Haegwan Kim
At first could you tell me your definition of success?
Kohey Takashima
I've got two definitions; one is achieving the goal itself and the other is being absorbed in the process to achieve the goal.
HK
Always being absorbed in what you're doing is success. Mmm interesting.
KT
I recently don't know whether I like to achieve the goal or I just like that I have something to achieve…
HK
That's interesting.
KT
Well, i think I love the both at last.
HK
Then what's your definition of success as the CEO of Oisix?
KT
"Secure foods" is a niche market indeed, but I believe it should be mass since foods are what people have every single day. So growing the market and leading it are my current definition.
HK
What's your plan for that?
KT
We've made our business based on the internet but from this year, we also start the commerce in retail stores as well. This is because we're aiming at creating vast supply chain with a proper price both online and offline. And actually pricing is really difficult issue yet the the most important. Offline and Price - these are the key for us at the moment.
HK
You're also wearing a hat as a co-founder of NPO and engaging in TABLE FOR TWO, the nonprofit that supplies school meals in developing countries. What's your definition of success in this part?
KT
I think NPO and business are the same - so regarding activities on B2C, we should scale it up. Last year we provided 5 to 6 million meals, but I think we need to put two more figures on that. School meals are not for surviving but it incentivize children to go to school and that raise educational level and creates lots of labors - and that's why this is so interesting.
Ultimately we do donation to create the world where donation isn't needed. So we are aiming at elimination the NPO like, eventually. Having said that, we want to make as big impact as possible for society and provide great foods to change the world until society doesn't need us.
HK
What was the first motivation you started nonprofit works?
KT
It was an agenda of the Davos meeting, and actually there's no one but me who was doing foods distribution, and so I felt it's dangerous.
HK
I see.
KT
For me, the challenge is always how to make sustainable system with good for society. It goes both Oixis and TABLE FOR TWO. I don't believe volunteer spirits - of course it's a good attitude but when you get tired, you can't keep on the work - so rather I'd like to make a system which is really sustainable that makes more money when you do more works, and this is that's why I thought joining Table for Two is an interesting idea.
HK
There's always the Internet in the base of your activities, why?
KT
The first time I touched the Internet, I thought it will change everything. I couldn't imagine the world without the internet and back then no one had tried foods distribution on the web, that's the reason.
HK
Why did you choose the foods distribution for your business?
KT
I wanted to create something valuable for society and wanted to use the Internet to make my business. Plus foods seem to have affinity with the Internet, plus no one made success in the field in even the US. So there's plenty of reasons to start.
HK
Hahaha, you're a challenger.
Including the World Economic Forum, you've shown your leadership in many ways. So I'd like to ask about your thought on leadership, at first what's your definition of leadership?
KT
It's really simple - if she could lead the team to victory, then she is a good leader. Of course there's many types of leaders - charismatic leaders, kind ones, or severe ones. So it should boil down into the result that the leader made.
HK
It's all about the result then?
KT
If I say "the result theory", I feel strange, but I think the result is rather important than the process.
HK
What's your advice to achieve the leadership?
KT
I love leadership so I try learning lots of things from my respecting leaders, but I concluded that I can't steal the essence of individuals, although I can steal their skills. If I mimic other leaders, I need to be "others" and that's not me. You should strongly hold yourself.
HK
Then what's your own leadership?
KT
I want each member of my team have spontaneities. When you're doing football, you feel you've got to win right? It's the same - I want my clues feel absorbed into the work and believe in the victory.
HK
So it's not how you work, rather how you support your team?
KT
If the number of team is five then you should do hard work on your own but if the number is 100, then it's much effective to support your clues. That's more fun too!
HK
As a final question, please tell me your advice to achieve success.
KT
It's how hard and strictly you can define your own success and commit onto it. You might have to sacrifice lots of things, but if you put your success on top of you priority, then success will come.
HK
Thank you so much for your cooperation.
Kohey Takashima is the founder and CEO of Oisix.
