The Third Way — The Intrapreneur's Path with Junichi Yamashita
Featuring guest
Junichi Yamashita
We explored the often-overlooked third path of innovation: driving change from within established organizations. Through Junichi Yamashita's experience building digital products like Coke ON (65 million downloads) inside traditional Japanese companies, we discovered how to create momentum when starting with nothing. We discussed the two types of 'no' in Japanese business culture and why understanding this distinction matters for intrapreneurs. The conversation revealed practical strategies for moving beyond inspiration to actual implementation, including how to craft scenarios that win stakeholder support and leverage being different as an organizational advantage. We examined why the hardest part isn't execution but creating that crucial first moment of momentum, and explored lessons from digital transformation that apply directly to current AI initiatives.
Themes of Inquiry
- Intrapreneurship
- Innovation momentum
- Japanese business culture
- Digital transformation
- Stakeholder alignment
We explored the often-overlooked third path of innovation: driving change from within established organizations.
Episode Summary
We explored the often-overlooked third path of innovation: driving change from within established organizations. Through Junichi Yamashita's experience building digital products like Coke ON (65 million downloads) inside traditional Japanese companies, we discovered how to create momentum when starting with nothing. We discussed the two types of 'no' in Japanese business culture and why understanding this distinction matters for intrapreneurs. The conversation revealed practical strategies for moving beyond inspiration to actual implementation, including how to craft scenarios that win stakeholder support and leverage being different as an organizational advantage. We examined why the hardest part isn't execution but creating that crucial first moment of momentum, and explored lessons from digital transformation that apply directly to current AI initiatives.
The Guest Biography
Junichi Yamashita
Junichi Yamashita is Senior Director at Coca-Cola Japan and the business leader behind Coke ON, the world's first vending machine subscription service that has achieved 65 million users across 500,000+ vending machines. Prior to Coca-Cola, he held strategic roles at Rakuten focusing on ecosystem strategy as a direct report to the CEO, managed a Korean startup's expansion from zero as Country Manager, and worked at both McKinsey and IBM. Throughout his career, Yamashita has specialized in driving digital innovation within established organizations, repeatedly demonstrating how to build successful products and ventures from inside traditional companies rather than as external startups.
Continue the Dialogue
The Microsoft Partnership & the Spatial Intelligence Bet
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