On this episode of the FocusCore podcast we are joined by Marie Solange-Vottero and Sandrine Monette from Lemon Boost, a boutique consulting firm based in Tokyo that caters to the unique development needs of Japanese teams engaging with Foreign Customers. Listen to the episode to learn more about how Lemon Boost’s specialized Dojo practice enhances communication, reduces conflicts, and promotes inclusion.

In this episode you will hear:

• How Lemon Boost approaches organizational transformation
• What Verbal Aikido is and how to employ it at work
• How to avoid taking on too much at work
• Some common misconceptions around change management
• Building a resilient mindset and a resilient organization

About Lemon Boost:

Lemon-Boost is a boutique consulting firm based in Tokyo. Their tailored immersive solutions cater to the unique development needs of Japanese teams engaging with Foreign Customers. They empower teams through specialized Dojo practice for enhanced communication, reduced conflicts, and promoted inclusion. Lemon Boost also leverages data insights to optimize training investment and develop efficient engagement strategies.

About Marie Solange-Vottero:

Born of French and Cameroonian heritage, Marie has cultivated a rich and diverse life experience spanning over 25 years across Africa, Europe, and Asia.

She possesses a distinctive expertise in change management, offering support for strategic initiatives such as reorganization and digital transformations within Finance, HR, and Customer Service domains. Her experience extends across both private and public sectors, ensuring comprehensive insight and adept handling of diverse organizational needs.

Marie has also studied psychology and neurosciences to better address resistances and support teams through change. In Japan, Marie is focused on building Strategies for Better Team Collaboration and empowering Japanese teams to better interact with foreigners (Outbound).

Being both a woman, a foreigner and a founder, Marie is committed to her community and actively involved in several associations, from leading mentoring activities for women in business to preventing bullying at school.

About Sandrine Monette:

Sandrine Monette is a Belgian native with over two decades of experience driving strategic initiatives that transform international Life Sciences and Technologies companies across the EU, UK, and US markets. She holds dual master's degrees in Biochemical Engineering and Business Administration.

Sandrine combines technical expertise with business proficiency. Her leadership and communication skills enable her to effectively lead multidisciplinary teams across manufacturing, IT, communication, and HR sectors.

Sandrine has worked in male-dominated environments. She is committed to gender diversity and empowering women to thrive in leadership roles. She also serves on the board of the Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce, showing her dedication to positive change in business and society.

She co-founded Lemon-Boost with Marie-Solange Vottero.

Connect with Marie & Sandrine:

Website: https://lemon-boost.org

Marie’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariesolangevotteromelounou/

Sandrine’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandrinemonette/

Connect with David Sweet:

LinkedIn:

This episode of the FocusCore podcast is incredibly relevant for anyone experiencing burnout, overwhelm, or feeling like they are putting in a lot of effort for relatively little results. Our guest this week is Helen Iwata, founder of the #LessEffortMoreImpact Movement for Women in Business. Helen is also a TEDx speaker and coach, Nikkei Style columnist, and author of the Japanese book Eigo no Shigoto-jutsu, published by Shogakukan. For over a decade Helen has been helping busy business professionals, especially women, to do brilliant work without sacrificing their personal lives. Enjoy this episode and learn how to make more impact at work with less effort.

In this episode you will hear:

• How Helen overcame her fear of public speaking
• Helen’s experiences of burnout and early warning signs you can look out for
• How understanding your hormone cycle can help your workplace performance
• About the Less Effort More Impact movement and how to join the community
• About Helen’s Women’s Success Essentials program

Things mentioned in the episode:

The Sasuga! Podcast episode on Love Languages:

https://sasugacommunications.com/131

About Helen Iwata:

Originally from the UK, Helen has lived and worked in Japan for 3 decades. During her 10-year career with McKinsey & Company in Tokyo, as manager of client communications, she trained and coached high-achieving consultants and clients in communication and leadership skills.

In May 2013, Helen established her own business and is now the go-to expert for multiple multinationals to design and lead their training and coaching programs. She has delivered presentations and workshops in Asia, Europe, and the U.S.

Helen served as faculty for the Tokyo University Executive Management Program for 6 years and won the 2017 Waseda University Teaching Award for her Strategic Thinking and Communication MBA course.

Helen is also a TEDx speaker and coach, Nikkei Style columnist, and author of the Japanese book Eigo no Shigoto-jutsu, published by Shogakukan. She is the creator and host of The Sasuga! Podcast and founder of The #LessEffortMoreImpact Movement for Women in Business.

Connect with Helen Iwata:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/heleniwata

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

Website: sasugacommunications.com/

Less Effort More Impact community:

https://sasugacommunications.mykajabi.com/event

Women’s Success Essentials:

https://sasugacommunications.mykajabi.com/wse

Connect with David Sweet:

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejp

Facebook: :https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasia

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

Website:

On the latest episode of the FocusCore podcast host David Sweet talks with Jan Babatz, from Ziemann-Holvrieka, leading provider of tanks and process solutions for the beverage and liquid food industry. Jan has been in charge of establishing the Japanese entity “CLPT Japan KK”, and as a global business leader establishing a company in Japan, Jan has gained a lot of knowledge about being successful in Japan’s unique corporate culture. In the episode, Jan discusses some of this invaluable business knowledge as well as sharing his personal story of growing up in East Berlin before the Berlin Wall came down, and why he came to Japan.

In this episode you will hear:

• About how Jan ended up in Japan after growing up in East Berlin
• About CLPT Japan KK and what it’s been like establishing a new company in Japan
• The importance of speaking Japanese in Japan as a foreign business leader
• How Japan differs from other countries when it comes to work culture
• Jan’s advice to global business leaders in Japan
• About Jan’s love of music and his current passion for playing the ukulele

About Jan Babatz:

Jan Babatz was born & raised in former East-Berlin (GDR) until the age of 15. He worked in a sales position in a company in Berlin after graduation, then participated in a one-year exchange and homestay program at the age of 24 in Tokyo. Jan studied business engineering near Berlin, including a 6-month internship in Tokyo and moved to Japan after university graduation in 2004.

From 2005 to 2007 Jan was Sales Manager for Walter Tools as an expat in Toyokawa/Aichi. He switched to a German machine tool company in 2008 and got a 1 year and 10 month training in the headquarters in Germany. In October 2009 Jan moved back to Japan and worked as GM of the Japanese subsidiary. Jan switched to Guhring Tools in October 2017 into the position of president and CEO of Guhring Japan. In November 2023 Jan moved to Ziemann-Holvrieka Germany in November 2023 to establish the Japanese entity “CLPT Japan KK.”

Connect with Jan Babatz:

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jan-babatz-27425395

Connect with David Sweet:

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejp

Facebook: :https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasia

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

Website: https://www.japan.focuscoregroup.com/

“Doin’ the Uptown Lowdown,” used by permission of Christopher Davis-Shannon. To find out more, check out www.thetinman.co. Support independent musicians and artists.