What our professional staff say - 1

Isao Endo, Chairman

Question: Why did you become a consultant and what was the trigger? Why did you join Roland Berger and what sparked your choice? Have your hopes been met?

Answer: I become a consultant because I wanted to be able to make my own choices about my life rather than be a cog in a big organization. The reason that I joined this firm was that when I met the founder, Mr. Roland Berger, I had sensed that I would be able to do interesting work with him. The first time we met, we spent four hours talking in a restaurant at the Hotel Okura. You could say it was fate.

Question: At what moments are you glad that you became a consultant? And what are your most difficult moments?

Answer: When the effort and sincerity of the people with whom I am conducting a project is acknowledged by the client. While the process can be very difficult, all the difficulties fly away when the client reacts positively.

Question: What kind of place is Roland Berger for you? How would you sum Roland Berger up?

Answer: This is the fourth company that I have worked for in a 15-year consulting career, but it is the first at which the consultants are given such freedom and where success depends so much on one's motivation. I think it is one of few truly professional firms. In the second year after I joined, the office was finding it difficult to maintain stable profits and when we sent a fainthearted e-mail message to Mr. Berger, we received a handwritten fax it response. It said, "You have my full confidence. I trust you"" Roland Berger is that kind of company.

Question: What internal event stands out as having been particularly enjoyable and what event has left the biggest impression?

Answer: The first outing (company trip) I participated in when we went to Okinawa. The quality of my work was still unstable and I bellowed out in the hotel lobby. (I apologize to my team members.) After that, I watched a magic show put on by Tanji-san (a partner). It was a must-see!

Question: What is your future dream and goal? What will be your next career?

Answer: In any event, it is to establish Roland Berger as one of the top three consultancies in Japan along with McKinsey and BCG. To achieve this, each consultant must hone his or her skills and we must become a brand recognized by the market. We will create a Roland Berger brand as "a company that is home to many consultants like that." There is no question that we have become quite competitive. While the backbone has emerged, the real fight is yet to come. On a personal level, I want to put energy into cultivating Japan's future leaders at business school.

Question: What are your interests? How do you most often spend your valuable holidays and after-work hours?

Answer: I took up deep-sea fishing several years ago, but with little time for it, I have not been able to improve my skills. On the weekend, I go for a swim at the gym and empty my head.

Question: Please give us a quick summary of your career to date.

Answer: I was born in Tokyo in 1956. After graduating from the School of Commerce at Waseda University, I joined Mitsubishi Electric and later worked for an America strategic consulting company. I also earned an MBA from Boston College's Carroll School of Management.

I have rich experience in business strategy development, marketing strategy, and sales and business restructuring in the manufacturing, service and financial industries; and provide a range of support for Japanese companies trying to establish globally competitive positions.