Executive Impact
Startup upstart: Help at last for ladies who launch
Ruriko Koko Sato never thought she’d become an entrepreneur, let alone help lead a community of women business founders. But as one of the creators of Startup Lady, that is precisely where she finds herself. Together with Startup Lady co-founders Moeko Suzuki, Amee Xu, and Steffie Harner, Sato is helping the association grow its influence across… Read
Preferred Hotels & Resorts brings independent hotel experience to guests worldwide
Many independent hotels, both large and small, often need help to attract inbound visitors. Unlike major chain hotels, they don’t have the network and they also wish to keep their identities distinct from other hotels. Membership in Preferred Hotels & Resorts helps them do that. The family-owned company, founded in… Read
Kenichi Yasuda navigates international business and labor law for foreigners
In today's changing economy and society, legal issues are becoming more diverse and complex. This creates a greater need for the services of lawyers such as Kenichi Yasuda of Dojima Law Office. Established in in Osaka in 1957, Dojima Law Office opened its Tokyo office in 2010 to better serve its… Read
Family inspiration: Tania Coke seeks to transform elderly care
When Tania Abedian Coke was in college, her mother called her out of the blue to offer words of encouragement: “You know, you can be a CEO. I just want you to know that,” her mother said. Coke, who recalls growing up in a family environment that was always supportive, was… Read
MSC Cruises sailing ahead with innovation
The cruise ship industry continues to gain in popularity, as operators offer exciting new destinations and new entertainment and dining experiences on board. According to Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), which represents 95% of cruise capacity worldwide with 63 member cruise lines, around 28.5 million passengers went on cruises in… Read
Found in translation: Entrepreneur Oya Koc interprets her way to startup success
The best thing about being a founder is being able to do whatever you want, meaning you have full control over the business, and full decision-making powers. That’s what Oya Koc, co-founder and chief executive officer of Japan-based on-demand interpretation services provider Oyraa, told The ACCJ Journal when asked why she started… Read
Data-based engagement: Alyssa Kimura challenges corporate norms
When it comes to creating the optimum workplace culture, companies must realize one thing: they can’t just guess. Everything is based on data. That’s what Japanese serial entrepreneur Yumi Alyssa Kimura told The ACCJ Journal when asked how to shape a work environment that is equitable, diverse, and fully engages employees.… Read
Scent to Japan
Very quickly after Jacques Chabert created the Re-charge Black Pepper fragrance for British perfume house Molton Brown in 2001, it became a by-word for iconic, luxury scents. Having grown from a small-scale artisanal operation to an international luxury brand—with a flagship store on Regent Street and a Royal Warrant for the supply of… Read
Cloud cover: InCloud helps businesses implement IoT solutions
InCloud is a B2B technology company that is focused on bringing global cloud and IoT solutions to Japan. InCloud offers consulting and development services to help Japanese businesses properly implement cloud and IoT solutions, which include InCloud’s Project Hercules. Japan Today hears more from CEO Chris Baek. What's your background?… Read
Chat, phone, video and document-sharing in one app: AINEO does it all
In 1997, working out of a spare bedroom in his home in Saitama Prefecture, Spencer Wolfe started his company AINEO (Greek for praise), a consulting firm building contact centers (customer service centers) and dealing rooms. It was a risk as he had no customers, just some technical skill and an idea. But Wolfe persisted and… Read
