The NAJAS/KKC Business Speaker Series titled “2022 Update on Japan: From Business to the Economy” was held in cooperation with the Japan-America Society of Chicago, featuring Mr. Nigel Blakeway, Chairman & CEO of OMRON Management Center of America and Dr. Edward J. Lincoln, Adjunct Professor of Columbia University. The event was held via Zoom.

Mr. Blakeway’s presentation “Creating Social Value Through Business and Contributing for Society”, included a look into OMRON’s corporate principals & social responsibility, external and internal environment changes and their challenges, strategies to sustain the future and preparing future ready professionals, and building trust around ESG and sustainability with long-term investors.

Dr. Lincoln gave a presentation under the theme “The future of the Japanese Economy”. He explained that implications for companies include a falling population which leads to very slow growth of the domestic economy and an inflow of foreign workers is not enough to meet the needs of expanding Japanese companies. He also suggested that if Japanese companies want to grow, they must invest overseas.