
The Godfather System: How Japanese Mentorship Creates Loyalty (and Problems)
Japan’s corporate world operates on a distinctive mentorship model known as the “Godfather System” (Oyabun-Kobun).
Colin Maxwell is an internationally recognized business consultant, author, and educator, with extensive experience in leadership development and corporate strategy. Holding several international credentials in Economics, Business and Accounting, Colin Maxwell brings both academic rigor and practical business acumen, to his work. His professional credentials include membership of the Institute of Chartered Accountants (England and Wales), Life Membership in the Institute of Professional Managers and Administrators (UK), and a Ph.D in Business Administration (USA).
With multilingual fluency, Colin Maxwell has advised organizations worldwide, across diverse sectors, including management consulting, venture capital, and corporate training. His thought leadership has been featured in prominent international publications, establishing him as an authority on ethical business practices and effective leadership methodologies.
“Leadership: 21st Century Food for Thought,” by Colin Maxwell offers a comprehensive examination of modern leadership principles and business management strategies. The book explores critical topics, including ethical leadership, servant leadership, Japanese management techniques, labor relations, gender dynamics in the workplace, the “work family,” remote working, virtual management, disaster preparedness, and artificial intelligence’s evolving role. With practical insights into team building, conflict resolution, and corporate social responsibility, it serves as both a theoretical foundation and a practical guide for today’s business leaders. While some case studies could benefit from updating to reflect more recent developments, the book remains highly relevant for professionals and students, providing valuable perspectives on navigating contemporary organizational challenges with vision and integrity.
Colin Maxwell's book transformed our leadership approach. His insights on ethical decision-making and Japanese management principles helped us boost productivity by 30%. A must-read for executives navigating today's complex business landscape with integrity and vision.
This is the leadership manual we've needed for the 21st century. Colin Maxwell brilliantly bridges theory and practice, particularly in his analysis of remote work challenges. Our MBA students find his frameworks immediately applicable to real-world scenarios.
The trade union chapter alone justified our entire leadership team reading this book. Colin Maxwell's balanced perspective helped us transform adversarial labor relations into productive partnerships. Practical wisdom from cover to cover.
Japan’s corporate world operates on a distinctive mentorship model known as the “Godfather System” (Oyabun-Kobun).
In the 21st-century corporate landscape, transitioning from traditional leadership norms to more inclusive, empathetic, and
The corporate world stands at a technological crossroads where artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming how
A visionary business strategist and leadership expert transforming organizations worldwide with cutting-edge management solutions and ethical leadership principles.
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