b'E X E C U T I V E I N T E R V I E WYuji Watanabe President of SC Brazil and General Manager of South America Can you give us a glimpse into your childhood and how it shaped your career? I was born in a prefecture located between Tokyo and Osaka, named Aichi, which is quite an industrial area and houses Toyotas main headquarters. I considered myself just a mediocre country boy and had never thought I would have a chance to work abroad. Were academics a strong focus for you duringyour schooling? Not particularly, no. I was more engaged in sports activities, mainly swimming, and was a part of the university swimming team even after advancing to higher education. Is there a connection between your past as a swimmer and your current leadership style? Swimming, particularly long-distance events, which I special- emergency room and would not take no for an answer. Following ized in, might partially contribute to my leadership style. Its anvarious tests, I received a lymphoma cancer diagnosis, stage individual effort, yet, unless youre doing relays, its always one4, so I began an intensive chemotherapy treatment. While the person at a time doing their best, which is somehow reflective intreatments were physically taxing, afforded me time to reflect on how I lead. It taught me about inner struggles and conqueringmy life during isolated hospitalization and further treatment. The weaknesses of the mind which has its parallels in corporatechemotherapy lasted around 8 months and was indeed a rigor-leadership.ous process, with notable side effects like hair loss and a lack of Can you share some insights into your journey within appetite.However, it was also a period of immense introspec-Sumitomo Corporation? tion. I was physically separated from my family to prevent any I joined Sumitomo Corporation in 1990 and was initiallyrisk of COVID-19 infection, so this isolation necessitated by the assigned to the human resources personnel division, assistingpandemic allowed me to deeply ponder my life, relationships, Japanese rotating staff working abroad. Following that, forand my future. Emerging victorious from my health battle has over 25 years, I have been dedicated to infrastructure businessprofoundly impacted my perspective.development in the Asian region. Ive spent various phases ofHow has beating stage 4 cancer shaped your outlook on life my career in different Asian countries before moving to Brazil.and your interactions today?At different times, I was positioned in India, Kuala Lumpur, andMy appreciation for every interaction, every new learning, and finally in Indonesia until 2018. I was tasked with leading variousevery day is considerably heightened since my diagnosis. I re-infrastructure projects, including heading the Project Office ofgard my life post-recovery, which officially began around August the Power Station EPC project in Indonesia.2021, as a second chance graciously given to me. Ive embarked Would you please share a bit about the challenging periodon a new journey, treating each moment with elevated appreci-you experienced with your health back in 2020?ation and reverence, recognizing the unwavering support from I was experiencing a persistently high fever that signaled some- those around me during the precarious times of my diagnosis thing was wrong, and it was very difficult to get in to see a doctorand treatment. Every day is invaluable, and my interactions, since all the hospital staff were busy with COVID-19 patients.whether with people or new experiences, are things I try to This was in December 2020. Finally, my wife took me into theappreciate deeply. 6 visions Fall 2023'