Early in my career as a chef in 1986, I joined the two-star Michelin restaurant Schillinger in Colmar, France. Together with me, started Atsuhiko, my Japanese colleague. On our days off, we would discover each other’s backgrounds. He taught me how to use chopsticks by moving uncooked rice from one plate to another; a lesson I never forgot that is invaluable now. My seed of discovering the rich Japanese culture was planted.

True leadership walks the talk, is my life motto. In life, we will have different roles to play at different times and circumstances. In my family, I’m a guardian, a motivator and enabler to my children. In my professional role, I like to encourage and guide my colleagues and team members to become leaders themselves and not followers.

My proudest accomplishments would have to be when I succeed in mentoring my employees to achieve their own career goals. Yesterday’s young, entry-level workers are in leadership positions today. By encouraging them to dream big for their futures, as well as providing them with suitable training, exposure and coaching in their field of work, we created a framework to enable them to build their careers.

During my time in Japan, my goal is to work with the Swissotel Osaka team to continue its successful operation and strengthen its upscale positioning in the marketplace to enable AccorHotels to benefit from its reputation in the expansion of our network of hotels in Japan.