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Robin Lau Of Dentsu: How My Experience in Athletics Trained Me to Become a Better Leader

An Interview With Vanessa Ogle

Hunger to Learn and Share: Continuous learning is crucial in our careers, but so is passing on knowledge. True mastery comes from teaching and mentoring others, not just acquiring new skills.

The world of sports is not just about physical prowess or competition; it’s an incubator for leadership qualities such as discipline, teamwork, strategic planning, and resilience. Athletes, from amateur levels to professional arenas, often encounter situations that test their limits and require them to step up in ways that mirror the challenges faced by leaders in various fields. As part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Robin Lau.

Robin Lau is the global Strategist for Digital and Entertainment at Dentsu’s Content Business Design Centre in Tokyo. With over 15 years of experience in regional digital practice, he has led specialized and multi-disciplinary teams. Robin oversees the Japanese-based entertainment practice in APAC, focusing on Anime, Gaming, and Esports. A former member of the Singapore Karate team, he has competed in regional competitions while playing a teaching role within his home club, and later serving as an unarmed combat instructor as part of military service.

Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series. Before we dive in, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you share with us the backstory about what brought you to your specific career in athletics?

Thanks for having me! My journey into athletics really kicked off during a time when your school grades were a big deal for your future. Your club activities counted as grades on your academic records. Being the studious type, I threw myself into everything club-related, from organizing summer camps to managing the club’s finances as treasurer. And of course, I couldn’t resist jumping into the competitive scene.

At first, it was all about boosting those grades, but soon enough, it became a real passion of mine. Looking back, it opened up so many doors for me, especially early on in my career. It showed that I wasn’t just about hitting the books — I was a well-rounded individual with a lot to offer.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career?

Well, this would have been over a decade ago. We had this new client, who calls our landline out of the blue, which was pretty unusual since email was already the norm. What made it even stranger was that he refused to leave any contact info — no name, no email, no phone number. But he wanted to set up a meeting, so we went with it.

Turns out, he was a local politician gearing up for a run at the state cabinet. He was young, fresh-faced, and relatively new to the scene. Now, here’s the kicker: In this country, any run-ins with the law — even the minor stuff — can easily end up online, and this guy had a few blips on his record. Nothing major, but he needed to clean up his image a bit.

I can’t spill all the beans on what we did, but let’s just say we helped him out through totally legitimate means. And get this — he didn’t want any paperwork, no reports, no analytics, no receipts. When it came time for billing, he handed over the entire amount in a big roll of small bills. Picture me and my manager, sitting there, counting stacks of cash like something out of a movie, trying to keep our cool the whole time. Talk about a wild ride!

Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?

When reflecting on my journey, three character traits stand out as instrumental to what I do today.

Firstly, the drive to excel has been paramount. Striving for mastery and expertise is deeply ingrained in many Asian cultures, and it’s something I’ve always embraced. Whether it’s in education or leadership, the expectation to be among the best in your field has always been a driving force for me. I recall being very dedicated to mastering every skill and technique I was taught, pushing myself to continually improve and set new standards for excellence.

Secondly, the willingness to challenge tradition and explore innovative approaches has been crucial. In a rapidly evolving landscape, being open to breaking free from conventional norms is essential. Every week we have projects where we face a longstanding challenge within our industry. Instead of adhering to traditional methods, we push to explore unconventional solutions, ultimately revolutionizing our approach and achieving unprecedented success.

Lastly, the value of transferable knowledge cannot be overstated. Accumulating knowledge and honing analytical skills have empowered me to adapt and thrive in diverse environments. I’ve had many instances where insights gained from one area of expertise were seamlessly applied to solve complex problems in unrelated fields, highlighting the importance of versatile thinking and interdisciplinary collaboration.

In essence, the combination of drive, innovation, and adaptability has been pivotal to my journey, enabling me to navigate challenges and achieve success in my career.

