This week on the podcast we are doing something different. I wanted to share with you an interview I did with Andrew Hankinson from the first podcast that I ever recorded. 

Developing operations in Japan to be efficient and profitable can be a challenge when you run six top brands, over 30 retail shops, and a factory of the German company, Zwilling J.A. Henckels. For over 30 years, Andrew has been a true leader in Japan, a sales guru, and a business leader. He is undoubtedly one of the most exceptional business people I've had the honor to know. 

In this episode you will hear:

• How Andrew worked his way back to the Land of the Rising Sun after studying in Japan in high school
• The importance of hiring people who really know how to sell
• Why it’s so important to really study resumes, and interview questions Andrew likes to ask when recruiting
• What quality good recruiters need to have and Andrew’s own recruitment ‘hack’
• Why Andrew would choose lunch with his grandparents over Columbus and Aristotle
• The book Andrew recommends for every business professional

About Andrew: 

Andrew Hankinson is Senior Managing Director at ZWILLING J.A. HENCKELS Japan Ltd. Andrew has 27 years of professional experience in Business Development, Sales Training, and P/L Management. He has 17 years of managerial-level leadership skills as Director of Sales & Marketing, General Manager, and Managing Director. Andrew has a proven track record of surpassing target expectations, motivating both team-based management styles and start-up ventures, and managing budgets / forecasting. He has excellent bilingual (Japanese – English) communication skills honed through 20 plus years of sales / business presentations, negotiations, and public speaking, to Fortune 500 firms, industry conventions, and team building. Andrew has also had managerial experience in business alliance development, service/product rationalization, corporate/event planning, and Japan new market entry.

Connect with Andrew: 

Website: zwilling.jp

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/andrew-hankinson-09b89

Podcast: https://www.nowandzen.jp/

Links of things mentioned in this episode:

The First 90 Days book by Michael D Watkins

Connect with David Sweet:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/focuscore/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejp

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasia

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.

Mentioned in this episode:

Find out more about salaries, the job market, hiring and what's important to both companies and individuals looking for a job specifically in Japan.

2025 Salary Guide