External Media Coverage
This episode is produced and published by Harvard Business School / HBR Presents. Wootomatic hosts this embedded stream for educational and commentary purposes.
Language and Globalization: The Mandate to Speak English at Rakuten
Hosted by Brian Kenny / Harvard Business Review
Language and Globalization: The Mandate to Speak English at Rakuten
Episode Summary
Japan’s largest online retailer Rakuten is rapidly expanding into global markets. In order to ensure the success of the organization, but also to break down linguistic and cultural boundaries in Japanese society, CEO Hiroshi Mikitani mandates English proficiency within two years for all employees. Harvard Business School professor Tsedal Neeley discusses the thinking behind Mikitani’s mandate and why there’s such a strong connection between language and globalization.
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