Episodes

  • Ed Thompson Reveals the Secrets to Successful Design at Concept Design.

    Ed Thompson Reveals the Secrets to Successful Design at Concept Design.
    Oct 30 2024
    Ed Thompson, with over 20 years of experience in Japan and APAC’s advertising industry, leads Concept Design. He drives multinational success through creative and innovative strategies that accelerate business growth. 1. (3:52) What are some of your most memorable achievements, and what strategies helped you reach them? 2. (11:09) How could you approach understanding client needs? Could you share a particularly memorable episode? 3. (17:14) Given the constant evolution in marketing, what trends or technologies have you been focusing on, and how do you see them impacting your business? 4. (28:08) What have you implemented to increase customer loyalty, and do you have any specific success stories? 5. (32:37) What are your business goals moving forward? Are there any new areas you’re excited to explore? 6. (45:522) What do you enjoy doing outside of work? Do your hobbies or interests influence your approach to business? 1. Ed manages his company while also teaching at various universities, referring to his teaching as a 'part-time’ labor of love. He has been instructing in the continuing education program at Temple University Japan (TUJ) for over 20 years, something which he says somewhat surprises him since he never expected that to be the case. He continues to lecture at TUJ because it allows him to learn while interacting with others, and thereby gain wider viewpoints and develop deeper insights. That has proven invaluable alongside his work as a marketing consultant over the past few decades while directing his portfolio of accounts at Concept Design (https://conceptdesign.io/work). 2. He emphasizes the importance of using research-based approaches to accurately capture client needs. However, efforts to alignresearch findings as much as possible with the reality of the marketplace can lead to delays in achieving expected results. It is critical to quickly identify any misalignment between client needs and market realities to make necessary adjustments. 5. Ed’s future business goals can be condensed into several key points.First, he is regularly engaged in collaborations and consultations on assignments with embassies and larger international companies. However, his upcoming focus is for next year’s upcoming Osaka Expo 2025 (https://conceptdesign.io/consulting). Additionally, he is committed to professional education and is exploring ways to disseminate information worldwide, leveraging his experience teaching at corporations and universities. Recently, he has spent time collecting content from the numerous personal training and coaching sessions he’s delivered with Concept Design / COACHING / (https://conceptdesign.io/coaching). This has led to launch of his new online learning platform called Concept Design / ACADEMY / (https://conceptdesign.io/academy-page). When creating the academy, he initially prioritized marketing, but he further reflected on his own past experiences and path to success. He realized he needed to add topics covering career, management and organizational development to ensure participants can gain valuable insights regardless of their career stage. 6. He also mentioned that while discussing ideas with emerging startups, he will sometimes realize that his thinking may not align with upcoming trends. So he considers engaging with a wide variety of people to sustain creativity is a good approach. He encourages those interested in their career advancement and marketing and to check out the Concept Design / ACADEMY / (https://academy.conceptdesign.io/). Final Words from Ed.He encourages those interested in their career advancement and marketing and to check out the Concept Design / ACADEMY / (https://academy.conceptdesign.io/). He believes his academy can be a valuable resource for your career and work-related challenges. He also suggests you inquire with your companies about educational subsidies covering registration costs.
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    57 mins
  • Cross-Border Tax Insights with Dean H. Yoshimoto, CPA

    Cross-Border Tax Insights with Dean H. Yoshimoto, CPA
    Oct 30 2024

    In this insightful episode, Dean H. Yoshimoto, a seasoned U.S.-based CPA with deep experience in American and Japanese tax systems, discusses the complexities of managing cross-border taxes. Please listen to Dean’s valuable insights and advice on tax strategies for international professionals and learn from his career journey and personal interests.


    Here’s a breakdown of the episode:

    1. Challenging Experiences in Supporting Overseas Taxation (6:17) Dean shares some of the most memorable and challenging situations he’s faced in assisting Japanese and other foreign nationals working abroad.
    2. From Corporate to Independent Work (12:34): Dean discusses how his approach and perspective evolved after he moved from a large company to an independent practice.
    3. Navigating Japan-U.S. Tax Differences (20:18) Dean highlights the unique challenges of Japanese and American tax regulations and offers advice on how clients can manage these differences.
    4. Managing Dual-Residency Taxes (27:49), Dean outlines the best practices for handling taxes for individuals living in or earning income in Japan and the U.S.
    5. Advice for Aspiring Tax Professionals (35:38): Dean provides guidance for those interested in starting a career in taxation or furthering their tax expertise.
    6. Hobbies and Work-Life Balance (47:09) Despite his busy work life, Dean finds time to stay active. He discusses how his hobbies help him maintain balance and well-being.
    7. Dean's Closing Message (51:56) Dean wraps up the episode with final thoughts and encouragement for listeners.
      LinkedIn:
      https://www.linkedin.com/in/dean-h-yoshimoto-a28a3310b/
      YouTube:
      Kanji Mail
      http://www-kanjimail-jp.mailerpage.io
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    57 mins
  • Interview with Erin Mao: Bilingual Recruitment & Mobility Engineering Insights

    Interview with Erin Mao: Bilingual Recruitment & Mobility Engineering Insights
    Sep 24 2024


    Guest: Erin Mao, a bilingual recruitment specialist at Robert Walters, focuses on connecting top talent with opportunities in the mobility engineering sector. With experience in Japanese and international work cultures, Erin navigates the challenges of finding skilled candidates in a globalized industry.


