What do tennis coaching and recruitment have in common? A chat with Hisato Wakaizumi

Hisato Wakaizumi was born and bred in Tokyo, studied in the United States, worked as a tennis coach in Florida teaching young children to 95-year-old ladies, and now has a successful career as a Consultant at FocusCore Japan in Accounting and Finance. His unique international experience makes him the perfect person to answer the question - what do tennis coaching and recruitment have in common? In this episode you will hear:The importance of having the right mindset Why the C-Suite in Japan isn’t people in their 20s and 30s and what does this mean for Japan’s growthThe value of networking to grow your career and simple ways to do itThe common misconceptions about being a recruiter including Hisato’s own! The importance of soft skills and how they are becoming more valued Hisato has been working with some of the top-level executives in Japan and he’s observed a few key things they do to succeed, which he’s sharing with host, David Sweet. Hisato Bio:Hisato is a new dad and an executive search consultant at FocusCore Japan. With experience working in the United States and Japan, he is a trusted advisor to clients for his persistent tenacity and creative solutions to challenging hires in Japan. He is also an avid tennis player!Connect with Hisato Wakaizumi:Website: https://www.japan.focuscoregroup.com/consultants/hisato-wakaizumi?source=google.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hisato-wakaizumi-38479513b/ Email: [email protected] Links of things mentioned in this episode:Hidden Brain PodcastBear dancing and coaching with Corey McGowan episode Connect with David Sweet:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidsweet/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejp Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasiaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/focuscorejp/ Website: https://www.japan.focuscoregroup.com/ Doin’ the Uptown Lowdown,” used by permission of Christopher Davis-Shannon. To find out more, check out www.thetinman.co. Support independent musicians and artists.Mentioned in this episode:Find out more about salaries, the job market, hiring and what's important to both companies and individuals looking for a job specifically in Japan. 2025 Salary Guide