Ok, thank you for that. Let’s now jump to the primary focus of our interview. Can you share a pivotal moment in your athletic career that taught you a leadership lesson you’ve applied outside of sports?

You know, there have been moments from my martial arts career that has stuck with me and continues to influence my leadership approach outside of sports.

Back in the competitive arena, there were times when I found myself facing fixed matches. It’s a feeling of helplessness when all your training and preparation seem to amount to nothing, and there’s nothing you can do to change the outcome.

In those moments, I realized that winning isn’t everything. It’s about the journey leading up to it and the lessons learned along the way. This experience taught me a valuable life lesson — one that resonates deeply in the corporate world. Sometimes, unexpected things happen, and people may engage in questionable practices. But when faced with situations beyond our control, the most important thing is to hold firm to our values and integrity.

No matter the outcome, we can take pride in the journey and the effort we’ve invested. It’s about staying true to ourselves and our principles, even in the face of adversity. That lesson has guided me through many challenges in both sports and business, reminding me of the importance of integrity and resilience in leadership.

How has your experience in team dynamics within athletics influenced your approach to leadership in the workplace?

In karate, we don’t just focus on physical training; we also prioritize cultural values like mindfulness and respect for opponents. Competition in the dojo isn’t just about winning; it’s about sharing knowledge and mastering techniques with peers from different backgrounds. This mindset directly translates to the corporate world, where I view our company as a dojo, fostering a culture of respect for competitors and collaboration.

Moreover, the journey to achieving a black belt involves not only mastering skills but also teaching and coaching younger members. This responsibility instills values of mentorship and continuous learning — qualities that are indispensable for effective leadership.

Today, I carry forward this ‘Dojo mindset’ in my leadership style. I prioritize creating a collaborative environment where everyone contributes to our collective success. In our diverse and multi-disciplinary team, we operate as one dojo, emphasizing collective intelligence over individual brilliance.

This approach becomes even more crucial as we witness the traditional idea of ‘teams’ evolving into departments of individual contributors. Cultivating a strong people culture is paramount to ensuring the cohesiveness and success of our organization.

In what ways has facing defeat or challenges in sports prepared you for handling failure and setbacks in your professional life?

Facing defeat or challenges in sports, for me, has been significant preparation for handling failure and setbacks in the professional professional.

While success is often the focus of discussions, in martial arts training, we also emphasize mental visualization, including preparing for contingencies when things don’t go as planned. This practice has equipped me with resilience and adaptability, crucial traits for navigating setbacks in both sports and the corporate world.

Moreover, in the corporate setting, supporting our colleagues and team when we don’t achieve the desired outcome is essential. Accepting defeat gracefully and learning from it is equally important as celebrating victories. It’s about embracing failure as an opportunity for growth and development, fostering a culture of resilience and perseverance within the team.

In essence, my experiences in sports have taught me valuable lessons in resilience, adaptability, and acceptance of failure, which have proven invaluable in navigating challenges in my professional life.

How do you apply the discipline and training regimen from your athletic pursuits to your current leadership role?

Over the years, I’ve learned that leadership, regardless of the field, shares similarities with coaching. It’s about motivating and guiding your team toward success. Just like in athletics, I see it as my duty to ensure my team has everything they need to thrive, including the necessary training. This involves preparing them for the tough days and the hard work that precedes success.

Moreover, maintaining empathy is essential. Understanding the challenges my team faces and keeping them motivated and engaged throughout the process is paramount. It’s about being there to support them through both the highs and lows.

Lastly, drawing from my own experiences and lessons learned, passing down valuable insights, knowledge and guiding them through their journey.

Overall, I’ve always felt that by applying the discipline and training regimen from my athletic background to my leadership role, I aim to cultivate a motivated, resilient, and high-performing team.

Reflecting on your journey, what specific skills or attributes developed through athletics do you believe are most essential for effective leadership?

I believe several skills and attributes developed through athletics are essential for effective leadership both on and off the court.

