Scaling Japan Podcast

Japan Scalers | Episode 6: Scaling Tripadvisor in Japan with Michael Stobo

May 31, 2024

Experienced APAC Group Product Manager, Michael Stobo, shares insights on scaling Tripadvisor in Japan, emphasizing teamwork, communication, and decision-making. Topics include SEO management, collaborating with headquarters, and navigating Japanese market intricacies.

01:01:32

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Episode guests

Michael Stobo

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Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Collaboration with the right team is essential for successful company management.

Product managers need to communicate effectively with interdepartmental teams for cohesive operations.

Localized SEO strategies and product optimization are vital for scaling international platforms like TripAdvisor in Japan.

Deep dives

Travel Industry Growth in Japan

Japan's designation for hosting the 2020 Olympics spurred economic strategies focusing on tourism, aiming for 20 million inbound visitors by 2020, reaching 40 million. Michael Stobo, experienced in online travel for 15 years, discussed the rapid industry growth in Asia, particularly Japan, and his role in scaling TripAdvisor's APAC sites.

Intro

3min

Evolution of TripAdvisor and Product Management in Japan

8min

Organizational Structure and Experience at TripAdvisor Japan

11min

The Role and Responsibilities of a Product Manager in a Startup

3min

Navigating Sales in Japan and Scaling TripAdvisor in the Japanese Market

3min

Scaling TripAdvisor in Japan

12min

Addressing Challenges of Focusing on Japan's Specific Needs

3min

Scaling TripAdvisor in Japan: SEO, Team Management, and Cultural Considerations

18min

Welcome to the sixth episode of our new series Japan Scalers. In this series, we will only interview guests who have surpassed 100 million yen in revenue annually. We have many interesting guests lined up for the upcoming episodes so make sure to follow us on social media and stay up to date with the podcast.

In this sixth episode, Michael Stobo joins us to share his experience scaling Tripadvisor. From 2014 to 2019, he served as the APAC Group Product Manager for Tripadvisor in Tokyo, where he grew the site's revenue, traffic, and engagement. With nearly 15 years in the online travel industry, Michael recently led the technology team at Tabist, developing B2B and B2C products for the hotel sector. Currently, he is a product management consultant and leader, advising and coaching companies on all aspects of product management.

Tune in as Michael discusses his expertise as a former product manager and the importance of collaborating with the right team to successfully manage a company.

Show notes:

00:00 Introduction

4:14 About Tripadvisor

8:42 What Does a Product Manager Do?

11:22 Interdepartmental Communication

14:10 Programming Skills

16:44 Type of Product Manager

18:00 Working with the Right People and Team

22:22 Important Role of a Product Manager

26:39 Scaling Tripadvisor

30:41 Bringing It To Japan

35:44 Framework in Decision Making

41:17 Tips on Communicating to Headquarters

43:54 Managing SEO

48:13 Communicating with the Japanese Team

54:34 Developing Confidence and Trust within the Japanese Team

57:21 About The Guest and Travel Industry

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Links from Guest Appearance :

Linkedin | Trip Advisor

--- The Japan Scalers Podcast is produced by our companies Scaling Your Company & SmartStart Japan.

Scaling Your Company : 1 on 1 advisory on sales, marketing, management
Scaling Your Sales : Courses to increase your sales in Japan.
Scaling Your Marketing : Creating websites in English or Japanese + SEO + MEO
SmartStart : Japan Incorporation Services

Discover how SmartStart can simplify your incorporation journey and fuel your growth in Japan : ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://smartstartjapan.com/⁠⁠ ---

Send in a voice message:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scalingjapanpodcast/message⁠⁠⁠

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Scaling Japan Podcast

Japan Scalers | Episode 6: Scaling Tripadvisor in Japan with Michael Stobo

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Travel Industry Growth in Japan

TripAdvisor's Role and Services

Product Management at TripAdvisor

Challenges and Success in Japan

Future of Travel Tech in Japan

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts