ULI Japan’s Young Leaders Group recently organized an event that aimed to bridge the gap between professionals and industry newcomers under the theme of career development. This event featured speaker Brandon Smith, Director at East West Consulting, who shared insights into the dynamics of the real estate industry from the perspective of a recruiting professional.  

Smith’s keynote spoke on the unique aspects of kickstarting a career in Japan as a foreigner, as well as the effects of COVID-19 trends like remote work largely being phased out of the workplace in Japan. He encouraged taking a proactive approach within organizations, particularly emphasizing the unique expectations within the Japanese labor market and that a lack of Japanese language skills is not always a deal breaker when getting hired or thriving in a role. 

During the networking time over charcuterie style food and wine that followed the keynote attendees were also able to utilize a professional photobooth free of charge. This allowed participants to leave multiple headshot profile photos made for platforms like LinkedIn, resumes, and to use in professional speaking opportunities.  

Such events, put together by ULI Japan’s YLG, play an instrumental role in shaping the careers of young people and forging community within our industry. They not only offer a platform for knowledge dissemination but also foster an ecosystem for collaborative growth. Given the success of this event, we plan to continue to hold similar events and hope to continue to elevate connection, excellence, and innovation within the real estate community.