Welcome back to the FocusCore podcast. In this episode we are talking to a titan of the food industry in Japan, Paul Kraft. In his over twenty years experience, Paul has launched and led multiple brands to succeed in the Japanese market. He is now the Founder and President of JapanIQ, a company that specializes in helping companies avoid missteps and drive growth in the unique Japanese business landscape. In this episode we discuss the Japanese retail food market, what works, what doesn’t, and future trends we can expect to see unfold in the coming years.

In this episode you will hear:

• About challenges Paul faced when he first started working in Japan
• How the Japanese grocery market differs from other countries
• How Paul, and JapanIQ, has helped foreign companies avoid common pitfalls of doing business in Japan
• The leadership qualities Paul looks for when hiring in Japan
• Insights into Japanese consumer behavior now and in the future

About Paul Kraft:

Paul Kraft helps medium-sized foreign firms expand and optimize their footprints in the perplexing Japanese market. With over 20 years in the trenches navigating Japan Inc., Paul knows what lasts, what languishes, when to pivot, and when to start from scratch.

Paul took HARIBO gummi bears from #8 to #1 in 4 years, led Starbucks’ CPG entry into the Japanese mass market and department stores – including #1 at CVS. He launched the HoneyBaked Ham restaurant chain in their first-ever international market and grew Nestle Nespresso’s Japanese foodservice business by 20+%.

Paul specializes in Route-to-Market Analysis, Partner Identification, Hiring (and Firing), Empowering the Local Team to Speak Up, Value Chain Analysis, Strategic Planning, Translating Brands to the Japanese Market, Forecasting, Market Research, Marketing Communication, Japan Crisis Management, Live TV Interviews, Thought Leadership, Meeting Retailers, Launching New Products, Quality Control Checks, Factory Audits, and Market Audits.

Connect with Paul Kraft:

Website: https://www.japaniq.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kraftpaul

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@JapanIQ

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/

“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.

On the latest episode of the FocusCore podcast, host David Sweet discusses the current Media and Marketing landscape in Japan with John Flanagan, President and Managing Director of A+E Networks Japan and SE Asia. John has 30 plus years experience in the Media industry in Japan and has seen it evolve, including the rise of streaming services and the current advances in AI technologies. John also has extensive marketing experience and has some great advice for foreign business leaders looking to effectively market to Japanese audiences.

In this episode you will hear:

• About the unique marketing landscape in Japan
• The importance of understanding your target market
• How the media industry is currently evolving
• The importance of good storytelling when it comes to marketing
• Some of the challenges facing streaming services in Japan and globally

About John Flanagan:

John Flanagan is President and Managing Director of A+E Networks Japan and SE Asia. Flanagan is a media professional with over 30 years' experience in Japan. His career highlights include launching J:COM and running marketing at 20th Century Fox and iTunes in Japan. Flanagan also teaches marketing part time at Japan’s largest MBA school, GLOBIS University. He graduated from Colorado College, which included one year's study at Waseda University in Tokyo. Flanagan later attended INSEAD.



Connect with John Flanagan:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/johnflanaganasia

A+E Networks Website: https://jp.aenetworks.com/

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/

“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.

Welcome to the latest episode of the FocusCore podcast. This week we are talking with Sanae Endo, a seasoned HR professional, coach, and engagement consultant with a wealth of experience spanning over two decades. Join Sanae and host David Sweet as we dive into her journey, explore the trends shaping HR in Japan and beyond, and gain valuable insight into creating thriving, inclusive organizational cultures.

In this episode you will hear:

• Pivotal moments that shaped Sanae’s career in HR
• How to have more inclusive communication as a leader
• The challenges of implementing DEI initiatives in multinational companies
• How you can drive change within your organization
• The impact of AI on HR, now and in the future

About Sanae Endo:

Sanae Endo is a seasoned HR professional, coach, and engagement consultant with a wealth of experience spanning over two decades.

Her expertise encompasses executive coaching, union negotiation, recruitment, and training, global leadership, public relations, and strategic HR management. She has been a pivotal figure in driving organizational improvement across various industries. Throughout her illustrious career, Sanae has held key positions in some of the world's leading companies.

She served as the Japan Country HR Manager at Caterpillar, HR Business Partner at Coca-Cola East, HR VP at Hitachi-Johnson Controls Air Conditioning, General Manager of HR Talent at AXA Life, HR Senior Director at Gap, HR Director at Estée Lauder, and currently she is the VP of Communication and Engagement Officer at SkyDrive.

Sanae holds an MBA from the University of Wales, and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from San Francisco State University. She is also a Certified Six Sigma Black Belt and a Hogan Certified Assessor.

Connect with Sanae Endo:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sanae-endo-026275110

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/

“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.