those two podcasts I highly recommend them both! Catherine is the principal and founder of her boutique commercial law firm based in Tokyo, Catherine O'Connell Law. She is the first foreign female to set up her own law practice in Tokyo and won Tokyo Foreign Lawyer of the Year Award in 2022, Boutique Law Firm of the Year Award in 2023, and is the recipient of the Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2020. One of Catherine's missions in life is to change the boardrooms of traditional Japan from the inside, sharing her lived experience through board coaching programs to demystify and open pathways for people to access and attain roles on Japanese corporate boards.In this episode you will hear:How Catherine went from being a tour guide in New Zealand to studying law and working as a foreign lawyer in JapanWhat motivated Catherine to set up Catherine O'Connell Law, her own law firm in TokyoAbout the lack of diversity in terms of board governance in JapanWhat Japanese companies can do now to diversify their boardsWhat women leaders can do to open boardroom doors for themselves and othersThings mentioned in the episode:Statistical Information about female board members in Japan: https://www.nikkei.co.jp/nikkeiinfo/en/global_services/nikkei-bp/female-board-member-survey-which-japanese-company-has-the-highest-percentage-of-female-board-members.htmlAbout Catherine O'Connell:Catherine O'Connell is Principal & Founder of her boutique commercial law firm based in Tokyo, Catherine O'Connell Law. She is the first foreign female to set up her own law practice in Tokyo. She won Boutique Law Firm of the Year Award 2023 and Foreign Lawyer of the Year Award 2022 and is the recipient of the Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2020.Significantly, Catherine has been appointed in June 2023 as an Independent Audit & Supervisory Board Member of TOYOTA Motor Corporation. In June 2022 she was appointed as Outside Audit & Supervisory Board member of FUJITSU Limited. Through both of these appointments she has become the first non-Japanese female in Japanese corporate history to serve in this role on any Japanese Board. She is also Statutory Auditor on ASX-listed Japan subsidiary of CSL Behring.Catherine presides as Vice-Chair of the Australian & New Zealand Chamber of Commerce of Japan, is co-Chair of the Legal Services & IP Committee of the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan and is immediate Past President of NPO, Women in Law Japan (2021-2023).Prior to launching her law practice in 2018, Catherine was Head of Legal and APAC Regional Legal Counsel for Molex Japan LLC. She held senior In-House Legal Counsel positions Panasonic, Olympus and Mitsubishi Motors, and has extensive private practice experience at Hogan Lovells (Tokyo and London) and Anderson Lloyd (New Zealand).Catherine hosts the award-winning “Lawyer on Air” Podcast sharing inspirational stories about women working in the law in Japan and she co-hosts the “Jandals in Japan” podcast about successful New Zealand business in...

During the month of August we will be enjoying some summer weather and taking a break from recording new episodes. To satiate your thirst we will be re-releasing the hottest episodes of the year, every week, for you to enjoy with a Mai Tai by the pool like David will be.This week we will revisit our second most popular episode of 2024 thus far, our episode about fearless innovation as a business leader in Japan, with guest Hideo Goto. Hideo is the President of Schick Japan and has more than 20 years experience in the health and beauty industry, and a strong track record of driving results and being incredibly innovative in his approach. If you are an APAC business leader in Japan looking to innovate in a traditionally risk averse business culture, listen to this episode to learn how to encourage a fearlessly innovative culture in your company.In this episode you will hear:Advice for APAC leaders working in JapanHow to be innovative in a traditionally risk averse countryStrategies Hideo employs to attract talent in a challenging marketSome of the most important lessons Hideo has learned from his decades of successful and innovative business leadershipAbout Hideo Goto:Hideo Goto has been the President and Representative Director of Schick Japan since August 2022. Hideo has more than 20 years of experience in the health and beauty industry, and a strong track record of driving results. He started his career at Johnson & Johnson in 1996 in sales and marketing. In 2005, he joined L'Oreal and spent 11 years there, where he turned around several businesses and scaled the growth. He held various leadership positions throughout his tenure including GM of Active Cosmetics Division in Japan, GM of Consumer Product Division in Taiwan, and GM of Professional Product Division in Japan. Hideo Goto was promoted to Country General Manager of Henkel Beauty Care Japan and Korea in 2021 having joined Henkel Beauty Care in 2017 as GM of the Professional Division.Hideo earned an MBA from Thunderbird School of Global Management in the U.S. in 2003 and a BBA from Meiji University in 1996Connect with Hideo Goto:Schick Japan website: https://schick.jp/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hideo-goto-8854b4ba/Connect with David Sweet:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidsweet/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejp Facebook: :https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasiaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/focuscorejp/ Website: https://www.japan.focuscoregroup.com/ “Doin' the Uptown Lowdown,” used by permission of Christopher Davis-Shannon. To find out more, check out www.thetinman.co. Support independent musicians and artists.

During the month of August we will be enjoying some summer weather and taking a break from recording new episodes. To satiate your thirst we will be re-releasing the hottest episodes of the year, every week, for you to enjoy with a Mai Tai by the pool like David will be.This week's Summer Re-release was originally released on Thursday February 1st. It was the first guest episode of 2024 and has become the most popular episode of the year so far! Revisit this discussion on listening to the market with host David Sweet and guest Ashley Harvey.Ashley is a C-Suite leader, with a 25-year international career beginning in sales and expanding out into marketing, branding, partnerships, hospitality, destination management and leadership. Ashley has a wealth of knowledge to share with us about being a business leader globally and in Japan specifically. This discussion is a master class in how to thrive as a new business leader navigating the unique benefits and challenges of the Japanese market.In this episode you will hear:How the Japanese market differs to other international markets and why it has been a good fit for AshleyAdvice for business leaders looking to expand their reach in JapanThe importance of having a strong employee acquisition strategyHow flexibility and nimbleness as a leader helps weather unforeseen challenges, like COVIDThe importance of creating an environment where open and honest communication can thriveAbout Ashley Harvey:Ashley Harvey is a C-Suite leader, with a 25-year international career which brings the benefits of a breadth of knowledge, diverse experience and interdisciplinary thinking to an ever increasingly complicated business landscape.Building from a sales background, Ashley's career grew to build a depth of experience in marketing, branding, partnerships, hospitality, destination management and leadership.He successfully built & led marketing strategies, tactics and teams in Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan, as well as in the UK.Past roles and clients include VisitBritain, Go Central Japan, Brand USA, Tourism Switzerland, a giga project in Saudi Arabia, Saudi Tourism Authority, NYC & Partners, Small Luxury Hotels of the World, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, Shangri-La Hotels, Hilton, Dusit Thani Group, Andaru Niseko, and, Marriott. His MBA (2005) comes from the University of Leicester, UK. In 2022 he completed the Mini MBA Marketing from Marketing Week.Connect with Ashley Harvey:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyjohnharvey/Connect with David Sweet:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidsweet/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejp Facebook: :https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasiaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/focuscorejp/ Website: https://www.japan.focuscoregroup.com/ “Doin' the Uptown Lowdown,” used by permission of Christopher Davis-Shannon. To find out more, check out www.thetinman.co. Support independent...

