Influencer Marketing
Expand your reach and engage with your target audience using this trending technique that blends celebrity endorsements with social media marketing.
Leading High Performing Remote Teams
How can leaders ensure that performance remains high in remote or hybrid-work environments?
Design Thinking
Learn the 5 phases of this problem-solving methodology and switch from technology-centered to user-centered thinking.
Gantt Chart
Invented in the early 20th century, the Gantt Chart is one of the building blocks of modern project management. In this online course, you'll learn how this tool can be used effectively to monitor progress and achieve your team's goals.
Navigating Change Successfully
The working landscape is continually shifting and being disrupted, so how to employees maintain a sense of stability? Listen to CEO and president of Carl ZEISS Japan Stefan Sacre share his expertise on dealing with change in organizations and entire industries.
Halo Effect
The halo effect is often leveraged for marketing and promotion. But as a type of cognitive bias, it can also have a subconscious impact on decision-making in the workplace. Learn why and (how to overcome it) in this online course.
Anchoring and Framing
Want to increase your confidence during negotiations? Master the principles of anchoring and framing to take your negotiation skills to the next level.
ZOPA and BATNA
Understanding ZOPA and BATNA will help you become a better negotiator, create more value, and feel more confident at the table.
Content Marketing
In this course, you’ll learn how compelling blogs, videos, podcasts, and other media can reach customers and drive sales. You’ll also learn steps for creating an effective content marketing plan, and some important ways to measure its impact and success.
Content marketing is a essential digital marketing strategy for companies looking to provide relevant and useful information to support your community and attract new customers.
Get started on your content marketing journey today.
Sustainable Innovation in Times of Disruption: Choices for a Better Society
There are opportunities for progress all around us. The key is to innovate on these opportunities sustainably.
To help identify most effective path forward, you'll need to gain a global perspective to these challenges in an open discussion. How can Japan and the world take action to create a more sustainable, innovative world? Where do you fit in?
It's time to find out.
Social Media & Digital Communications: Impact on Global Public Opinion
Social and digital media have dominated the communications industry for decades. But it's no secret that social media has the power to sway public opinion, and the way in which many companies use these platforms could be seen as manipulative.
What do companies need to be aware of when utilizing social and digital media? How can these mediums be used to better communicate strategically with the world?
Discover what top media and communications experts have to say.
Blockchain
Blockchain is one of the most captivating technologies out there. Learn what it is and how to make use of its opportunities in this short online course.
Mehrabian’s Rule
The 7-38-55 Rule, developed by Albert Mehrabian, suggests that effective communication relies less on the words we choose than on our tone of our voice, appearance, and body language. Learn how to put this theory to use for better communication in business.
Pareto Principle
Your time and resources are limited. Efficiency means learning to prioritize. The Pareto principle (also called the 80-20 rule) can help you identify the best way to use your time for maximum results.
Country Analysis Framework
Overseas expansion requires careful planning. The Country Analysis Framework can help you look beyond an industry-level analysis and reframe your view based on performance, strategy, and context. Try this short course to learn how it works.
SECI Model
The SECI model illustrates how knowledge is created and shared. Learn how to put it to use for best practices, and how the Japanese concept of “ba” fits in to broaden your perspective.
Johari Window Model
The Johari Window Model is a self-awareness framework that helps you better understand . . . you. Learn how its four quadrants can help you identify gaps between how you see yourself, and how others see you.
Sunk Costs
Wondering if you should continue an investment or look for something new? Sunk costs can have a powerful psychological impact on decision-making. Learn how to recognize them to ensure rational decisions.
CAGE Distance Framework
Want to expand overseas? The CAGE distance framework can help ensure you're constructing a solid global strategy in four areas: cultural, administrative, economic, and geographic. Learn how to leverage useful differences between countries, identify potential obstacles, and achieve global business success.
Groupthink
Groupthink refers to group pressure and the perception of consensus which together lead to ill-formed decisions—or even unnecessary risks. Learn to identify the warning signs of groupthink and apply countermeasures in this online course.
Deductive and Inductive Reasoning
Solving problems with the best results means using two types of thinking: deductive and inductive reasoning. In this online course, learn to form a broad premise, make observations, and form conclusions from different perspectives.
Critical Thinking: Hypothesis-Driven Thinking
Anyone can come up with a good idea. The real challenge is putting that idea into action. In this online course, explore how to form compelling, testable hypotheses and bring ideas to life in your own organization.
Critical Thinking: Structured Reasoning
Even a few simple techniques for logical decision making and persuasion can vastly improve your skills as a leader. Explore how critical thinking can help you evaluate complex business problems, reduce bias, and devise effective solutions.
