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Online Presentation: Stryker Japan: Defying the Odds

Event Overview

Managing a global healthcare company in the Japanese landscape presents challenges as well as unique opportunities. And for Satoshi Mizusawa, the cross-cultural issues of overseeing a Michigan-based company in Japan make the job even more interesting. The Stryker Japan president will join us for this virtual event to speak about his experience leading his team through a time of turbulent change while driving innovative health technology in Japan. Mizusawa will also share how he has leveraged the concept of “defy the odds” to engage his team and build a culture of Stryker pride.

About the Series

The Japan America Society of Michigan and Southwestern Ontario is pleased to present this program as part of the ACCJ/NAJAS Business Leader Series, a collaboration with the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan and the National Association of Japan-America Societies. The series highlights activities of Japan-based global corporations, strategies in the United States and Japan, business successes and challenges, and perspectives from Japan.

About the Speaker

President and representative director of Stryker Japan K.K., Satoshi Mizusawa is a business leader with a strong foundation in human resources. He started his career with Sanyo Electric Co. Ltd. in the General Affairs and Human Resources Department in 2002. He was later assigned to various positions with subsidiaries of Sanyo that took him to Malaysia and Thailand. After returning to Sanyo headquarters, he worked in the Corporate Planning Department directly reporting to the chief executive officer. Mizusawa then joined General Electric International in 2005, where he was selected for a leadership development program that included an assignment in the United States. After the program, he became an HR manager at GE Healthcare Japan K.K. In 2009, he moved to Abbott Japan LLC, where he was an HR director working for the regional head of compensation and benefits. In June 2014, Mizusawa joined Stryker Japan K.K. as HR senior director, and he became a managing director in January 2015. After completing Stryker’s Global Leadership Program, held in collaboration with Harvard University, he transitioned to his first commercial leadership role and became vice president for the medical/surgical business units in 2017. In 2020, he became general manager, leading Stryker’s legacy business units and expanding his responsibility into orthopedics and other areas. In January 2021, he was promoted to deputy president, with responsibilities for the company’s overall business in Japan and driving growth. He was appointed president and representative director in April 2021. Mizusawa serves on the board of directors and is a member of the executive committee of the American Medical Devices and Diagnostics Manufacturers’ Association (AMDD). He is a graduate of Aoyama Gakuin University and spent one year at Alabama State University.

NOTE 1: This event is ON THE RECORD.

NOTE 2: Please note that, as with all guest presentations, the content and comments of the speakers reflect their own opinions and do not necessarily represent the opinions or policies of the ACCJ.

Free and open to the public.

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