Episode 17 of the podcast CrossWorld Puzzles is now out!
I really enjoyed this conversation with the wise Sam Ushio, Founder of Ikigai Lab. Sam leads the social enterprise’s commitment to human sustainability and societal impact, and designs purpose-driven ecosystems for individuals and organizations around the world. Prior to founding Ikigai Lab, Sam was Director, Practice Management at Russell Investments, where he led the team that coached approximately 1,000 financial advisors per year. He is a Council Leader at the U.S.-Japan Council (and we met through one of its programs, the Advanced Leaders Collective).
We discuss Sam’s upbringing in Nebraska, including the close-knit community he grew up in; his family history, including his dynamic great-grandparents who came from Japan, and a recent reunion where 36 (!) family members visited Fukuoka; his career in finance and how he decided to found his own business; the meaning of ikigai and qualities of a good leader; and the importance of leaving our comfort zone.
Many thanks to Sam for sharing his powerful story with me. His family history is fascinating, with themes that will resonate with many (including the Japanese American struggle during the war) and figures that are uniquely inspiring and unforgettable (especially the women!). Those who are wavering whether to continue in their current career or embark on a new path will likely find Sam’s 18-month journey of self-exploration prior to founding Ikigai Lab–including many lessons learned–particularly inspiring.
The video podcast is below, but for more information on Sam, please see photos (and the episode transcript) here: https://crossworld-puzzles.com/episode17-sam/.
ポッドキャスト「CrossWorld Puzzles」の最新エピソードです。
今回は、「Ikigai Lab」の創設者であるサム・ウシオ氏をお迎えしました。Ikigai Labは、人に焦点を当てた団体で、個人に見合ったパーパスを見つけたり、パーパスを中心とした組織運営の仕方を模索したりすることを支援します。
本エピソードでは、ネブラスカの小さな町におけるサムさんの生い立ち、日系4世としてのアイデンティティや父方の曽祖父が福岡から来た経緯、金融業界でのキャリアと起業、「ikigai」という言葉の意義や優れたリーダーの資質、新しいことに果敢に挑戦することの重要性についてお話しいただきました。
サムさんのご家族の話は本当に興味深く、戦時中の日系アメリカ人の苦難、ひいおばあさまをはじめとするかっこいい女性の活躍など、心に響く点が多いかと思います。また、新たな道へ進むべきか迷っている方々にとって、サムさんが一年半かけて行った自己探求の話は、特に参考になるでしょう。ぜひご覧ください！
The podcast can be followed on YouTube, Spotify, and (for audio only) Apple Podcasts.