Why This Chat with Tyson Batino is a Must-ListenEver find yourself wondering how some entrepreneurs seem to effortlessly scale their businesses, transforming from solopreneurs to leaders of thriving enterprises? Or perhaps you've hit a plateau in your growth trajectory and are searching for that breakthrough strategy? If so, our deep dive with Tyson Batino is your treasure map.Here's what we talk about:Unlock the Scaling Code: Tyson doesn’t just share the what of scaling; he gets into the nitty-gritty of the how. This isn’t your average pep talk; it’s a masterclass in actionable strategies, tailored for real-world application.Leadership Transformation Insights: Whether you’re a born leader or a reluctant manager, Tyson’s journey from front-line doer to empowering leader is packed with relatable insights. It’s about finding the confidence to step back, trust your team, and achieve more by doing less.Personal Growth = Business Growth: If you’ve ever doubted the power of personal development in driving business success, this conversation will make you a believer. Tyson and I delve into how evolving as a person can unlock new levels of business achievement, offering a fresh perspective on what it means to grow.Content Creation with Impact: In a world overflowing with content, Tyson’s approach to creating meaningful, valuable material stands out. Learn how to craft content that not just attracts attention but makes a tangible difference in people’s lives.Democratizing Knowledge: Tyson's commitment to making high-quality information and tools accessible is more than just admirable; it’s a blueprint for any entrepreneur looking to make an impact. This chat is a reminder of the power we hold to contribute to a wider community, beyond our immediate business goals.In short, the conversation with Tyson Batino is an essential listen for anyone in the entrepreneurial space looking to level up. It’s not just about the success stories; it’s about the failures, the pivots, and the unlearning that pave the way to real, sustainable growth. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to scale new heights, there’s something in this dialogue for you.---And here's some great news for BKP listeners. You're among the first to know what Tyson is launching a sales pamphlet accelerator course for the Japan market. Due to the community based decision making process in Japan, the sales pamphlet is SUPER CRUCIAL for anyone wanting more sales in Japan. His live cohort group course is for those who already have sales and are growth minded and want to do even better. Our judge has more than 30 years and has brought in more than 5 companies successfully to Japan. Starting in the middle of May. https://scalingyourcompany.com/salespamphlet/

Episode Overview: In this enlightening episode, we sit down with Tim Romero, the driving force behind the "Disrupting Japan" podcast, to explore the intricate tapestry of Japan's startup ecosystem. Tim shares his rich journey of continuous innovation, the joy of engaging with Japan's most passionate entrepreneurs, and the critical insights he's garnered from transforming passions into impactful projects.What You'll Learn:The Power of Passion Projects: Discover how Tim's love for deep conversations with Japan's change-makers has fueled the success of "Disrupting Japan."Adaptation and Value Creation: Gain insights into Tim's philosophy on the importance of adapting in the fast-paced startup world and finding where you can add the most value.Cultural Nuances in Business: Understand the significance of navigating Japan's unique business culture for startups looking to make their mark.Government's Role in Startups: Learn about the crucial role government signaling plays in elevating the importance of startups in Japan's economy.Seizing Opportunities: Hear Tim's advice on not being afraid to pivot or embrace new challenges when something more exciting comes along.Combining Skills for Unique Value: Find out why blending diverse skills and interests is the key to carving out a unique niche and becoming the best in the world at what you do.Embracing Rapid Transformation: Reflect on Japan's potential for swift change under the right conditions and what this means for future innovators.Why Listen: Whether you're an entrepreneur, a business enthusiast, or someone fascinated by the fusion of culture and innovation, this episode offers a treasure trove of insights on navigating the complexities of Japan's startup scene. Tim's journey from podcasting to green tech and beyond exemplifies the spirit of innovation and the importance of adapting to thrive in today's ever-evolving business landscape.