On this episode of the FocusCore podcast we are joined by Marie Solange-Vottero and Sandrine Monette from Lemon Boost, a boutique consulting firm based in Tokyo that caters to the unique development needs of Japanese teams engaging with Foreign Customers. Listen to the episode to learn more about how Lemon Boost's specialized Dojo practice enhances communication, reduces conflicts, and promotes inclusion. In this episode you will hear:How Lemon Boost approaches organizational transformationWhat Verbal Aikido is and how to employ it at workHow to avoid taking on too much at workSome common misconceptions around change managementBuilding a resilient mindset and a resilient organizationAbout Lemon Boost:Lemon-Boost is a boutique consulting firm based in Tokyo. Their tailored immersive solutions cater to the unique development needs of Japanese teams engaging with Foreign Customers. They empower teams through specialized Dojo practice for enhanced communication, reduced conflicts, and promoted inclusion. Lemon Boost also leverages data insights to optimize training investment and develop efficient engagement strategies.About Marie Solange-Vottero:Born of French and Cameroonian heritage, Marie has cultivated a rich and diverse life experience spanning over 25 years across Africa, Europe, and Asia.She possesses a distinctive expertise in change management, offering support for strategic initiatives such as reorganization and digital transformations within Finance, HR, and Customer Service domains. Her experience extends across both private and public sectors, ensuring comprehensive insight and adept handling of diverse organizational needs.Marie has also studied psychology and neurosciences to better address resistances and support teams through change. In Japan, Marie is focused on building Strategies for Better Team Collaboration and empowering Japanese teams to better interact with foreigners (Outbound). Being both a woman, a foreigner and a founder, Marie is committed to her community and actively involved in several associations, from leading mentoring activities for women in business to preventing bullying at school.About Sandrine Monette:Sandrine Monette is a Belgian native with over two decades of experience driving strategic initiatives that transform international Life Sciences and Technologies companies across the EU, UK, and US markets. She holds dual master's degrees in Biochemical Engineering and Business Administration. Sandrine combines technical expertise with business proficiency. Her leadership and communication skills enable her to effectively lead multidisciplinary teams across manufacturing, IT, communication, and HR sectors. Sandrine has worked in male-dominated environments. She is committed to gender diversity and empowering women to thrive in leadership roles. She also serves on the board of the Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce, showing her dedication to positive change in business and society.She co-founded Lemon-Boost with Marie-Solange Vottero. Connect with Marie & Sandrine:Website: https://lemon-boost.orgMarie's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariesolangevotteromelounou/Sandrine's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandrinemonette/Connect with David Sweet:LinkedIn:

This episode of the FocusCore podcast is incredibly relevant for anyone experiencing burnout, overwhelm, or feeling like they are putting in a lot of effort for relatively little results. Our guest this week is Helen Iwata, founder of the #LessEffortMoreImpact Movement for Women in Business. Helen is also a TEDx speaker and coach, Nikkei Style columnist, and author of the Japanese book Eigo no Shigoto-jutsu, published by Shogakukan. For over a decade Helen has been helping busy business professionals, especially women, to do brilliant work without sacrificing their personal lives. Enjoy this episode and learn how to make more impact at work with less effort.In this episode you will hear:How Helen overcame her fear of public speakingHelen's experiences of burnout and early warning signs you can look out forHow understanding your hormone cycle can help your workplace performanceAbout the Less Effort More Impact movement and how to join the communityAbout Helen's Women's Success Essentials programThings mentioned in the episode:The Sasuga! Podcast episode on Love Languages:https://sasugacommunications.com/131About Helen Iwata:Originally from the UK, Helen has lived and worked in Japan for 3 decades. During her 10-year career with McKinsey & Company in Tokyo, as manager of client communications, she trained and coached high-achieving consultants and clients in communication and leadership skills.In May 2013, Helen established her own business and is now the go-to expert for multiple multinationals to design and lead their training and coaching programs. She has delivered presentations and workshops in Asia, Europe, and the U.S.Helen served as faculty for the Tokyo University Executive Management Program for 6 years and won the 2017 Waseda University Teaching Award for her Strategic Thinking and Communication MBA course.Helen is also a TEDx speaker and coach, Nikkei Style columnist, and author of the Japanese book Eigo no Shigoto-jutsu, published by Shogakukan. She is the creator and host of The Sasuga! Podcast and founder of The #LessEffortMoreImpact Movement for Women in Business.Connect with Helen Iwata:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/heleniwataInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heleniwataWebsite: sasugacommunications.com/Less Effort More Impact community:https://sasugacommunications.mykajabi.com/eventWomen's Success Essentials: https://sasugacommunications.mykajabi.com/wseConnect with David Sweet:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidsweet/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejp Facebook: :https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasiaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/focuscorejp/ Website:

On the latest episode of the FocusCore podcast host David Sweet talks with Jan Babatz, from Ziemann-Holvrieka, leading provider of tanks and process solutions for the beverage and liquid food industry. Jan has been in charge of establishing the Japanese entity “CLPT Japan KK”, and as a global business leader establishing a company in Japan, Jan has gained a lot of knowledge about being successful in Japan's unique corporate culture. In the episode, Jan discusses some of this invaluable business knowledge as well as sharing his personal story of growing up in East Berlin before the Berlin Wall came down, and why he came to Japan.In this episode you will hear:About how Jan ended up in Japan after growing up in East Berlin About CLPT Japan KK and what it's been like establishing a new company in JapanThe importance of speaking Japanese in Japan as a foreign business leaderHow Japan differs from other countries when it comes to work cultureJan's advice to global business leaders in JapanAbout Jan's love of music and his current passion for playing the ukuleleAbout Jan Babatz:Jan Babatz was born & raised in former East-Berlin (GDR) until the age of 15. He worked in a sales position in a company in Berlin after graduation, then participated in a one-year exchange and homestay program at the age of 24 in Tokyo. Jan studied business engineering near Berlin, including a 6-month internship in Tokyo and moved to Japan after university graduation in 2004.From 2005 to 2007 Jan was Sales Manager for Walter Tools as an expat in Toyokawa/Aichi. He switched to a German machine tool company in 2008 and got a 1 year and 10 month training in the headquarters in Germany. In October 2009 Jan moved back to Japan and worked as GM of the Japanese subsidiary. Jan switched to Guhring Tools in October 2017 into the position of president and CEO of Guhring Japan. In November 2023 Jan moved to Ziemann-Holvrieka Germany in November 2023 to establish the Japanese entity “CLPT Japan KK.”Connect with Jan Babatz:LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jan-babatz-27425395 Connect with David Sweet:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidsweet/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejp Facebook: :https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasiaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/focuscorejp/ Website: https://www.japan.focuscoregroup.com/ “Doin' the Uptown Lowdown,” used by permission of Christopher Davis-Shannon. To find out more, check out www.thetinman.co. Support independent musicians and artists.

On the latest episode of the podcast FocusCore Managing Director, Simon Jelfs, interviews FocusCore's Singapore Director, David Chong. David has over 17 years talent acquisition experience across internal TA roles, RPO, and Recruitment Agency. He has lived and worked in Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, and China. In this discussion David Chong shares with us some of his vast knowledge of recruitment, both internally and externally, and explores the current recruitment landscape in Japan, and internationally.In this episode you will hear:What made David Chong join the FocusCore teamWhy Japan's recruitment landscape can be a mystery to international recruitersAdvice for hiring top talent in Japan and SingaporeThe importance of trust and communication when recruitingCommon pitfalls for those pursuing a career in Talent AcquisitionKeys to building a great teamAbout David Chong:David started his recruitment career in Tokyo covering Accounting and Finance. By now he has over 17 years Talent Acquisition experience across agency, internal function, and RPO, gained from working in Tokyo, Shanghai, and Singapore. He has a proven track record to implement and improve Talent Acquisition function, lead delivery, and sourcing. At Toll Group (a Japan Post company), David implemented a new RPO across APAC, EMEA & USA. Partnering with multiple stakeholders, he led process simplification and increased productivity across the team of 22 recruiters. To help build the Toll digital brand and talent communities, David optimized sourcing strategy via job boards and social media such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and WeChat.At Pall Corporation (a Danaher company), David led the APAC Talent Acquisition RPO team in direct sourcing across China, India, Japan, Korea, Australia, and Southeast Asia. To align with Danaher practice, he helped rollout change management in Talent Acquisition Processes & Systems and promoted Diversity & Inclusion policies.David is Singaporean and holds an MBA from University of Southern California and MIS degree from University of Washington. He was born in Malaysia, and has lived in Singapore, Tokyo, Shanghai, and USA. He speaks fluent English, Mandarin, Cantonese, and basic Japanese.Connect with David Chong:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/davidchongyConnect with David Sweet:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidsweet/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejp Facebook: :https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasiaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/focuscorejp/ Website: https://www.japan.focuscoregroup.com/ “Doin' the Uptown Lowdown,” used by permission of Christopher Davis-Shannon. To find out more, check out www.thetinman.co. Support independent musicians and artists.

