

Who will win the race for global talent?
Oct 12, 2025
David Ha, the Co-founder and CEO of Sakana AI, dives into the talent race in the age of AI. He shares insights on attracting global talent to Japan by fostering a Silicon Valley-like culture. Ha emphasizes Japan's soft power in research and development to make it a magnet for skilled professionals. He also discusses the unique expectations of Gen Z in the workplace, highlighting their desire for ownership, flexibility, and career growth, while recognizing the importance of adapting to a rapidly changing job market.
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Talent Is A Service Offering
- Sun Life competes for talent by selling career growth, culture, and global scale rather than physical products.
- Employees choose places where they can learn, win, and make measurable impact.
The 'Missing Middle' In Climate Tech
- Ichiro Miyoshi described investing in growth-stage climate tech where companies face a long 'valley of death'.
- He highlighted a missing middle needing funding, business partners and management talent for scaling.
Combine Deep Tech And Human Skills
- Cisco seeks both deep technical skills and human skills like creativity, agility and resilience.
- Large firms can reskill internal talent to meet demand instead of only hiring externally.