EMBRACE THE WHOLENESS OF YOUR JOURNEY with Sarah FuruyaDiving into the heart of business innovation, my latest chat with Sarah Furuya on the "Business Character Podcast" unfurled the beautifully complex layers of intertwining personal growth with the fabric of our professional lives. Sarah, with her candid openness and profound insights, shared her journey and the lessons that are reshaping the landscape of her business and coaching practices.Here's what we unwrapped:The Essence of Authenticity: Sarah’s narrative is a compelling reminder that the soul of our business is mirrored in our personal evolution. She eloquently speaks to the notion that businesses thrive not just on the skeletal framework of skills but on the flesh and blood of our personal stories and values. It’s a dance of authenticity where every step is a reflection of who we are.Resilience as Our North Star: Amidst the storms of health challenges and personal milestones, Sarah’s resilience shines like a beacon for all of us navigating the tumultuous seas of entrepreneurship. Her journey underscores the power of embracing our vulnerabilities and using them as a pivot to realign our business compass.The Foundation of Financial Independence: One of the golden nuggets from our conversation was the emphasis on financial security. Sarah’s advice to gradually build a financial cushion speaks volumes about its role as the bedrock on which we can freely experiment and innovate within our businesses.Navigating with Intuition and Incremental Shifts: Tapping into intuition and embracing the magic of small, yet consistent changes in our approach can lead to monumental shifts in our business trajectory. Sarah’s practice of integrating intuition into her business decisions serves as a masterclass in steering through the entrepreneurial fog with an inner compass.The Power of Storytelling: Our dialogue ventured into the realm of storytelling, highlighting its potency in connecting, healing, and inspiring. Sarah’s experiences remind us that our stories are not just narratives but are the very threads that connect us to our audience and to the deeper parts of ourselves.Sarah Furuya’s reflections are a mosaic of resilience, authenticity, and the transformative power of personal stories in the business domain. As we weave our own tapestries, let's remember the value of integrating our personal journeys into our professional narrative. The conversation with Sarah is a beacon, illuminating the path to a business that doesn’t just exist but truly lives and breathes the essence of who we are.Dive into the full conversation for a treasure trove of insights on melding the personal with the professional in the most harmonious ways.Get in touch with Sarah here; https://www.sarahfuruya.com

Welcome to an insightful episode of "Business Karaoke," where Brittany Arthur and Matthew Scott Waldman delve into the heart of innovation in Japan. With a critical eye, they explore the nuanced challenges and cultural intricacies shaping Japan's innovative landscape. The discussion ranges from tackling bureaucratic constraints to embracing the rich tapestry of diversity and artistic expression. This episode isn't just a talk; it's an immersive journey into understanding how societal norms, inclusivity, and the creative spirit intersect to shape business and innovation in Japan. Join us to unravel the threads of Japan's potential as a beacon of innovation, where traditional structures meet modern creativity.LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewswaldman/

Podcast Episode: "2 Births: My Journey of Motherhood and Entrepreneurship"🌍 "Join me on an extraordinary journey across continents and through the transformative realms of motherhood and business creation in my latest episode, '2 Births: Welcoming My Son and Incorporating in Japan.' This isn't just my story about embracing new life and new ventures; it's a heartfelt exploration of balancing the personal and the professional.👶 In the first part of this episode, I invite you into my intimate and life-changing experience of becoming a mother. From the joys and challenges of breastfeeding to juggling remote work with caring for my newborn, I share my honest, and sometimes humorous, insights into the world of a working mom. I delve into how I navigate the intricate dance of professional ambition while deeply committing to my child, challenging myths and societal expectations along the way.🌸 Then, journey with me to Japan, where I embark on a bold entrepreneurial adventure. Hear about my captivating experiences of setting up a business in a foreign land, the cultural challenges I faced, and the invaluable lessons I learned in adapting to a new way of life. It's more than a business story; it's about prototyping a life that values flexibility, innovation, and the courage to follow unconventional paths.💡 Throughout the episode, I share practical wisdom for anyone navigating similar paths. From involving your partner in decision-making to finding the right work-life balance, and embracing the concept of living 1% of your dream every day, these insights have been game-changers for me.🌟 Whether you're a new parent, an aspiring entrepreneur, or someone who loves stories of personal growth and resilience, this episode offers a piece of my world. Tune in to '2 Births: Welcoming My Son and Incorporating in Japan' for an inspiring, thought-provoking, and heartwarming tale of navigating life's most beautiful and challenging adventures.🎧 Available now on all major podcast platforms. Join me in this blend of personal anecdotes, professional insights, and global adventures!"

