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On 12 November 2025, we had the privilege to welcome Mr. Michael Sera, the founder of Sera Consulting LLC for a talk titled: \u201cAre you a Driver or a Passenger? How to lead a successful entrepreneur journey\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before founding his company, Mr. Sera reflected deeply on his personal strengths, passion and what the world needs by using the \u201cIkigai\u201d 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\u2014to connect Japanese and American companies. That realization marked the beginning of his entrepreneurial journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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 \u201cweak ties\u201d<\/em>\u2014reaching out to acquaintances for advice and opportunities. Furthermore, the speaker urged everyone to \u201clean in without leaning back\u201d and be bold in asking for what they want.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The speaker then introduced the concept of a Career Roadmap, a visual representation of one\u2019s 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n During the Q&A session, Mr. Sera gave multiple inspiration and constructive advice such as \u201cgetting comfortable with the uncomfortable\u201d, \u201cbelieve in yourself\u201d and \u201cfail fast\u201d. 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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\u2019t the end, but an opportunity to change and improve himself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Report written by: Ho Song Feng (Bachelor’s student, Chemical Science and Engineering)<\/p>\n