This week on the podcast we talk sustainability in Japan with Heather Prosser from Morrow Sodali Japan. In the episode we discuss what sustainability is and how Japanese corporations can start to initiate sustainable change in their workplaces. If you are a business leader in Japan considering the benefits of making your company more sustainable, or if you are an employee wondering how you can influence your employer to make meaningful changes, this is the episode to listen to!In this episode you will hear:How Japan compares to the rest of the world in terms of sustainabilityHow business leaders can institute formal sustainable change within their companiesWhat smaller sustainable actions employees can take in their workplaceWhere you can go to find out more about sustainabilityWhat Heather has learned about doing business in JapanAbout Heather:Heather has over 15 years of impactful experience in the Asia-Pacific financial services and sustainability sectors. Having worked in Tokyo and Hong Kong, she has a strong track record of significant contributions to business development, advisory, strategy, fundraising, and investor relations.Heather joined Morrow Sodali Japan after playing a crucial role in launching and growing the Climate Change and Sustainability Services (CCaSS) team at EY Japan from 2015 onwards. She excels in navigating Japanese companies towards ESG risk mitigation, driving sustainable initiatives, and harmonizing environmental responsibility with corporate growth.Originally from the United States, Heather embarked on her career in venture capital in Silicon Valley, before moving to Japan in 2001. As a committed community leader, her contributions include board member of the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ), leading the ACCJ Sustainability Committee, and Executive Committee member of the British Chamber of Commerce in Japan (BCCJ). Her philanthropic efforts include board membership for Shine On! Kids, a charity supporting children with long-term illnesses in Japan. Heather's dynamic career spans the media industry, including as a regular guest presenter on NHK's 'Cool Japan' program since 2007.Heather Prosser has earned the CFA Institute Certificate in ESG Investing.Connect with Heather:Morrow Sodali Japan: https://morrowsodali.com/Shine On! Kids: https://sokids.org/LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/heather-prosser-350bba1aCorporate email address: h.prosser@morrowsodali.comConnect with David Sweet:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidsweet/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejp Facebook: :https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasiaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/focuscorejp/ Website: https://www.japan.focuscoregroup.com/ “Doin' the Uptown Lowdown,” used by permission of Christopher...

In the latest episode of the FocusCore podcast we talk to the CEO of Scaling Your Company, Tyson Batino. Tyson advises small business owners and startups on how to scale their business in Japan from six figures to eight figures and also provides coaching to executives on running an organization. In this episode Tyson shares with us his invaluable insights into how businesses can improve their recruitment pipeline and processes. This is an episode that you'll want to listen to for APAC companies looking to open businesses in Japan, and small companies in Japan looking to scale and grow their organization. In this episode you will hear:The importance of a positive interview experience for candidatesHow companies can use a well designed interview process to improve employer brandingHow a bigger applicant pipeline can help improve recruitment outcomesTips for leaders on how they can help improve recruitment processesThings mentioned in the episode:FocusCore podcast episode on TopgradingAbout Tyson Batino:Tyson Batino is the CEO of Scaling Your Company. He advises small business owners and startups on how to scale their business in Japan from six figures to eight figures and also provides coaching to executives on running an organization. He was a co-founder and director at Japan Switch and One Coin English, Japan's 8th largest English school for adults, and a 2x resident mentor at 500 Global Japan, one of the top startup accelerators in the world. With expertise in scaling companies and a passion for mentoring business leaders and founders, Tyson brings invaluable insights into improving your recruitment pipeline and processes.Connect with Tyson Batino:Scaling Your Company: https://scalingyourcompany.com/Personal Site: https://tysonbatino.com/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tysonbatino/Twitter / X: https://twitter.com/TysonbatinoFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/tysontbatinoConnect with David Sweet:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidsweet/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejp Facebook: :https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasiaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/focuscorejp/ Website: https://www.japan.focuscoregroup.com/ “Doin' the Uptown Lowdown,” used by permission of Christopher Davis-Shannon. To find out more, check out www.thetinman.co. Support independent musicians and artists.

On the latest episode of the podcast we are thrilled to be able to welcome back our very first guest, Hideo Goto. Hideo is the President of Schick Japan and has more than 20 years experience in the health and beauty industry, and a strong track record of driving results and being incredibly innovative in his approach. If you are an APAC business leader in Japan looking to innovate in a traditionally risk averse business culture, listen to this episode to learn how to encourage a fearlessly innovative culture in your company.In this episode you will hear:Advice for APAC leaders working in JapanHow to be innovative in a traditionally risk averse countryStrategies Hideo employs to attract talent in a challenging marketSome of the most important lessons Hideo has learned from his decades of successful and innovative business leadershipAbout Hideo Goto:Hideo Goto has been the President and Representative Director of Schick Japan since August 2022. Hideo has more than 20 years of experience in the health and beauty industry, and a strong track record of driving results. He started his career at Johnson & Johnson in 1996 in sales and marketing. In 2005, he joined L'Oreal and spent 11 years there, where he turned around several businesses and scaled the growth. He held various leadership positions throughout his tenure including GM of Active Cosmetics Division in Japan, GM of Consumer Product Division in Taiwan, and GM of Professional Product Division in Japan. Hideo Goto was promoted to Country General Manager of Henkel Beauty Care Japan and Korea in 2021 having joined Henkel Beauty Care in 2017 as GM of the Professional Division.Hideo earned an MBA from Thunderbird School of Global Management in the U.S. in 2003 and a BBA from Meiji University in 1996Connect with Hideo Goto:Schick Japan website: https://schick.jp/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hideo-goto-8854b4ba/Connect with David Sweet:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidsweet/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejp Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasiaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/focuscorejp/ Website: https://www.japan.focuscoregroup.com/ “Doin' the Uptown Lowdown,” used by permission of Christopher Davis-Shannon. To find out more, check out www.thetinman.co. Support independent musicians and artists.Mentioned in this episode:2024 Salary Guide

