Welcome to The 6 a.m. CFO, where finance chiefs share how they jump-start their days and engage with the tasks that are in front of them.
Today, Astellas’s CFO, Atsushi Kitamura, shares his morning routine.
Be sure to check out the entire 6 a.m. CFO series, and if you’d like to be featured in a future post, please email us here.
Astellas
- One of Japan’s largest drugmakers
- Year founded: 2005
- Number of employees: More than 13,500
- Revenue: In FY24 of ¥1,912.3 billion ($12.58B)
MORNING ROUTINE
Weekday wake-up time: I have a meeting starting from 6 a.m. once or twice a week. In that case, I wake up at 5 a.m. to prepare for the meeting.
Morning beverage choice: Black tea with breakfast is my routine. I also have a cup of black coffee before starting work.
Non-work-related morning activities: I make a packed lunch (bento box) for my two children every morning on weekdays. I often use leftovers from dinner, and a rolled omelet is a standard menu item. I prepare a packed lunch by 7 a.m., when the children are about to leave. I have been making packed lunches for about eight years. Since I have three children, I used to make three packed lunches until the oldest child went to college.
Workday start time: I usually start working at 7 a.m.
How I usually spend the first hour of my day: I check my emails on my iPhone, prioritizing those that are urgent and important. Sometimes, I check my emails while making packed lunches. If there is a meeting in the morning, I spend time preparing for it.
Time I send out my first email: I try to respond immediately in the case of urgent matters. Otherwise, I send emails around 8 to 9 a.m. after the morning meeting.
Best advice for writing an effective email: “Be simpler, shorter, direct to the point.” It is important to avoid long emails and to keep them short and simple, so that the main points are clear. In Japanese, there is a custom to include a standard phrase at the beginning of emails, but I tell my team members that this is unnecessary.
First dashboard I review: There isn’t a dashboard that I check daily; instead, the items I review, such as sales and profit and loss, differ from the first week to the second week and the third week. I look at what needs to be reviewed according to the monthly cycle.
How I structure my morning meetings: If I were to mention what I pay attention to during meetings, I try not to ask or make statements just for show. I am conscious that I am using everyone’s time, so before I speak, I carefully consider what I truly want to know or ask. I also think about where I can perform my best while participating in the meeting.
Mid-morning snack of choice: A cup of coffee and a few sweet treats like chocolate really energize my brain!
Tell us about a recent morning that didn’t go as planned and how you adjusted: I think it’s normal for things not to go as planned, so I handle them accordingly.
INSPIRATION AND LEADERSHIP
Favorite quote or mantra: “一期一会”: This means “once-in-a-lifetime encounter” in English.
It is used to emphasize the importance of cherishing encounters that happen only once in a lifetime. It encourages us to value the present time spent with others and to act with the awareness that this might be the last opportunity, so we should do our best.
Favorite leadership lesson: I believe leaders should be responsible for any result, with no excuse. Of course, if things go well, all credit should go to the team, not the leader, and leaders should appreciate their team’s efforts and the great learning experience. Leaders may not always be rewarded, but they can accumulate wonderful experiences, which are assets for a leader.
I personally aim for no-surprise leadership. If my words and actions are consistent and I continuously deliver results, my thoughts will be understood by the team even in my absence, and there will be no surprises within the team. I aspire to be that kind of leader.
Something important to know about me that you wouldn’t know from my business bio: Since my children have grown up, I enjoy playing golf on the weekends and spending time relaxing with my wife watching TV. We often watch Korean dramas and American dramas like “Suits,” “The Residence” and “The Lincoln Lawyer.”
Favorite number: 16 — my jersey number when I played lacrosse. I wore number 16 for about six years, starting from my college days.
Most noteworthy items in my workspace: I don’t have a dedicated office at the company; I work in an open space. There are employees on the same floor, and casual conversations with them are important for me.
Favorite app on my phone that is not related to business: I listen to novels on Audible during my commute. Sometimes, I get so moved by the content of the novels that I almost cry on the train. Recently, I listened to the book titled “神様のカルテ (Clinical Record by God),” and it truly warmed my heart. The story follows an internist at a rural hospital facing constant staff shortages as he struggles with the decision to stay at his current job or pursue advanced medical technology at a university hospital. Through the interactions with patients and doctors, I was deeply touched by the sense of human kindness and warmth conveyed in the narrative.
The year, make, and model of your first car: In 1995, I received a Mazda “Familia” from a senior colleague.
Most influential person you’ve ever met: Eikichi Yazawa, a famous Japanese singer-songwriter, is the most influential person for me. I’ve been a big fan of his since I was a junior high school student.
Most inspirational person in your life: Ralph Alvarez, former president and chief operations officer of McDonald’s. I worked with him when he was the chairman of Skylark, and I visited restaurants and conducted IR tours with him. Whether he was talking with investors or directors of the company, the content of his message was always consistent. When I asked him why, he simply replied, “Because I believe that way.”
