Thinking Globally But Acting Locally
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Description
The Center for Asian Business and Alpha Kappa Psi presented a special lecture on Wednesday, December 5th featuring Yoshimi Inaba, chairman of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. and executive advisor for Toyota Motor Corporation. The title of his lecture was based on one of Toyota's key principles, “Thinking Globally but Acting Locally.” Toyota’s Japanese-oriented way of thinking has adapted to fit the American culture, and that is one of the reasons why the company is so successful.
During the first half hour of the lecture, Mr. Inaba provided an overview of Toyota’s global presence and impact on the automobile industry. He shared the key principles that make Toyota one of the biggest and most successful automobile companies in the world - reliability and durability. Mr. Inaba said he encourages his employees in each region to focus on being the best company in their local area rather than the entire world.
The last half hour of the lecture was spent answering questions from the audience. Questions ranged from “How did you handle the Toyota recall?” to “What’s your favorite Toyota model?” Students were treated to free pizza and soda following the event.
Mr. Inaba is chairman of Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., Toyota’s U.S. sales, marketing, distribution and customer service arm in Torrance, Calif. He also serves as an executive advisor of Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC), Toyota’s parent company in Japan. Mr. Inaba is responsible for Toyota’s sales, marketing and external affairs operations in the U.S. He began his career with TMC in 1968 and has reached many achievements, such as being named to TMC’s Board of Directors, becoming president of TMS, becoming senior managing director at TMC, and being named executive VP. In 2007, he was appointed president and CEO of Central Japan International Airport Co., Ltd., and a senior advisor to the board of TMC. In 2009, Mr. Inaba returned to TMC in his current capacity. He has a degree in economics from Kyoto University and a MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management.
Publication Date
12-5-2012
Disciplines
Business
Recommended Citation
Inaba, Yoshimi, "Thinking Globally But Acting Locally" (2012). Y.B. Min Lecture Series. 21.
https://digitalcommons.lmu.edu/ybminlectureseries/21