In this episode we are joined by Dr. Serkan Toto, CEO and founder of Kantan Games, a Japan game market consultancy. As you know, I approach any conversation we have on the Business Karaoke Podcast as if we're on a learning journey together. With all of the conversation around the Metaverse, NFTs, Crypto currencies  and a 2021 study showing that consumer gaming is bigger than movies and music combined, I thought it about time to dive into this topic that I've always known to be synonymous with Japan with a very real business case but that was about where my awareness ended. Which is why I invited Dr. Serkan Toto, a native of Germany but a local of Tokyo with extensive experience in gaming advisory, to walk the Business Karaoke community through this introduction of how in fact the business of gaming is everything but a game.In this episode we explore; The players in the current gaming climate - from the big brands to the amateur game developer, Drivers of change and new business models,Lessons for industry (from gaming),If we will ever see a virtual Olympics,The changing faces of athletes; Ninja and Lando Norris andThe next content wave - Metaverse, NFT and gaming.I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. I've linked all of Serkan's info in our show notes so feel free to connect with him and follow his work directly. Let me know your thoughts on this episode by reaching out to me on LinkedIn or over on Instagram under @Business Karaoke Podcast. ___Follow Serkan and more of his work here:Website  |  https://www.serkantoto.com LinkedIn  |  https://www.linkedin.com/in/serkantoto/

In this episode we are joined by Jennifer Shinkai. You may know Jennifer as the founder and host of the Ikigai podcast or of the on-line community, Make March Matter. Today she joins us wearing yet another hat. This time of diversity and inclusion workshop facilitator.Jennifer walks us through both the how and the why of metaphor being a powerful tool for communication in your team. I wanted Jennifer to join us on the Business Karaoke Podcast to learn about how she uses metaphor as a tool for divergent thinking. I've spoken quite a bit that in my work with Design Thinking and innovation we use a specific structure to explore the problem and the solution. We diverge and then we converge, that means that we first go wide, go broad, go deep on a subject and then only after doing that do we synthesize. As I am always on the look out for how other facilitators, industries or methodologies provide structure to divergent conversation, my hope was to learn something. Perhaps that I could add metaphor to my divergent facilitator tool kit. And I can happily report that was absolutely the case. Not only did I learn about metaphor as a communication tool but I've used it in workshops since with some surprising results. Hold on to the end of the episode when I test out my own metaphor skill, in real time. If we only ever have a conversation the way we've always had it, we will only ever yield the results we've already seen. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did! Don't forget to share you feedback with me on your favorite social media platform 🙏✨Let's begin!💡Key Conversations04:50 | The development Make March Matter from idea to community of 400+ people12:00 | Authenticity in multi-cultural environments 23:00 | Points of View - if an image is worth 1000 words a metaphor is 1000 meetings36:15 | Examples from the field and a stand out story for Jennifer  45:30 | Creating the space need to explore new perspective 53:15 | Jennifer's own Ikigai---Here's where you can find out more about Jennifer ⬇️Website  |  https://jennifershinkai.comMake March Matter | https://www.facebook.com/groups/makemarchmatter2020/LinkedIn  |  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifershinkai/

In this episode we are joined by Jakob Knutzen. Jakob is one of 3 founders and the CEO of Butter - a full workflow for complex collaborative sessions which supports facilitators.Here's the story of how I connected with Jakob and why I wanted to introduce him to you, too. A few weeks ago, I posted my remote facilitator set up on LinkedIn and I asked for others to share any other of their favorite facilitator hacks or tips and almost instantly I had people tagging Jakob in the comments , asking "have you tried butter?" Hop forward a week, I connect with Jakob and he walks me through the most engaging, thoughtful and attentive space for collaboration I have ever personally experienced. It made me realize, after achieving participant comfort in remote sessions, it's now time shift the focus to the driver's seat, the facilitator. Where maybe, just maybe, we should have begun all along. Anyhow, I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did and be sure to share you feedback with my on your favourite social media platform.Let's begin!💡Key Conversations09:00  |  Start Up 1 to Start Up 2: How learning from past failure can set you up for future success.21:10  |  The undesigned-for user is remote work is... the facilitator!32:20  |  Building the right it and building it right: designing and prioritizing for user engagement 42:25  |  Inspiration from extreme users43:50  |  Leadership style changing over time and holding space for feedback54:20  |  The next tech-steps in enhancing Here's where you can go to connect with Jakob or know more about butterLinkedIn  |  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakobknutzen/

