What happens when leaders from around the world step away from their daily routines and immerse themselves in the birthplace of lean, continuous improvement, and people-centered leadership?
In May 2025, I had the privilege of leading Cohort 7 of my Japan Leadership Experience—an extraordinary week of learning, connection, and transformation alongside 18 global leaders and 81-year-old Toyota leader Isao Yoshino.
From factory floors to tea ceremonies, every moment deepened our understanding of what it truly means to lead with purpose, respect, and humanity. Watch the short video montage below for a glimpse of the powerful experiences and connections we shared.
If you’re ready to experience this transformation for yourself, applications are now open for November 2025 and May 2026.
Join a global network of leaders committed to creating lasting impact—begin your journey here!
Day 1 – Sunday – Nagoya: Orientation and Toyota Techno Museum
Japan Leadership Experience Cohort 7 kicked off in Nagoya!
Ten years and a month before this week’s program was my first visit to Nagoya — to meet 40-year Toyota leader Isao Yoshino in Japan for the first of what would become thousands of hours of conversations together.
Mr. Yoshino and I met up for tea before the official program began, reflecting on the joy our collaboration has brought us and how much we both love spreading this Chain of Learning around the world.
And then I welcomed another fabulous group of 18 global leaders — from diverse industries and countries including Hungary, Czech Republic, Venezuela, Chile, US, France, UK and Brazil — to get back to the heart of lean, devops, agile and operational excellence.
And the bonus — Mr. Yoshino is with us the entire week!
Our mission: to explore what it really means to hold precious what it means to be human and how an attitude towards learning is the secret to Toyota’s success.
We make people so that we can make things. (Monozukuri was hitozukuri)
The soil has been tilled (nemawashi) for rich learning through the pre-trip learning materials and online discussions. And now the immersion begins with team building, orientation, a visit to the Toyota museum, and the first of many excellent meals!
Let the transformation begin!
Day 2 – Monday – Nagoya: Mifune Factory Visit and Toyota Management Institute Seminar on Toyota Way Management System
“Cherish the small things”. Does this sound like your company’s policy or mission? It’s the official company focus of a Toyota Tier 2 supplier in Toyota City that was our first visit on Day 2.
And it’s not just a slogan on the wall or their annual Hoshin.
It’s how leaders and employees think and act.
Cherish the small things as small things are what lead to big impact.
We continued our journey of discovering what “holding precious what it means to be human” really means.
Hearts and minds were awakened.
Reconnected with purpose.
Grounded in dignity, intention, and learning.
The revitalization has begun.
—> People first.
—> Process second.
—> Results follow.
This is the transformation of the Japan Leadership Experience. Move beyond focusing on just immediate results to long term success, grounded in humanity.
The essence. Humanness.
From our visit to the Toyota Tier 2 supplier to an inspiring seminar from Toyota Management Institute Director Matsudaira-sensei to reflections together and discussion with Toyota leader Isao Yoshino …. and sharing some fantastic meals as well…
….our Chain of Learning grows.
Pictures and words cannot do justice to learning by experience and connection.
The impact is what each person does to take this new knowledge and create applied wisdom.
Day 3 – Tuesday – Toyota City and Nagoya Region: Avex Factory Visit, Tsuda Elementary School Visit and Tea Ceremony Experience
Dignity. Energy. Joy. Kindness. People are treasures not costs. Revitalize.
These are just a few of the words and phrases that summed up our immersive learning on Day 3 of the Japan Leadership Experience.
We witnessed what Chain of Learning really means in practice.
What it means to be a samurai who cuts without pulling the sword, as Tim Wolput highlights on his podcast episode – Do the Right Thing: Japanese Management Masterclass Part 1.
…Whether it was at a high precision metal manufacturing company / tier 2 Toyota supplier whose founder’s deep conviction that people, community, and innovation is the way to long term success. Where novices and developed by more experienced team members and the cycle continues.
…The elementary school where the young children worked together to serve us (and them) lunch and clean the school (and delight in play).
….Or the beautiful appreciation of creating special moments — together — in the ritual of the tea ceremony.
The journey to deeply understanding what respect for people — holding precious means to be human — means went another layer deeper.
People and learning — by developing a Chain of Learning — is the secret to success.
It’s what is too often missing when we focus only on results. Or see process improvement as mainly technical not relational.
It’s about the connection of heart, mind, and purpose to contributing to a greater good each and every day.
We are making friendships that will last a lifetime.
The learning journey continues…. And our Chain of Learning continues to grow.
Day 4 – Wednesday – Japan Alps: Ina Foods Visit, KantenPapa Garden Lunch and Sake Tasting Experience
“Change is the first step of growth” — 2025 company vision
On Day 4, our group of 18 global leaders, 40-year Toyota leader Isao Yoshino, Tim Wolput and I journeyed to one of the most special companies I’ve developed a relationship with in the past decade.
A company where “Happiness is our purpose.”
Founded on the concept of “Tree Ring Management” — taking the long view and knowing that what is important is growth, not the size of growth.
It’s about getting better — changing — each and every day.
It’s about staying grounded in purpose. In people.
And about making the world a better place.
“When things are hard, we tend to focus on what is right in front of us and we forget what the real mission or vision is of the company. Go back to the essence. Each and every day stay grounded in that. Stay strong and know why you and your company exists.”
The way to grow is by being a “precious presence in the world”. Inspire by doing good, build a reputation for both your product and your culture.
Day 4 Continued – Japan Alps: Ryokan and Onsen Experience + Traditional Japanese Dinner
Omotenashi
This immersive learning experience I create for global leaders is not just about visiting excellence companies and talking with Japanese leaders — it’s about experiencing some of the core foundations and of Japanese culture.
