by Helen Iwata | Jun 11, 2024 | All, Personal Growth
Perhaps the worst and best advice I’ve received so far in my 3-decade career in Japan. WORST ADVICE: Underpromise and overdeliver I received this advice from a senior colleague in my early days at McKinsey Japan. “Brilliant!” I thought. What a great way to delight my...
by Helen Iwata | May 27, 2024 | All, Personal Growth
Five years ago, my business was going extremely well based on decades of experience as a bilingual British woman in corporate Japan, a solid professional reputation, and GREAT client relationships. But one area that I’d neglected was my look. More than one person...
by Helen Iwata | May 21, 2024 | All, Communication Skills, Personal Growth
What do you do when you get sick as a business professional? Even if you work for a company that provides paid leave, you may find it difficult to let go and trust that everything will be okay without you – especially if you’re in a manager or expert position!...
by Helen Iwata | May 14, 2024 | All, Communication Skills, Personal Growth, Presentation Skills
“I get so nervous giving presentations.” Many clients tell me this when we start working together. And my response is usually, “Good. That means you’re a normal human being.” Why it’s normal to be nervous As human beings, from primitive times, we needed to be...
by Helen Iwata | May 7, 2024 | All, Communication Skills, Personal Growth
Are you riding the email rollercoaster? If you’re like many business professionals, constantly checking and responding to emails, do you realize your brain is on a hormonal rollercoaster, with ups and downs of dopamine and cortisol? Dopamine, often called the...
by Helen Iwata | Apr 30, 2024 | All, Personal Growth
I’m back in Tokyo after visiting Europe, including a 5-day Paris vacation with my daughter. In the old days, the overdoing, perfectionist, people pleasing me would work ridiculously hard until the last minute to cram in as much as possible before a vacation. Then I...
