Artwork for podcast The FocusCore Podcast
FocusCore New Year Reflections and Predictions <2026>
Episode 8815th January 2026 • The FocusCore Podcast • Dr. David Sweet
00:00:00 00:21:30

Share Episode

Shownotes

Welcome to the Year of the Horse, and to another episode of the FocusCore podcast. Kicking off 2026, David Sweet reflects on the last year for FocusCore. He discusses some highlights and some insights into what the organization has seen happen over 2025. David also predicts what he thinks might happen in 2026 in the recruitment and talent acquisition landscape in Japan.


The 2026 FocusCore Salary Guide is here: INSERT Short Link => Attribution link Salary guide 202


In this episode you will hear:

  1. The impact of FocusCore becoming a partner with IIC Partners for global recruitment solutions.
  2. Key insights from Salary Guide 2026, highlighting the increasing importance of competitive salaries.
  3. Strategies for SMEs in Japan to compete in talent acquisition.
  4. The growing demand for CFOs with cross-border expertise.
  5. How companies are leveraging interim executives for strategic advantage.
  6. The impact of AI and tech advancements in Japan



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.


Links

Chapters

Video

More from YouTube

More Episodes
88. FocusCore New Year Reflections and Predictions <2026>
00:21:30
87. Winter Re-release #3 - Driving DHL’s Growth and Leadership in Japan with Karsten Michaelis
00:45:38
86. Winter Re-release #2 - Strategic Finance and Business Transformation in Japan with Taisuke Yoshida
00:51:44
85. Winter Re-release #1 - Balancing Performance and Wellness with Menya Hinga
01:05:48
84. B2B Marketing Innovation in Japan with Robert Heldt
00:50:02
83. Driving DHL’s Growth and Leadership in Japan with Karsten Michaelis
00:45:38
82. Bridging Global Recruitment Gaps in Japan with Damian Rhodes
00:51:14
81. FP&A Transformation in Japanese Corporations with Chie Ikegawa
00:49:20
79. Exploring Cross-Cultural Leadership and some Rock’n Roll with Andrew Silberman
01:02:58
78. Strategic Finance and Business Transformation in Japan with Taisuke Yoshida
00:51:58
77. Summer Re-release #4 - The Nuances of Effective Marketing in Japan, with Ricardo Tasca
00:46:01
76. Summer Re-release #3 - Japan's Recruitment Challenges and Opportunities: An Interview with Roop Kaistha
00:51:04
75. Summer Re-release #2 - Managing Global Operations with Scott Smalley from DSV Japan
00:43:23
74. Summer Re-release #1 - Leadership and Business Mastery in Japan, with Dr. Greg Story
01:09:25
73. Exploring Coaching and Leadership with Cory McGowan
00:53:15
72. Balancing Performance and Wellness with Menya Hinga
01:05:24
71. Leadership in the Heart of Japan: An Interview with Loïc Pecondon-Lacroix
00:52:25
70. Navigating Leadership Changes in Japan with Carlo La Porta
00:59:10
69. AI and PR Tech Innovations: An Interview with Dan Nestle
00:55:36
68. The Generational Shift in Japanese Rugby: An Interview with Makoto Tosa
00:43:05
67. Startup Ecosystem and Corporate Innovation in Japan with Tim Romero
00:42:20
66. Japan's Recruitment Challenges and Opportunities: An Interview with Roop Kaistha
00:50:31
65. Mindfulness and the Art of Corporate Wellness in Japan with Misha Yurchenko
00:44:50
63. Leadership and Business Mastery in Japan, with Dr. Greg Story
01:08:53
62. The Nuances of Effective Marketing in Japan, with Ricardo Tasca
00:45:29
61. Developing Successful Leaders in Japan, with Paul Dupuis
00:53:27
60. Japan Talent Trends 2025 Revealed!
00:48:13
59. Pushing the Boundaries of Biotechnology with Arjuna Kumarasuriyar from Illumina
00:50:17
58. Bringing Big Retail Food Brands to Japan, with Paul Kraft
00:53:57
57. How Media & Marketing are Evolving in Japan, with John Flanagan
00:58:46
56. Creating Thriving & Inclusive Organizational Cultures, with Sanae Endo
00:41:55
55. Strategic Leadership for Business Growth with Timothy Connor from Synnovate
00:56:36
54. Managing Global Operations with Scott Smalley from DSV Japan
00:43:23
Summer Re-release #4 - Turning the Tables and Interviewing Dr. David Sweet, with guest host Simon Jelfs
00:49:11
Summer Re-release #3 - Demystifying Corporate Boards in Japan, with Catherine O’Connell
00:44:42
Summer Re-release #2 - Fearless Innovation as a Business Leader in Japan, with Hideo Goto
00:30:42
Summer Re-release #1 - Listening to the Market with Ashley Harvey
