Asked whether she is surprised to find herself ruling the roost in corporate splendor on the 18th floor of the Shin-Nikko Building in Toranomon, Sakie Fukushima nods emphatically. Very surprised, she says. "I've never planned a single step of my career. Basically I'm not a very confident person."
Fukushima is the managing director of Korn/Ferry International, a California-based company that provides "leadership capital solutions on a global basis." (To deconstruct the corporate jargon, Korn/Ferry "solves" problems for clients -- major corporations -- related to "human capital," meaning a shortage of able executives.)
As she explains, "Recognizing that leadership capital is a company's most important asset, we place capable executives whom we identify for, persuade for, and introduce to our client corporations. We don't work for individuals seeking employment opportunities."