Episode #26: Peter Jennings, President, Dow Japan

Peter Jennings was fresh out of Law school when he joined Dow in 1985 as an attorney. After representing the company in major legal cases, Mr. Jennings moved to Hong Kong in 1998 after accepting the role as legal counsel for Dow Asia-Pacific. He stayed in this region for six years and briefly took on major roles in the United States before stepping into his current position as President of Dow Japan and Korea. Furthermore, Mr. Jennings is the Vice President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan.

Mr. Jennings’ experience in the United States, Hong Kong and now in Japan has enabled him to gain a vast amount of knowledge about what it takes to be a good leader. He reflects back on lessons he learnt from his previous bosses and associates, and delves into the key components for being successful in Japan. Mr. Jennings further explores how he has been able to change the sometimes difficult Japanese business culture, which has allowed his Japanese employees and associates to feel more comfortable and trusted. Additionally, he talks about the importance of diversity and encouragement, and explains and exemplifies this by sharing success stories about women from Dow Japan. Finally, Mr. Jennings concludes by giving three key pieces of advice for any person who is hoping to work and lead in Japan.