Critical Thinking: Problem-Solving
Problem-solving is a central business skill, and yet it's the one many people struggle with most. This course will show you how to apply critical thinking techniques to common business examples, avoid misunderstandings, and get at the root of any problem.
How to Dream
Join globally renowned author and Columbia Business School professor Dr. Sheena Iyengar as she explains how to approach your dreams with a new perspective. Learn to reflect on what you long to accomplish and what stands in your way.
Logical Thinking
Logical thinking is at the heart of confident, persuasive decisions. This course will equip you with a five-point approach to more becoming a more logical thinker. Learn to classify ideas and distinguish fact from opinion.
Investing & Diversity: The Changing Faces of Venture Capitalists
Is the venture capital industry embracing diversity in investors? Watch global venture capitalists from around the world discuss the state of things and what needs to be done for a more inclusive future.
Servant Leadership
There's more to leadership than driving a team to profit. In fact, there's a word for looking beyond self-interest to prioritize individual growth: servant leadership. Try this course for a quick breakdown of what that is, how it works, and how it can lead to organizational success.
Organizational Behavior and Leadership
Ever wonder what makes a great leader? Whether your role requires leadership or not, understanding organizational behavior is useful for your career. This course from GLOBIS Unlimited can set you on your way.
Leadership vs. Management
Leadership and management are different skills, but today’s leaders must have both. Try out this course from GLOBIS Unlimited to understand the difference, as well as when and why each skill is necessary for motivation, communication, and value.
Strategy: Creating Value Inside Your Company
Have you ever wondered why certain companies are more successful than others? The answer is strategy: internal processes that control costs, allocate resources, and create value. This course from GLOBIS Unlimited can give you the tools you need for that strategic edge.
Strategy: Understanding the External Environment
To plan strategy on any level, you need to understand your company's external environment. In fact, your level of understanding can impact hiring, budgeting, marketing, or nearly any other part of the business world. Want to learn how to do all that? This course from GLOBIS Unlimited is the perfect first step!
Using Japanese Values to Thrive in Global Business
Japanese companies have unique cultural, communication, and operational challenges. But they also have values that have led to remarkable longevity. Check out this seminar to hear how these values help earn trust from overseas head offices and develop employees.
Turnaround Leadership: The Differences Between Japan and the West
What's the best way for leaders to communicate a shift in corporate strategy? How do you even know when it's time for such a change? This course explains how Japan might have one answer, Western companies another.
Conflict Management
Conflicts in the workplace are inevitable. But they can lead to positive outcomes if they’re managed well. Check out this online course for a two-step process that can help you manage conflict successfully.
Evernote Founder: How Tech Startups Can Break through in Japan
Can startup models from Hollywood and Silicon Valley succeed anywhere? Phil Libin, cofounder and CEO of startup incubator All Turtles, explains how AI can solve everyday problems to bring products to market.
Women Empowerment: Lessons from Cartier
How can women overcome gender inequality and reach their leadership goals? Cartier Japan CEO June Miyachi shares her secret in this special course from GLOBIS Unlimited.
Marketing: Reaching Your Target
Every company works hard to get its products into the hands of customers. Are you doing everything you can to compete? In this course, you’ll find a winning formula to turn a product idea into real sales. Follow along through the fundamentals of the marketing mix and see how companies successfully bring products to market.
Marketing Mix
Seeing good products into the hands of customers is no easy task. The marketing mix can help. It's a collection of strategies and tactics companies utilize to get customers to purchase their products or services, and is an essential part of the overall marketing process.
The Principles of Negotiation
With the proper skills and attitude, anyone can become a successful negotiator. But first, you'll need to learn the basics to prepare for, assess, and respond to offers for the best results. GLOBIS Unlimited can help.
Negotiation: Creating Value
Want to create more shared value between yourself and your negotiation opponent? Discover how cognitive bias affects the judgment of others. Try this course from GLOBIS Unlimited to master the value of negotiation.
Finding Your Life Purpose with Ikigai
Ikigai can guide you in your quest for self-discovery. Listen to Japanese brain scientist Ken Mogi explain why and how.
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
Want to leverage Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs as a leader? Try this short course to see how the theory can be applied in practical work scenarios.
Confirmation Bias
We all subconsciously collect information that reinforces our preconceptions. It's natural . . . but it does lead to a kind of flawed decision-making called confirmation bias. To become more objective and impartial, check out this course from GLOBIS Unlimited!
