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Tetsuya Hirakawa
Partner
Business leaders in Japan are known for their dedication to continuous improvement, innovation, and resilience. They navigate complex market dynamics with a focus on long-term strategy, fostering strong corporate cultures, and emphasizing the importance of both successes and failures in shaping their careers. Japanese executives often highlight the critical role of perseverance and adaptability in their professional journeys.
One exemplary leader embodying these principles is Tetsuya Hirakawa, Partner at Dirbato. Tetsuya's career is a testament to the significance of each experience, both positive and negative, in professional growth. Reflecting on his journey, he acknowledges that every single experience, from his time at NRI to his current role at Dirbato, was essential in shaping his career. He firmly believes that he could not have achieved his current success without each of these experiences, especially the failures.
Tetsuya shares a particularly formative episode from his tenure as a consultant at EY, where he was tasked with supporting a C-suite executive at one of the largest global life insurance companies. During this project, due to underperformance, all his superiors were systematically dismissed, leaving him as the sole consultant. Despite being advised by the account partner to resign, Tetsuya chose to confront the challenges head-on. Although he initially failed to meet the executive’s expectations, this period of intense pressure and repeated setbacks drove him to become more serious and dedicated to his professional growth.
Tetsuya's career is marked by a series of failures under immense pressure, yet these experiences were crucial in shaping his professional path. His story underscores the importance of resilience and the invaluable lessons learned from failures, which have ultimately contributed to his achievements in the business world. Today, as a Partner at Dirbato, Tetsuya Hirakawa exemplifies the perseverance and dedication that define successful business leaders in Japan. Let’s hear more from him.
How has your experience at the University of Tsukuba in Japan impacted your professional growth?
My time at the University of Tsukuba was profoundly influential in shaping my career as an IT consultant. Studying in the College of Information Science over three years, I gained essential knowledge in computer science, particularly in programming. These skills form the foundation of my work as an IT consultant today. Understanding the intricacies of emerging technologies is crucial for developing practical strategies for clients. Without this foundational knowledge of how modern technologies operate at a systemic level, it would be challenging to devise effective strategies that meet client needs.
As Partner at Dirbato, what key practices do you instill in your team based on your experience?
I emphasize to my team the importance of taking ownership whenever they present proposals to clients. Without this sense of ownership, it's difficult to gauge whether a proposal truly meets the client's needs. I strongly believe that this approach motivates my team to delve deeply into learning new technologies and methodologies, whether it's integrating convenient AI tools or proposing innovative strategies that can enhance our clients' current operations. This commitment to thoroughness ensures that every proposal is well-researched and tailored to deliver the best possible outcomes for our clients.
What are the factors you check when defining long-term business goals?
When setting long-term business goals, I prioritize ensuring sustained and enhanced motivation throughout the organization, both among our clients and my team. It's crucial to anticipate and address potential declines in motivation and engagement among stakeholders, which often occur for two main reasons. Firstly, only a few individuals may consistently perceive the ongoing benefits over time. Secondly, human nature tends to incline towards boredom when pursuing the same objectives repeatedly.
Therefore, in defining our long-term goals, I firmly believe it's essential to concurrently establish key performance indicators (KPIs) aimed at monitoring motivation levels. Additionally, we continuously develop and implement strategies to bolster and maintain motivation throughout the duration of our initiatives. This proactive approach helps us ensure that everyone involved remains committed and enthusiastic towards achieving our long-term business objectives.
What are your expectations for the market moving forward?
Looking ahead, while there are several strategies and tools available to enhance the operational efficiency of our clients' businesses, one significant market trend that cannot be overlooked is the profound impact of Generative AI. In the past, we've seen various technological advancements such as blockchain, robotics, and BI tools, each with the potential to revolutionize industries across the board. However, the emergence of Generative AI is on a scale of impact unlike anything we've witnessed before.
This technology not only has the potential to drastically transform current operations but also to inspire entirely new ideas and concepts in operations, technology, and even in creating new businesses that were previously unimagined. I strongly advise every organization to begin planning for the integration of this technology if they haven't already started. It's crucial to recognize the transformative potential of Generative AI and proactively position oneself to leverage its capabilities for future growth and innovation.
What future destination do you envision for your journey?
At Dirbato, the IT consulting firm where I currently serve, we are experiencing remarkable growth. Every member of our team shares a firm belief that we will achieve our unprecedented target revenue of 100 billion Yen within the next ten fiscal years —a milestone unprecedented in consulting history. As part of my role at Dirbato, I am committed to contributing to this mid-term goal, particularly through our global business expansion efforts.
Expanding our business at such an exceptional pace on a global scale presents the most challenging mission of my career. However, I also see it as an opportunity for personal and professional growth, propelling me to the next stage of my career journey.
What advice would you offer to emerging industry leaders?
As a professional consultant, when individuals seek advice, they often seek unique and innovative perspectives within their industry. My strong recommendation is to develop your own viewpoints and theories regarding your area of expertise. These insights don't need to be groundbreaking initially; even small, novel theories can be significant. Consistently cultivating and refining these perspectives will eventually distinguish you as a leader in your field.
Tetsuya Hirakawa, Partner at Dirbato
Tetsuya Hirakawa, Partner at Dirbato, studied Information Science at the University of Tsukuba and pursued business studies in the U.S. Starting his career as a System Engineer at NRI, he later transitioned to consulting roles at EY and PWC. Now leading Dirbato's global business expansion, he specializes in consulting for Insurance and Banking & Capital Markets, focusing on global growth strategy, transformation, organizational restructuring, and DX implementation.