This week on the podcast we switch things up and have guest host Simon Jelfs, Managing Director of FocusCore Japan, interviews Dr. David Sweet to find out what makes him tick, in business and in life. David is originally from Denver, Colorado with 25 years recruitment experience in Japan, all of it in leadership roles. He established FocusCore Japan in 2011. He's a father of two, a keen runner, a writer, and an ukulele player. Listen to the episode to learn more about how David manages to be so proactive and motivated in business and in life, and gain some invaluable insight into the Japanese labor market and recruitment landscape. In this episode you will hear:About David's love of running marathons and his plans to run the Barcelona marathonHow David manages to stay so proactive and motivated in business and life in generalHow international business leaders view the Japanese marketDavid's advice to APAC leaders looking to improve recruitment performance in JapanAbout the ageless leadership skills that stand the test of timeAbout Simon Jelfs:​Simon is from the UK and has over 20 years accounting and finance recruitment experience in Tokyo. He is the Managing Director of Focus Core which focuses on providing executive search in Japan.About David Sweet:David Sweet is the founder and CEO of FocusCore Group. For the past 25 years, he has helped companies hire the best executive talent in Tokyo. He is also a certified executive coach and author of Sweet Success, Sweet Sales, Recruit! Becoming the Top-Biller, as well as having been interviewed for the book, “Facebook & LinkedIn 対応履歴書いらずのソーシャルメディア転職術” for his expertise in using Social Networking for recruitment in Japan. He also is a published poet, including Gus (illustrated by Jennifer Shinkai), Split Infinity Forward, and Pop Rocks. He holds a Ph.D. in Leadership Development and a M.A. in Communications from Regis University in Denver, Colorado. Connect with Simon Jelfs:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonjelfsConnect with David Sweet:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidsweet/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejp Facebook: :https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasiaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/focuscorejp/ Website: https://www.japan.focuscoregroup.com/ “Doin' the Uptown Lowdown,” used by permission of Christopher Davis-Shannon. To find out more, check out www.thetinman.co. Support independent musicians and artists.Mentioned in this episode:2024 Salary Guide

The automotive industry is currently experiencing a lot of change and innovation globally with, among other things, the increased development and adoption of electric cars and autonomous vehicles. Leaders in this industry are increasingly having to be agile and innovative as well. This week we talk to one such agile leader, Magnus Hansson, CEO/Representative Director of Jaguar Land Rover Japan. In the episode Magnus shares with us some of the innovations and challenges currently being experienced by the automotive industry in Japan, and globally. He also shares with us some insights gleaned from his decades of leadership experience.In this episode you will hear:About the similarities and differences between Japanese and Swedish leadership stylesAbout exciting innovations within the automotive industrySome of the big challenges facing automotive companies todayAbout recruitment strategies being utilized by Jaguar Land Rover JapanHow Jaguar Land Rover Japan is pursuing diversity as a companyMagnus' insights into being a business leader in JapanAbout Magnus:Magnus Hansson has been the CEO/Representative Director of Jaguar Land Rover Japan since 2013. Born in Sweden, Hansson began his career with Saab in 2000. Before arriving in Japan, he worked in Sweden, Canada and Hong Kong. Magnus is an Internationally schooled and experienced Automotive Executive with excellent strategic, analytical, organizational, and creative abilities. He has proven and leading skills in general management, planning, product, marketing, aftersales and sales operations at both global & national levels. Connect with Magnus:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/magnus-hansson-aab5b71Connect with David Sweet:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidsweet/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejp Facebook: :https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasiaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/focuscorejp/ Website: https://www.japan.focuscoregroup.com/ “Doin' the Uptown Lowdown,” used by permission of Christopher Davis-Shannon. To find out more, check out www.thetinman.co. Support independent musicians and artists.Mentioned in this episode:2024 Salary Guide

This week on the podcast we delve into Web3 technology with Steve Pang. Steve is an innovative disruptor, entrepreneur, author, coach, speaker, and was my mentor when I started FocusCore, 13 years ago. Steve is also the co-founder of the social network disruptor, ZAG Network and NFT project, PSYOP ZOMBIES. If you have been hearing a lot about NFTs, AI and Web3 technologies and want to know how they might apply to your business, recruitment or professional online networking, this will be a valuable discussion to sit in on.In this episode you will hear:How Steve went from working in the recruitment industry to the Web3 spaceAbout Steve's social network disruptor ZAG Network and how it is disrupting the social media landscapeWhat data sovereignty is and why it is importantHow ZAG Network empowers users to monetize their own dataThe different ways Web3 technologies are being utilized in recruitmentThings mentioned in the episode:NFT project PSYOP ZOMBIES: www.psyopzombies.comZAG Network: www.zag.networkAbout Steve: A Web3 native since 2017, Co-founder of the social network disruptor, ZAG NETWORK (www.zag.network) and a fun NFT project, PSYOP ZOMBIES (www.psyopzombies.com) linked to ZAG Network, a revolutionary SocialFi Network For Professionals. With a multifaceted background that spans leadership, career advising, coaching, vlogging, and authorship Having spent over two decades as a seasoned business leader in executive search and recruitment across the dynamic Asia Pacific region. With 8 years of working experience and living in Australia, 5 years in Japan, and 15 plus years in Singapore, Steve's understanding of diverse markets and cultures across Asia Pacific makes him stand out from the pack As a co-founder and advisor on Web3 ventures since 2017, Steve has been actively engaged in technology and non-tech projects. His passion for the transformative potential of Web3 technology and the decentralized movement is evident, making him a true "Web3 Degen" Just like a mullet haircut, Steve is business in the front, party in the back! Beyond his entrepreneurial endeavors, Steve is a natural and direct communicator. As an author, Steve has penned two highly regarded books: "Everything You Wish To Ask A Headhunter" and "ZAG's Expert Guide to Personal Branding & Job Seeking." These literary accomplishments further showcase his dedication to empowering individuals to navigate their professional paths with confidence and success. Above all, Steve is fueled by a profound belief in the innate entrepreneurial spirit within every human. To him, entrepreneurship isn't merely about starting companies but rather the instinct to create, shape destinies, and take control of one's life. ZAG Network launched 24 August 2023, the world eagerly awaits the impact of this Web3 SocialFi Network For Professionals. With a dynamic mix of high energy passion, innovation, and an unyielding commitment to personal and professional growth, Steve continues to shape the future while inspiring others to do the same. Connect with Steve:ZAG Network: www.zag.networkSign up for an account on ZAG Network and we are instantly connected!LinkedIn :

This week I am excited to turn the podcasting tables on my guest Catherine O'Connell, who is host and cohost of two fantastic podcasts; Lawyer On Air and Jandals in Japan. If you haven't listened to those two podcasts I highly recommend them both! Catherine is the principal and founder of her boutique commercial law firm based in Tokyo, Catherine O'Connell Law. She is the first foreign female to set up her own law practice in Tokyo and won Tokyo Foreign Lawyer of the Year Award in 2022, Boutique Law Firm of the Year Award in 2023, and is the recipient of the Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2020. One of Catherine's missions in life is to change the boardrooms of traditional Japan from the inside, sharing her lived experience through board coaching programs to demystify and open pathways for people to access and attain roles on Japanese corporate boards.In this episode you will hear:How Catherine went from being a tour guide in New Zealand to studying law and working as a foreign lawyer in JapanWhat motivated Catherine to set up Catherine O'Connell Law, her own law firm in TokyoAbout the lack of diversity in terms of board governance in JapanWhat Japanese companies can do now to diversify their boardsWhat women leaders can do to open boardroom doors for themselves and othersThings mentioned in the episode:Statistical Information about female board members in Japan: https://www.nikkei.co.jp/nikkeiinfo/en/global_services/nikkei-bp/female-board-member-survey-which-japanese-company-has-the-highest-percentage-of-female-board-members.htmlAbout Catherine O'Connell:Catherine O'Connell is Principal & Founder of her boutique commercial law firm based in Tokyo, Catherine O'Connell Law. She is the first foreign female to set up her own law practice in Tokyo. She won Boutique Law Firm of the Year Award 2023 and Foreign Lawyer of the Year Award 2022 and is the recipient of the Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2020.Significantly, Catherine has been appointed in June 2023 as an Independent Audit & Supervisory Board Member of TOYOTA Motor Corporation. In June 2022 she was appointed as Outside Audit & Supervisory Board member of FUJITSU Limited. Through both of these appointments she has become the first non-Japanese female in Japanese corporate history to serve in this role on any Japanese Board. She is also Statutory Auditor on ASX-listed Japan subsidiary of CSL Behring.Catherine presides as Vice-Chair of the Australian & New Zealand Chamber of Commerce of Japan, is co-Chair of the Legal Services & IP Committee of the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan and is immediate Past President of NPO, Women in Law Japan (2021-2023).Prior to launching her law practice in 2018, Catherine was Head of Legal and APAC Regional Legal Counsel for Molex Japan LLC. She held senior In-House Legal Counsel positions Panasonic, Olympus and Mitsubishi Motors, and has extensive private practice experience at Hogan Lovells (Tokyo and London) and Anderson Lloyd (New Zealand).Catherine hosts the award-winning “Lawyer on Air” Podcast sharing inspirational stories about women working in the law in Japan and she co-hosts the “Jandals in Japan” podcast about successful New Zealand business in Japan. Connect with Catherine O'Connell:LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/oconnellcatherine/Website:

