People I’ve worked with — colleagues, former managers, and engagement counterparts — sometimes write down what working with me has been like. Here are the ones who’ve shared theirs.
RECOMMENDATION
Masami Goda
Japan Country Marketing Manager (formerly at Videojet Technologies)
Kei’s former reporting-line manager at Videojet Japan
I had the pleasure of working with Kei when she was part of my marketing team in Japan, and she remains one of the most capable marketing professionals I’ve worked with.
What stood out from the beginning was her ability to look beyond individual campaigns and understand the broader business context. Kei consistently took the time to understand not only local market challenges but also the objectives and priorities of our global organisation. This allowed her to develop recommendations that balanced business goals with the realities of the Japanese market.
One of Kei’s greatest strengths is her ability to learn quickly. Whether it was a new product, industry, or business challenge, she rapidly developed a solid understanding of the situation, asked thoughtful questions, and focused on the issues that mattered most. She has a genuine curiosity about how businesses operate and a natural ability to connect marketing activities with commercial outcomes.
What I particularly valued was her practical approach. Kei was never interested in applying generic frameworks or following trends for the sake of it. Instead, she focused on developing realistic solutions that considered organisational capabilities, available resources, and market conditions. As a manager, I could trust that her recommendations were both well thought through and achievable.
Having led marketing in Japan for an international organisation, I’ve learned that the biggest talent challenge isn’t finding marketers—it’s finding people who can successfully bridge global and local perspectives.
The ideal candidate needs strong marketing capability, excellent English communication skills, an understanding of how global organisations operate, and the ability to translate corporate objectives into practical strategies that work in Japan. In reality, very few professionals possess all of these attributes.
Kei is one of those rare individuals. She is equally comfortable engaging with headquarters stakeholders and local teams, and she understands how to align both sides around common business goals. That ability is difficult to find and highly valuable for any organisation seeking sustainable growth in Japan.
Over the years, I have been pleased to see Kei continue to expand her expertise in demand generation, go-to-market strategy, and growth marketing. The qualities that made her a strong marketer then—curiosity, commercial awareness, adaptability, and a collaborative mindset—are the same qualities that make her an effective advisor to global organisations today.
I would have no hesitation in recommending Kei to any global marketing leader looking to grow their business in Japan. She brings a rare combination of strategic thinking, practical marketing expertise, and cross-cultural understanding that can make a genuine difference to business performance.
RECOMMENDATION
Jim Boxwell
Head of Customer Success and Growth Marketing, NA / EMEA & APAC (formerly at Synchronoss Technologies)
Worked with Kei during a Synchronoss engagement
I would like to share a strong recommendation with my network for Kei Ishikawa Consulting Inc.
I had the opportunity to engage with Kei Ishikawa several months ago and was immediately impressed by her professionalism, expertise, and clarity of thought. Her firm is highly focused on helping companies succeed in Japan, with a deep understanding of the Japanese market, business culture, customer expectations, and go-to-market realities.
During our initial engagement, Kei quickly understood the problem statement and immediately began identifying practical solutions and strategic remedies. Her ability to assess the situation, frame the opportunity, and offer actionable guidance made it clear that she is a true expert in her field.
For organizations evaluating opportunities in Japan, there are many consulting options available. Larger firms can certainly provide scale, structure, and extensive documentation. However, for companies looking for direct access, real-time collaboration, highly customized guidance, and practical market expertise, Kei offers a very compelling alternative.
My recommendation is simple: if you are serious about succeeding in Japan and want thoughtful, focused, and customized consulting support, connect with Kei Ishikawa Consulting Inc.
Highly recommended.