（英語のみ）
The Academy for Leadership (ToTAL) was honored to invite Mr. Michael Sera of Sera Consulting LLC to campus on Wednesday, November 12, 2025. Mr. Sera gave a lecture titled “Are you a Passenger or Driver? -How to Lead a Successful Entrepreneurship Journey-”, and answered questions from the participants who attended both in person and online. Please see below for a report of the event.
Report
On 12 November 2025, we had the privilege to welcome Mr. Michael Sera, the founder of Sera Consulting LLC for a talk titled: “Are you a Driver or a Passenger? How to lead a successful entrepreneur journey”.
Raised in a Japanese household in the United States, Mr. Sera was exposed to the contrasting cultures of Japan and America from an early age. After working for nearly 20 years in executive management roles of IT companies, he faced a turning point as he was laid off. At the fork of his career, Mr. Sera decided to start his own IT consulting firm: Sera Consulting LLC, in 2004. The company specializes in facilitating international business collaborations between Japan and the United States. Today, Mr. Sera acts as a bridge connecting businesses in Silicon Valley and Japan.
Before founding his company, Mr. Sera reflected deeply on his personal strengths, passion and what the world needs by using the “Ikigai” Venn diagram. With a strong foundation in business and engineering, a deep understanding of both cultures, and a love for communication, he realized his calling—to connect Japanese and American companies. That realization marked the beginning of his entrepreneurial journey.
Drawing from his experience and leadership training at Stanford University, the speaker shared several key insights. He emphasized the importance of continuous learning and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. He also encouraged students to build their personal brand on LinkedIn and explored the concept of “weak ties”—reaching out to acquaintances for advice and opportunities. Furthermore, the speaker urged everyone to “lean in without leaning back” and be bold in asking for what they want.
The speaker then introduced the concept of a Career Roadmap, a visual representation of one’s career path that helps review past experiences and set future goals. While acknowledging the value of university education, Mr. Sera advised students to seek internships, to volunteer, and to expand their networks. He also recommended joining organizations aligned with one’s career interests and actively seeking opportunities to strengthen their resume. Finally, the speaker explained the concept of Design Thinking, illustrating each stage with practical examples.
During the Q&A session, Mr. Sera gave multiple inspiration and constructive advice such as “getting comfortable with the uncomfortable”, “believe in yourself” and “fail fast”. He also emphasized the value of multicultural understanding, urging international students to learn Japanese while sharing his own experiences bridging cultural gaps between Japanese and American companies.
When asked about what advice he would give to his 20-year-old self, Mr. Sera replied that he would tell himself to be more aggressive and less shy. For him, getting laid off isn’t the end, but an opportunity to change and improve himself.
Report written by: Ho Song Feng (Bachelor’s student, Chemical Science and Engineering)
