Breaking Down the Walls of Resistance in Corporate Inner Branding: A Seminar for Leaders

Introduction

On January 26, 2026, Imajina Inc., a consultancy specializing in corporate branding and human capital management, will host a significant seminar in Tokyo. The event is specifically tailored for company leaders and HR professionals, focusing on the crucial aspect of inner branding and the necessary shifts in mindset through a concept referred to as 'Fundamental Education'. This initiative aims to address the increasing demand from executives for practical solutions to internal resistance within their organizations.

Background: The Cries of the Field and the Isolation of Leadership

The previous seminar held on December 2 highlighted significant concerns from many corporate participants. They understood the importance of inner branding but felt lost on how to persuade internal resistance that hampers its adoption. This critical feedback revealed the urgency of teaching leaders not just theoretical insights but actionable strategies for implementation.

Notable Insights from Participants

- High-performing management dismissing core values: Many discussed how skilled managers often overlook fundamental company values, resulting in decreased motivation among younger staff.
- Leadership's call for value engagement in a disengaged realm: CEOs may advocate for ideological dissemination, yet employees often show indifference, placing leaders in a difficult position.
- Training without lasting change: After completing corporate training, many employees struggle to change their behavior, indicating a need for deeper, more sustainable educational approaches.

These insights prompted the re-evaluation of this seminar's format to focus on two critical elements: how to convince internal factions and where to initiate change.

Three Key Solutions from the Seminar

Utilizing the essence of the upcoming book, Blueprint for Empathic Value, we will share three practical methodologies during the seminar:

1. Addressing Dissonance Among High-Performing Employees
The most significant threat to an organization often comes from high-performing employees who do not resonate with its core values. The seminar will discuss strategies to mitigate the negative influence of cynicism on younger potential, shifting attention from mere skill training to reconstructing foundational values through 'Fundamental Education'.

2. Building a Persuasive Logic for Leadership
We’ll explore how to convert qualitative values, like ideology and empathy, into quantitative business benefits. This includes reducing hiring costs, lowering turnover rates, and enhancing productivity, providing a solid basis for investment decisions.

3. Creating an Actionable Roadmap
From redefining core beliefs to executing engagement strategies and measuring effectiveness through surveys, attendees will understand in which phase to implement specific actions. Through examples of success stories, participants will take home a solid project blueprint to avoid failures in their initiatives.

About the Upcoming Book

The book, Blueprint for Empathic Value, will offer a detailed understanding of 'empathy' within corporate management. The author, Yoshiki Sekino, aims to systematically expand the knowledge required for building organizations based on foundational values.

- Release Date: December 19, 2025
- Publisher: President Inc.

Seminar Overview

- Title: Inner Branding Seminar for Leaders
- Date: January 26, 2026, 10:00 - 11:30 Am (Doors open at 9:45 AM)
- Location: Tokyo Convention Hall, 3 Chome-1-1 Kyobashi, Chuo City, Tokyo
- Instructor: Yoshiki Sekino, Representative Director of Imajina Inc.
- Audience: Company executives, HR leaders, corporate planning officers, and public relations officers.
- Cost: Free, but prior reservation required.
- More Information/Registration: Imajina Seminar Registration

About Imajina Inc.

Imajina Inc. aims to create a society where investing in human resources is standard practice. They assist companies in forming their essential philosophies, ensuring these circulate throughout the organization, and embedding these values into recruiting, training, and evaluation systems. With over 3,000 successful engagements, they lead the charge in human capital management.