Seventh in a series of tributes.
Hiroyuki Sugano is a global business leader distinguished by cross-cultural fluency and a disciplined approach to partnerships and market expansion. I owe him a lot.
I met Sugano-san when I was young and full of myself. Because of my success in the US, I was sent to Japan to sort out a tech-media start-up that was in the midst of a financial challenge. The situation was stressful, and there was plenty of anxiety to go around. I brought my baggage with me. I had some solid business skills, but didn’t understand about emotional intelligence or even how cultural expectations informed leadership styles. Instead, I tried to act like the big boss who meant business and demanded corrective actions. I was out of my depth in Japan; I caused people to “lose face” and had no idea what I’d done wrong.
Fortunately, Sugano-san had the grace to judge me based on my intent and not my actions. He saw my passion for saving the business, forgave my missteps, and steered me to a path of reconciliation, respect, and forward momentum. In Japan, I learned the hard lesson that you can’t simply demand that people align with your vision. Motivating people begins with empathy and taking time to respect their beliefs, their concerns, and what moves them.
Sugano-san helped me see that what motivates some people doesn’t work for others. He taught me that leadership means sharing the vision and empowering individuals to tap into their own passion for success. And that’s why I love Hiroyuki Sugano.
