Shinichi Uetadani, President and CEO of TSI Holdings Co., Ltd.

You never know what the future holds, so make the most of the experiences you have now

Profile

Shinichi Ueda
After graduating from the University of Tokyo in 1992, he joined Booz Allen Hamilton. He worked as a management consultant and participated in the founding of Ohmae & Associates in 1995. In 2004, he moved to Kuroda Electric Co., Ltd., where he became a director. He then served as Representative Director and President of Retail Networks (Disney Store), Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Japan, and Barneys Japan, before becoming an Outside Director of TSI Holdings in May 2017. He has held his current position since May 2020.

President Uetadani had a diverse career even before he became president of TSI Holdings. This will surprise many students. However, this career is the result of many experiences, thoughts, and sometimes hardships since his student days. What is the brand business that such a president is now aiming for that can be used overseas? We spoke passionately about his thoughts on the company and his message to university students.

I entered university in 1988 and graduated in 1992. Back then, the bubble economy was still in full swing, and compared to today, I personally felt a more relaxed student life. Personally, I was quite active outside of my studies, participating in tennis clubs, international exchange groups, and part-time tutoring. During spring break before my third year of university, a friend invited me to participate in a student internship program at a consulting firm. At the time, the consulting profession wasn't a major one, and even the internship was full of fascinating experiences. The most enjoyable aspect of the job was cultivating logical thinking. While logical thinking and PowerPoint are commonplace these days, the process of "analyzing things based on facts and communicating them succinctly" was incredibly stimulating. Furthermore, while many of my university classmates went on to work as government officials or bankers, those who chose consulting firms were generally quite unusual, so it was also fun to meet fellow students like me. This internship was a truly memorable experience, and it was the most mentally taxing experience I've had since studying for my university entrance exams. After the internship, I continued working part-time during my senior year and joined the company the following year, Booz Allen Hamilton.

■Meeting and connecting with many business owners

I continued to have a variety of experiences after joining the company, but meeting Kenichi Ohmae in my third year was a turning point in my life. At the time, Ohmae was the head of McKinsey & Company in Japan and a top figure in the consulting industry. He was planning to go independent and start a new business, so for some reason, he approached me, even though I was working for a competitor. The company that Ohmae and I founded at that time was the predecessor to Business Breakthrough, Inc. I gained a variety of experiences, including starting new businesses and running venture capital firms, but I decided to move to Kuroda Electric in my early 30s. My reason for joining was that I had no prior experience in the real world, such as production or sales, and I wanted to gain experience at a business company. I then gained experience primarily at B2C companies, including Disney Store, Krispy Kreme, and Barneys New York. I became our company's president about two years ago. I've worked for a variety of companies, but no matter where I've been, I've never worked my way up from the ground up. Therefore, I genuinely admire and respect the employees with specialized skills in their respective fields. I think this is in some ways an advantage for me as a hired manager, because I don't have to compete with people who are better at their jobs than me.

■ Don't make clothes for sale

Of course, the most rewarding moments as a manager are when we achieve our goals (such as numbers), but also when we realize, just before that, that "the steering wheel is starting to work!" Through consistent communication, there are moments when I feel like my strategies and initiatives have resonated with all my employees. It's satisfying when employees empathize with me. Conversely, there are of course difficult times, such as when numbers don't grow as expected. I think all managers face challenges with performance and relationships with stakeholders. Incidentally, I think the moment I felt a sense of accomplishment at my current company was when we shifted our branding and business model to a "proprietary business" model that doesn't rely on sales. Of course, there are businesses out there that offer high-quality products at low prices and promote price, including sales. However, our products are relatively niche and primarily focused on hobby-oriented pursuits, so we value the individuality of our brand and place importance on ensuring that "people who love our products will continue to love them." The price remains the same no matter when or where you buy it. This allows us to take pride in our products, which retain their value over time, and customers can purchase with confidence at any time. On the other hand, we will not let down the people who love us. We will continue to develop this kind of business. We also want to further develop overseas markets in the future. Japan is a country with a stable middle class, but looking at other countries, there are few countries like that. That is why the fashion industry is so sharply divided into fast fashion and luxury. This is why we want to expand brands aimed at the middle class further around the world.

■ Honest and unconventional

As colleagues to work hard with, I would like to hire honest students who are honest and don't lie. Specifically, people who can reflect on their actions and speak up when they think something is wrong, even to their superiors or people higher up. Also, people who can question common sense and norms. We don't know if all of the company's rules and regulations are correct, and sometimes they are wrong. People who can recognize that are good. I think that the ability to think about things from a zero-base perspective will be valuable in the future, no matter what company you go to.

■Message to university students

It's impossible to predict the future with certainty. However, I don't think the world will get any worse. At the very least, I think there are ways to survive no matter what. So, I want you to be somewhat optimistic about Japan's future and cherish your unfounded confidence. If you get a chance, take on the challenge greedily and see it through to the end. Even if it doesn't work out or isn't a good fit for you, keep looking for the next opportunity. Believe in yourself and give your all in everything you do. Once you enter society, it's a cycle that repeats itself.

Student Newspaper WEB December 1, 2020 Interview with Keio University First-Year Student Miyu Ito

　 Keio University, 1st year student, Miyu Ito

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Tsujiuchi Kaisei, a third-year student at Nihon University / Kitanohara Mana, a student at Kyoritsu Women's University / Ito Miyu, a first-year student at Keio University