CEO Talks: Katsuaki Watanabe: Toyota's Tough Boss
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K.W. As I drive my car, I get many ideas. On many occasions I notice things and tell my engineers. I test-drive cars too and share my findings with the engineers. Either the design isn't good, it doesn't sound good, or the way the car is built isn't to my liking.
TIME How do you retain this urgent sense that Toyota must keep changing and improving when you've worked there for 41 years? Aren't you tired of change by now?
K.W. I'm a very curious person by nature. My character leans toward aggressiveness, and I like it that way. I immediately recognize the problem, know right away that something is far too expensive, that something needs improvement. I notice things, and I don't resist change.
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Developed for the World Economic Forum by Professor Xavier Sala-i-Martin, the Global Competitiveness Index (GCI) measures the competitiveness of nations using economic statistics and extensive polling of international business leaders.
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