Date of publication: Sep 30, 2019

Jerome Dessagne

Digital & CRM Manager: Bluebell Japan

Date of birth: Feb. 24, 1981

Hometown: Saint-Etienne, France

Number of years in Japan (cumulative): 15 (as of September 2019)

Q1: What was your first encounter with Japan?

I grew up in France in the 1980s, and Japanese pop culture was immensely popular with kids at that time — video games, anime, toys. Although, I was not fully aware all of this came from Japan until later. My first real encounter was when my dad came back from a business trip to Osaka in 1988. All the stories he brought back seemed from another world.

Q2: Please state your motto in life and why you have chosen it.

I like the classic stoic principle that says you should focus on what you can control, and accept what you cannot. The more you spend time thinking that way, the more you realize there are many things you can control or influence. It empowers you and liberates you from the victim mentality.

Q3 : Over your career, what achievement are you the proudest of?

When I started looking for a job in the mid 2000s, I came from an atypical educational background, where I had studied many different things such as computer science, economics, marketing, law... Recruiters at that time said I would not find a job unless I specialized in something. Now I have connected the dots and work in the booming industry of e-commerce where I can leverage all these skills.

Q4 : What are your goals during your time in Japan, your current position or in life?

I try to avoid thinking too much in terms of goals, where you basically make a deal with yourself that you are not going to be happy until you reach them. It can be motivating, but it also generates a lot of frustration along the way. Instead, I try to make the most of my daily life, making small improvements and spending time with the people who matter to me.

Q5 : What wisdom, advice or tips can you give to people living and working in Japan?

Keep an open mind, don’t assume anything, try to understand why things were made that way instead of passing judgments. At the same time, cultivate what makes you unique as a foreigner.
In a business environment, multicultural teams can be the most efficient and innovative if people can welcome the uniqueness of their teammates as well as leveraging their own.

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Last updated: Sep 30, 2019