Welcome back to the FocusCore podcast. We are excited to bring you another year of insightful and inspirational guests, as well as timely and topical solo episodes. This week we have our first guest of 2024, Ashley Harvey. Ashley is a C-Suite leader, with a 25-year international career beginning in sales and expanding out into marketing, branding, partnerships, hospitality, destination management and leadership. Ashley has a wealth of knowledge to share with us about being a business leader globally and in Japan specifically. This discussion is a master class in how to thrive as a new business leader navigating the unique benefits and challenges of the Japanese market.In this episode you will hear:How the Japanese market differs to other international markets and why it has been a good fit for AshleyAdvice for business leaders looking to expand their reach in JapanThe importance of having a strong employee acquisition strategyHow flexibility and nimbleness as a leader helps weather unforeseen challenges, like COVIDThe importance of creating an environment where open and honest communication can thriveAbout Ashley Harvey:Ashley Harvey is a C-Suite leader, with a 25-year international career which brings the benefits of a breadth of knowledge, diverse experience and interdisciplinary thinking to an ever increasingly complicated business landscape.Building from a sales background, Ashley's career grew to build a depth of experience in marketing, branding, partnerships, hospitality, destination management and leadership.He successfully built & led marketing strategies, tactics and teams in Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan, as well as in the UK.Past roles and clients include VisitBritain, Go Central Japan, Brand USA, Tourism Switzerland, a giga project in Saudi Arabia, Saudi Tourism Authority, NYC & Partners, Small Luxury Hotels of the World, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, Shangri-La Hotels, Hilton, Dusit Thani Group, Andaru Niseko, and, Marriott. His MBA (2005) comes from the University of Leicester, UK. In 2022 he completed the Mini MBA Marketing from Marketing Week.Connect with Ashley Harvey:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyjohnharvey/Connect with David Sweet:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidsweet/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejp Facebook: :https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasiaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/focuscorejp/ Website: https://www.japan.focuscoregroup.com/ “Doin' the Uptown Lowdown,” used by permission of Christopher Davis-Shannon. To find out more, check out www.thetinman.co. Support independent musicians and artists.Mentioned in this episode:2024 Salary Guide

Welcome to the Year of the Dragon, and to another episode of the FocusCore podcast. In this first episode of 2024, David Sweet reflects on the last year for FocusCore. He discusses some highlights and some insights into what the organization has seen happen over 2023. David also predicts what he thinks might happen in 2024 in the recruitment and talent acquisition landscape in Japan. In this episode you will hear:About our FOCUS search methodology for APAC leaders seeking top tier talent in the Japanese marketHow more companies are wanting employees to go back to working in the office, and how that might conflict with employees preferences for hybrid work models About an increased focus on diversity and inclusion in JapanWhy employer branding will be increasingly important in 2024More of David's predictions for 2024!Connect with David Sweet:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidsweet/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejp Facebook: :https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasiaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/focuscorejp/ Website: https://www.japan.focuscoregroup.com/ "Doin' the Uptown Lowdown,” used by permission of Christopher Davis-Shannon. To find out more, check out www.thetinman.co. Support independent musicians and artists.Mentioned in this episode:2024 Salary Guide

This week we revisit an episode of the podcast that originally aired on March 15th 2022. Do you want a better way to hire employees that will save you time, money and ensure you are hiring the best candidate to join your team? In the latest episode of the FocusCore podcast, host Dr. David Sweet takes you through a proven and tested hiring method and shares a simple five-step strategy to hire the A-player candidate.Introducing you to Topgrading, a recruitment methodology proven effective by some of the best companies in the world including General Electric and Barclays. In this episode you will hear: • How to engage your HR and executives to hire A-Players • How to document and create scorecards • Learn the easy, time-saving technique for screening candidates • Why are reference checks so important • The simple process and the questions to ask These five steps are the bare bones of creating a recruitment process for your organization that our clients say attracts and retains the top talent.Utilizing topgrading as a method to hire talent is the best way to sort through B and C talent and find the A-grade candidate that you want to join your organization and will ultimately save you time, money, energy, and most importantly, save you from making a hiring mistake. If you would like samples of a scorecard, please feel free to email me at david.sweet@focuscoregroup.com.Connect with David Sweet:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidsweet/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejp Facebook: :https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasiaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/focuscorejp/ Website: https://www.japan.focuscoregroup.com/ Doin' the Uptown Lowdown,” used by permission of Christopher Davis-Shannon. To find out more, check out www.thetinman.co. Support independent musicians and artists.Mentioned in this episode:2024 Salary Guide

This week on the podcast we revisit an episode that originally aired on 15th March 2023. Love or hate them, great Human Resources professionals are worth their weight in gold to organizations when you have the right person. Without them, businesses struggle to retain and attract top talent, navigate compliance and legal labor laws, and create an inclusive company culture. In Japan, hiring the right HR director is absolutely critical for successful businesses, not least because they need to understand the local landscape due to a unique market with its own cultural norms, its own values, and its own unique labor laws. But what else do you need to consider when hiring HR leaders in Japan? David Sweet shares his top must-haves when hiring an HR director in Japan.David covers:Knowledge and deep understanding of Japanese Labour laws Ability to foster positive stakeholder relations Experience in recruitment and retaining talent Established networks If you need help with your recruitment needs in Japan, please get in touch with FocusCore Japan and we'll be happy to assist. We specialize strongly in HR directors and other C- Suite recruitments, specifically around country managers, CFOs, supply chain directors, and marketing directors.Connect with David Sweet:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidsweet/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejp Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasiaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/focuscorejp/ Website: https://www.japan.focuscoregroup.com/ Are you enjoying the FocusCore Podcast? Please take a few minutes and leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcasts! Scroll down the show page, select leave a rating, and tap ‘Write a review'. The FocusCore Podcast is hosted by David Sweet and produced by Podlaunch with Jayne. Doin' the Uptown Lowdown,” used by permission of Christopher Davis-Shannon. To find out more, check out www.thetinman.co and check out his new album, FIFTY​/​50. https://music.cdavisshannon.com/album/fifty-50-2 Support independent musicians and artists.Mentioned in this episode:2024 Salary Guide

