Project Reports – Sesera https://www.sesera.net Passionately cross-cultural Tue, 28 Jul 2026 11:51:11 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1 https://www.sesera.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/cropped-Sesera_logo_favicon-512px-1-32x32.gif Project Reports – Sesera https://www.sesera.net 32 32 Cross-Cultural Training in the Heart of the German Alps https://www.sesera.net/en/cross-cultural-training-in-the-heart-of-the-german-alps/ Tue, 28 Jul 2026 11:44:43 +0000 https://www.sesera.net/?p=5646 Working in a place where people intentionally come for vacation sounds almost too good to be true, doesn’t it?

I feel very fortunate to regularly deliver cross-cultural training for DMG MORI in Pfronten, a beautiful town in the heart of the German Alps, about a two-hour drive from Munich. The fresh mountain air, green meadows with grazing cows, and breathtaking Alpine scenery create an inspiring setting. From the training room, we can enjoy panoramic views of the mountains through large windows—it’s truly a wonderful place to work, especially on a gorgeous summer day.

Inspired by the beauty of the region, I brought my family along for a weekend hike in nearby Füssen, home to the famous Neuschwanstein Castle, which inspired Disney’s Cinderella Castle. It’s a wonderful example of how business travel and family time can complement each other.

The greatest reward, however, is receiving such encouraging feedback from participants:

“The mindset and culture, along with their background, were explained in a very interesting and well-structured way. The seminar was very helpful and greatly improved my understanding of the Japanese way of working.”

“The trainer was very well prepared and authentic. The training was diverse in content, well organized, and excellent overall.”

A heartfelt thank you to all the participants for their active engagement and thoughtful discussions. My sincere appreciation also goes to my HR colleague at DMG MORI for the excellent organization and our enjoyable collaboration.

]]> Crash Course on Japanese Culture for German Startups https://www.sesera.net/en/crash-course-on-japanese-culture-for-german-startups/ Wed, 15 Apr 2026 09:39:51 +0000 https://www.sesera.net/?p=5612 As part of my ongoing collaboration with the German Accelerator team in Singapore, I recently delivered a two-hour virtual cross-cultural workshop for German startups preparing to enter the Japanese market.

Since 2022, I have delivered more than a dozen workshops for startups participating in the Japan Market Discovery Program—an initiative run by German Accelerator and funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE).

Japan remains one of the more complex markets to enter. Understanding its unique business culture is essential for successful market entry. Through concise yet interactive sessions, I aim to equip startup founders and teams with the cultural insights needed to approach Japan strategically and confidently.

The workshop covered:

  • The importance of groups over individuals
  • Hierarchy and expectations in customer–supplier relationships
  • Relationship-building as the foundation of business
  • Collective decision-making processes
  • The role of indirect communication

As always, the session sparked engaging discussions and thoughtful questions. It is always inspiring to work with ambitious teams preparing for international expansion. I wish all participating startups great success on their business and cultural journey into Japan.

If you’re preparing to enter the Japanese market, feel free to get in touch.

]]> Training at DELO in Windach https://www.sesera.net/en/training-at-delo-in-windach/ Thu, 19 Mar 2026 17:23:05 +0000 https://www.sesera.net/?p=5549 Sesera delivered an intercultural training session on Japan at DELO Klebstoffe GmbH & Co. KGaA in Windach, engaging 11 participants through a variety of interactive group activities.

The one-day session, held in German, was characterized by a highly positive atmosphere and lively discussions. The training focused on real-world tasks and challenges faced by the participants, ensuring practical relevance and immediate applicability.

By exploring the cultural context behind these challenges, participants were encouraged to develop their own solutions to everyday intercultural situations.

]]> Intercultural training in Pilsen, Czech Republic https://www.sesera.net/en/intercultural-training-in-pilsen-czech-republic/ Thu, 22 Jan 2026 14:04:03 +0000 https://www.sesera.net/?p=5506 I visited Pilsen, Czech Republic last week, to deliver intercultural training for GK Software, a Fujitsu company. After several in-person training sessions at the company’s headquarters in Schöneck, Saxony, since 2023, it was a real pleasure to collaborate on site with Czech and French colleagues in this historic Bohemian city.

A big thank you to Eidam & Partner for organizing the training.

How interculturally intrieging this business trip turned out to be – Please read my column:

]]> German Central Bank https://www.sesera.net/en/german-central-bank/ Mon, 19 Jan 2026 09:09:50 +0000 https://www.sesera.net/?p=5499 Since October 2024, Sesera has been providing in-person cross-cultural training and coaching sessions for employees of German Centralbank (Deutsche Bundesbank) and their partners in Frankfurt. We are proud to support them in easing their transition to living and working in Japan.

We would also like to thank Eidam & Partner for the successful collaboration in organizing this learning journey.

]]> Supporting the First Steps in Germany: Intercultural Training for Daiichi Sankyo Europe https://www.sesera.net/en/supporting-the-first-steps-in-germany-intercultural-training-for-daiichi-sankyo-europe/ Mon, 28 Jul 2025 12:47:14 +0000 https://www.sesera.net/?p=5244 From late June to the end of July 2025, Sesera conducted an intercultural training program for Japanese delegates of Daiichi Sankyo Europe to deepen their understanding of German and European cultures. The practical, workshop-style sessions provided participants with essential knowledge and attitudes needed to live and work effectively in a different cultural environment.

🔍 Program Overview

  • Participants: Employees assigned from Japan in April 2025
  • Period: Late June – End of July 2025
  • Format: In-person (1-day sessions)
  • Language: Japanese
  • Number of Participants:
    　・Group sessions for general employees (6 participants × 2 sessions)
    　・Individual sessions for senior managers (2 participants)

🎯 Training Highlights

  • Small-group workshop format with chairs arranged in a circle to encourage open discussion
  • Q&A session with a German HR representative (1 hour in the afternoon)
  • Pre-training surveys enabled tailored program design based on individual needs
  • Online pre-interviews conducted in advance for senior management participants

💬 Participant Feedback:

“Gaining insight into basic German ways of thinking and core values has helped me prepare mentally for working here. It was a truly valuable experience, and I am very grateful to Ms. Nishiyama for this training.“

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