In this Focus Core podcast episode, host David Sweet interviews Steve Bleistein, CEO of Tokyo-based Relansa, Inc., and author of Dauntless Leadership, about rapid growth and leadership for international companies in Japan. Steve argues Japan is “no enigma” because value and leadership fundamentals are universal, and “we can’t do this because this is Japan” is an excuse that abdicates agency. He cites skincare company Takami’s fast growth by bucking department-store conventions, using limits to drive innovation, and focusing on direct customer acquisition and lifetime relationships. On leading change, he advises leaders decide the “what” while teams help with the “how,” cater to the vanguard, take action before buy-in, and ignore or remove naysayers. He also discusses hiring leaders who speak truth to power and think strategically, building internal leadership benches, poaching external talent, keeping HR from pre-vetting executives, understanding real decision-making dynamics, defining empowerment, and adapting to demographics through customer/market shifts and productivity-enhancing technology.
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In this episode you will hear:
- Why universal business values succeed in Japan and beyond
- Busting the myth of Japan’s business market being 'slow' or 'encrypted'
- The role of innovation in breaking traditional market norms
- How to implement industry-defining leadership strategies
- Addressing and adapting to the needs of an aging Japanese market
- Overcoming the ‘Japan barrier’ in multinational corporations
About Steve:
Steve is the CEO and founder of Tokyo-based Relansa, Inc., and a recognized expert on rapid business growth for international companies in Japan. He works closely with CEOs and senior leaders to help organizations achieve faster and more sustainable business results in complex cross-cultural environments.
A fluent Japanese and French speaker, he is known for bridging Western and Japanese business thinking, advising global brands including Adidas, Godiva, Novo Nordisk, Danone, BMW, LVMH, L'Oréal, Lenovo, and Michelin, among many others.
He is the author of seven business books, including Strategy On Your Own Terms, Disrupt or Be Disrupted, Dauntless Leadership, Indomitable Selling Capability, Rapid Culture Change, Charismatic Disruption, and Rapid Organizational Change.
He has appeared on Bloomberg News as a commentator on Japanese business issues and has contributed articles to all three of Nikkei’s leading business publications in both English and Japanese.
In addition to his consulting work, he serves as President of the Entrepreneur Committee at the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan, where he leads the popular “Conversation With” leadership series featuring senior executives from companies such as Danone, Lenovo, BMW, Unilever, Cartier, and Domino's Pizza Japan. He has also served on the board of Tsukuba International School since 2014.
He holds a Ph.D. from the University of New South Wales, an International MBA from the University of South Carolina, and a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Michigan.
Connect with Steve:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevenbleistein/
Website: https://stevenbleistein.net/
Newsletter: https://stevenbleistein.net/#newsletterrego
Growth Zone podcast: https://stevenbleistein.net/feed/podcast/the-growth-zone
Apple podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-growth-zone/id1892800069.
Podcast: https://stevenbleistein.net/podcast-2/
Connect with David Sweet:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidsweet/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejp
Facebook: :https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasia
Instagram: 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.
