5 Expert Coaches Helping Professionals Succeed in Japan
In today’s fast-paced and competitive world, professional coaching has become a powerful tool for personal and career growth. Japan, a country that blends rich traditions with modern innovation, offers a unique environment for professional development. Whether navigating corporate culture or enhancing leadership skills, coaching can help individuals unlock their full potential.
In this article, we highlight five exceptional English-speaking coaches in Japan who are transforming careers and leadership development. Their diverse coaching styles—from AI-powered learning to adventure-based coaching—offer professionals the guidance needed to thrive in today’s dynamic business landscape.
Greg Story
The world has never been more digital, and the search for solutions and information is constant. AI is revolutionizing corporate learning by delivering real-time insights at warp speed, helping businesses stay ahead of market trends and shifting customer needs. However, while AI provides valuable data and predictive insights, true leadership requires human skills—critical thinking, adaptability and the ability to inspire and influence others.
In a world where rapid change is the norm, strong leadership has never been more essential. Dr. Greg Story is a leadership expert and corporate trainer with extensive experience in helping professionals develop the leadership skills necessary to navigate uncertainty, make strategic decisions and complement AI-driven insights with human expertise. His training empowers leaders to thrive in complex environments by focusing on communication, resilience, and effective decision-making. Learn more about his work at Dale Carnegie Training Japan.
Paul Dupuis
The former CEO of Randstad in India and Japan is a leadership coach, facilitator and strategic advisor dedicated to helping leaders and organizations become future-ready.
Through his ‘Future Ready Leadership Gym’ workshops, Paul engages leadership teams in interactive sessions designed to build alignment, agility, resilience, and strategic thinking. His approach is influenced in part by ‘Stakeholder Centered’ coaching, shaped by his mentor and good friend, Marshall Goldsmith—widely recognized as the world’s #1 leadership coach and a New York Times best-selling author.
With more than 25 years of experience in Japan working with both Japanese firms and multinational corporations, Paul brings a unique perspective on leadership development. His deep understanding of cross-cultural business dynamics helps leaders unlock potential and achieve sustainable success.
Paul is also the author of the best-selling book on leadership, The E5 Movement, available in both English and Japanese.
For more information on Paul’s workshops and leadership coaching, visit https://futurereadyleadershipgym.com/
Cory McGowan
Two core beliefs guide Cory McGowan’s work. First, leadership is innately adventurous. To navigate the challenges of a rapidly changing world, leaders must explore not only what they do but who they are. Adventure-based coaching provides an effective framework to support this journey, empowering leaders to embrace self-discovery and growth.
Second, Cory believes that bolstering local communities is essential to overcoming the complexities of our times. Rural communities in Japan are more than just depopulation statistics—they hold untapped potential. Through his work, Cory aims to express and amplify that potential, fostering resilience and innovation.
Discover one of Cory’s recent community projects, Minakami Stories: https://minakamistories.com/.
Learn more about Cory’s work and how he works with executives and teams in the outdoors by visiting his Adventure Partner website: https://www.adventure-partner.net/
Wenyi Che
Wenyi Che integrates Eastern philosophy with modern coaching techniques to help leaders achieve sustainable growth and personal fulfillment. Her approach emphasizes self-awareness, interpersonal harmony, and the cultivation of 徳才兼備 (tokusai kenbi)—a leadership principle that embodies both virtue (徳, toku) and skill (才, sai), ensuring that leaders are both morally grounded and highly competent.
Her recent initiatives—such as Legacy Leadership and Transformational Leadership for Global Impact—focus on preparing future leaders in family-owned businesses. These programs enhance human relationships, uncover purpose and create positive societal impact. To learn more about her insights and coaching philosophy, visit her Note profile.
By blending timeless wisdom with actionable strategies, Wenyi cultivates leaders who thrive in complexity, drive organizational success and contribute meaningfully to society.
Katheryn Gronauer
Since 2016 Katheryn Gronauer has coached and trained hundreds of leaders in global organizations, including Fortune 500 companies. Specializing in navigating change, she helps professionals transition into new roles or adapt to life in Japan. As a certified Executive Coach and an ICF-accredited coach, Katheryn brings expertise backed by industry recognition. She is also a TEDx Speaker (The Sento Mindset) and an author.
Katheryn leads two key initiatives: Thrive Tokyo and The Sento Mindset. Thrive Tokyo is a community designed for foreigners in Japan seeking personal and professional growth through networking events and workshops. The Sento Mindset is Katheryn’s unique perspective on transformation. Inspired by her background as a half-Japanese, half-American executive coach raised in a family of public bathhouse owners, this concept draws from the Japanese sento (public bath) experience as a metaphor for self-awareness and change. Through this approach, Katheryn helps individuals gain clarity in overcoming personal challenges. She is currently writing a book on this concept and offers Sento Mindset workshops through Thrive Tokyo.
For more information, visit www.katheryngronauer.com and follow Thrive Tokyo on Luma for upcoming events. You can also connect with Katheryn on LinkedIn.