Ep. 36: Evolution of Trading Companies - Past, Present & Future with Jason Ollison

Business Karaoke Podcast with Brittany Arthur

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In this episode we are joined by Jason Ollison. In August of this year, Jason was quoted in an article from the Financial Times on a $6bn investment made by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway across Japan’s five biggest trading houses so I reach out to him to understand more. If there is another person as crazy about understanding the Japanese approach to international investment I simply must know them and talk to them. Very early in our zoom coffee, it became clear that these trading houses turned global venture capital and private equity businesses may not be as simple and well-run as Buffet's mantra may suggest. So I asked Jason to come on the podcast so I wasn't the only one to benefits from his insights.
Now on a bit about Jason. Jason is a Global Business, Strategy, Risk Management, Political Economy, and International Investment professional with 20 years of experience as an award-winning Consultant. Jason has lived in Asia, Europe, Africa, and North America and is proficient in Japanese, with some Spanish ability. We are in GOOD HANDS, people.
Currently, Jason spend his time in New York where he is the Co-Founder and Global Managing Director of Asialantic Global Advisors, a boutique global business & investment advisory firm focused on real economy sectors, impact investing, small & medium enterprises, and corporate strategy.
We cover a lot of turf in this conversation; Evolution of Trading Houses (Sogo Shosha). So take your time, pause when you need to, come back when you can but most importantly, enjoy it! Enjoy these kinds of conversations that the Business Karaoke Podcast brings you - a modern lens on doing business in and with Japan.
Key Takeaways:
05:05 | A historical look into how trading companies (Sogo Shosha) came to power.
18:46 | The 3 revolutions.
31:10 | Balancing resources with Human Resources in paving a path to success and the people behind the trading companies (Sogo Shosha).
43:45 | Issues around foreign talent, diverse workforce, rotating workforce and retention in long-term investment projects.
55:30 | Skills sets required for trading companies' (Sogo Shosha) talent of the future.
1:26:30 | Leveraging balance over diversity in closing the chasm.
1:40:20 | The value of trading companies (Sogo Shosha) today and future investment opportunities.

To find out more about Jason, follow him on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-ollison-2b96341/).