The FocusCore Podcast Dr. David Sweet

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 transformationWhat Verbal Aikido is and how to employ it at workHow to avoid taking on too much at workSome common misconceptions around change managementBuilding 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: a...

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 speakingHelen’s experiences of burnout and early warning signs you can look out forHow understanding your hormone cycle can help your workplace performanceAbout the Less Effort More Impact movement and how to join the communityAbout 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: a...

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 JapanThe importance of speaking Japanese in Japan as a foreign business leaderHow Japan differs from other countries when it comes to work cultureJan’s advice to global business leaders in JapanAbout 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.

On the latest episode of the podcast FocusCore Managing Director, Simon Jelfs, interviews FocusCore’s Singapore Director, David Chong. David has over 17 years talent acquisition experience across internal TA roles, RPO, and Recruitment Agency. He has lived and worked in Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, and China. In this discussion David Chong shares with us some of his vast knowledge of recruitment, both internally and externally, and explores the current recruitment landscape in Japan, and internationally.
In this episode you will hear:
What made David Chong join the FocusCore teamWhy Japan's recruitment landscape can be a mystery to international recruitersAdvice for hiring top talent in Japan and SingaporeThe importance of trust and communication when recruitingCommon pitfalls for those pursuing a career in Talent AcquisitionKeys to building a great team
About David Chong:
David started his recruitment career in Tokyo covering Accounting and Finance. By now he has over 17 years Talent Acquisition experience across agency, internal function, and RPO, gained from working in Tokyo, Shanghai, and Singapore. He has a proven track record to implement and improve Talent Acquisition function, lead delivery, and sourcing. 
At Toll Group (a Japan Post company), David implemented a new RPO across APAC, EMEA & USA. Partnering with multiple stakeholders, he led process simplification and increased productivity across the team of 22 recruiters. To help build the Toll digital brand and talent communities, David optimized sourcing strategy via job boards and social media such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and WeChat.
At Pall Corporation (a Danaher company), David led the APAC Talent Acquisition RPO team in direct sourcing across China, India, Japan, Korea, Australia, and Southeast Asia. To align with Danaher practice, he helped rollout change management in Talent Acquisition Processes & Systems and promoted Diversity & Inclusion policies.
David is Singaporean and holds an MBA from University of Southern California and MIS degree from University of Washington. He was born in Malaysia, and has lived in Singapore, Tokyo, Shanghai, and USA. He speaks fluent English, Mandarin, Cantonese, and basic Japanese.

Connect with David Chong:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/davidchongy

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.

This week on the podcast we talk sustainability in Japan with Heather Prosser from Morrow Sodali Japan. In the episode we discuss what sustainability is and how Japanese corporations can start to initiate sustainable change in their workplaces. If you are a business leader in Japan considering the benefits of making your company more sustainable, or if you are an employee wondering how you can influence your employer to make meaningful changes, this is the episode to listen to!
In this episode you will hear:
How Japan compares to the rest of the world in terms of sustainabilityHow business leaders can institute formal sustainable change within their companiesWhat smaller sustainable actions employees can take in their workplaceWhere you can go to find out more about sustainabilityWhat Heather has learned about doing business in Japan


About Heather:
Heather has over 15 years of impactful experience in the Asia-Pacific financial services and sustainability sectors. Having worked in Tokyo and Hong Kong, she has a strong track record of significant contributions to business development, advisory, strategy, fundraising, and investor relations.
Heather joined Morrow Sodali Japan after playing a crucial role in launching and growing the Climate Change and Sustainability Services (CCaSS) team at EY Japan from 2015 onwards. She excels in navigating Japanese companies towards ESG risk mitigation, driving sustainable initiatives, and harmonizing environmental responsibility with corporate growth.
Originally from the United States, Heather embarked on her career in venture capital in Silicon Valley, before moving to Japan in 2001. As a committed community leader, her contributions include board member of the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ), leading the ACCJ Sustainability Committee, and Executive Committee member of the British Chamber of Commerce in Japan (BCCJ). 
Her philanthropic efforts include board membership for Shine On! Kids, a charity supporting children with long-term illnesses in Japan. Heather's dynamic career spans the media industry, including as a regular guest presenter on NHK's 'Cool Japan' program since 2007.
Heather Prosser has earned the CFA Institute Certificate in ESG Investing.


Connect with Heather:
Morrow Sodali Japan: https://morrowsodali.com/
Shine On! Kids: https://sokids.org/
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/heather-prosser-350bba1a
Corporate email address: h.prosser@morrowsodali.com


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...

In the latest episode of the FocusCore podcast we talk to the CEO of Scaling Your Company, Tyson Batino. Tyson advises small business owners and startups on how to scale their business in Japan from six figures to eight figures and also provides coaching to executives on running an organization. In this episode Tyson shares with us his invaluable insights into how  businesses can improve their recruitment pipeline and processes. This is an episode that you'll want to listen to for APAC companies looking to open businesses in Japan, and small companies in Japan looking to scale and grow their organization. 
In this episode you will hear:
The importance of a positive interview experience for candidatesHow companies can use a well designed interview process to improve employer brandingHow a bigger applicant pipeline can help improve recruitment outcomesTips for leaders on how they can help improve recruitment processes

Things mentioned in the episode:
FocusCore podcast episode on Topgrading


About Tyson Batino:
Tyson Batino is the CEO of Scaling Your Company. He advises small business owners and startups on how to scale their business in Japan from six figures to eight figures and also provides coaching to executives on running an organization. He was a co-founder and director at Japan Switch and One Coin English, Japan's 8th largest English school for adults, and a 2x resident mentor at 500 Global Japan, one of the top startup accelerators in the world.  With expertise in scaling companies and a passion for mentoring business leaders and founders, Tyson brings invaluable insights into improving your recruitment pipeline and processes.


Connect with Tyson Batino:
Scaling Your Company: https://scalingyourcompany.com/
Personal Site: https://tysonbatino.com/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tysonbatino/
Twitter / X: https://twitter.com/Tysonbatino
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tysontbatino


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.