This week we revisit an episode of the podcast about navigating the Japanese business landscape that aired on 26th May 2023.Are you doing business in Japan, or would like to, and feel like you could use some guidance on how to maximize your time and effort? If you are an APAC or global business leader, and looking to navigate the business landscape in Japan and build successful, long-term partnerships with Japanese companies, it's essential to approach business in Japan with a mindset of respect, cultural sensitivity, and a willingness to adapt to local customs and practices. In this episode I discuss ten factors that I've found incredibly important to keep in mind for APAC and global business leaders looking to do business in Japan.In this episode you will hear:About Japan's unique culture and business practicesHow important long-term business relationships are in JapanThe expectations placed on business leaders in Japan including strong work ethic, respect for hierarchy and seniorityAbout the importance Japanese companies place on consensus decision-makingConnect with David Sweet:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidsweet/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejp Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasiaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/focuscorejp/ Website: https://www.japan.focuscoregroup.com/ Are you enjoying the FocusCore Podcast? Please take a few minutes and leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcasts! Scroll down the show page, select leave a rating, and tap ‘Write a review'. The FocusCore Podcast is hosted by David Sweet and produced by Podlaunch with Jayne. Doin' the Uptown Lowdown,” used by permission of Christopher Davis-Shannon. To find out more, check out www.thetinman.co and check out his new album, FIFTY​/​50. https://music.cdavisshannon.com/album/fifty-50-2 Support independent musicians and artists.Mentioned in this episode:2024 Salary Guide

This week we revisit an episode that covers David's top five steps he uses with his career coaching clients based on his decades of experience in the recruitment industry.You might be thinking about your next career move if you have stumbled upon this episode. You know you need to craft your resume, apply for a few jobs on LinkedIn, and then you cross your fingers that your resume gets a look and you get an interview. And then you need to jump through hoops with multiple interviews. It's a lot of work! Trust me when I say this, I have been there. Every career journey has ups and downs. I've been there too and it's frustrating. And with over 25 years in the recruitment industry, I see the same frustration in the eyes of so many qualified professionals.On this solo episode of the FocusCore podcast, I'm sharing the top five steps I use with my career coaching clients to successfully find a job. In this episode I walk you through five simple steps that can help you land your next job:Macro view - what's your career vision?Messaging - what is your WOW statement?Searching for jobs - How to stand out from everyone else?Preparing for interviews Pulling it all together So pull out your bento box, grab a pen and paper, and let's dive in!Connect with David Sweet:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidsweet/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejp Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasiaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/focuscorejp/ Website: https://www.japan.focuscoregroup.com/ Are you enjoying the FocusCore Podcast? Please take a few minutes and leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcasts! Scroll down the show page, select leave a rating, and tap ‘Write a review'. The FocusCore Podcast is hosted by David Sweet and produced by Podlaunch with Jayne. Doin' the Uptown Lowdown,” used by permission of Christopher Davis-Shannon. To find out more, check out www.thetinman.co and check out his new album, FIFTY​/​50. https://music.cdavisshannon.com/album/fifty-50-2 Support independent musicians and artists.Mentioned in this episode:2024 Salary Guide

We've talked about employer branding on the podcast before and today we go a bit more in depth, exploring employer branding with Brad Corbet from Motionworks. Motionworks is an employer branding and talent attraction consulting company that supports companies for building their brand to hire the best in the Japan market. In the episode, Brad shares with us some of his specialist knowledge of employer branding, talent attraction and recruitment content, and how Japanese companies can utilize these tools to find and hire the best candidates.In this episode you will hear:What employer branding isAbout the current employer branding landscape in JapanBrad's tips for using social media to enhance employer brandingThe importance of being genuine and transparent in your contentHow employer branding can help companies with diversity and inclusion goalsAbout Motionworks:Motionworks is an employer branding and talent attraction consulting company that supports companies in Japan to attract the best talent. They started up in 2019 with the mission to shift away from traditional forms of recruitment and focus on content (mostly video, podcasts and blogs) to help companies gain an edge in the candidate-centric market in Japan. Motionworks works with a range of companies for video content creation, strategic employer branding consulting and talent attraction. About Brad:Originally from St. Louis, Missouri and born and raised there. Brad attended college in Missouri for about 2 years, then was contacted by a US Navy recruiter to join the navy so he dropped out of college, joined the US Navy and got sent to Japan. That was in 1990. Brad has been here ever since and has had many jobs that finally led him to his current role as Managing Director of Motionworks. Connect with Motionworks:Website: https://motionworks.co.jp/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSxpEibw5TmRp3U8cFzcuQgConnect with David Sweet:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidsweet/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejp Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasiaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/focuscorejp/ Website: https://www.japan.focuscoregroup.com/ Are you enjoying the FocusCore Podcast? Please take a few minutes and leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcasts! Scroll down the show page, select leave a rating, and tap ‘Write a review'. The FocusCore Podcast is hosted by David Sweet and produced by Podlaunch with Jayne. Doin' the Uptown Lowdown,” used by permission of Christopher Davis-Shannon. To find out more, check out www.thetinman.co and check out his new album, FIFTY​/​50. https://music.cdavisshannon.com/album/fifty-50-2 Support independent...

Welcome to another episode of the FocusCore podcast. Join David Sweet in this episode as he discusses how to hire a talent acquisition professional for your team. A lot of companies have brought the recruitment side in-house and are looking to hire talent acquisition professionals. However, it can be difficult for businesses within Japan to decide who is a good TA for the company and what exactly they should be looking for. Listen to the episode to learn more about hiring the right Talent Acquisition Professional for your company.In this episode you will hear:How to define what you're searching for in a TA for your specific companyAbout the importance of knowing what aspects of your company are attractive to potential TAsDavid's tips for how he approaches hiring in JapanThe importance of recruiter social media profile and presence, especially for LinkedInConnect with David Sweet:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidsweet/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejp Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasiaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/focuscorejp/ Website: https://www.japan.focuscoregroup.com/ Are you enjoying the FocusCore Podcast? Please take a few minutes and leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcasts! Scroll down the show page, select leave a rating, and tap ‘Write a review'. The FocusCore Podcast is hosted by David Sweet and produced by Podlaunch with Jayne. Doin' the Uptown Lowdown,” used by permission of Christopher Davis-Shannon. To find out more, check out www.thetinman.co and check out his new album, FIFTY​/​50. https://music.cdavisshannon.com/album/fifty-50-2 Support independent musicians and artists.Mentioned in this episode:2024 Salary Guide

Post COVID and employers are looking for ways to entice employees back to the office. In this episode my colleague William and I visited Jones Lang LaSalle's beautiful offices in Akasaka Mitsuke to sit down with Joris Berkhout and Felicien Dumas and talk about best practices for businesses as well as explore more into the Tokyo real estate market. We discuss the current trends in the market, especially in terms of stabilizing and recovering after COVID, and we learn about how JLL specifically encourages staff back to the office after working from home.In this episode you will hear:Common myths about the real estate industryAbout the current trend of turning offices into social hubs to encourage home-working staff back to the officeWhy businesses may want to have flexible working spaces like co-working spaces rather than traditional fixed office spacesAbout how Tokyo's commercial real estate market is stabilizing after COVIDHow JLL is working towards creating a more sustainable environment in Tokyo's real estate market About Joris Berkhout:Joris brings 10 years of real estate experience, including 5 years at Mitsui Fudosan, Japan's largest developer/landlord. With a background and qualification as an architect he provides holistic support from layout analysis and masterplan development to negotiation strategy and transaction execution.Joris speaks Japanese and has a Master's Degree in Architecture from Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands. Awarded Young Leader of the Year 2017 Japan by CoreNet Global.About Felicien Dumas:Felicien joined JLL in 2023. He was previously a sales trader at a firm founded by ex Goldman Sachs traders. Before that he was a professional soccer player in the US. He is fluent in English, French and Japanese.His track record includes advising multinational firms on their real estate requirements, including relocations, renewals and exit solutions.Connect with Joris & Felicien:JLL Website: https://www.joneslanglasalle.co.jp/Joris LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/berkhoutjoris/Joris email: Joris.Berkhout@jll.comFelicien LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/f%C3%A9licien-dumas/Felicien email: Felicien.Dumas@jll.comConnect with David Sweet:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidsweet/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejp Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasiaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/focuscorejp/ Website: https://www.japan.focuscoregroup.com/ Are you enjoying the FocusCore Podcast? Please take a few minutes and leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcasts! Scroll down the show page, select leave a rating, and tap ‘Write a review'. The FocusCore Podcast is hosted by David Sweet and produced by Podlaunch

