Boundaryless Leadership

In this episode, Nozomi and Maki discuss:

• Working hard, showing the skills, communicating well, and demonstrating leadership. 
• Western versus Eastern leadership. 
• How boundaries and borders are different and how it affects leadership. 
• What is most important for leading in a diverse, multicultural world. 

Key Takeaways:

• You cannot fake your way to authenticity. 
• The environment around you is important - those around you also need to be comfortable with you being yourself in that environment. 
• There is beauty in the differences. It is what makes each culture unique and each person special. 
• Share your story. Share your experience. We all have difficulties and we all have things to overcome. 

"If you don't know who you are and what you want, then you're basically playing by other people's rules." —  Nozomi Morgan 

"What is most important to me is to listen with an open mind first." —  Maki Futami

"You should really celebrate. You should acknowledge your accomplishments. I think that helps your mental sanity, and also boosts your self-esteem." —  Maki Futami

About Maki Futami: 

Maki is a managing director focusing on serving private companies mainly in automotive and manufacturing industries. She has 19 years of experience providing audit and non-audit services to public and private entities.  Maki’s areas of expertise include complex accounting and financial reporting matters, revenue recognition, IFRS and GAAP conversion and impact assessments, internal audit, compliance review, and enterprise risk management. Maki’s key accomplishments include - led Japan’s first IFRS foreign private issuer GAAP conversion project, a member of PwC’s global inspection team focusing on compliance and application of regulatory requirements and PwC policies and procedures, maximized diversity and inclusion among workforce by offering intricate mentorship to cross-functional team members as Midwest Pan Asian Cultural Inclusion Network leader engaging in various multicultural women’s events.

Maki currently lives in Cincinnati and has an almost 9-year-old boy.  Prior to moving to Ohio, she worked in various PwC offices including New York, Tokyo – Japan and Washington DC Metro area. Maki serviced as a board member and treasurer of District Advocate for Safe Housing (DASH - largest provider of safe housing for survivors of domestic and sexual violence in DC) until June 2021, and she is a member of the U.S.-Japan Council. 

Connect with Maki Futami:

Website: https://www.pwc.com/us/en

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maki-futami-28a26315/

Connect with Nozomi Morgan:

Website: https://www.michikimorgan.com/    

Book: In the works

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: https://twitter.com/nozomimorgan   

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/NozomiMorgan

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

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/nozomimorgan/

Show notes by Podcastologist: Chelsea Taylor-Sturkie

Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it. 

"Only the people who can change themselves can change an organization." —  Hiromi Tsuboi

In this episode, Nozomi and Hiromi discuss:

• Hiromi’s professional journey and how it broke boundaries. 
• The biggest challenges for Japanese women working in Japan. 
• Differences between Japanese women and women in the US in the corporate world. 
• Important skills to be a great, diversity leader. 

Key Takeaways:

• Diversity looks different throughout the world. In the US, the population is more diverse and diversity is more practical. In Japan, the population is less diverse and in concept diversity is great, but it is less common in practice. 
• Don’t let people box you into a stereotype. All people, regardless of gender, have the opportunity to realize their full potential.
• There are no perfect role models. Learn the good and bad lessons from various leaders, books, and other resources.
• Look at what is possible and you will be able to solve bigger problems than you ever realized. 

"In order for women in Japan to move up, men, or the current managers and executives, need to understand different opinions and value different opinions and diversity." —  Hiromi Tsuboi 

"Understanding the true meaning of diversity, equity, and inclusion is not like learning languages, where you can just learn the word, you actually have to understand the history behind it." —  Nozomi Morgan 

About Hiromi Tsuboi: 

• More than 25 years of experience in managing business developing, sales & marketing, and business planning in multiple industry segments, including chemicals, healthcare, Li-battery, and semiconductors. 

• Promoted to Director of Business Development in the Electronics and Healthcare Department in January 2017. Her responsibilities included managing a sales and marketing team, finding and developing new business and customers in optical lens materials and functional films, technology scouting, with a focus on sustainable technology and ICT, and providing the interface between Mitsui Chemicals headquarters and customers/partners in the US, including executive levels.

• During her 4 years with the business planning section in the Li-ion battery division of Sony Corporation, she managed new product introductions, product life cycles, and cross-functional groups, driving continuous improvements in all business aspects for both B2B and B2C.

• 15 years of experience in sales & marketing for semiconductor equipment products and service. Oversaw $260M markets and constantly developed new accounts, leading to three major supplier/DNP awards. 

• Team management experience both in Japan and the US. 

• Fluent in Japanese (verbal and written) and English.

Connect with Hiromi Tsuboi:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hiromi-tsuboi-09785422/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Hiromi2boi

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hiromi.tsuboi

References: 

Book: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey

"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life." - Steve Jobs

"Control your destiny or someone else will." - Jack Welch

Connect with Nozomi Morgan:

Website: https://www.michikimorgan.com/    

Book: In the works

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: https://twitter.com/nozomimorgan   

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/NozomiMorgan

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

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/nozomimorgan/

Show notes by Podcastologist: Chelsea Taylor-Sturkie

Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it. 

In this episode, Nozomi and Jessica discuss:

• The history of YKK and how it has become a worldwide success. 
• Taking risks at the crossroads of your life. 
• Networking and connecting with those in your community. 
• Making changes now to be the change you want to see regarding issues you’re passionate about. 