Welcome to our firs power pair guest appearance at the Business Karaoke Podcast. We're joined by Kristy Ishii, a bi-cultural career transition & wellness coach for expats in the USA and Japan and Nina Cataldo, DEI facilitator, identity coach and the founder of Hafu Ladies (a worldwide community for hafu and mixed-Japanese womxn).In this episode we deep dive into how to navigate the challenges of growing up and now running businesses in a mix of cultures and languages. Then to reframe these challenges in a way to use them to your advantage.  I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. I'd invite you to go ahead and share this episode with anyone in your network who might benefit from it.💡Key Conversations07:25  |  The impact of environment on your growth14:05  |  Leaning into our difference culture inspired personalities to navigate the world24:00  |  Pivoting your business in the face of challenges41:30  |  Leveraging your stories as your toolkit 49:30  |  Creating the conditions for collaborationConnect with Kristy & Nina here:Kristy  |  Instagram, LinkedInNina  |  Instagram, LinkedInBrave, Bold Mastermind  |  Website

In this episode we are joined by Fuminori Gunji. Gunji was a founding team member of Softbank Robotics from 2013 to 2016, leading Softbank's domestic B2B businesses and overseas expansion efforts. In 2017, Fuminori Gunji headed business development for MakeLeaps. By the end of 2018, Gunji had successfully closed MakeLeaps’ M&A deal with Ricoh and went on to lead MakeLeaps in 2019 as COO until resigning in 2021. Fuminori is an adviser at Blue Circle and a mentor for 500 Startups, a global VC firm.In this episode we do something different. Rather than having an English and a Japanese episode we are promoting a new model and mixing it all up in the one episode. The first half is in English and we dive in Gunji-san's journey of being raised in German, Japanese and English and how he leveraged his unique background to ever be creating new opportunities and value for his customers and then we switch to Japanese and talk about everything from reverse culture shock to the challenges surrounding the Japanese model of 'copy paste' when it comes to global expansion and about the mindset shift that happens when you think of every single person around you as a customer.I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. I'd invite you to go ahead and share this episode with anyone in your network who might benefit from it.Key conversations🇬🇧  04:35  | Gunji-san's Journey 🇬🇧 16:00   |  Lessons applicable from big corporations that served Gunji-san well in his startups🇯🇵 35:55  |  Reverse culture shock🇯🇵 46:40  |  Reflections on Japanese management practice To learn more about Gunji-san, connect with him here:LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/fuminori-gunji-38a22589/Blue Circle | https://www.bluecircle.co.jp/

In this episode we are joined by Takuma Iwasa. Iwasa-san is the founder and CEO of IOT consumer electronics company, Shiftall Inc. I first met Iwasa-san when I visited his Tokyo offices with a mural friend. I say office but it really is more like a buzzing lab. Each person uniquely designed their own workplace with things that inspire them and it's not uncommon to see people walking around wearing prototypes. When Facebook changed their named and unveiled the concept of the Metaverse and VR as the next phase of the internet, I thought who better to talk to about all this than someone who already lives there.In this episode, Iwasa-san shares his journey from being a curious student of computers to his role as the founder and CEO of Shiftall. We explore the gaps in expectation of VR, the Metaverse as the internet 2.0 and the kinds of contributions Iwasa-san sees his company making to build that reality.I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did and moreover, I hope it brings you value and is worth your time. Let's begin!Key Conversations05:45  |  When did you fall in love with computers & Intro to Iwasa17:05  |  Shiftall current team and how they come up with new products23:40  |  Gaps; Localization and exhibition and end user 31:43  |  Metaverse as Internet 2.036:05  |  Halitrax and preparing for the Metaverse45:48  |  Metaverse use cases53:35  |  What's the Japanese pulse on privacy and Iwasa's hope looking forwardThis episode is also available on YouTube ⬇️https://youtu.be/2cTqyIkD1OIFind out more about Iwasa-san here:Website | https://ja.shiftall.netTwitter | https://twitter.com/warenosyoLinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/warenosyo/

