The sharing economy is transforming industry after industry from transport (Uber and Lyft) to tourism (Airbnb) to even child care. The sharing economy has the potential to increase efficiency of use of assets, provide new flexible work arrangements, address social challenges such as aging, and create new profitable businesses, but like any disruptive technology will displace current players, impact traditional labor markets, come under regulator scrutiny, and even create new social tensions. For example, in San Francisco, there are ten times as many UberX drivers as traditional licensed taxi drivers; meanwhile, Airbnb has more rooms available than any global hotel company.

Come to a very special program to hear how the sharing economy is reshaping Japanese business and how Japan is addressing the opportunities and challenges that the sharing economy enables. Speakers will be Kenji Furushiro, President and COO of Pasona, North America, who will talk about what the sharing economy means for Japan’s changing labor market; Mike Orgill, Director, Public Policy of Airbnb who will talk about Airbnb’s successful entry into Japan and its work to shape the regulatory environment; and Jon Metzler, Lecturer, Haas School of Business (and Japan Society Board Chair), who will present his research on the sharing economy in Japan and key deltas with the US.

Speakers:

Kenji Furushiro
President and COO, Pasona

After obtaining MBA from University of La Verne in 2006, he joined Pasona N A, Inc in NY. Provided staffing services as well as Accounting, Payroll, and HR related consulting services in mainly East Coast and Southern states. Promoted to the current position in 2013 and has been focusing on Japanese businesses in the US and maximize the efficiency of clients’ back office tasks. Currently based in Northern California and started promoting similar services to US businesses, interested in entering Japan market.

Mike Orgill

Director, Public Policy for Airbnb

Mike Orgill is Director of Public Policy for the Asia Pacific region at Airbnb. In this role, Mike partners with governments and legislators to develop innovative policy and regulatory frameworks for home-sharing and the sharing economy. Prior to joining Airbnb, Mike led Google’s public policy efforts for emerging markets in Asia, covering a wide range of Internet policy issues, including data protection, security, content regulation, freedom of expression and cross-border data flows. Before moving to Asia, Mike was a Senior Manager at the US-ASEAN Business Council in Washington D.C., where he represented leading US investors in Southeast Asia on complex trade and investment issues across a variety of industries. Mike grew up in Kuala Lumpur and is a graduate of Stanford University.

Jon Metzler
Lecturer, Haas School of Business

Jon Metzler is Japan Society board chairman. By day, he is President of Blue Field Strategies, a consulting firm supporting US and Japanese clients, with a focus on innovation acceleration. Jon has launch experience in print and online media, services, edtech, wireless, geolocation and more. Jon is also a lecturer at the Haas School of Business, where he teaches on IT Strategy and on business in Japan. He is also associated faculty for the UC-Berkeley Center for Japanese Studies.

Jon completed his MBA/MA-Asian Studies at the Haas School of Business. There, he co-founded the Berkeley Asia Business Conference, and authored a thesis comparing startup creation in Silicon Valley and Japan. Jon also has a B.A. from the University of Michigan, and is an alum of the Inter-University Center for Japanese Language Studies.

Twitter: @jonjmetz

Schedule:

• 6:00 PM – 6:45 PM Networking & Registration
  
• 6:45 PM – 8:00 PM Presentation with audience Q&A
• 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM Networking & Reception

Light appetizers and drinks provided.

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