Welcome to another insightful episode of The Produck Podcast! In this episode, host Lee Jean sits down with his close friend and collaborator, Katie Marple. Katie is a powerhouse in the Tokyo community, serving as the founder of the She Loves network, a director at FEW Japan, and a university professor.From her beginnings in the UK to her travels through the Costa Rica jungle and eventually finding a home in Japan, Katie shares her unconventional journey—including a surprise stint in a circus!. We dive deep into her philosophy on community leadership, moving beyond the idea of "building bridges" to creating interwoven "webs" with multiple entry and exit points for members.Whether you are looking to improve your professional communication or build a personal brand in Japan, this episode is packed with actionable advice. We discuss:• Negotiation Techniques: How to use "mirroring" and "labeling" to gather information and build rapport.• The Power of "No": Why hearing "no" is actually the beginning of a beautiful conversation.• Non-Violent Communication (NVC): Using "needs and feelings" cards to resolve conflict and express human needs.• Personal Branding: How Katie became a top 5% LinkedIn creator and her tips for being intentional with your time.• Legacy in Japan: Celebrating 40 years of FEW Japan and the importance of creating bilingual community spaces.Connect with Katie Marple:

🔗 Katie's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/misskatiemarple/

📸 Katie's Instagram: @kayandtribe

Learn More About the Communities Mentioned:

🏢 FEW Japan’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/for-empowering-women-few-japan/

💖 She Loves’ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shelovesnetwork/posts/?feedView=all#ProduckPodcast #CommunityBuilding #NegotiationSkills #JapanExpats #WomenInBusiness #NVC #Networking #PersonalBranding #LinkedInTips #BilingualCommunity

We’ve hit a major milestone! In this special anniversary episode, Lee looks back on the journey so far and shares his vision for the future. Whether you're a long-time listener or new to the pond, thank you for being part of our story.In this episode, we cover:🙌 Gratitude: A massive thank you to the listeners and guests who have built this community.🚀 The Next Chapter: Big updates on the future growth and evolution of the podcast.🎙️ Deep Dives: Lee answers some of his favorite questions pulled from past episodes.🔗 Join the CommunitySupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/ProduckPodcastConnect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/produck-podcast/Follow the journey on Instagram: @produckpodcastWhat has been your favorite moment or guest on the produck podcast so far? Let us know in the comments! 👇#produckpodcast #anniversary #podcasting #growth #community #milestone #gratitude #entrepreneurship #productivity #storytelling #creativejourney #behindthescenes

What happens to your digital life when you're gone? In this episode of the Produck Podcast, we sit down with Alex Josephson, a "rebel" architect and founder of Partisans, who is now disrupting the $trillion death services industry.The inspiration for his latest venture, Cumulus, was born from a heavy moment: during his father's chemotherapy, Alex was asked to "design his grave". Realizing that a piece of granite in the ground can never truly capture a person’s essence, Alex pivoted from building "bricks" to building "bytes".Drawing on the architectural "will to bend software" pioneered by icons like Frank Gehry, Alex is building an immersive "Memory Cloud"—what he calls the "Minority Report of Memories". We dive into why the funeral industry stifles innovation, the tragedy of memories being "trapped in our devices," and how we can use technology to ensure our digital legacies live forever.In this episode, we discuss:• The transition from physical architecture to digital immortality.• How Alex’s father’s battle with cancer sparked the vision for a 3D memory repository.• The problem with "HTML obituaries" and "backwards" death services.• How to "crowdsource" a family’s history to create a solemn, beautiful digital legacy.• The philosophical roots of "mortal anxiety" and why legacy is a lesson we must all pass on.Connect with Alex & Cumulus:• Cumulus Website: https://www.cumulus.world/• Alex Josephson’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-josephson-6502071a9/• Alex’s TED Talk (Boston): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orVdbFewskI#ProduckPodcast #DigitalLegacy #Architecture #Innovation #TechEntrepreneur #Cumulus #AlexJosephson #MemoryCloud #Immortality #DeathTech #BricksToBytes

Are you leading a business, or is your business leading you toward burnout? In this episode, host Lee Jean sits down with Heather Dobbin—a certified mental health and leadership coach, community builder, and board member of Startup Lady Japan.Heather shares her journey from leaving the U.S. to avoid a "slow death of the soul" to becoming a key figure in the Tokyo startup ecosystem. We dive deep into the concept of sustainable leadership, the "inner work" required to succeed, and how to build a community that supports your long-term growth.Key Topics Covered:• What is Sustainable Leadership? Moving beyond "grind culture" to design structures that support your physical, mental, and relational health.• The "Inner Work" of a Founder: Identifying the "deep scripts" and subconscious motivations—like "revenge success"—that can lead to toxic cycles.• Defining Leadership: Why real leadership is a combination of responsibility and empowerment.• Recognizing Burnout: How high performers often exist in a "functional state of burnout" and the warning signs you shouldn't ignore, such as chronic fatigue and unexplained anger.• Community vs. Network: Why entrepreneurs need a "tribe" for emotional and social support, rather than just a list of professional contacts.• The Power of Confidence: How Heather transitioned from literature and psychology to coaching confidence in the tech world."Leadership is not a solo act; it’s a group effort." Learn how to unblock your potential and lead in a way that is healthy for you, your team, and your product.Connect with Heather:• Website: https://heatherdobbin.com/• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-dobbin/• Startup Lady Japan Luma Calendar: https://luma.com/user/usr-LsmKUWZduG95ZES#SustainableLeadership #FounderBurnout #MentalHealth #StartupLadyJapan #TokyoStartups #LeadershipCoaching #InnerWork #Entrepreneurship #ProduckPodcast