In this episode we are joined by the Co-Founder and CEO of LUMA Institute, Chris Pacione. Chris leads a highly-skilled, multidisciplinary team of designers and practitioners located around the world who are passionate about fostering the practice of design thinking among individuals, within teams, and across entire organizations. He is co-author of the LUMA System and the book “Innovating for People” and has been awarded numerous US and EU patents for his work.This episode is quite special for me for a few reasons; as I referenced on the podcast but maybe not gone into too much detail, Human Centered Design, or HCD and Design Thinking, is a cornerstone of my work igniting the change I wish to see in the world. And I use the LUMA System, which Chris as part of developing, to do it. This episode is the beautiful collisions of my Business Karaoke World, Human Centered Design World and Design Thinking Japan World and I couldn't be happier to share it with you.We'll define Human Centered Design and make the case that everyone is a Designer. We'll explore how that Design literacy may become as important as Math literacy for the modern knowledge worker. We'll talk about the innovation environment leadership will need to build in order to see a return on investment of up-skilling their people to a basic level of Design literacy. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did and moreover, I hope it brings you value and is worth your time. Let's begin!💡Key Conversations05:00  |  With the definition of Design, everyone is a Designer.15:30  |  The role of Design literacy in the economy may become as important as Math literacy in the industrial revolution23:30  |  The evolving dialogue and misconceptions between Business & Design 32:35  |  What does change look like in organizations with long and richer histories42:25  |  Is there a HCD metric we can look to?46: 55 |  The Karaoke Innovation Mindset51:00  |  How Leadership can create an environment for innovation57:35  |  The daily business of creating extraordinary things----To know more about Chris or the LUMA System, have a look here:LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-pacione-ceo-luma/Website | https://www.lumaworkplace.com

In this episode we are joined by Jayne Nakata. Jayne is the creator of PodLaunch with Jayne and the host of the Transformations with Jayne Podcast.  Jayne story's  one day noticing that there was no voice of other women like herself: foreign, a mother and living outside of the major cities in Japan, feeling isolated and alone in their daily lives to not only publishing over 100 episodes but empowering other women in Japan to overcome the challenges of bringing their voices to the podcasting world. I wanted to share the lessons of; curiosity, listening and overcoming perceived circumstance to create something new and become an industry thought leader in the process, with the Business Karaoke community as even if you're not building a podcast, I'm sure' you're facing similar situations in your businesses, teams or departments. We dive into what it means to lead by listening, the difference between those who do and those who don't after having a "I should have a podcast moment," the opportunity for women to name and claim a niche dialogue and if the best tools result in the best podcasts. I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did. Please go ahead and share your thoughts with me on your favorite social media platform. Also, I have some news for you, the Business Karaoke Podcast is now also on Instagram. Follow us over at @BusinessKaraokePodcast to be the first to see our memorable moments from each episode.Let's begin!Key Conversations 💡05:40  |  Leading by listening 10:55  |  Beyond the "I should have a podcast moment"23:25  |  Where are the women in podcasting?33:55  |  Do the best tools make the best podcasts?41:45  |  Moving from downloads to KPIs with contextThis episode is also available on YouTube ⬇️https://youtu.be/tix4W9biFc0To know about out more about Jayne, follow these links ⬇️Website  | https://www.jaynenakata.com/podcastconsultingFacebook  |  https://www.facebook.com/transformationswithjayneInstagram  | https://www.instagram.com/transformationswithjayne/LinkedIn  | https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaynenakata/

このエピソードで堀江愛利さんあ来ていただきました。堀江愛利さんはWomen's Startup Lab（WSUL）の創設者兼CEO。 WSULはシリコンバレーにあるアクセラレーターです。 WSULは、イノベーションとコラボレーションを通じて女性の成功に取り組んでいます。堀江愛利さんは情熱、結果、そして人前で話すことで国際的に有名です。 さらに、堀江愛利さん最近、アントレプレナー誌によって2020年の100人のPowerful Woman の1人desu。この会話では、色々な面白いテーマについて話します。例えば、なぜ堀江愛利さんは大企業から起業家精神に移動したのか、どうやって堀江愛利さんはシリコンバレーの風景を影響しているのか、堀江愛利さんとWSULのチームは、どうやって女性のスタートアップ創業者が成功するために独自にサポートしているか。10代の留学生の経験でも、現在のシリコンバレーの成功でも、やっぱり同じ一生懸命を頑張っている、笑っている、堀江愛利さんのですね。この会話を楽しんでいただければ幸いです。 InstagramやLinkedInでみなさまの考えやコメントを是非是非共有してください。愛利さんをもっと知りたい方へ、以下のリンクをご覧ください。LinkedIn  |  https://www.linkedin.com/in/arihorie/WSUL  |  https://womenstartuplab.com