Are you about to start a hiring process for a difficult position in Japan?In this episode of the podcast David Sweet discusses some important things to do when hiring for difficult positions in Japan. Listen to the episode to get some invaluable insights gleaned from David's experience of recruitment in Japan and how it differs from other countries. Learn how your company can get the most out of your time and money spent on recruiting for difficult positions in the Japanese labor market.In this episode you will hear:Writing a compelling job description that doesn't deter good candidatesPros and Cons of including salaries on job descriptionsWhat employer branding is and how to do itThe importance of having a good clear interview processWhy and how you would want to use a recruitment partner for these searchesConnect with David Sweet:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidsweet/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejp Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasiaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/focuscorejp/ Website: https://www.japan.focuscoregroup.com/ Are you enjoying the FocusCore Podcast? Please take a few minutes and leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcasts! Scroll down the show page, select leave a rating, and tap ‘Write a review'. The FocusCore Podcast is hosted by David Sweet and produced by Podlaunch with Jayne. "Doin' the Uptown Lowdown,” used by permission of Christopher Davis-Shannon. To find out more, check out www.thetinman.co and check out his new album, FIFTY​/​50. https://music.cdavisshannon.com/album/fifty-50-2 Support independent musicians and artists.Mentioned in this episode:2024 Salary Guide

David Sweet speaks to Jonathan Cant, Executive Consultant at FocusCore Japan on the steps needed to transition from an accountant to a trusted business partner at a Fortune 500 company. In this episode you will hear:What is finance business partnering?How do to tell a story with numbers What are the important benefits of business partnering for finance professionals?What are the essential skills a finance professional needs to improve and grow beyond the numbers on a spreadsheet?Why Business Partnering is in demand in JapanJonathan Cant Bio:A leading member of the FocusCore team, Jonathan is a UK native who has been in Japan for just under 19 years. With around 15 years of leadership experience, he brings maturity and just the right amount of grey hair to the team. A father of two young boys, he spends most of his free time in the park or playing with Lego. He is also a fan of Newcastle United FC and enjoys photography and cooking.Connect with Jonathan:WebsiteLinkedIn TwitterLinks of things mentioned in this episode:Episode 12 - The challenges of managing local and regional stakeholders in Japan with Jonathan CantLinkedIn poll surveyThe Journey from Accountant to Business Partner in Japan articleConnect with David Sweet:LinkedInTwitterFacebookInstagramWebsiteDoin' the Uptown Lowdown,” used by permission of Christopher Davis-Shannon. To find out more, check out www.thetinman.co and check out his new album, FIFTY​/​50. Support independent musicians and artists.Mentioned in this episode:2024 Salary Guide

David Sweet, CEO, and Founder of FocusCore Japan discusses the single most critical skill a manager needs to succeed - how to lead up. Leading up has many names in the English vocabulary; sucking up, brown-nosing, minion, and lackey. But what these terms don't recognize is the importance and the skill it takes to manage upwards and the value it can add if you want to develop your career in management.Connect with David Sweet:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidsweet/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejp Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasiaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/focuscorejp/ Website: https://www.japan.focuscoregroup.com/ About David Sweet ​David Sweet is the Founder and CEO of FocusCore Japan, based in Tokyo. FocusCore provides a broad range of services from executive to talent management and leadership consulting. His particular focus is on Human Resources. Prior to establishing FocusCore Group, David was a Director with the Tokyo consultancy Wall Street Associates, leading operations, training, and recruitment in multiple sectors. He also worked for 10 years in the U.S. Treasury Department in labor relations and organizational development. He is the author of six books, including "Sweet Sales", "Sweet Success", and "Recruit!". He is also a Certified Executive Coach. David earned a MA in Communications from Regis University and a Ph.D. in Leadership Development. Doin' the Uptown Lowdown,” used by permission of Christopher Davis-Shannon. To find out more, check out www.thetinman.co and check out his new album, FIFTY​/​50. Support independent musicians and artists. Mentioned in this episode:2024 Salary Guide

With June and another Pride Month celebrated we're resharing an episode with Yuta Hasumi, Managing Director of Ikigai Authentic. We dive into diversity and inclusion (D&I) in the workplace and discuss the key difference between Japanese and international organizations' approaches to diversity and inclusion. When foreigners make up only 2% of the population of Japan, you would be forgiven for thinking that diversity and inclusion in the Japanese workplace just don't apply. Yuta has built a global career in D&I and is working with companies and organizations in Japan and the UK to change the way they think about diversity and inclusion. In this episode:How Japan is at a pivotal point to address gender inequality Local challenges when it comes to diversity in a homogenous countryHow people can develop a career in diversity and inclusion and get involved in their current workplaces Why it just makes commercial sense to have diversity and inclusion policies Yuta's top advice for companies to attract and retain talent Yuta Hasumi Bio:With experience in the Asia Pacific region and global human resources and talent management for overseas firms, as well as overall responsibility for promoting diversity and inclusion in Japan and the South Korean region, Yuta now operates with two bases, one in Japan and the other in the UK. He provides management consulting that makes the most of diversity, advising businesses and other organizations in planning and execution of lectures and training, coaching for management, promoting women's participation in the workplace, and work style reforms. Yuta holds an MBA from Waseda Business School. Connect with Yuta Hasumi:Website: https://www.ikigaiauthentic.com/en/home Email: yuta.hasumi@ikigaiauthentic.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuta-hasumi/Links of things mentioned in this episode:FocusCore Webinars: https://www.japan.focuscoregroup.com/webinars Connect with David Sweet:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidsweet/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejp Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasiaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/focuscorejp/ Website: https://www.japan.focuscoregroup.com/ Are you enjoying the FocusCore Podcast? Please take a few minutes and leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcasts! Scroll down the show page, select leave a rating, and tap ‘Write a review'. The FocusCore Podcast is hosted by David Sweet and produced by Podlaunch with Jayne. Doin' the Uptown Lowdown,” used by permission of Christopher Davis-Shannon. To find out more,...

In a world where Google Bard and Chat GPT can effortlessly craft resumes, generate job descriptions, and provide interview questions in minutes, the future of the recruitment industry seems uncertain. Host David Sweet engages in a thought-provoking discussion with Jason De Luca, Managing Director of Smart Partners KK, a recruitment consultancy firm. Together they explore the profound impact of AI on their sector. While the fear of AI replacing human jobs looms, the question remains: Can ChatGPT ever replicate human relationships completely? Especially in Japan, a culture deeply rooted in building connections, will AI be embraced with open arms, or will traditional work styles prevail? In this conversation, we cover:How we should prepare for AI disruptionValuable insights from the realm of Star Trek Their predictions for the future of recruitment with AIWhy cultivating analog skills is needed The imperative need to understand AI and harness its potential for futureproofing careersJoin us as we navigate the intricate landscape where AI and human interactions converge, finding a balance between efficiency and human connections in the ever-evolving world of recruitment.Jason De Luca Bio:Jason de Luca has over 20 years of experience living in Japan. He earned BA units from Waseda University and an MA degree from Waseda University Graduate School. He worked as a translator for a large Japanese bank and then for several years in the IT staffing industry in both an established firm before then leading the revenue growth of a successful start-up.He now helps clients to achieve higher revenues, better profitability, less stress, less overtime, and more transparent, easier-to-understand business processes as the Managing Director of Smart Partners KK, a recruitment consultancy. They specialise in Japanese small and mid-sized businesses and large multinational firms. He's also a children's book author and board game maker. Connect with Jason De Luca:Website: http://www.smartpartners.co.jpLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/smart-partners-kk/ linkedin.com/in/smartpartnersLinks of things mentioned in this episode:Mikey The Lonely BigfootThe Knight Who Loved DragonsConnect with David Sweet:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidsweet/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejp Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasiaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/focuscorejp/ Website: https://www.japan.focuscoregroup.com/ Are you enjoying the FocusCore Podcast? Please take a few minutes

