Executive Impact
Lauren Kocher trades music for her own path
American Lauren Kocher is not the kind of person who backs away from a challenge. When it seemed she was set to climb the music industry’s corporate ladder, she stepped off, opened the startup parachute, and cofounded a company. Today, she is the chief operating officer at Zaiko PTE Ltd., which creates ticketing… Read
Crisp and customized service: The right ingredients to success
Hiroshi Roy Miyano, the sole owner and president of custom salad restaurant Crisp Inc, walks into the room full of enthusiasm. The very easy-going president of the well-known salad store chain speaks with passion about his expanding business. Crisp Inc was founded in 2014, and has since expanded to operate… Read
Digital DNA: Rie Kawano thinks her way to success
Rie Kawano is very open about why Cognitee Inc., the company she founded in 2013 and where she is chief executive officer, struggled in the early days. Cognitee develops software powered by artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze the logical structure of communications, from text messages to emails to voice recordings. Negotiations, pitches, articles,… Read
Pronto chief always one cup ahead of the competition
“This is my hobby. That’s why I’ve been in this business for 15 years and yet I never get tired of what I do.” This is how enthusiastically Norihiko Takemura, president of Pronto Corporation, speaks about his business of running the coffee shop chain. However, Takemura is quick to point… Read
Finding work–life balance and social change through global experience
Venture capitalist and impact investment trailblazer Eriko Suzuki knows a thing or two about mid-career change and taking on ever-greater challenges. After all, her career has straddled several fields—from investment banking to startups, retail to impact investing, and even venture capital. And that’s not to mention an upbringing that began in Japan but… Read
Halekulani brings luxury resort experience to Okinawa
Halekulani Okinawa, a new luxury resort, will open its doors on July 26. It is the second hotel to be created by the Hawaiian luxury hotel of the same name and its first outside Hawaii. The Okinawa hotel will also become Japan’s third member of The Leading Hotels of the… Read
KEF punches above its weight in Japan's audio market
In Japan’s mature and fiercely competitive audio market, Nobu Asai is helping high-end loudspeaker manufacturer KEF punch above its weight. While domestic and foreign brands vie to attract the country’s discerning consumers, company president Asai is adopting innovative management and leadership to help his team compete. It is a fitting… Read
Coding boot camp
“Learning how to code and becoming a software engineer gave me a kind of freedom and confidence that I never had before,” said Yan Fan, co-founder of Code Chrysalis, a Tokyo-based coding boot camp with roots in Silicon Valley. “If I didn’t like where I was working, or if I… Read
Robert Walters brings insight to hiring
The global job climate is continuously changing. This rings true now more than ever as the pace of globalisation and technological change hastens. Robert Walters Japan, a leading name in the recruitment industry, was the first firm to share insight into such trends. In January, the firm held a seminar to celebrate the launch… Read
One Chinese woman's passion to bring feel-good factor of silk to Japan
Daisy King is one of the many foreigners who came to Japan for a year, only to find her raison d’être, leading her to still be here a decade later. Three and a half years ago, she set up her business, Daisy King: Love Silk More, a brand of silk items… Read
