Mark Militello is the Country Representative of the Bank of New York Mellon. This is his third posting to Japan, though he has had a long history within the Investment banking space. He was most recently with the Bank of New York Mellon in Hong Kong for 10 years before relocating to Tokyo.
When leading in Japan, Mr. Militello explains how Japanese employees may not feel comfortable asking specific questions to their clients. This may be due to their lower rank in the company or the Japanese culture. He says that it is important for him to sometimes step in and ask those hard questions to ensure the operation is running smoothly. Although banks as an industry are not known to be creative, Mr. Militello says that creating a safe, relaxed environment for his team, especially the junior employees, can bring out more innovative ideas. Mr. Militello further explains that gaining the trust of Japanese employees can be a challenge for a foreign leader. He adds, letting the Japanese staff know that you have their back, that you are invested in them and will fight for the team with headquarters has helped with establish trust.
A way of getting people engaged in the company is to be transparent. Mr. Militello emphasizes that they must try to give everyone a voice and that must go beyond the leadership team. He says that leadership is typically of a certain demographic. Leadership may be men that are of a certain age and background with a traditional way of thinking. This is not representative of the views of the whole company. Mr. Militello emphasizes being mindful of this and trying to hear everyone’s views, even people lower down on the hierarchy, is essential.
Mr. Militello advises people to come to Japan with an open mind. He also suggests unlearning most of the things that they may have learned, as they may not apply to Japan. Furthermore, Mr. Militello referred to his experience to nearby countries. He says that people in Hong Kong and Korea have more English speakers in the population, whereas in Japan it is a lot less and thus it is important to be mindful of this. He recommends trying to learn Japanese, even if it is a few phrases to show your commitment. Mr. Militello also suggests getting to know Japan outside the office. He says there is a lot to enjoy, especially the green spaces and the fantastic food.
