[2018] A FRUITFUL JOURNEY TOWARDS PURPOSE

As a corporate entrepreneur known by his peers to be a mature and compassionate leader,Masamichi Takahashi is an exemplary role model for innovators.

What defines Takahashi-san is his determination to tackle societal issues with resolve.  Soon after arriving in Singapore, through conversations with his colleagues, communities and members of society, he came to realization that, perhaps, insurance companies could take a much more proactive role in helping their employees cope with mental health issues. 
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Placing empathy at the core of his observations, he delved himself into further conversations and found that the employees faced emotional pressures stemming from their careers and money matters.  Engaging in first hand conversations with counselling providers, he dived deeper into the ‘state of mind’ of employees in organisations. Despite facing high levels of stress, the sources of pressure differed radically between older and younger employees. Whilst strong feelings of responsibility affect the older generation, younger employees struggle with delivering results at work that they have yet to accustom themselves to.  ​

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“Tackling Societal Issues with Passion, Empathy and Resilience.”

Looking back at his own career, he could resonate with what the younger and older employees were telling him.  Like many, Takahashi-san had pains in the starting phase of his career. He started out in a division where he had difficulties performing well in the role that he was assigned to. Despite the situation, he continued to speak with others and tried to broaden his perspectives.  Thanks to his perseverance, he gradually started to be recognized as a successful corporate entrepreneur in the organization and the insurance industry.

When asked about his experiences as a corporate entrepreneur, he reiterates the importance of gaining insights and inspiration from others and building resilience to deal with difficult situations with flexibility and perseverance.  As he shares, “everyone has difficulties, but we can take the time and effort to gain additional experiences”. These efforts will open new doors of opportunities that lead us on our journey of self-discovery.
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Societal changes do not happen overnight.  It requires a great deal of passion, empathy and resilience on our part.  The journey may be fraught with uncertainties and obstacles, but with a strong will to serve the need of society, there will be a time where these plans (dreams) will come true.  ​