Ep 02: Building a meaningful career and barriers to innovation in Japan with Peter Rogers

The Business Karaoke Podcast exists to lead unconventional business conversations.

This week, Peter Rogers, a bilingual, global leader in additive manufacturing, joins us to share his experience on building a meaningful career in Japan, identifying and marketing real value and how Kaizen can actually get in the way of innovation.

Whether you're a Japan veteran of simply, interested in what it is like to work in Japan as a foreigner go ahead and enjoy this episode.

00:12 Peter's role in additive manufacturing at Autodesk
02:30 Connection to Japan and first encounter with Japan
08:14 Transitioning from student to professional
10:41 Building a business case for a company abroad to move to Japan
12:18 Thoughts on moving to Japan as a new graduate 
13:37 What's your real value in Japan
17:08 Positioning yourself as unique value to employers
19:38 Selling value over selling function
22:53 Experience working at a Japanese company and surprising benefits
26:02 Integration and the "gap" between foreign and Japanese staff 
31:40 Managing issues of trust as a foreigner in Japanese in companies
35:52 Self branding to traditional Japanese management in a global company
44:28 3 barriers to innovation in Japan
49:19 Kaizen as a barrier to innovation
55:42 Connection between innovation and international experience 
57:41 Closing words on working in Japan.

Thank you to Peter and thank you to you!