00:46:00
53. Empowering Japanese Teams, with Marie & Sandrine from Lemon Boost
00:49:12
52. Make More Impact with Less Effort, with Helen Iwata
00:55:49
51. Establishing a New Business Entity in Japan as a Foreigner, with Jan Babatz
01:02:39
50. Demystifying Japan's Recruitment Landscape, with David Chong
00:57:05
49. Making Sustainable Change a Reality for Japanese Corporates with Heather Prosser
01:02:21
48. Improving Your Recruitment Pipeline & Processes, with Tyson Batino
00:52:58
47. Fearless Innovation as a Business Leader in Japan, with Hideo Goto
00:30:42
46. Turning the Tables and Interviewing Dr. David Sweet, with guest host Simon Jelfs
00:49:11
45. Innovation & Leadership in the Automotive Industry, with Magnus Hansson
00:42:53
44. Data Sovereignty & Social Media Disruption with Steve Pang
00:55:52
43. Demystifying Corporate Boards in Japan with Catherine O’Connell
00:44:03
42. Listening to the Market with Ashley Harvey
00:46:00
41. FocusCore New Year Reflections and Predictions
00:16:00
40. RECAST: How to hire A-player candidates using the Topgrading interview methodology
00:17:40
39. RECAST: Unlocking the keys to hiring the right HR Director in Japan
00:01:15
38. RECAST: Business in Japan 101 - for APAC and Global Business Leaders
00:19:45
37. RECAST: 5 Steps to Finding a Job with David Sweet
00:18:26
36. Employer Branding with Brad Corbet from Motionworks
00:47:22
35. How to hire a Talent Acquisition Professional
00:22:24
34. Joris Berkhout & Felicien Dumas from JLL Japan
00:44:43
33. Hiring for Difficult Positions in Japan
00:25:21
32. RECAST: How to go from an Accountant to Business Partner with Jonathan Cant
00:46:24
31. RECAST: Why leading up is critical to your career success
00:12:23
30. RECAST: Diving into Diversity and Inclusion with Yuta Hasumi, Ikigai Authentic
00:45:18
29. AI disruption: Navigating the future of recruitment with Jason De Luca, Smart Partners
00:48:35
28. Driving sustainability and innovation at tesa tape with Thomas Gassner
00:57:55
27. Exploring the latest recruitment trends in Japan, with Simon Jelfs
00:42:04
26. Business in Japan 101 - for APAC and Global Business Leaders
00:19:45
25. The art of negotiation with Eelco Modderman, The Gap Partnership
00:38:50
24. Pivoting your way to a fulfilling career with Hiroki Kosugi, TransPerfect
00:39:42
23. Exploring Retail Transformation and Tech Trends in Japan with Pascal Gerbert-Gaillard, SES-imagotag
00:49:53
22. Unlocking the keys to hiring the right HR Director in Japan with David Sweet
00:19:54
21. Will the Great Resignation hit Japan? A conversation with Simon Jelfs
00:52:24
20. Internal career development versus external career development featuring Hisato Wakaizumi
00:38:52
19. 3 Sins of Hiring Executives in Japan and how to avoid them with David Sweet
00:11:02
18. Fundraising in Japan with Knights in White Lycra Co-Founder, Rob Williams
00:45:48
17. Why leading up is critical to your career success with David Sweet
00:12:23
16. Journey from Accountant to Business Partner with Jonathan Cant, Executive Consultant, FocusCore Japan
00:46:24
15. The art of storytelling in finance with Nina Michels-Kim, Institute of Management Accountants
00:56:15
14. What do tennis coaching and recruitment have in common? A chat with Hisato Wakaizumi
00:33:04
13. Landing your business in Japan with Sam Barker
00:37:53
12. The challenges of managing local and regional stakeholders in Japan with Jonathan Cant, Executive Consultant
00:43:45
11. Finding the power base in Japanese companies with David Sweet
00:10:22
10. 5 Steps to Finding a Job with David Sweet
00:18:26
9. Diving into Diversity and Inclusion with Yuta Hasumi, Ikigai Authentic
00:45:18
8. Talent Acquisition for the luxury brand industry with Naomi Takase, LVMH Japan
00:24:39
7. World-class learning and development with William Nealy Jr.
00:45:59
6. Recruitment ‘Hacks’ with Andrew Hankinson of Zwilling J.A. Henckels Japan
00:27:55
4. How to hire A-player candidates using the Topgrading interview methodology
00:17:40
3. Recruitment in Japan with Supply Chain Wayne™ AKA Wayne Yoshida, Talent Acquisition Manager at Maersk
00:34:17
2. Bear dancing and coaching with Cory McGowan, Coach and Founder of Adventure Partner
00:43:28
1. Innovation is key with Hideo Goto, Henkel Beauty Care Japan
00:27:20
Welcome to The FocusCore Podcast
00:02:20