89| Japan Leadership Experience: Why Leaders Go to Japan with Katie Anderson
What is the Japan Leadership Experience actually like? It’s one of the questions I’m asked most often about this immersive leadership program I lead.
Since 2018, over 160 global leaders have joined me in Japan, from senior executives to internal change leaders and external consultants, coming as individuals and as leadership teams.
In this special bonus episode, I’m bringing you the voices of some of them, all past Chain of Learning podcast guests.
Most leaders come to see lean management, Toyota Production System principles, continuous improvement tools, and kaizen at the source. What they discover is that a culture of improvement and operational excellence is a leadership philosophy, where respect for people, purpose, and developing people are foundational.
You’ll hear:
You’ll hear:
- How going to see can drop your understanding from the head to the heart
- Why some of the greatest insights happen in the space between the site visits, including time with Toyota leader Isao Yoshino
- What changes when you step out of the familiar and into a beginner’s mindset
- How leaders have translated those insights into meaningful impact
- Why past participants call it a trip of a lifetime, and one of the highlights of their careers
If you’re curious about investing in your own leadership growth, I invite you to join me on the next Japan Leadership Experience, either as an individual or as a team from your organization. The May 2027 program is the only one I’m leading in 2027.
IMPORTANT LINKS:
- Full episode show notes: ChainOfLearning.com/89
- Follow me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kbjanderson
- Subscribe to my newsletter: kbjanderson.com/newsletter
- Learn more about the Japan Leadership Experience and apply: KBJAnderson.com/JapanTrip
- Listen to more participant reflections: kbjanderson.com/japantrip/japan-testimonials
TIMESTAMPS FOR THIS EPISODE:
1:00 What makes the Japan Leadership Experience different
1:00 What makes the Japan Leadership Experience different
2:20 Why quality is about love and trust
3:00 Seeing people as the heart of continuous improvement
4:10 How purpose comes to life at Ina Foods
5:10 What ownership looks like on the front line
6:10 Why leaders need 1,000% conviction
7:10 The power of learning and reflecting together
8:40 Turning a chain of learning into a chain of impact
9:20 Why Lean transformation takes time
10:10 Applying Japanese principles without copying Japanese culture
11:10 How putting people first changes business results
12:10 Why preparation and reflection deepen learning
14:10 Making time to step away and become a learner
15:40 Leading with love and creating the conditions for growth
17:10 How caring changes the meaning of 5S
18:10 Thinking beyond results to build a lasting legacy
