Sean Kawakami

ja

Envision.
Strategize.
Achieve.

Blueprint to Breakthrough: Catalyzing, not philosophizing. Illuminating possibility in chaos, forging bold solutions at the edge of the known. My promise? Relentless drive from strategy to triumph. Your vision, realized.

About

Expertise & Experience

SEAN KAWAKAMI is a dynamic force in corporate strategy, business development, and organizational transformation, blending his roles as a strategy consultant, author, and speaker. He has advised global conglomerates, SMEs, startups, and public sector institutions across a wide range of industries, from finance, consumer products, manufacturing, media, retail, telecommunications, automotive, and energy to emerging fields like artificial intelligence and quantum computing. Sean's "blueprint-to-breakthrough" approach reflects his commitment to guiding organizations from strategic planning to concrete results, driving transformative growth across various sectors.

In the media landscape, Sean has the distinction of hosting an influential business talk radio show for 17 years, complemented by his astute commentary on political and economic television programs where he appears as a frequent guest. Through these platforms, Sean has engaged in nuanced dialogues with over 1,000 visionaries, thought leaders, and innovators from diverse fields, providing incisive analysis of the complex tapestry of global affairs.

Sean's dedication to cultivating future business leaders is evident in his contributions to executive education, where he has played a pivotal role in shaping corporate universities and management institutes by designing comprehensive instructional strategies and curricula. At his business school, Sean champions innovative approaches to autonomous learning, aiming to maximize the potential of an "emergent organization" as an experimental platform. This approach seamlessly integrates online and offline experiences, focusing on student-centered education and fostering vibrant social learning environments.

As a frequent speaker at major industry conferences and a jury member for prestigious business awards, Sean continues to shape global business leadership. Through his multifaceted career, Sean remains at the forefront of the business world, combining strategic insight, media presence, and a strong commitment to education to help organizations navigate today's complex global environment.

2024.08.01

Blueprint to Breakthrough

Blueprint to Breakthrough

Compass

Consultants: all talk, no walk.

A cliché perhaps, but one with a sting of truth. Yet, my work defies this notion. My ethos: transforming strategy into tangible outcomes, guiding clients on transformative journeys from inception to zenith.

In volatile times, my mission fuels corporate renewal and regional rejuvenation. From global enterprises to local governance, visionary strategy is woven with pragmatic execution, crafting blueprints that thrive across diverse landscapes.

Strategy ignites change; rekindling entrepreneurial spirit transmutes corporate ennui into an emergent organization and vibrant growth. Beyond algorithms and spreadsheets lies the art of empowering clients to forge bold, enduring paths that thrive independently, fueled by self-sustaining innovation and a reawakened sense of purpose.

My humble raison d’être: to elevate Japan to new heights on the global stage. Together, we will unveil its hidden strengths and co-author its next awe-inspiring chapter.

理論は一級、成果は三流

わたしたちコンサルタントに対する厳しくも重要な指摘です。
戦略から成果へーー私のコンサルティングポリシーです。 企業、事業の再生、次なる飛躍に向けた戦略デザインから成果実現までの一貫したトランスフォメーション・ジャーニー（変革の道程）に伴走します。

VUCA環境における経営革新、事業開発、事業再構築、組織・オペレーション改革、或いは地域における産業振興のため、 時に大胆な戦略を提言する変革の「軍師」として、成果実現に向けた実務に寄り添う「参謀」、必要に応じて、プロジェクト推進の中核を成す実行要員して動いてまいりました。

調査、分析、定量化、仮説構築、モデリング、シミュレーションに基づく戦略立案と実行計画の提言は、重要なコンサルティング業務の一環ではあるものの （少なくとも私の考える）ゴールではありません。自律的創発力を備えた存続発展の仕組み、組織、人、何より忘れかけたアントレプレナーシップ（起業家精神）の再インストールこそコンサルティングのゴールであると考えています。

さらに言うなれば、日本をもう一度「坂の上の雲」、その先へ羽ばたかせる一助になりたいと考えています。

Fulcrum

/　Catalyzing Your Transformation

In uncertain landscapes, sustainable success hinges on a "meta-strategy" - an intrinsic strategic capability that dynamically accounts for evolving contexts while staying true to your organization's fundamental purpose. We help develop this meta-strategic muscle, allowing your strategy to remain adaptive and your planning aligned with your raison d'etre - the key to maintaining relevance amid disruption.

We guide organizations both in private and public sectors through the entire transformation journey - from formulating flexible strategic alternatives to driving execution and realizing tangible results across industries and domains, including entrepreneurial ventures, global expansion, R&D, talent, succession, and industrial revitalization. Our comprehensive engagement ensures visions become sustainable realities. As an extension of your team, we provide the critical link between strategy and pragmatic execution to deliver lasting breakthroughs.

We provide a beacon of hope for businesses in dire straits, fortifying managerial resilience and navigating the path to recovery. For burgeoning enterprises, we act as the catalyst that propels growth and fosters the genesis of innovative ventures.

Re-envision your strengths and reengineer your strategic positioning to optimize your company's inherent value. We assist in reshaping your business paradigm and crafting strategic alliances, ensuring a robust foundation for sustained growth and competitive advantage.

We empower organizations to evolve from single-offering providers to orchestrators of integrated solutions. Going beyond product confinement, we guide them in spearheading transformative initiatives that amplify offerings' value through systems-level integration capabilities. Our role is to facilitate this strategic journey as partners, driving broader impact and higher-value engagement.

Serving as your external strategic nerve center, we provide interim expertise for groundbreaking projects such as business development initiatives. Our role as a project incubator is instrumental in nurturing the seeds of innovation and driving them to fruition.