Welcome to the latest episode of the FocusCore Japan podcast! In this captivating discussion, David sits down with Thomas Gassner, the General Manager of tesa tape KK Japan and Head of Automotive Asia Pacific. Currently based in Tokyo, Thomas joined tesa in his native Germany straight after completing his engineering degree at university and has been with tesa for over 25 years working in Germany, China, Moscow, Belgium, and now Japan. Thomas offers valuable insights into his extensive career within a single company, shedding light on the intricacies of working in Japan and the conversation takes a deep dive into tesa's sustainability strategy, explores how organisations can embrace environmental responsibility, how Japan compares on the sustainability index, and shares how sustainability is crucial for innovation. Thomas Gassner Bio:Thomas Gassner is the General Manager of tesa tape in Japan and Head of Automotive Asia Pacific. Thomas is an exceptional individual who has demonstrated remarkable expertise and leadership in sales, marketing, and general management. With a career spanning over 25 years at tesa, he made significant contributions to the company around the globe, including Germany, Belgium, china, Japan, and Russia. His relentless drive for excellence, coupled with a profound knowledge of the automotive industry and industrial market segments, has propelled him to spearhead teams and achieve outstanding results. Thomas holds a Master of Engineering from RWTH Aachen University. Connect with Thomas:Website: https://www.tesa.com/en LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-gassner-72a6477/ About tesaAs a multinational company, tesa develops innovative adhesive tapes and self-adhesive system solutions for various industries, commercial customers, and end consumers. The age of technical adhesive tapes began 125 years ago – in Hamburg (Germany). Currently, there are already more than 7000 tesa adhesive solutions that help improve the work, products or lives of our customers. Today, the focus is on sustainability and energy-saving processes. tesa invests in the development of environmentally friendly products and solvent-free manufacture processes as well as in the use of renewable energy sources at its locations.Connect with David Sweet:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidsweet/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejp Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasiaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/focuscorejp/ Website: https://www.japan.focuscoregroup.com/ Are you enjoying the FocusCore Podcast? Please take a few minutes and leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcasts! Scroll down the show page, select leave a rating, and tap ‘Write a review'. The FocusCore Podcast is hosted by David Sweet and produced by Podlaunch with Jayne. "Doin' the Uptown Lowdown,” used by permission of...

Simon Jelfs, Managing Director at FocusCore Japan is back on the podcast sharing the latest trends, hot topics, and challenges that the recruitment industry and companies hiring in Japan are seeing in 2023. And Simon and David discuss everyone's favourite AI - Chat GPT and whether it's going to be the saviour or the killer of the recruitment sector.In this episode, you will hear:The challenges the tech industry has been experiencing in JapanWhy the decreasing value of the Yen is great for the local manufacturing sectorThe struggle to attract quality candidates in JapanDoes Chat GPT mean recruiters' jobs are at risk? What are the new roles likely to come up thanks to AI? Simon Jelfs Bio:Simon is from the UK and has 20 years of accounting and finance recruitment as a specialised recruitment leader in Japan since he started in 2000. As Managing Director at FocusCore Japan, he provides bilingual accounting and finance professionals to client companies in Japan and oversees daily operations. In his spare time, he's a coach for junior rugby teams and can be found documenting his love of rugby on his YouTube channel Just a Rugby Dad in Japan. Connect with Simon Jelfs:LinkedIn TwitterYouTube: Just a Ruby Dad in Japan Links of things mentioned in this episode:Episode 21 - Will the Great Resignation hit Japan? A conversation with Simon Jelfs Connect with David Sweet:LinkedInTwitter FacebookInstagramWebsiteAre you enjoying the FocusCore Podcast? Please take a few minutes and leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcasts! Scroll down the show page, select leave a rating, and tap ‘Write a review'. The FocusCore Podcast is hosted by David Sweet and produced by Podlaunch with Jayne. Doin' the Uptown Lowdown,” used by permission of Christopher Davis-Shannon. To find out more, check out www.thetinman.co and check out his new album, FIFTY​/​50. Support independent musicians and artists.Mentioned in this episode:2024 Salary Guide

Are you doing business in Japan, or would like to, and feel like you could use some guidance on how to maximize your time and effort? If you are an APAC or global business leader, and looking to navigate the business landscape in Japan and build successful, long-term partnerships with Japanese companies, it's essential to approach business in Japan with a mindset of respect, cultural sensitivity, and a willingness to adapt to local customs and practices. In this episode I discuss ten factors that I've found incredibly important to keep in mind for APAC and global business leaders looking to do business in Japan.In this episode you will hear:About Japan's unique culture and business practicesHow important long-term business relationships are in JapanThe expectations placed on business leaders in Japan including strong work ethic, respect for hierarchy and seniorityAbout the importance Japanese companies place on consensus decision-makingConnect with David Sweet:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidsweet/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejp Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasiaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/focuscorejp/ Website: https://www.japan.focuscoregroup.com/ Are you enjoying the FocusCore Podcast? Please take a few minutes and leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcasts! Scroll down the show page, select leave a rating, and tap ‘Write a review'. The FocusCore Podcast is hosted by David Sweet and produced by Podlaunch with Jayne. Doin' the Uptown Lowdown,” used by permission of Christopher Davis-Shannon. To find out more, check out www.thetinman.co and check out his new album, FIFTY​/​50. https://music.cdavisshannon.com/album/fifty-50-2 Support independent musicians and artists.Mentioned in this episode:2024 Salary Guide

Eelco Modderman, a Dutchman, has spent the last 15 years living in Asia and considers himself a bridge between East and West. It's no surprise that he is now as the Managing Partner, Asia Pacific for The Gap Partnership, a company specialising in negotiation training. He started his journey with The Gap Partnership in 2017 in Hong Kong before relocating with his family to Tokyo last year to expand the reach The Gap Partnership's reach. The Gap Partnership works with clients to become better, more confident, and more successful negotiators, with customisable training programs and consultancy services. Clients included front-line workers to top-level executives. In this episode you will hear:What is negotiation and how can you apply the negotiation frameworkThe importance of negotiating successfully How do you build up a relationship before you start a transaction?How does Japan's decision-making process influence the way you negotiate Eelco Modderman Bio:Eelco joined The Gap Partnership in 2017. Initially based in Hong Kong, he now heads up the Asia Pacific region from our office in Tokyo. As a Dutchman living in Asia for over fifteen years, Eelco brings together the best of East and West. With a background in big data analytics, he is passionate about sustainability, delivering impact for clients, and the personal growth of his team.Outside of work, Eelco is an avid swimmer and in many other activities on and below the water. He lives with his wife and two children, who share his love for adventure, exploring new places and cultures. Connect with Eelco:Website: https://www.thegappartnership.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eelcomodderman/?originalSubdomain=hk Email: eelco.modderman@thegappartnership.comLinks of things mentioned in this episode:The Negotiation Book: Your definitive guide to successful negotiating by Steve Gates The Culture Map by Erin Myer Connect with David Sweet:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidsweet/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejp Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasiaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/focuscorejp/ Website: https://www.japan.focuscoregroup.com/ Are you enjoying the FocusCore Podcast? Please take a few minutes and leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcasts! Scroll down the show page, select leave a rating, and tap ‘Write a review'....