I help leaders stop misreading their teams. Through keynotes, workshops, and coaching, I show organizations how to turn the communication gaps in diverse workplaces into trust, performance, and retention.
Each talk is built on a framework John developed over 20 years of intercultural work. Audiences leave with specific tools, not just ideas.
We form snap judgments in a tenth of a second. In diverse workplaces, those judgments can silence talent, erode trust, and cost millions. LEAP gives leaders a step-by-step process for catching those assumptions before they do damage.
When capable people can't hear each other across cultural divides, the problem is rarely talent. Most of the time, it's translation. SPEAK is the inclusive communication checklist that ensures your message lands.
Every workplace has invisible rules. SHAPE names the five core values that define Canadian work culture, so internationally trained professionals can decode what's unspoken without having to erase where they came from.
John's speech at Speaker Slam: Leaders 2025 — the story of a student named Kenji, a classroom misunderstanding in Japan, and the moment that sparked a career dedicated to bridging cultural divides. This story formed the foundation for his TEDxQueensU talk.
In 2005, a student named Kenji nodded "yes" when John asked if he understood the lesson. He left blanks on the test. When confronted, Kenji went silent. A colleague explained: "He's Japanese and you're his teacher. He wouldn't disrespect you by saying he didn't understand."
Kenji never returned to class. That moment changed how John taught, and eventually, how he works. He replaced "Do you understand?" with "Can you explain the instructions back to me?" — a small change that dropped misunderstandings and built trust.
When he returned to Canada, he saw the same dynamic in workplaces everywhere: newcomers staying silent, managers misreading respect as disengagement, and talent quietly walking out the door. Today, through Hiyaku Coaching and his signature frameworks, John helps organizations stop losing people to silence they never noticed.
From corporate workshops to conference keynotes, John's impact resonates with audiences and decision-makers alike.
A live storytelling evening exploring love and relationships across cultures. Four speakers. True personal stories. Real human connection.
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