Always go for the best: Taking legal career opportunities head on with Naoko Matsuzaki

Naoko Matsuzaki, a Managing Director at KPMG, shares her reflections on defining moments in her career, including how working with clients and colleagues can lead to offers to take up amazing study and job opportunities. Naoko has come across many challenges in her career, not to mention trying to start her career in the “hiring ice age”! But she always found a way. This is an inspirational story of what can happen when you give things a try and just do your best.

Special shout out to John Lindsay as you will LOVE this episode for your windshield time. Also, Tove Kinooka listen out for a fabulous horse analogy you will absolutely love. 

If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, we’d love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway. Head over to Apple Podcasts to leave a review and we’d love it if you would leave us a message here!


In this episode you’ll hear:

  • How Naoko got her first position during the "hiring ice age" before the concept of DEI

  • Taking the chance to apply for the best US law schools with the help of a surprising ally

  • The reverse culture shock of returning to a Japanese corporation

  • The value of different career experiences and viewpoints that add value to a team

  • Her favourite book she recently read and other fun facts 

About Naoko

Naoko is a graduate of law from Keio University and is a managing director at KPMG. As a core member of the leadership of a new team, she assists clients on mitigating corporate misconduct, namely prevention, detection, incident response and enhancement of a compliance program for her clients. Her team is currently like an internal startup, working on building this new practice within the next few years. 

Naoko holds an LL.M. from Stanford Law School and an LL.B. from Keio University in Tokyo, is natively fluent in Japanese and English, and has lived and worked in Japan and the U.S. She is a member of the American Bar Association and has lectured on international panels regarding anti-corruption. Naoko also enjoys horseback riding.  She is a certified horseback rider of the Japan Equestrian Federation, and sometimes participates in British style dressage competitions. 

Connect with Naoko 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/naokomatsuzaki/

Links

Die with Zero: ​​https://amzn.asia/d/hNGWbLF  

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Lawyer on Air was the winner of the Bronze Award in the “Best Podcast by a Kiwi Abroad Category” in the New Zealand Podcast Awards 2021.

Lawyer on Air has been nominated for “Best Business Podcast” in the Quill Podcast Awards, 2022! Thank you to all our supporters who voted for the podcast!

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