Thought Leadership
Insights on Global Manager Readiness
Observations, frameworks, and practical thinking on what it takes to develop globally effective managers in Japan - and what gets in the way.
Uncategorized
What American Managers Should Know About Japan’s ‘May Blues’
May 18, 2026
Japan’s “May Blues” offers an interesting reminder that workplace transitions affect employees everywhere, even if different cultures experience them in different ways.
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American and Japanese New Grads, AI, and a Question for Managers
January 14, 2026
This may be the first graduating class choosing careers with the clear understanding that AI will be part of their daily work....
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Preparing Japan’s Managers for a Global Workforce
October 29, 2025
Japan’s foreign workforce hit a record 2.3 million in 2024. As teams diversify, Japanese managers must learn to lead across cultures, not...
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The Underrated Tool Every Manager Should Have
October 7, 2025
Managers juggle constant change and often aren’t sure who in HR to turn to for support. In this post, I introduce a...
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Gen Z Is Rethinking Work in Japan. Are We Ready for That?
July 22, 2025
Gen Z in Japan is leaning toward seniority over performance-based promotion. This shift challenges common engagement models and may signal a new...
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Is Low Engagement Baked into the Japanese Employment System?
July 11, 2025
Low engagement in Japan is rooted in systemic issues, and meaningful change will take time. Still, we have to start somewhere to...
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What’s Your Company’s Ikigai? How a Global Brand Found Its Purpose in Japan
July 2, 2025
To launch successfully in Japan, a global brand needed a mission statement that truly resonated. I guided their leadership team through a...
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Rebuilding Engagement in HR: What Happened When We Rolled Out a Virtual Water Cooler
June 27, 2025
We adapted the “virtual water cooler” concept to boost engagement in our HR team. The result was a simple, low-pressure initiative that...
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Rethinking Employee Engagement in Japan: What Surveys Might Be Missing
June 11, 2025
Japan ranks lowest in global employee engagement surveys, but is the workforce truly disengaged? Based on my years in corporate learning and...
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Coaching Conversations: A Smarter Way to Lead One-on-ones
May 1, 2025
Many 1:1s between managers and team members focus on updates and quick fixes, but what if they could drive real growth instead?...
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Leading the Next Generation: What 2025 Grads in the U.S. and Japan Are Telling Us About Managing Global Teams
April 9, 2025
What are 2025 grads in the U.S. and Japan telling us about the future of work? The latest new grads surveys reveal...
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What You Can Do Now to Develop Team Engagement and Why You Should
March 21, 2025
Looking for a simple way to boost team engagement without spending a dime? Discover how knowledge-sharing sessions can spark motivation, support growth,...
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Cracking the Nut of Low Engagement in Japan
March 7, 2025
Why is employee engagement so low in Japan? Cultural norms, indirect communication, and low assertiveness play a key role. Learn how self-awareness...
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Inspiring Leadership: How We Encouraged Japanese Employees to Step Up
February 26, 2025
Many Japanese employees hesitate to pursue management roles, seeing them as burdens rather than opportunities. This article explores a global initiative that...
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Managing Across Cultures: Understanding Japanese and American Workplace Expectations
February 6, 2025
Workplace expectations vary based on culture and economic conditions. This article compares the priorities of Japanese and American new graduates and explores...
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Collaborating with managers to create win-win learning initiatives
January 24, 2025
Discover how collaborating with managers and aligning training to real-world challenges led to impactful learning initiatives that empowered teams and enhanced organizational...
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How I Applied My JLPT Study Strategies to Real-Life English Study Projects
January 9, 2025
Studying for the JLPT taught me valuable strategies for long-term learning. I applied these lessons to create an English Learning Program, emphasizing...
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What I learned from studying for and passing the N1 Japanese Language Proficiency Test
December 5, 2024
Studying for the JLPT N1 taught me the power of clarity and perseverance, skills that not only led to success but also...
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Unlocking Leadership Potential in Japan: Overcoming Engagement and Communication Challenges
December 5, 2024
Navigating Japan's challenges, non-native English-speaking managers face rising demands: low engagement, declining English proficiency, and minimal managerial aspirations. Empowerment strategies are essential...
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