The keynote lecture at the seminar was given by Mr. Glen S. Fukushima, President and CEO of Airbus Japan KK, and Senior Vice President of Airbus, the world’s largest manufacturer of commercial aircraft. Mr. Fukushima discussed many topics that reflected his diverse experience in business, government, academia, law, and journalism. He said that being an executive in a European-based company, with 57,000 employees from over 80 different countries, has given him a truly global perspective on business.
Mr. Fukushima discussed the major factors driving globalization, as well as how Japan could best cope with this reality. According to Mr. Fukushima, there are six major factors driving globalization: (1) the rise of market forces and diminution of political borders resulting from the end of the Cold War, as symbolized by the fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989; (2) demand-side factors, including the rising power of users, customers, and consumers; (3) supply-side factors, including the mergers, acquisitions, consolidations, and strategic alliances sweeping virtually every global industry; (4) government policy, including deregulation, trade agreements, and investment rules that are changing the rules of competition; (5) technological change, including especially the impact of advances in information technology, transportation, and logistics; and (6) changes in the global workforce, including its growing mobility, diversity, and specialization.
Mr. Fukushima argued that globalization present challenges to governments, companies, and individuals around the world, but that for Japan an especially acute challenge is that of recruiting, developing, and retaining global talent. In order for Japan to compete successfully in the global marketplace, it will need to utilize more effectively its existing workforce, including not only its traditional mainstream pool of leadership talent—Japanese males up to their 60s—but also women, seniors, and non-Japanese. Additionally, Japan needs to take steps not to fall behind in the global “war for talent.”
Education will play a key role in Japan’s quest to develop global leadership talent, according to Mr. Fukushima. Japanese institutions will increasingly need to train their students and employees to think logically, analytically, and strategically. They will also need to offer training in communication skills, including how to explain, persuade, debate, and ask concise and meaningful questions in a diverse and global setting. Japan needs to shed its reputation of the “Three S’s” (sleep, smile, and silence) at international conferences. In addition, fluency in at least one foreign language is a prerequisite for global business success, according to Mr. Fukushima.
The speech was followed by a discussion between Mr. Fukushima and Mr. Yoshito Hori, Dean of the Graduate School of Management at Globis University. In addition to responding to questions from the audience, they discussed the challenges facing global leaders and how best to bridge cultural differences. They agreed that the key to developing a global mindset—so essential for global business success—was to expose oneself early and often to people of diverse backgrounds and cultures and to new, stimulating, and challenging work and educational opportunities not limited by geographical or political boundaries.
Mr. Fukushima discussed the major factors driving globalization, as well as how Japan could best cope with this reality. According to Mr. Fukushima, there are six major factors driving globalization: (1) the rise of market forces and diminution of political borders resulting from the end of the Cold War, as symbolized by the fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989; (2) demand-side factors, including the rising power of users, customers, and consumers; (3) supply-side factors, including the mergers, acquisitions, consolidations, and strategic alliances sweeping virtually every global industry; (4) government policy, including deregulation, trade agreements, and investment rules that are changing the rules of competition; (5) technological change, including especially the impact of advances in information technology, transportation, and logistics; and (6) changes in the global workforce, including its growing mobility, diversity, and specialization.
Mr. Fukushima argued that globalization present challenges to governments, companies, and individuals around the world, but that for Japan an especially acute challenge is that of recruiting, developing, and retaining global talent. In order for Japan to compete successfully in the global marketplace, it will need to utilize more effectively its existing workforce, including not only its traditional mainstream pool of leadership talent—Japanese males up to their 60s—but also women, seniors, and non-Japanese. Additionally, Japan needs to take steps not to fall behind in the global “war for talent.”
Education will play a key role in Japan’s quest to develop global leadership talent, according to Mr. Fukushima. Japanese institutions will increasingly need to train their students and employees to think logically, analytically, and strategically. They will also need to offer training in communication skills, including how to explain, persuade, debate, and ask concise and meaningful questions in a diverse and global setting. Japan needs to shed its reputation of the “Three S’s” (sleep, smile, and silence) at international conferences. In addition, fluency in at least one foreign language is a prerequisite for global business success, according to Mr. Fukushima.
The speech was followed by a discussion between Mr. Fukushima and Mr. Yoshito Hori, Dean of the Graduate School of Management at Globis University. In addition to responding to questions from the audience, they discussed the challenges facing global leaders and how best to bridge cultural differences. They agreed that the key to developing a global mindset—so essential for global business success—was to expose oneself early and often to people of diverse backgrounds and cultures and to new, stimulating, and challenging work and educational opportunities not limited by geographical or political boundaries.
