In this FocusCore podcast episode, host David Sweet interviews Glen Argyle, President and Representative Director of Baxter Japan, a New Zealand-born, fluent Japanese speaker who has spent nearly 30 years in Japan and held senior roles at Takeda, Syneos Health, Bayer, and Baxter. Glen explains why the idea that Japan is slow to change is a myth, describing how setting a clear burning platform and engaging teams early makes implementation lightning fast. He shares how he led Baxter Japan through a major spinoff and integration, how listening first, giving trust first, and replacing blame with joint problem-solving helped bring voluntary turnover down from 21% to 3.3%, and why leaders must let teams make mistakes within clear guardrails. They also discuss AI in healthcare and pharma, why country managers should personally interview, network, and even poach top talent, and the three competencies he believes future executives need: vision, clarity, and resilience.
The 2026 FocusCore Salary Guide is here: 2026 Salary Guide
In this episode you will hear:
- Why "Japan is slow" is a myth, and how early engagement speeds up change
- Leading a spinoff and integration without a culture of blame
- How listening and trust first helped cut turnover from 21% to 3.3%
- Why leaders should personally interview, network, and poach top talent
- How AI is reshaping healthcare and the talent it needs
- Vision, clarity, and resilience: the three leadership competencies for the VUCA era
About Glen:
Glen Argyle is the President and Representative Director of Baxter Japan. Originally from New Zealand, he moved to Japan nearly 30 years ago after graduating from the University of Otago, and later earned his MBA from Temple University in Japan. Fluent in Japanese and deeply bicultural, he has held senior executive roles at Takeda, Syneos Health, Bayer, and now Baxter, leading multi-hundred-million-dollar operations and guiding organizations through major transformations in Japan's healthcare market.
Connect with Glen:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/glen-argyle/
Baxter Japan: https://www.baxter.co.jp/ja
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.
