Yoshi Ieda
Michigan Representative
Michigan, USA
Yoshi Ieda
ENEnglish
JAJapanese
Yoshi Ieda possesses extensive experience in cross-cultural communication and international business management. Born and raised in Japan, after graduating from Hokkaido University he earned his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1999. His time spent in two vastly different educational environments—Japanese university and American graduate school—laid the foundation for his cross-cultural insights.
Upon completing his doctoral studies, Yoshi joined the U.S. subsidiary of a Japanese automotive parts manufacturer based in Michigan, where he handled technical sales serving primarily the Detroit Big 3 automakers. Working in an environment where the headquarters was in Japan, the market was in America, and colleagues included both local hires and Japanese expatriates, Yoshi further honed his ability to bridge cultural divides.
Passionate about education, Yoshi initiated employee training programs at his workplace, including cross-cultural training between Japan and the U.S., incorporating insights from Japan Intercultural Consulting’s seminars that he attended. Beyond the workplace, he accumulated a wealth of educational experience by serving as a teacher at Japanese School of Detroit and guest lecturing in Business Japanese classes at the University of Michigan.
From 2015 to 2017, Yoshi was assigned to the corporate planning department at his company’s headquarters in Nagoya, living there with his family. This period deepened his understanding of Japanese corporateculture and broadened his professional scope from technical sales to comprehensive business management. During this time, Yoshi played a significant role in the headquarters’ acquisition of an American company.
After returning to Michigan, Yoshi took on the role of Director of Business Strategy and Administration for the U.S. subsidiary, and in 2019, he was appointed President of the acquired American company. In this role, he gained further experience in managing cultural differences between Japan and the U.S. and in navigating differences in business models and corporate cultures.
In 2024, with the company’s reconstruction on track and a new management structure established, Yoshi stepped down from his position. In 2025, motivated by his desire to leverage his diverse cross-cultural experience to foster mutual understanding between Japanese and American employees, Yoshi became the Michigan Representative for Japan Intercultural Consulting.