In the evening of Day 4, our group traveled to a beautiful lake amongst the mountains to relax and enjoy time together at a traditional ryokan (guesthouse) in our yukata (robes), partake in the onsen (natural hot spring baths), walks along the lakeside, and delight in our traditional celebration dinner.
Omotenashi — hospitality and service — is a core part of the experience at a ryokan.
Day 5 – Thursday – Takasaki / Ashikaga: Daruma Temple Visit, Zen Meditation Experience, Lunch at Kurasushi, Ogura Metal Visit, and Tokyo Food Company Visit
Zen and Darumas — “Eliminate the muda to reveal the Buddha.”
This morning we traveled to my favorite temple in all of Japan:
The Daruma Temple!
This temple — a homage to the Daruma (the Bodidharma, founder of Zen in Japan) is the fitting place to learn about and practice Za-Zen — zen meditation – led by the head zen priest.
Those of you who know me know my obsession with Daruma dolls – paper mache figures that represent the proverb “Fall down seven times, get up eight.”
Then Tim Wolput guided and translated our discussion with the zen priest and a line particularly stood out about the connection between “muda” (waste) and the human spirit that is core to us all.
“Eliminate the muda to reveal the Buddha.”
After we were grounded in being — we were onto our exciting afternoon of learning from two dynamic leaders at their companies: Ogura Metal and Tokyo Food Company.
Day 6 – Friday – Tokyo: Breakout Tour Options and Final Discussion and Graduation
Transforming knowledge to wisdom
I want to say a big “Congratulations” to the 18 global leaders who joined me, 81-year old Toyota Leaders Isao Yoshino, and Tim Wolput for this immersive leadership learning experience across Japan.
Thank you for coming on this journey of discovery:
✨To understand what it means to hold precious what it means to be human.
✨To explore what it takes to create a learning organization where daily continuous improvement / hashtag#kaizen and long-term innovation to stay relevant for the future fo hand and hand.
✨To experience how happiness, dignity and energy must be the focus of leadership.
✨To grasp that we usually have it backwards. Results and business excellence are the output of a focus on people first and good processes second.
✨To feel revitalized in spirit and committed to spreading this Chain of Learning.
I’m so happy to be able to share the relationships and learnings I’ve cultivated over the past decade of living in and returning frequently to Japan.
For now, my heart is full, my spirit energized, and my mind processing the rich learnings from this 7th Japan Leadership Experience and our fabulous cohort.
We had a special group of global leaders from over 8 countries and most speaking multiple languages with each other.
The journey together doesn’t end this weekend. The learning, connections and friendships will last a lifetime! (In fact, read on to see exactly how these connections continue!)
More Than a Trip to Japan – A Transformative Leadership Development Program
You’ve heard me say that my immersive Japan Leadership Experience is “more than a trip to Japan” — that it’s “transformative and life changing” and that the relationships built with each cohort are bonds that last well beyond the program…but what does that look like?
Over the past few weeks, I’ve been filled with joy seeing the continued impact of the Japan Leadership Experience for the 130+ leaders who’ve joined me:
- Groups have been sharing personal stories and continued learnings in WhatsApp—and even visiting one another during summer holidays
- Participants from two separate cohorts connected and met up in their home country of Hungary
- UK-based alumni across six cohorts and I are planning a reunion during my next visit
And one leader from the most recent cohort shared this in our WhatsApp, which made may week:
“Dear friends, It’s been a bit over two months since our unbelievable trip to Japan, and I still think about it almost every day. I’ve been re-reading my notes, reflecting, and putting into practice what we experienced together. But honestly, something still felt a bit off—like I hadn’t quite landed yet. That feeling made me revisit something I hadn’t touched in a long time: my life purpose…. I rewrote it and now it feels more true and more grounded. Here’s the new version, shaped in part by what we lived together:
‘To challenge and support people from a place of humanity, building a world where each person can choose to live a good life, feeling seen, free, and fulfilled.’ Just wanted to share it with you all, since you helped me reconnect with something really meaningful.”
Leading these experiences is one of the great joys of my life—because of the transformation, the connection, and the ripple effect we create through our global Chain of Learning®. And through them I live my own purpose:
“To connect the hearts and minds of people around the world, so that — together — we can make it a better place, by being our best selves, fulfilled in purpose, and connected to humanity.”
Invest in Your Impact: Join the Japan Leadership Experience
Are you ready to reconnect with meaningful leadership and amplify your impact change leader, executive, or consultant?
Join me and some incredible global leaders this November! Limited spaces still remain. And a special bonus – 81-year old Toyota leader Isao Yoshino will be joining you the ENTIRE week to have conversations on the bus, over meals, and during our many company site visits.
If November doesn’t work for you, I’m excited to announce the official opening of Cohort 9 of the Japan Leadership in May 2026!
Apply today for November 2025 or May 2026 to reserve your spot!
Now—more than ever—we need to lead from purpose and humanity.
Whether you come on your own or bring a group, you’ll walk away with deeper clarity, stronger leadership, and the tools to create lasting impact in your life, work, and world.
Behind the Scenes of a Japan Lean Study Tour
Watch these additional short videos on YouTube to see what it’s really like behind the scenes of this immersive learning experience!
- Why Join a Japan Lean Tour as a Partnership: the Impact of Leaders and Consultants Learning Together
- Wisdom From Isao Yoshino: Master This Toyota Leadership Principle to Succeed at Management
- What Happens on a Japan Gemba Walk? Real Safety Investigation at Avex
- How do you create a positive company culture? Inspiration from Tokyo Foods in Japan
- Why a Ryokan Stay is an Essential Part of the Japan Leadership Learning Trip with Katie Anderson
- Life Changing and Phenomenal: A Lean Leader’s Experience in Japan with Katie Anderson
- The Power of Going to Gemba in Japan for Agile and DevOps Leaders
