22: Andreas Dannenberg, President and CEO of Adcomm Group

Andreas Dannenberg, President and CEO of Adcomm Group, has been running his business marketing agency for over 30 years since arriving in Japan from Germany. As a boy growing up in West Berlin, Mr. Dannenberg dreamed of one day travelling Asia, which he fulfilled as an adult, capturing photographs of places in China that were unfamiliar to the rest of the world. The photographs he captured there were published in globally renowned magazines. This experience led him to land work in a film and photography firm in Japan. Soon after, he founded his first company, Ad-Media, a creative and strategic agency. Mr. Dannenberg credits his bold move to start a business in a foreign country to hard work and having a fundamental belief in oneself. His experience sailing across the Pacific and surviving a storm has also made him develop a strong mentality in facing challenges.

With a firm belief that his company could provide valuable strategic insight to clients that other agencies could not, Mr. Dannenberg first hired freelancers and then full-time staff to grow his business. As a leader, Mr. Dannenberg wants his staff to show accountability and initiative in analyzing problems and coming up with solutions. As a creative agency, he also points to the importance of thinking creatively but with comprehensive reasoning behind the thought process.

To maintain strong engagement with his staff, Mr. Dannenberg tries to communicate a holistic view of the business, by talking transparently in smaller groups or through one-on-one conversations. The company also holds social events where people can communicate in a more relaxed environment outside of work. Mr. Dannenberg is open to feedback, as long as some solutions are suggested. During the start of every project, when his staff are giving out ideas, Mr. Dannenberg is mindful of choosing the best idea, even if they overrule his. Additionally, he has had experience standing up to clients with unreasonable expectations to ensure proper working environment standards for his staff.

For newcomers in Japan, Mr. Dannenberg advises people to believe in their common sense, learn the language and culture, and be open to new information by being “an empty cup.” He explains: “Don't come here with a cup already full, [thinking] I know how businesses are run. Maybe you know that, but not necessarily how they're run in Japan. So listen, keep it open.”