Why do global product strategies often hit a wall in Japan? In this episode, we sit down with Chandni Dhawan, a Tokyo-based Talent Acquisition Specialist, to deconstruct the cultural friction within Japanese tech teams. We explore the fundamental clash between global expectations for speed and the Japanese dedication to process and context, and how top leaders bridge this gap using empathy and trust.Whether you are a hiring manager, a job seeker, or a tech leader, this conversation offers a deep dive into the "fierce" world of recruitment in Japan and the specific soft skills needed to thrive in a multicultural environment.Key Topics Discussed:• The Speed vs. Process Paradox: Why Japanese teams prioritize getting the process right over moving fast, and how to communicate context effectively.• Beyond the Job Description: Why hiring based solely on years of experience or bilingual ability is a mistake—and what "winning character" actually looks like.• The 30 Million Yen Mistake: A breakdown of the massive financial impact of a bad hire in the Japanese market.• AI-Proof Your Career: The three essential characteristics—storytelling, education, and entertainment—that will keep professionals relevant as AI replaces junior-level roles.• Systems Thinking: How to evaluate an organization’s longevity and internal health before you sign your next contract.• Mastering Tatemae: Navigating the "public face" in the workplace and building authentic professional boundaries.

Connect with Chandni:• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chandni-dhawan-a8335b11b/• Latest Post on Team Effectiveness: Click here to read her insights on product team hiring#JapanTech #Recruitment #ProductManagement #TokyoBusiness #HiringStrategy #CulturalGaps #TechTalent #SystemsThinking #JapanWorkCulture

In this episode of the Produck Podcast, I sit down with Nao Yukawa, a University of Tokyo graduate who took an unconventional path from Japan to the U.S. and is now building a fast-growing startup at the intersection of health, wearables, and productivity.Nao shares his journey from studying AI and neuroscience in Tokyo to launching a company in the U.S. during COVID, starting with a bold (and ultimately failed) crypto meditation app — and how that failure led to the creation of Lifestack, a calendar that syncs your wearable data to optimize how and when you work.We dive deep into:- What it’s really like being a Japanese founder building in the U.S.- Why his first startup failed and what it taught him- How Lifestack uses wearable data to create context-aware productivity- Why many of Lifestack’s most active users are neurodivergent and ADHD- Differences between the San Francisco and New York startup scenes- Raising money from Japanese investors vs U.S. investors- Advice for Japanese founders who want to go global- The long-term vision to build a “Notion for health-conscious professionals”This episode is packed with honest insights about startups, pivots, fundraising, and building globally as a non-U.S. founder.🔗 Connect with Nao:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/naoyukawa/🚀 Check out Lifestack:Website: https://lifestack.ai/If you’re a founder, builder, or someone curious about startups, wearables, or going global from Japan, this one’s for you.#ProduckPodcast #StartupPodcast #FounderStories #ProductJourney #JapaneseFounder #BuildingInTheUS #StartupLessons #FounderLife #StartupPivot #ProductBuilding #GlobalFounders #HealthAndProductivity #WearableData #EarlyStageStartups #FounderMindset

In this episode, I sit down with Maprang Suwanbubpa – a solo founder, engineer, and serial entrepreneur whose life looks more like a world tour than a LinkedIn profile.From Bangkok street food to Copenhagen Michelin culture, from Airbus in France to motorsport PR in Mexico, and now building deep-tech in Tokyo, Maprang has lived, built, and rebuilt across continents.We dive into:- How she’s building Checkmate AI, a QA tool for motorsport, aerospace, and game development, and why breaking into Formula 1 requires “weird moves” instead of classic startup playbooks- Why technical founders often fail not because of code, but because they avoid talking to people- The idea that “confidence + wisdom = humility”, and how failure, heartbreak, and grind forged her resilience- Her other ventures, including Hijos del Maíz (Mexico–Japan cultural brand), Gorgeous Complex Mess (perfumes born from heartbreak), AEONIQ (anti-aging diagnostics), The Dark Arts of Founding (Substack essays), and Creative Violence, her new vehicle for blending tech, fashion, and digital artA brutally honest take on Japanese founders, humility, and self-promotion, and what Japan needs to go truly globalWhy resilience is less about “hustle culture” and more about learning to let go of people, places, and identities that no longer fit your pathIf you’re a technical founder, a multi-passionate creator, or someone trying to reconcile ambition with actually enjoying life, this conversation will hit deep.Stick around to the end to hear:Maprang’s one change she’s focused on that will shape her next 10 yearsThe question she leaves for the next guest about the strange, contradictory mistakes we keep repeating as foundersConnect with Maprang:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maprangsuwanbubpa/Instagram: @mopkaloppt#startups, #founderstories, #technicalfounder, #womenintech, #womenfounders, #F1, #motorsport, #productmanagement, #JapanStartups, #globalfounders, #resilience, #entrepreneurmindset, #creativeentrepreneur, #TokyoStartups #produckpodcast