In this episode we are joined by Ari Horie. Ari-san is the Founder and CEO of Women's Startup Lab (WSUL). A Silicon Valley based accelerator dedicated to creating a world where women thrive and succeed through innovation and collaboration. Ari is internationally recognized for her passion, results and public speaking prowess and was recently listed as one of the 100 Powerful Women of 2020 by Entrepreneur magazine. In this conversation we dive into Ari's unique reason to move from corporate to entrepreneurship, why Ari is working so tirelessly to change the landscape of Silicon Valley and how she and her team at WSUL create opportunities for female startup founders to accelerate their path to success and funding. What I found so interesting about the decision to focus on female founders was not that Ari was deeply passionate  about women's issues, rather she saw a target group suffering under an unmet need, and in the true spirit of an entrepreneur, she flew in solved it.Listening to Ari's share her story, whether it's the formative experience of her time as an student exchange or the impact she's created with WSUL; it's all been done with the same can-do, laugh so before we attitude. Ari-san really is the image of how we do one thing is how we do everything. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. Please share you thoughts or comments with me over on Instagram or LinkedIn.💡 Key Conversations04:25  |  The courage to share when it's not going well07:35  |  Ari's move from corporate to entrepreneurship 12:50  |  The pushback from old systems on new businesses 22:40  |  Balancing structure and uncertainty31:40  |  The business of investing in women To know more about Ari or WSUL follow the links below:LinkedIn  |  https://www.linkedin.com/in/arihorie/WSUL  |  https://womenstartuplab.com

In this episode, we have the rare pleasure of welcoming back a guest and its all the more special as its close friend of the Business Karaoke Podcast, Evan Burkosky. Evan is a Digital Transformation (DX) expert in Japan helping  businesses adopt new technologies and improve productivity via AI, automation, eCommerce, and retail logistics. He has worked both agency-side and vendor-side selling to Japan’s Fortune 500, co-founded several startups, and is a Senior Advisor to several others. Currently he is the Country Manager for Dynamic Yield, Board Director at TELL, and Senior Advisor at Fast Track Asia.If you haven't yet had the pleasure of hearing Evan's first episode, I'd recommend you do. As to understand where we are and where we are going, which is the focus of this episode, it's valuable to understand the factors that brought us here in the first place. For example; Evan's theory that Japan's reluctance to move completely to the cloud has more to do with the fear of natural disasters than immaturity of digital transformation. In this episode we dive into Japan's digital scorecard, the pandemic and other accelerators to change, the 2025 Digital cliff and Evan's personal predictions about what's ahead. I love this episode because its full of the kind of actionable ideas and information that get you focused and excited on a challenge, not confused overwhelmed. Also, the day this episode is live is Evan's birthday so feel free to head over to LinkedIn and say happy birthday!I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did and don’t forget to share your feedback with me on your favorite social platform. Let's begin!💡 Key Conversations  02:55  |  Intro to Evan and why DX is important to him personally07:53  |  Japan’s Digital Scorecard14:05  |  If the benefit of investment is obvious, what's the hold up? 27:55  |  Pandemic and other accelerators52:30  |  Recommendations and projections to jump the 2025 "Digital Cliff" 1:20:35  |  The role Design Thinking may playHere are some places for you to learn more about Evan and his work:Evan's first Business Karaoke episode | https://www.buzzsprout.com/1009438/5248537LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/evanburkosky/

In this episode we are joined by Kayo Tokumaru. Kayo-san is the founder of AndAssist, a Tokyo-based bilingual virtual assistant company. Like all inspirational businesses, the reason WHY they exist outshines WHAT they do to exist. It became quite clear to Kayo-san that there simply weren't enough hours in the day to invest in both an, at times rigid, corporate career and a new growing family. So she moved from the corporate world to started her own business to give both herself and other working mothers the flexibility the need to thrive in both work and life.This episode is what we call in Design Thinking, the problem space of the double diamond. We are not yet in the solution space; we're simply trying to map the territory and understand the issue better before we jump into how we can solve it. Now we, as a society, are moving past the "working from home due to COVID restrictions" to rethinking, redesigning and reorganization new ways to collaborate, I am personally committed to investing more time and energy to creating conversations around work-life balance for working families. I hope you'll find some value in it.Kayo-san shares with us the founding story of AndAssist, we explore  the historical image of a strong Japanese woman and learn about some memorable moments along Kayo-san entrepreneurial journey. I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I did!💡 Key Conversations 00:45  |  AndAssist founding story03:20  |  Working with working mothers and what actions can corporations take to support re-entry07:40  |  The image of a strong Japanese female - Queen Himiko and the current underutilized female workforce.  12:05  |  Changing traditions and 5 years from now16:00  |  Standout AndAssist story Here are some places for you to learn more about Kayo-san or AndAssist;LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayo-tokumaru-239612187/Website | https://andassist.jp