    Episode Overview: In this episode, Erin discusses the critical skills needed for recruitment, the increasing role of software and AI in mobility engineering, and the importance of building relationships with clients and candidates. She also reflects on the differences in work culture between Japan and overseas and shares some of her interests.


    Questions:

    1. (1:51)The most essential skills in your current position

    2. (5:55)Skills and knowledge needed in the mobility engineering field

    3. (11:09)Lessons learned from working at Robert Walters

    4. (14:58) Building relationships with clients and candidates

    5. (18:53)Collaboration within the mobility engineering team

    6. (22:46)Hobbies and personal interests


    If you find this episode interesting and want to connect with Erin Mao, please get in touch with her via the LinkedIn link below!

    Erin Mao⬇️

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-mao/


    Kanji Mail

    http://www-kanjimail-jp.mailerpage.io
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    28 mins
  • Teaching English with Passion: Eoghan Champkin’s Journey and Insights

    Teaching English with Passion: Eoghan Champkin’s Journey and Insights
    Sep 18 2024

    Eoghan Champkin He is an English teacher and lesson creator at Gold Lion English School. Committed to making learning English fun, Eoghan focuses on teaching kids and creating engaging lessons that inspire a love for the language. In this episode, Eoghan shares his experiences and insights into teaching English in Japan.


    In this episode:

    • (2:35) Eoghan shares his various experiences in Japan.
    • (8:45) Why does he focus on teaching elementary school students?
    • (10:15) Challenges he faced when starting his school.
    • (16:38) Thoughts on Japan's education system, which emphasizes grammar.
    • (35:55) How does he teach English in his classes?
    • (39:47) How does he teach sentence formation?
    • (42:05) What are his hobbies?

    If you're interested in his lessons, you can check out his page through the link below.


    Eoghan Champkin's LinkedIn page

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/eoghan-champkin-535b19211/


    Kanji Mail

    http://www-kanjimail-jp.mailerpage.io
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    48 mins
  • David Rubenstein - Senior Wealth Manager at Argentum Wealth Management on Navigating Japan’s Investment Landscape

    David Rubenstein - Senior Wealth Manager at Argentum Wealth Management on Navigating Japan’s Investment Landscape
    Sep 17 2024

    吉岡千依 4:43 PM (2 minutes ago)to me

    In this episode, we are joined by David Rubenstein, Senior Wealth Manager at Argentum Wealth Management, who shares his valuable insights and experiences from his career in wealth management. David discusses the rewarding aspects of his job, his approach to advising new investors, and the differences between Japan’s investment environment and overseas markets. He also provides his perspective on the future of the Japanese market and investment trends and how he balances his demanding career with his passion for running and triathlons.

    Timestamps:

    1. What do you find most rewarding about your career as a Wealth Manager? (3:06)
    2. How do you approach advising someone new to investing? (5:37)
    3. How does Japan's investment environment differ from overseas? (13:57)
    4. Can you share a success story from your career or when you felt particularly proud of helping a client? (17:43)
    5. What are your thoughts on the future of the Japanese market and upcoming investment trends? (22:00)
    6. How do you balance your busy work life with hobbies like running and triathlons? (29:54)

    If you have any questions about investing or want personalized advice, please get in touch with David Rubenstein for expert guidance!


    David Rubenstein LInkedIn

    ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?heroEntityKey=urn%3Ali%3Afsd_profile%3AACoAAAMOAxcBuY-61vGlUXlp92JEfa6y03lkATQ&keywords=David%20Rubenstein&origin=ENTITY_SEARCH_HOME_HISTORY&sid=3YV⁠


    Kanji Mail website

    ⁠http://www-kanjimail-jp.mailerpage.io
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    39 mins
  • Introducing Biz and Japanese Lounge: Learn from Global Professionals

    Introducing Biz and Japanese Lounge: Learn from Global Professionals
    Sep 6 2024


    1. Hello, everyone. I’m Chie, your host. This podcast features professionals from around the world who speak Japanese and share their business stories in Japanese.


    2. Who This Podcast Is For:

    - Former Japanese learners who stopped or gave up.

    - Those interested in Japanese and business topics.

    - Busy individuals juggling work and family.


    3. Why I Created This Podcast:

    - I know how hard it is to find time for Japanese when life is busy.

    - By hearing from our guests, you can learn Japanese and gain business insight simultaneously.


    4. About Kanji Mail:

    Kanji Mai is a service for busy learners who want to study kanji, vocabulary, and grammar in 5-10 minutes daily.

    Check out the link in the description for a special offer.


    5. Make Use of Spare Time:

    - Listen during your breaks, commute, or whenever you have a few minutes to spare.


    6. Looking for Guests:

    - We’re seeking business professionals who speak or learn Japanese to be guests. Contact us if interested!



    http://www-kanjimail-jp.mailerpage.io
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    7 mins