We champion the transformation from passive followers to proactive leaders. By cultivating a breed of talent that spearheads new endeavors and projects, we accelerate organizational evolution and individual career progression, fostering a culture of continuous growth and innovation.

1 of 7

Pathways

What’s YourNext Chapter?
Growth Curve and Innovation

Corporate
Development​

  • Short to Mid-term Business Plan​
  • Management System Establishment​
  • Capital Policy​​

Business Strategy

  • Business (Product/Service) Enhancement ​
  • Business Model Restructuring Support​​

People & Organization

  • Entrepreneur Coaching​
  • Recruitment Support​​

Operational
Excellence​

  • Operational Process Design & Implementation Support
  • Business and Corporate Valuation Management

Corporate
Development​

  • Long-term Business Plan Formulation
  • Global Strategy IPO
  • Communication Strategy Formulation

Business Strategy

  • Marketing & Sales Enhancement
  • Business Scaling-up Engineering Support

People & Organization

  • Management Skill Training
  • Diversity & Inclusion Training Media Training

Operational
Excellence​

  • Process Automation & RPA Introduction Design
  • Digital Marketing Enhancement

Corporate
Development

  • Purpose Management
  • Strategic Reconstruction
  • Alliance Design & Implementation
  • M&A Support
  • Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) Formation & Operation

Business Strategy

  • Project Engineering Enhancement
  • R&D Strategy Product & Tech Development Strategy
  • New Market Penetration Support
  • Global Market Expansion

People & Organization

  • Organizational Transformation
  • Innovation Talent Development
  • Executive Coaching
  • Global Talent Development​

Operational
Excellence​

  • Data-driven Management Development
  • EPA, CA Implementation Design
  • Performance Evaluation System Development

Corporate
Development​

  • Strategic Revitalization Plan Design
  • Brand Reconstruction
  • Business Succession
  • Portfolio Optimization
  • PMI Post-Merger Integration Support

Business Strategy

  • Business Recovery Support
  • New Business Development
  • Financial Modeling/Business Valuation

People & Organization

  • Top Management Coaching Change
  • Leader Development Successor
  • Development Innovation
  • Organizational Support

Operational
Excellence

  • Lean Management Implementation Support

Public and
Local Entities

Grand Policy Design Proposal​

Regional Revitalization, Industry Development, Invitations, Tourism Promotion Project Proposals & Execution​

Regional Transformation Leader Support ​

Global Talent Development​

Regional/Organizational/Project Digital Transformation Design, Implementation, and Operation Support​

Insights & Impact

/　Keynote Achievements

Mastery Domains

  1. Building Resilience: Designing SME Survival and Growth Strategies in Turbulent Markets
  2. Executive Insights: Leadership & Innovation from Dialogue with 1,000+ Visionaries
  3. Mastering Cross-Cultural Management: Navigating the Global Business Mosaic
  4. Revitalizing Regions: Unlocking Local Assets for Sustainable Growth and Prosperity
  5. Strategic Leadership in a Global Context: Decoding Macroeconomic Trends

Keynote Spotlights

  • The Essential Elements of Success Shared by 900 Professionals: Leadership and Innovation in the Face of Uncertainty
  • Postmodern Strategy: Strategic Thinking for Uncertain Times
  • How Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Should Adapt in the Global Era
  • From Mass Marketing to Meta Marketing
  • The End of Mass Consumption and the Rise of the Engagement Economy: From Reach to Engagement
  • Perspectives on the Outlook for National, Regional, and Local Economies Based on Global Economic Trends
  • The Future of the National Economy and Your Investments
  • Business Succession: Management that Safeguards Employment and Contributes to Regional Prosperity - Individual Management Consultation
  • Ongoing Series: "The Art of Winning"
  • Overview of the World and National Economies, The Latest "Frontiers of Management Strategy" in Light of Current Demands
  • Strengthening Your "Personal Power": How to Develop a Self-Axis and Company-Axis Resistant to External Influences
  • Consumer Education Promotion Project: Defining Consumer Education
  • Regional Revitalization: "The Power of Glocal Innovation Driving Change from the Regions"
  • Educational Institutions and others
  • National Convention: Unlocking the Potential of a City
  • "Crisis and Opportunities in the National Economy" Economic Seminar for Investors
  • Facilitating a "Political Forum" on 18-Year-Old Suffrage
  • Japan Future Leadership Program presents: The Student Debate Conference on Global Leadership
  • Theory and Practice of Medical Marketing for Major Pharmaceutical Companies and Sales Organizations
  • "Management Perspective" Human Resource Development Program, Skill Portfolio, and Flagship Training Template for Manufacturers
  • Executive Seminar: "Evaluating Growth Strategies and Corporate Leverage Approaches"
  • Major Media: "The Future of Media, the Reality of Cross-Media Marketing, and Media Responses"
  • Industry-Academia-Government Collaboration and the Practice of Building an Ecosystem
  • Major Company: "Venture Nurturing Program, Framework for Implementing Corporate Venture Capital (CVC)"
  • "Successful Post-Merger Integration (PMI) Strategies"
  • "The Essential Elements of Leadership Shared by Business Executives"
  • "Management Strategies and the Role of Top Leadership in an Era of Slow Growth"
  • "Developing Corporate Planning Office Managers"
  • "Quantifying Marketing: Measuring Marketing ROI"
  • "Strategy Economics: Business Valua

Books

“Jibun-ryuku-wo-kitaeru”　How to Strengthen One’s Personal Pillar in a Complex Society

Asa Publication

“MBA Kogi-Nama-chukei Keiei-Senryaku”　MBA Live Coursework – Corporate Strategy

TAC Publication

“Professional-no Go-joken”　Five Essential Elements for Successful Professionals

Asahi-Shimbun Publication

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