In this episode, I sit down with Ryusuke Komura, Executive Director of Venture Café Tokyo and head of all Venture Café locations across Japan. We go deep into the origins, expansion, and philosophy behind one of Japan’s most iconic and influential startup events — the Thursday Gathering.From Venture Café’s Boston roots to its nationwide impact across seven cities in Japan, Ryusuke shares the story behind building an ecosystem that brings Japanese and international founders together every week.We cover community building, global collaboration, the rise of Japan’s innovators, and what the future holds for the Japanese startup landscape.If you’ve ever wondered why Venture Café is the go-to place for founders, innovators, and ecosystem builders in Japan, this episode is your inside look.🔹 What We CoverHow Venture Café came from Boston to TokyoWhy the Thursday Gathering became Japan’s flagship startup eventThe challenge of connecting Japanese and international communitiesThe Venture Café model: ecosystem + community + accessibilitySuccess stories, global events, Rocket Pitch, and "Pitch to Tokyo"Insights on Japan’s deep tech strength and global competitivenessWhat to expect for the 2026 Global GatheringRyosuke’s perspective on the future of Japan’s startup ecosystem🔹 Guest LinksVenture Café Tokyo: https://venturecafetokyo.org/CIC Japan: https://cic.com/japanConnect with Ryusuke: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryusuke-komura-87a5955b/?locale=en_US🔹 Follow the Produck PodcastWe interview founders, product builders, and ecosystem leaders across Japan and Asia.Subscribe for more conversations like this.#JapanStartups #VentureCafeTokyo #StartupEcosystem #InnovationJapan #EntrepreneurshipJapan #GlobalStartups #TokyoTech #FoundersJapan #CICJapan #StartupEvents #EcosystemBuilding #produckpodcast

In this episode of the Produck Podcast, I sit down with Veronica Lee, the inspiring founder of Borderless, a global platform helping students from every corner of the world apply to and get accepted into their dream universities.Originally from Uzbekistan, Veronica shares her personal story of overcoming barriers to study abroad, how her journey led her to found Borderless, and why she believes access to education shouldn’t depend on geography or privilege.We explore:- Veronica’s journey from Uzbekistan to NYU Abu Dhabi- The challenges international students face when applying abroad- How Borderless is democratizing access to global education- The future of admissions in the age of AI- Why passion, confidence, and creativity matter more than everIf you’re a student, educator, or founder passionate about education and opportunity, this episode is for you.🌍 Connect with BorderlessWebsite: https://borderless.so/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/borderless.so/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3lk7AUc1b8473F468qI7WQ💼 Connect with Veronica LeeLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikulyalee/🎧 Subscribe to the Produck Podcast to support the channel and help us bring on more inspiring founders, builders, and innovators across Asia and beyond.#ProduckPodcast #Borderless #StudyAbroad #EducationTechnology #StartupFounders #WomenInTech #EdTech #GlobalEducation #UniversityAdmissions #Entrepreneurship #AIinEducation #Uzbekistan #StartupsInAsia #FoundersJourney

In this episode of the Produck 🦆 Podcast, I sit down with Aimi Komeya, President of Japan Venture Academy (JVA) — a student-run organization empowering the next generation of Japanese entrepreneurs.Aimi shares her inspiring journey from sociology student to startup leader, why confidence and community are essential for young founders, and how JVA is bridging Japan’s startup ecosystems — connecting students, mentors, and investors across cultures.💡 Topics Discussed:- Aimi’s path into entrepreneurship and leadership at JVA- How JVA empowers students to build startup confidence- The rise of female entrepreneurship in Japan- Cultural and language barriers in Japan’s startup scene- The importance of bridging Japanese and international founders- Why ex-founders should join big companies to spark innovation🌐 Learn more about Japan Venture Academy:👉 https://www.japansventureacademy.com/🔗 Connect with Aimi Komeya on LinkedIn:👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/aimi-komeya-910095191/🎧 About the Produck PodcastThe Produck 🦆 Podcast explores the struggles and stories behind Japan’s startup and product management scene — giving founders, PMs, and innovators a voice to share their lessons and challenges.📢 If you enjoyed this episode, please SUBSCRIBE and LIKE the video!Your support helps us grow the channel, expand production, and bring in even bigger and better guests from Japan’s startup ecosystem and beyond.#JapanStartup #Entrepreneurship #StudentFounders #JapanVentureAcademy #AimiKomeya #StartupJapan #ProduckPodcast #TokyoStartups #FemaleEntrepreneurs #InnovationJapan #JVA