[Recruitment Night!] Why is the competition for executive talent intensifying in an era where AI is taking jobs?

Everyone says, "AI will lead to surplus labor." Yet, we can't seem to hire executives. We can’t even attract the top-tier students. In fact, over the last couple of years, the competition for high-class talent has clearly intensified. Even when job listings are posted, they don’t resonate, and scouting messages often go unanswered. Occasionally, when we do meet, those candidates are snatched up by major companies. Many of you might be familiar with this situation. We often hear that, even though there is a pool of new graduates, the specific group we want to meet is absent. The reason is not that complicated. What AI can take over is “tasks,” but the decisions and responsibilities cannot be handed over to anyone else. Moreover, the fewer the number of people, the more impact one individual's judgment has on performance. If what used to be handled by ten people is now managed by three, the quality of those three will directly shape the future of the company. With the tier of tasks disappearing, it has also become difficult for executives to develop within the company. That is why both large and small businesses are looking to hire the same individuals from outside. The same situation is occurring at the entry point for new graduates. The “ladder of tasks” that first-year employees used to climb over several years no longer exists. Companies have changed their premise to requiring individuals who can think from the first year, and students are starting to see through this and choose companies accordingly. The question of whether to hire executives from the outside or train future executives from new graduates is no longer a separate conversation. In this event, we will invite Masashi Nakano from Wow Television, which manages “Foreign Company Job Hunting Dot Com” for difficult university students and “Foreign Company Job Hunting Next (formerly Liiga)” for young high-class talent. We will discuss how the top-tier individuals are actually moving. Because he observes both students and young high-class talent, he offers unique insights. What resonates with companies and what misses the mark? We will be having a frank conversation over drinks, including topics that might be difficult to bring to light. For those who think, "There’s no way executives like us would come to our company," we strongly encourage you to attend. In reality, high-class talent and students are making decisions based on factors separate from salary figures and company recognition. This is not going to be a stiff recruitment seminar. We aim to create a night where business owners and HR professionals from other companies can speak candidly while holding a glass. Recommended for: On the day of the event, we will discuss: Feel free to ask questions extensively. The more you bring your hiring challenges to the table, the richer the discussion will become. Schedule: Speaker: Masashi Nakano, Executive Officer, Department of Management Strategy, Wow Television Co., Ltd. Joined EY Strategy and Consulting Co., Ltd., then established CVC (Colopl Next) and executed investments at Colopl Co., Ltd., served as Chief of Operations at Activ8 Co., Ltd., and worked as Executive Producer at DLE Co., Ltd. Also a co-representative of Fincrease Co., Ltd. Joined Wow Television Co., Ltd. in 2024. As Director of Management Strategy, he oversees M&A and Human Resource strategies. He stands at the frontline of changes in the high-class talent market, observing both the member base of professionals from consulting firms, investment banks, and corporations who work at the forefront, as well as daily corporate support. He will discuss how “the image of executives sought after by companies has changed in the AI era” and “how small businesses and startups can win amidst competition with major companies,” combining the real movements of job seekers with both success and failure stories from the corporate side. Facilitator: Kenji Shintani, Owner of Samurai BAR, CEO of Management Strategy Co., Ltd. Engaged in consulting for small and medium-sized enterprises for 10 years at Deloitte Tohmatsu Group, participating in the launch of five businesses. Later became independent and founded Management Strategy Co., Ltd. In addition to providing numerous management support, he also serves as the representative of Craft Tea Co., Ltd., which develops a Japanese tea brand, “CRAFT TEA.” Based on his own management experiences, he is dedicated to operating a community that supports the loneliness of entrepreneurs. Event Overview: Date and Time: September 30, 2026 (Wednesday) 6:45 PM Opening, 7:00 PM - 10:00 PMVenue: Samurai BAR, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Shinjuku 3-15-11 Adhoc Shinjuku 5F reDine Shinjukuhttps://maps.app.goo.gl7AWUYrTvTqNSgvmp8 Participation Fee: 5,980 yen (including all-you-can-drink + food) *Please pay cashless on the day. Cash cannot be used, so please be careful. Organizer: Wow Television Co., Ltd. Manages “Foreign Company Job Hunting Dot Com” and “Foreign Company Job Hunting Next (formerly Liiga).” Offering a career platform for high-class talent from difficult university students to young professionals. Samurai BAR (Management Strategy Co., Ltd.) A “Business Community BAR” where business owners, business people, and creators gather to discuss serious business consultations over drinks, as well as ideas for the future. It is an exciting space that goes beyond mere cross-industry networking, where participants become each other's “strategists” to derive hints for solving challenges and to create new collaborations.