54: Ken Shibusawa, President, Shibusawa and Company, Inc.

Ken Shibusawa shares extensive insight in the global financial sector and alternative investment that has been influenced by his great-great-grandfather, Eiichi Shibusawa, the “Father of Japanese Capitalism.” Mr. Shibusawa was born in Japan and grew up in the United States from a young age when his family first moved to New York. He graduated from the University of Texas in Chemical Engineering but decided to pursue a different career course. After working for an NGO started by his uncle called the Japan Centre for International Exchange, Mr. Shibusawa obtained an MBA from the University of California, Los Angeles. Mr. Shibusawa then went into finance, working for JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs in Japan. Mr. Shibusawa is currently the CEO of Shibusawa and Company, Inc., a strategic advisory firm. He also founded and leads Commons Asset Management, Inc. Additionally, Mr. Shibusawa is the director of Keizai Doyukai (Japan Association of Corporate Executives) and a steering committee member of UNDP SDG Impact, advisor of University of Tokyo, and visiting professor at Seikei University. Mr. Shibusawa also runs a podcast called “Made in Japan” https://madewithjapan.net/

Mr. Shibusawa recalls that working in investment firms during the Japanese economic bubble in the 80s was a mixture of fun experiences combined with stress and frustration. After turning 40, he made the decision to start his own business and founded Shibusawa & Co. When recruiting staff, Mr. Shibusawa mainly found his team through connections and just when the business was beginning to pick up, the 2008 Financial crisis occurred. Shortly before the crisis, Mr. Shibusawa started another company in 2008, the Commons Asset Management, which was a mutual fund specialized in long term investment opportunities to Japanese households.

To overcome the crisis and the challenges of leading a business during uncertain times, Mr. Shibusawa started out modestly asking for small amount investments and used the internet to promote his companies as well as using his network. He also saw a connection between his mission to encourage individuals to invest for long-term accumulation of wealth to secure the future of their families with Eiichi Shibusawa’s philosophy on ethical capitalism. Mr. Shibusawa saw the crisis as an opportunity to focus more on alternative investments and focused on growing his asset management business while researching further on Eiichi Shibusawa and his works.

On gaining trust, Mr. Shibusawa says it is important to share a common purpose beyond financial rewards. For his asset management company, Mr. Shibusawa’s purpose is to have long-term value creation and he expects his team to share his mission. He also adds how a sense of growth keeps the organization together. Additionally, having worked in a global corporate environment, Mr. Shibusawa recognizes the need to be a “translator” between headquarters and local offices, responding to both digital and analogue demands.

On his advice to foreign leaders coming into Japan, Mr. Shibusawa advises to be observant and listen to people who are not vocal yet have brilliant ideas. He also recommends learning basic Japanese to win the local team’s trust and respect.