Key Takeaways:

• As industries change, it is important to see how you can pivot and continue to make an amazing impact with the changing world. 
• Even when you don’t know where you are going next, keep moving forward. You never know what roads are going to open just for you. 
• The changing landscape of the workforce over the last couple years has required flexibility of companies, even for those that it does not come naturally to. 
• Change is now coming from the stakeholders - customers, employees, and community. 

"Network and get to know people within your community because you just never know where the next opportunity will come from." —  Jessica Cork

"I discovered over time, it matters less about whether an organization is nonprofit, or corporate or government, but really, what is the culture of that organization? And what are the values of that organization? And is it an organization that fits your own personal values." —  Jessica Cork

"When I say leader, I don't mean you have to have a title - you don't have to be the president, or VP, or director, or manager, but as a leader of your own life, in taking full responsibility of your life." —  Nozomi Morgan

About Jessica Cork: 

As Vice President of Community Engagement and Corporate Communications at YKK Corporation of America, Jessica has responsibility for all aspects of corporate communications - creating, developing and executing the internal and external communications strategy - for the YKK Americas Group, which spans from Canada to Chile. This includes message development, owned and digital content creation, media relations, and employee engagement with a focus on defining and activating corporate character and providing leadership on values and culture.

She is also responsible for community engagement - communicating the YKK societal value story, corporate purpose, and ESG/sustainability goals to key stakeholders, as well as developing, implementing, and showcasing YKK America Group’s corporate donations and community relations strategy. She also leads the government affairs strategy - driving consistent messaging and engagement with local, regional and national elected officials and community leaders, community organizations, think tanks, and advocacy groups.

Jessica is fluent in Japanese and has more than two decades of experience working in Japanese organizations. She has B.A. in Japanese Language and Literature from the University of Massachusetts, and an M.A. in Advanced Japanese Studies from the University of Sheffield in the U.K. Prior to joining YKK, she worked for 11 years as the Adviser for Educational and Cultural Affairs at the Consulate General of Japan in Atlanta and spent 3 years working as a Coordinator for International Relations in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan.

Jessica currently serves as Chair of The Japan-America Society of Georgia and the Secretary of the Governing Board of International Charter Academy of Georgia, Georgia’s first Japanese-English dual language immersion charter school. She is a member of the Communication Committee of The Georgia Council on Economic Education. She has four children, all of whom have attended Japanese-English bilingual immersion schools in the Atlanta area and has traveled to 25 countries around the world.

Connect with Jessica Cork:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-cork/

Website: https://ykkamericas.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JessicaKCork

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessica.k.cork

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessica.k.cork/

Connect with Nozomi Morgan:

Website: https://www.michikimorgan.com/    

Book: In the works

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: https://twitter.com/nozomimorgan   

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/NozomiMorgan

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

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/nozomimorgan/

Show notes by Podcastologist: Chelsea Taylor-Sturkie

Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it. 

In this episode, Nozomi discusses:

• What it means to be a boundaryless leader. 
• The flexibility of a boundary.
• The 9 dimensions of boundaries. 
• The impact of being a boundaryless leader.

Key Takeaways:

• Boundaries are more than just borders. 
• Boundaries are something that is not set in stone with a physical line - it is something that we choose. 
• Being a boundaryless leader means moving forward with intuition and learning every step of the way. 
• The world is moving at a faster pace than it ever has. Leaders need to be able to make decisions without being afraid of making mistakes. 

"Boundaries are something that are not set in stone, you don't see the physical line. It's something that we actually choose; we choose to set our own boundaries." —  Nozomi Morgan

"What we help these companies to do is to develop leaders that can navigate through these ever changing boundaries. In today's world, things are just moving so quickly, every situation is almost new." —  Nozomi Morgan

"Being a boundaryless leader encompasses being a leader that really cares and is authentic in their own way, and making the best decisions they can in a very complex world without being afraid of making mistakes, and really focusing in the moment and making the best decisions they can." —  Nozomi Morgan

Connect with Nozomi Morgan:

Website: https://www.michikimorgan.com/    

Book: In the works

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: https://twitter.com/nozomimorgan   

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/NozomiMorgan

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

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/nozomimorgan/

Show notes by Podcastologist: Chelsea Taylor-Sturkie

Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it. 

Multinational companies are often navigating boundaries such as geographical, intercultural, gender, race, age, religion, values, departmental or business unit boundaries and many more. In today's ever changing world, we, as leaders, need to work beyond these boundaries and navigate through them. Ultimately, we get to increase the intercultural collaboration so that they can work beyond those boundaries and increase performance.

"For any leaders, especially for leaders that work in the global market, working with people that are very different from you, that don’t see things eye to eye, you really need to know why you're doing what you're doing, and what's important to you." —  Nozomi Morgan

"Leading with love, respect, and humility is what boundaryless leadership is really about." —  Nozomi Morgan

Nozomi Morgan explores the journey with these executives, leaders and professionals to learn how they have become a boundaryless leader. Listen each week as Nozomi interviews industry leaders and even sheds her own light on her journey. If you are looking for inspiration and examples of intercultural leadership in order to lead more powerfully then this podcast is for you.

"I would love this to be a place for you to find some amazing people - wonderful, talented individuals that have that really good heart, and doing just really good work." —  Nozomi Morgan

Connect with Nozomi Morgan:

Website: https://www.michikimorgan.com/    

Book: In the works

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: https://twitter.com/nozomimorgan   

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/NozomiMorgan

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

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/nozomimorgan/

Show notes by Podcastologist: Chelsea Taylor-Sturkie

Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.