Leading Across Cultures: Building Your Career in Japanese Organizations
Event Overview
We’ll hear from Dirk Schapeler, a seasoned global executive with extensive leadership experience across Japan, Europe, and the United States, and Saskia Rock, a Japan-focused HR professional, GLOBIS MBA alumna, and cross-cultural talent management expert with professional experience spanning both Japan and the United States.
Together, they will share complementary perspectives on navigating Japanese organizations: from career development and cross-cultural workplaces to leadership and organizational decision-making.
What We’ll Explore:
Drawing from his extensive executive experience across Japan, Europe, and the United States, Dirk will share firsthand insights into leadership, decision-making, innovation, cultural differences, and career development within Japan-headquartered organizations.
Saskia will bring a talent and people perspective shaped by her career across Japan and the United States. Drawing from her experience in human resources, cross-cultural talent management, leadership development, and inclusive workplaces, she will share insights into navigating careers and organizations across cultures.
The two speakers will then come together for an interactive dialogue, bringing together leadership and HR perspectives on what it takes for international professionals to navigate, contribute to, and grow within Japanese organizations.
The session will conclude with an audience Q&A.
Who Should Join?
- International professionals interested in building a career in Japan
- Professionals interested in working for Japanese companies, either in Japan or globally
- Those considering studying in Japan as a pathway to their next career step
- Professionals currently working in cross-cultural or Japanese business environments
- Anyone curious about the realities of career development and leadership within Japanese organizations
Whether Japan is already part of your career journey or something you are considering for the future, this session offers an opportunity to hear directly from professionals who have navigated that path firsthand.
Agenda
| 5:00 - 5:05 PM | Opening & Introductions |
|---|---|
| 5:05 – 5:20 PM | Presentation from Dirk |
| 5:20 – 5:35 PM | Presentation from Saskia |
| 5:35 – 5:50 PM | Dialogue Session |
| 5:50 - 6:00 PM | Audience Q&A & Closing |
Speakers
Dirk Schapeler
SVP and President, Niterra Ventures Company (NVC)Dirk Schapeler is SVP and President of Niterra Ventures Company (NVC) based in San Jose, CA and Nagoya, Japan. NVC establishes new revenue streams in mobility, medical, energy and environment. He has been working in Automotive, Material Science and Healthcare for more than 25 years in the US, Germany, France, Japan and Mexico. In his current role, he invests in and internally develops game-changing technologies that improve quality of life.
Previously he was Vice President of Digital Health at Bayer and had founded Bayer’s LifeScience iHUB innovation center in 2015. Prior to that he served as the CEO of Bayer’s ViviTouch subsidiary Artificial Muscle Inc. in Sunnyvale. He is a co-inventor of electro active polymers and owns more than 14 patents. An engineer in electronics and mechanics, he studied in Karlsruhe, Germany.
Dirk is passionate about innovation and technology, and their emerging role in digital health, clean air and water, and mobility.
Saskia Rock
Managing Director, JCO USA / U.S.-Japan Council leader / President, GLOBIS USA Alumni AssociationSaskia Rock is a Japan-focused HR consultant and CTI-trained coach, serving as Managing Director at JCO USA. She is a U.S.-Japan Council leader, holds an MBA from GLOBIS, and currently serves as President of the GLOBIS USA Alumni Association.
A former Deloitte Japan professional and JET Program alumna (CIR), Saskia brings deep expertise in cross-cultural talent management, leadership development, and inclusive workplace strategies. Her work bridges U.S.-Japan business communities through strategic HR consulting, coaching, and cultural advisory services.