How Did Japanese Shochu Salespersons Rise to Lead the Tech Revolution for 90,000+ Japanese Hotel Operators?

Starting as a salesperson at Suntory, Tokyo-based Ryota Tanozaki has transformed his career over 20 years.

Previous: Strategy Consultant at BearingPoint, Product Manager at Hakuhodo Consulting, Director at Frontier Management, General Manager at Transcosmos, Head of Instagram, and Head of Vertical Industry at Facebook.

Currently, Ryota holds the position of President and CEO at Tabist, formerly known as OYO Japan, which is headquartered in India and was a joint venture with SoftBank Japan. He also teaches part-time at Globis University. Attached is the press release from SoftBank announcing the rebranding of OYO Japan to Tabist, with Ryota appointed as the CEO and President of the company's operations in the country.

How we met: Ryota and I were Executive MBA classmates at Chicago Booth from 2013 and 2015.

Episode Breakdown:

3:28 — Ryota's Odyssey: Journeying from Beverage Sales to Social Media and Cutting-Edge Travel Tech

6:30 — Pivotal Moments: How a Consulting Gig in Rural Japan Revolutionized Ryota’s Career Path

8:49 — A Strategic Pivot: Choosing an MBA at Chicago Booth After 15 Years in the Consulting Arena

14:30 — Navigating the Unforeseen: Adapting Ryota’s Career Strategy Amidst Challenges

16:07 — Crisis as a Catalyst: Steering Tabist Through a Rebrand as Japanese Tourism Faces COVID Challenges

20:12 — Tackling Top Challenges: Pushing Tabist to New Heights Amidst Adversity

25:32 — Leading by Example: Insights from Teaching at Globis University

27:09 — Inspiration Unpacked: The Two Books That Fuel Ryota’s Innovative Spirit

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