Firstly, perseverance stands out as a cornerstone. In martial arts training, we learn to push through the toughest challenges to emerge stronger. This mindset is equally vital in the corporate world, where difficulties can often lead to projects being abandoned prematurely. I’ve found that great achievements often come after overcoming significant struggles.

Secondly, the hunger to learn and share is paramount. Continuous learning is emphasized throughout our careers, but it’s equally important to pass on knowledge and experiences to others. I’ve learned that true mastery comes not only from acquiring new skills but also from teaching and mentoring others along the way.

Lastly, the importance of practice cannot be overstated. Just as practice makes perfect in athletics, the same principle applies in the corporate realm. However, I’ve found that approaching it as training — constantly pushing the boundaries with each repetition — has been key to honing my skills and achieving excellence in my leadership role.

Based on your experience, can you please share “5 Ways That Athletics Can Help Train Great Leaders?”

1 . Drive to Excel: Striving for mastery is ingrained in many cultures, and it’s a driving force in both education and leadership. Dedication to mastering every skill sets new standards for excellence.

2 . Willingness to Innovate: Being open to breaking free from conventional norms is essential in a rapidly evolving landscape. Exploring unconventional solutions leads to unprecedented success.

3 . Perseverance: In martial arts training, we learn to push through tough challenges to emerge stronger. This mindset is vital in the corporate world, where overcoming difficulties leads to significant achievements.

4 . Hunger to Learn and Share: Continuous learning is crucial in our careers, but so is passing on knowledge. True mastery comes from teaching and mentoring others, not just acquiring new skills.

5 . Importance of Practice: Just as practice makes perfect in athletics, it’s the same in the corporate realm. Pushing boundaries with each repetition is key to honing skills and achieving excellence in leadership.

You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂

If I could start a movement to bring the most good to the most people, it would be about reshaping business culture to mirror the camaraderie and teamwork found in sports clubs.

I’ve often spoken about the ‘Dojo mindset’ and how it fosters collaboration and excellence, especially in companies with diverse teams of individual contributors. But different types of businesses might benefit from other sports-inspired cultures as well. Whether it’s the teamwork of a rugby or football club, the individual focus with a supportive team dynamic seen in track and field, swimming, or racing, each model offers valuable lessons in teamwork and goal achievement.

Ultimately, it’s not just about everyone working toward the same goal — it’s about how we work toward that goal. By adopting elements of sports culture, businesses can create environments where every team member feels valued, supported, and motivated to give their best performance.

How can our readers further follow you online?

https://www.linkedin.com/in/robinlauyf/

Thank you for the time you spent sharing these fantastic insights. We wish you only continued success in your great work!

About The Interviewer: Vanessa Ogle is a mom, entrepreneur, inventor, writer, and singer/songwriter. Vanessa’s talent in building world-class leadership teams focused on diversity, a culture of service, and innovation through inclusion allowed her to be one of the most acclaimed Latina CEO’s in the last 30 years. She collaborated with the world’s leading technology and content companies such as Netflix, Amazon, HBO, and Broadcom to bring innovative solutions to travelers and hotels around the world. Vanessa is the lead inventor on 120+ U.S. Patents. Accolades include: FAST 100, Entrepreneur 360 Best Companies, Inc. 500 and then another six times on the Inc. 5000. Vanessa was personally honored with Inc. 100 Female Founder’s Award, Ernst and Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and Enterprising Women of the Year among others. Vanessa now spends her time sharing stories to inspire and give hope through articles, speaking engagements and music. In her spare time she writes and plays music in the Amazon best selling new band HigherHill, teaches surfing clinics, trains dogs, and cheers on her children.

Please connect with Vanessa here on linkedin and subscribe to her newsletter Unplugged as well as follow her on Substack, Instagram, Facebook, and X and of course on her website VanessaOgle.


Robin Lau Of Dentsu: How My Experience in Athletics Trained Me to Become a Better Leader was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.