The catalyst for the #50lunches50leaders series was actually the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. In a matter of weeks, ZOOM, MS Teams, Google Meets, and Skype calls all became regular fixtures in our daily lives, and with that, a lens into others’ personal lives.

With Japan often being viewed as very top-down or hierarchal, it is difficult for junior members to imagine connecting with those at the top. However, the ability to witness a more personal nature to senior leaders suddenly became commonplace.

Seeing the company President with a dog on his lap, the Director’s children running around behind her, the Line Manager’s collection of sports trophies on the shelf in the background… The list of examples is endless, and I felt it really showcased a more human side to how people viewed their seniors.

A key objective in the #50lunches50leaders series was to capture this more personal side of leadership, and as such, these interactions deliberately occurred in a casual, informal manner.

Engaging with 50 healthcare industry leaders was personally, extremely satisfying, and I hope you enjoy reading about them as much as I did attending the actual lunches!

Daniel McGrath, Managing Partner