Arigato gozaimasu Tokyo! ??

After roughly 7 months (it started as a “5 weeks engagement" but… you know how tremendous opportunities work in consulting, right?!), my period in Japan came to a close last Friday.

While LinkedIn often sees hyperbolic experience descriptions ("tremendous"!), I genuinely view this as an extraordinary personal and professional opportunity I was offered. Professionally, it has been an honor to work alongside the AlixPartners Japan team, supporting one of our most important clients of the Tokyo office, while personally I really enjoyed living in Tokyo during this extended stay. I am grateful to the firm, the AlixPartners Asia team, and Markus Mantwill (thank you for your ongoing guidance and support, as usual and more than ever, even from the other side of the globe!), who entrusted me with this opportunity back in November.

As best practice of a good consultant (which I am trying to be), one should always conclude a project with a reflection on what has been accomplished, lessons learned, and key takeaways (and of course a PowerPoint deck with 157,397,647 slides + annex). And of course, here are my top (semi-serious) 10 (yeah, they are 11, but still, “directionally correct” ten) takeaways and lessons learned [still PRELIMINARY DRAFT - FOR DISCUSSION - SUBJECT TO MATERIAL CHANGES, of course]:

1) First and most important: Tokyo is the most exciting and wonderful city in the world to live in. I have never had the opportunity to be bored in Tokyo, even after 10+ weekends spent exploring the city and the surrounding.

2) In case you are wondering, yes, business cards ARE still relevant!

3) Lost in translation to the point: cultural differences do play a role in the business environment. Even if we tend to think that our “global economy” brings a unique global way of working and corporate/business culture, well… this is not really the case.

4) If you think your New York underground system is complex… welcome to Tokyo! Despite the incredible complexity, it is the easiest metro system to ride (but don’t try the train system outside Tokyo ??).

5) Make the most of the opportunities your job provides: not just professionally, but as enriching "life experiences”. In the last few months, I had the opportunity to discover and explore the rich and incredible Japanese culture in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Nikko, I saw Mount Fuji, attended a Kabuki performance, and visited countless shrines and temples, all of which will remain with me forever. Take advantage of the opportunities you are offered, and don’t limit yourself to the professional ones. Live your work experiences as a full life opportunity!

6) Nothing in the world is cleaner than a toilet in Japan: you can literally have a picnic on the floor of a public toilet in a train station (for the most amazing public toilet in the world → https://tokyotoilet.jp/en/ and Wim Wenders’ “Perfect Days”)

7) Planning is king for achieving work-life balance. Despite being assigned to a project on the other side of the globe, I have been able to take my usual Caribbean year-end vacation, celebrate my 40th birthday with a week in the Maldives, and enjoy two short vacations in Japan when I was joined by my husband Alessandro Rimassa . With proper foresight and transparency about your priorities with the team and managers, you can maintain a fulfilling personal life, even when working remotely from loved ones.

8) If you are French, Italian, Vietnamese, Chinese, Spanish, etc. and you think your food is the best in the world… you are just wrong. Food in Tokyo is not good, it’s not fantastic, it’s not delicious… it’s heavenly! I don’t know how I will live in the next few months without my delicious weekly ramen at Mugi To Olive in Ginza

9) Sakura (cherry blossoms) and hanami (Japanese tradition of viewing and celebrating the beauty of these blossoms) are a big deal in Japan, even for locals. The cherry blossom season is not just a passing spectacle but a reminder to embrace the present moment and make the most of what live offers you… now!

10) It's easier to meet European colleagues in Tokyo... than in Europe!

11) Senator lounges in Munich and Frankfurt are just as nice as business lounges... but way less crowded (... ah wait maybe this is the point?! ??).

[by the way, 汉莎航空 , if you are reading this: an HON Circle upgrade for the hrs spent on your (wonderful!) aeroplanes would be highly appreciated!]

But most importantly, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the exceptional global team (with members from the USA/India, China, Germany, Italy... and of course Japan!) I had the privilege to work with throughout this journey.

• Jessica Yang , your strong dedication and energy from the very early days of the project were instrumental to our team success. Shota Nomoto , I am very glad you join our team as your first project at AlixPartners (such a great luck!), your positive spirit was a source of motivation even in challenging days. Franz-Ferdinand Lutz , fellow EMEA TOM expert, thank you so much for our great partnering, for the (positive) challenges you kept giving me, thank you for the sparring sessions that kept me on my toes: after many months of online collaboration, it has been an honor and a pleasure to work (finally in person!) with you side-by-side. I am sure this wonderful team will have a great path at AlixPartners , and the firm is lucky to have you! RashinderPal Gill , thank you for your guidance that steered us in the right direction during the entire process. Yusuke Aiba , I am grateful for our collaboration in driving the workstream and for graciously introducing me to Japanese customs and culture. I am sure this wonderful team will have a great path at AlixPartners, and the firm is lucky to have you! [and of course thank you to Yutaka Sato ]
• Shiv Shivaraman , Takuro Ueji , and Tomoyuki Suzuki , I am truly appreciative of the trust and opportunity you bestowed upon me. I hope my contributions have met your expectations and I truly hope we will have more opportunities to work together in Asia.
• To the entire Organization Transformation practice: your ongoing support from Europe and the US reinforced the power of our global network. Once again, I really experienced the power of our global practice, as I never felt alone, but part of a global team “on a mission” to Japan.
• A special thank you to Fumiko Mochizuki , Akira ARAI and the entire Tokyo admin team: your valuable logistical and technical support was invaluable in ensuring a smooth experience. And thank you Alina Ghencean , you saved (and adjusted) my travel schedule with such grace and patience so many times that I really don't know how you still bear me [and thank you Yuichiro Mitsutomi for the best advice on restaurants and coolest shopping in Tokyo!].

Thank you!