An Investor's Lesson to Entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurs have the power to transform societies for the better. But how do you attract investors to start or grow a business? Or to sell one? Check out this seminar for the answers to these and more, straight from a master venture capitalist!
Managerial Accounting
Managerial accounting is a powerful way to measure progress, identify problems, and meet your goals. Check out this course to learn how data-backed decisions can help you run your business.
Finance Basics: 1
For a healthy mix of quantitative planning, evaluation, and management, you need solid decision-making. And finance is the secret sauce! Get the essentials of finance in this two-part course from GLOBIS Unlimited.
Basic Accounting: Financial Analysis
Want to compare your performance vs. a competitor? Or evaluate a potential vendor? Then you'll need to conduct a financial analysis. This course will teach you how to use three financial statements and evaluate financial performance in terms of profitability, efficiency, soundness, growth, and overall strength.
Career Anchors
What drives you to be good at your job?
Career anchors are based on your values, desires, motivations, and abilities. They are the immovable parts of your professional self-image that guide you throughout your career journey.
Try this short GLOBIS Unlimited course to identify which of the eight career anchors is yours!
Digital Marketing Psychology to Transform Your Business
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Pyramid Structure
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Leadership with Passion through Kokorozashi
The key ingredient to success? Passion.
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AI First Companies – Implementation and Impact
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Technovate in the Era of Industry 4.0
Is Industry 4.0 is the next step of human evolution human civilization? Dr. Jorge Calvo seems to think so. Join him to learn how the past can help you set goals for an exciting future of digital innovation.
Technovate Thinking
Business leaders of tomorrow need to harness the power of technology and innovation. That means understanding algorithms and how they drive business results. Discover opportunities to make technology work for your competitive edge.
Product Life Cycle
Every product takes a natural course through the market—there's a how, when, and why customers adopt products at different stages. Check out this course from GLOBIS Unlimited to find out how a product you use every day is part of this cycle.
Logic Tree
Logical thinking is the most valuable asset any business professional can have. That's why logic trees are such a valuable tool—they can help you identify a problem, break it down, and build it back up to a solution.
MECE Principle
Using the MECE principle can help ensure you categorize without gaps or overlaps. Check out this course from GLOBIS Unlimited for a practical demonstration of how it works!
Discussions at this year’s World Economic Forum (WEF) centered on two major topics: climate change and stakeholder capitalism.
Microsoft announced that it will go carbon negative by 2030. BlackRock, the world’s largest investment management company, declared that it will begin investing in environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG).
I was pleased to find this trend, as the spirit of ESG was promoted by Hiromichi Mizuno of Japan’s Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF), and stakeholder capitalism is seen in a Japanese concept known as sanpo yoshi, or “three-way satisfaction,” which dates to the Edo Period (1603–1868). According to this concept, effective capitalism has a three-pronged benefit for the customer, the seller, and society. Perhaps the rise of interest in ESG is a sign of Japan’s positive impact on this year’s WEF, despite few Japanese speakers actually on stage.
Aside from this general trend in panel discussions, I came away from my week in the Swiss Alps with five takeaways.
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1) We have to be more serious about tackling climate change.
Greta Thunberg’s speech saw a strong young woman scolding global adult leaders. She demanded all participants of WEF “immediately and completely divest from fossil fuels.” She then insisted that “…unlike you, my generation will not give up without a fight.”
Sadly, the panel that followed this rousing youngster’s speech fell short of actionable takeaways. Instead, the panelists seemed to be divided into the following categories:
・Alarmists who offered no solutions of their own, but wasted no time scolding others for failing to take action
・ Responsibility-dodgers who blamed others (“The US fails to do XYZ…”), then followed up with lists of reasons for why they themselves couldn’t take action
・ Those finding satisfaction by committing to measures only within their own companies
・ Advisors who propose solutions with no plausible, concrete steps to actually implement them
The most frustrating thing was a lack of discussion on nuclear power. If CO2 is the issue, there should be more advocates for nuclear power—the most realistic solution for the reduction of CO2. Panelists, unfortunately, deflected this issue with fleeting dismissals (“I don’t understand the technology”) or excuses (“There is a problem with nuclear waste”).
Though private companies throughout the conference were eager to highlight how they planned to tackle climate change internally, it was a pity there wasn’t much discussion on how to move forward with an international framework for reducing CO2.
In short, we need to be more serious about tackling climate change.
2) We need stronger global leaders.
President Trump attended this year’s WEF, but made few comments to contribute to the international community. Instead, he focused on his domestic achievements, as if the speech were addressed to an American audience, rather than an assembly of global leaders. Much of his time was spent meeting with leaders of top global companies seeking investment in the US. All things for Trump remain “America First.”
Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson reportedly advised all of his ministers not to attend the WEF this year and its “champagne with billionaires.”
It was sad to see the globalism, free trade, and multinational framework that drives the WEF so disrespected by the current leadership of both the US and UK. (Though it was at least good that President Trump showed up in Davos.)
But what about other countries?
China sent the seventh-highest ranking official of its government, but little came out of his attendance. German Chancellor Angela Merkel attended the conference, but with little time remaining to her tenure, many saw hers as a lame duck presence.
President Macron did not attend at all, but remained in France to focus on domestic affairs. Likewise, neither Japan’s Prime Minister nor any member of the Cabinet attended, as the Diet was in session.
It’s a shame that no country is currently able to step forward and lead the world. I cannot stress enough how absolutely vital it is that Prime Minister Abe and the Ministers from Japan attend from next year. Japan needs to take a bigger role in the international community, which is in desperate need of strong global leaders.
3) We’re seeing more diversity as trust shifts to individuals.
On the bright side, there were clear notes of increased diversity this year in Davos. Not only Thunberg, but a host of other teenagers leant their voices to panels on a range of global issues.
The number of women in attendance, as well, didn’t just increase, but came up front and center. This included the Managing Director of IMF, the CEO of Nasdaq, the President of IBM, the Representative of the European Commission, the Editor-in-Chief of Nature, and the thirty-four-year-old Prime Minister of Finland.
The 26th annual Crystal Awards, which honor “leading artists whose leadership has inspired inclusive and sustainable change,” went to three women and an African American man.
Perhaps in tandem with this embracing of diverse individuals, public trust is reportedly seeing a shift away from institutions. According to the 2020 Edelman Trust Barometer, “none of the four societal institutions that the study measures—government, business, NGOs, and media—is trusted.” However, trust in friends, bosses, neighbors, and other people found in smaller social circles seems to be solidifying.
Word-of-mouth, whether in person or through SNS, is more trusted than the information coming out of traditional media organizations. In other words, power is moving from a centralized authority into the hands of individuals collaborating to share information.
4) We need a global framework to solve global issues.
In his speech on how to survive the 21st century, historian Yuval Noah Harari shared wise words:
“Leaders like the US president tell us that there is an inherent contradiction between nationalism and globalism … but this is a dangerous mistake … In the 21st century, in order to protect the safety and the future of your compatriots, you must cooperate with foreigners … Good nationalists must be good globalists.”
He also likened the US turn from globally minded leadership to living in a broken house: even if each country cleans its own room, the house itself remains broken and will surely, ultimately, collapse.
If the US, the world’s greatest superpower, falls to unilateralism, it will no longer be equipped to lead the world. The international community will then be forced to seek alliances laterally, through cooperation among small- and medium-sized countries.
In light of this, I expect to see a framework develop between Europe and Japan. Europe (with the exception of the UK) has developed strong ties within itself and is historically accustomed to multinational—rather than unilateral—decision making. If a partnership should develop between Japan and Europe, this could create a global network for collective decision making on issues such as climate change, digital taxation, and digital currency.
5) We should work hand-in-hand with the World Economic Forum to improve the state of the world.
As with conferences past, this fiftieth conference in Davos sought to fulfill the mission of the World Economic Forum, bringing together “people from all walks of life who have the drive and the influence to make positive change.”
Every year, Davos welcomes top leaders in politics, NGOs, academia, media, and religion to this conference. If such a group cannot find solutions to the world’s most difficult problems, who can?
Professor Klaus Schwab, who launched the WEF fifty years ago, wasn’t just bringing people together, but trying to improve the state of the world.
I recall a meeting of Japanese delegates with Prof. Schwab at the 2007 “Summer Davos” in China.
“The WEF is very important,” I said to him, “and it has so much power to change the world. Now there’s Summer Davos in China and the India Economic Summit…but there’s no WEF event in Japan. Why not? Can you create one in Japan, as well?”
Prof. Schwab politely laid out the reasons why there had not been any major WEF events in Japan, but then added, “Perhaps you should be the one to create such a conference.”
These words planted the seed for the G1 Summit, which was held for the first time just two years later in Fukushima. For the past 11 years, the annual G1 Summit has been holding multi-stakeholder meetings with the aim of creating a better Japan. And with every passing year, we make a little more progress toward that goal.
We will be hosting the 10th annual G1 Globalーa conference conducted in Englishーon October 11th, 2020.
I consider it my duty, as a participant of the WEF for thirteen years and counting, to use my drive and influence to improve the state of the world from Japan.
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