このエピソードで And Assistの德丸佳世さんが来ていただきました。佳世さんは東京にあるバイリンガルのバーチャルアシスタント会社の創設者です。佳世さんからどうのようにAnd Assistを始めたとか、女性が離職する一般的な理由とか、将来への希望についてなとを聞きます。この会話を楽しんでいただければ幸いです。お気に入りのソーシャルプラットフォームでフィードバックを共有することを忘れないでください。じゃ、始めましょう！💡 Key Conversations 03:20  |  And Assistのストーリー10:45  |  女性が離職する一般的な「もったいない」理由18:30  |  AndAssistの思い出に残る瞬間23:20  |  働く母親に対する認識と「訳わからないルール」を変える30:30  |  働く母親を支援するための行動德丸さんについてもっと知りたい方へ以下のリンクをご覧ください ⬇️LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayo-tokumaru-239612187/Website | https://andassist.jp

In this episode of the Business Karaoke podcast, we have the pleasure welcoming back Ryan Hart. Ryan first joined us in episode 34 to talk about Customer Experience and today he joins us to dive deeper into solving Japan’s Customer Experience Dilemma and why better Research, leads to better Design and better CX. Ryan currently empowers a team of talented creative and strategic doers to help accelerate experience, digital, and cultural transformations for organizations in Japan at the PwC Experience Center in Tokyo.In this episode Ryan leads us on a journey to explore the importance of elevating Research and Design to have an earlier seat at the decision making table, the consequences of improving user research to progress from design for functionality to design for emotion (or not) and most exciting Ryan shares with us a string of stories from the field. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. Please leave your feedback with me on you favorite social media platform. It absolutely makes my day to know what you enjoyed and more importantly, WHY, so that I can bring you more of what you'd like to see in future episodes.Let's begin!Key Conversations 💡 02:08  |  How Ryan got started in CX and his personal mission in Japan10:08  |  Elevating Research and Design to have an earlier seat at the decision making table20:40  |  Redesigning from form follows function to function follows feeling and the current state of user research 28:58  |  A surprising piece of data a skin care company uncovered through research 31:25  |  How to small with research and the 5 persona guide37:20  |  A memorable research success story and the power of agile communication in the design process45:40  |  The consequences of product and service design in Japan lacking both meaningful human centered research and designHere's a few more places you can learn more about Ryan ⬇️Ryan's previous BKP episode  |  https://www.buzzsprout.com/1009438/6567415LinkedIn |  https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-hart-a9254b4/

In this episode we are joined by Robin Doenicke. Robin is the founder and CEO of Zensho, paradigm-changing ‘blue ocean’ platform that would liberate and reward recruitment professionals to a degree previously unseen. What Robin calls, "being in business for yourself but not by yourself." The market responded with awarding them with “Best Company to Work For” and “Best Newcomer.” And in 2020, APAC Entrepreneur magazine featured him as one of the “20 Most Influential Entrepreneurs in Japan.”Robin's passion for embracing and  reimagining the potential of his industry is only surpassed by the passion has to his people, who he calls his tribe. This episode is personal journey of one martial artist turned entrepreneur on how focus, being present and not arguing with reality can bring you closer to your why and the real work you were put on this planet to do. I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did and please share your feedback with me on your favorite social media platform.💡 Key Conversations08:00  |  Unlikely inspirations and reimagining your own business15:45  |  The influence of martial arts on business20:26  |  Building a "yes" tribe 26:40  |  Leveraging the individuality of a team33:35  |  Memorable entrepreneurial moments and the impact of changing your story38:07  |  Letting life flow and looking forward with peace in your heart Have a look at these links to connect with or learn more about Robin:LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/robindoenicke/Zensho | https://www.zenshoagency.com