Episode #231: Corinne Southarewsky, COO, AXA Japan

Previously, Corrine was the Chief Distribution and Chief Claims Officer AXA XL APAC Europe and XL Insurance Company SE, Head of Claims XL Insurance company SE & AXA XL Business Unit APAC Europe, Head of Global Claims Operations, Global Chief Claims Officer, CEO Protexia France, Allianz France. She has an engineering degree from Ecole nationals des ponts et chausses, and an MBA from College des Ingenieurs

Summary

Corinne Southarewsky’s approach to leadership in Japan blends her extensive global experience with an acute sensitivity to local cultural dynamics. Transitioning to her role as COO of AXA Japan, she emphasised the importance of listening, understanding, and respecting Japan’s traditions and people while maintaining authenticity. Corinne highlights that successful leadership begins with adaptability—not imposing preconceived notions but learning from the environment and its people.

One key element of her leadership philosophy is recognising individual contributions while fostering teamwork. She believes in creating a culture of mutual respect, purpose, and collaboration to inspire and engage employees. For Corinne, the alignment of organisational purpose with shared goals strengthens employee dedication, especially in a client-focused industry like insurance, where empathy and precision are vital.

Corinne also addresses the cultural emphasis on perfectionism common in both French and Japanese contexts, harnessing this trait to ensure high service quality. However, she balances this with a pragmatic acceptance of imperfection, promoting resilience, innovation, and the willingness to learn from failures—an approach that helps mitigate cultural resistance to experimentation in Japan.

Her advice to leaders entering Japan includes taking time to understand the culture, respecting traditions, and building trust through sincerity and alignment of actions with words. She stresses the importance of meeting employees and clients personally to gain deeper insights and foster genuine engagement. As a female leader, Corinne advocates for women’s empowerment by focusing on their individual goals and fostering family collaboration for work-life balance. She also encourages leaders to create flexible environments that accommodate personal and professional growth for both men and women.

Corinne’s leadership style exemplifies the fusion of cultural respect and global perspective, making her insights invaluable for anyone aspiring to lead effectively in Japan.