What Three Contrasting Speakers Can Teach Us About Executive Presence in Tokyo — Lessons from Jesper Koll, Georg Loer, and Carolina Kawakubo

In 日本企業 and 外資系企業, leaders frequently address mixed audiences—executives, investors, policymakers, and global partners. Yet few recognize how dramatically delivery style determines credibility, especially in environments where people judge authority not only by what you say but how you say it.
A recent panel discussion featuring economist Jesper Koll, outgoing NRW Global head Georg Loer, and his successor Carolina Kawakubo offered a remarkable case study in three distinct—and highly effective—presentation styles.

Mini-Summary: Leadership communication in Tokyo is shaped by presence and delivery as much as content.

“What happens when the tech fails—or when there simply are no slides?”

Most executives in Tokyo depend heavily on slide decks for navigation, messaging, and confidence. But this creates a massive risk. Projector issues, software glitches, or venue limitations can instantly derail a presentation—unless the speaker has trained for independence from visuals.

Jesper Koll demonstrated mastery of this skill.
Known for his high-energy, data-driven style, Jesper typically walks audiences through meticulously assembled statistics on Japan’s economy. However, in this session he spoke with no slides at all.

• He recalled detailed numbers entirely from memory.

• He built “verbal charts” that were vivid enough for the audience to visualize.

• His delivery stayed fast-paced, witty, and authoritative.

For those without a “prodigious memory,” there is a realistic solution:

• Bring printed slides for personal reference.

• Use keywords, not full scripts.

• Consult notes discreetly without reading to the audience.

Mini-Summary: Executives must be able to deliver confidently even when slides disappear—tech failure is not an excuse for poor presence.

Jesper also demonstrated an uncommon technique for Tokyo business environments: aggressive rhetorical questioning.
He deliberately stepped toward individual audience members and posed specific, pointed questions—creating instant tension. The listener never knew if they were expected to answer or if Jesper would answer it himself (he always did, to their relief).

This technique:

• Forces full attention

• Adds dynamism and unpredictability

• Energizes even conservative Japanese audiences

Used sparingly, it is a powerful tool in プレゼンテーション研修 and leadership communication.

Mini-Summary: Strategic rhetorical questions can jolt audiences into heightened engagement.

“Do you need high energy to be effective? Not necessarily.”

By contrast, Georg Loer displayed a completely different—and equally successful—style.
After 17 years running NRW Global, he came across as relaxed, informal, and visibly passing the baton to Carolina. His attire—a simple short-sleeved shirt and casual shoes—signaled a quiet, deliberate shift of authority.

His style communicated:

• “I’ve done this for decades.”

• “This community already knows me.”

• “Tonight is not about me.”

This intimate, conversational tone is highly effective in Japanese relationship-driven contexts. It builds closeness, trust, and the atmosphere of a shared mission.

Mini-Summary: Calm, understated authority can be just as powerful as dynamic delivery when grounded in genuine confidence.

Newly appointed NRW Global representative Carolina Kawakubo offered the third contrasting style: polished, poised, and fully prepared.

She demonstrated executive fundamentals often missing in leadership talks across Tokyo:

• Professional attire reinforcing credibility

• No notes—clear mastery of her material

• Steady, confident vocal tone

• Congruence between message, posture, and intention

Following a 17-year predecessor is never easy, yet she delivered a message that was crisp, confident, and contemporary—very different from the executives described in episode #393, where candidates could not even introduce themselves without reading from a script.

Mini-Summary: Confidence expressed through presence, preparation, and congruence is essential when stepping into high-visibility leadership roles.

Jesper’s bombastic energy, Georg’s calm intimacy, and Carolina’s executive polish represent the broad range of valid speaking styles available to leaders today.
The key is not imitation—it is intentionality:

• Know what the situation calls for.

• Deliver with congruence.

• Reinforce your message through style, not despite it.

In Dale Carnegie’s プレゼンテーション研修, 営業研修, and エグゼクティブ・コーチング, we see this truth daily:
There is no one correct style—only the style that best amplifies your message and serves your audience.

Mini-Summary: Great speakers succeed not by copying others but by mastering a style that fits their personality and their purpose.

• Slide independence is a critical leadership skill—your message must stand even without visuals.

• Rhetorical questioning can transform passive audiences into fully engaged participants.

• Quiet confidence can be as powerful as high energy when grounded in authenticity.

• Professional presence and preparation signal readiness for senior leadership roles.

Founded in the U.S. in 1912, Dale Carnegie Training has supported individuals and companies worldwide for over a century in leadership, sales, presentation, executive coaching, and DEI. Our Tokyo office, established in 1963, has been empowering both Japanese and multinational corporate clients ever since.