Masanori Akita

Slalom Consulting Pricipal Client Partner/Manager/Engagement Lead/PO Coach/Agile Coach/戦略×Modern Techonology/元Red Hat Open Innovation Labs立上げメンバー/グロービス経営大学院 AI研究所ボードメンバー/ブラジリアン柔術黒帯

Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

About

Please see articles below that I delivered in the past. Essentially Culture Change with modern technology is my approach and concept. Also successfully developed remarkable sales revenue both new product and new service to very demanding customer in Japan. With in-depth industry knowledge, especially Telco and Manufacture and always focus on technology that fit customer`s goal. About Slalom Slalom is exploring international market expansion and Japan is one of the areas we are looking into. My role is to explore opportunities in Japan market, Japanese customers do business transformation that means core business transformation. (シアトルに拠点を持つSlalomはビジネスコンサルティングからデータ・機械学習/AI、アジャイルそしてクラウドで多くの実績があるコンサルティングファームです。シアトル本社を中心にアマゾン、マイクロソフト、スターバックスなどを大手のお客様をサポートしており、クラウドへの移行、エンタープライズシステムへのAI、機械学習の適用支援などにおいて高く評価されています。創業当時からクラウドとモバイル、そしてデータにフォーカスしており、日本のさまざまなお客様にもこれまでにないサービスを期待いただけると確信しています。デジタルを武器として活用したいというご相談がありましたらぜひご連絡ください。) Web Articles ■Culture First approach in Red Hat. https://enterprisezine.jp/article/detail/13248?p=3 ■Automation 2.0 https://members.techtarget.itmedia.co.jp/tt/members/2104/21/news03.html ■Ansible Automates2022 Japan https://www.sbbit.jp/eventinfo/72903 Day2 Event lead and Opening Speaker

Experience

  • Slalom (3 yrs 3 mos)
    • Principal Solution Owner (Manager/ Transformation Lead)
      Feb 2025 - Present · 1 yr 6 mos

      Recently engaged as a Solution Owner in Agile-based drone development projects for the heavy industry sector and service development initiatives in the mobility domain, with a strong focus on integrating Generative AI and Enterprise AI to drive innovation. The Solution Owner is a unique role within Slalom—blending the responsibilities of a Scrum Master, Business Analyst, Project Manager, and sometimes even a Product Manager. Created to support the evolution of Digital Product Teams, the role goes beyond achieving great delivery; it exists to create transformational impact. Solution Owners embody Slalom’s core philosophy of “Bringing More,” “Being a Challenger,” and “Making Connections,” acting as catalysts who elevate client outcomes and organizational growth. Because of this multidimensional nature, SOs are often described as Therapists, Translators, Parents, Air Traffic Controllers, and Diplomats—metaphors that reflect Slalom’s genuine commitment to a partnership-driven approach and human-centered transformation.

    • Principal Client Partner (Manager/Engagement Lead and PO coach)
      May 2023 - Present · 3 yrs 3 mos

      Championed client transformation as a Client Partner and Trusted Advisor, committed to delivering “Customer Love” by creating greater value and measurable impact for clients. Combined AI innovation with consulting expertise to design and develop next-generation transformation services within Slalom’s Transformation Team. Led solution delivery across generative AI adoption, Product Owner enablement for Enterprise AI, and data-driven UX optimization. Served as both Solution Owner and Engagement Lead to realize Slalom’s unique end-to-end consulting model that bridges strategy, technology, and human-centered execution.

  • Red Hat (6 yrs 9 mos)
    • Engagement Lead/Sr. Territory Service Manager(CxO Engagement and Journey Based Service Lead)
      Apr 2019 - Apr 2023 · 4 yrs 1 mo

    • Sr. Service Manager(Consulitng Service Specialist and Open Innovation Labs Lead)
      Aug 2016 - Mar 2019 · 2 yrs 8 mos

  • Cisco (8 yrs 6 mos)
    • Sr. Product Specialist
      Jul 2014 - Jul 2016 · 2 yrs 1 mo

      New hunting business that based on Cisco Data Center solution and trying to expand market share, especially automotive and big enterprise customer.

    • Sr. Service Account Manager
      Feb 2008 - Jun 2014 · 6 yrs 5 mos

      All-through-management for each customer project from solution planning, design, delivery with quality assurance, and managed customer expectation. Well-managed 3 people solution team including associate level sales and Sr. customer support.

  • Hewlett Packard Enterprise (5 yrs 2 mos)
    • Global inbound business consultant and sales team Lead
      Nov 2004 - Jan 2008 · 3 yrs 3 mos

      Led breakthrough team and transform volume selling approach with Outside sales and inside sales. 6sales rep well-managed and reached every quota target.

    • Corporate Account manager
      Dec 2002 - Nov 2004 · 2 yrs

      Taking a role of corporate client executive, and very closely support customer mission critical system globally. Especially led SAP System integration and consolidation.

  • Account Manager at Digital Equipment Corporation (USA)
    Apr 1998 - Nov 2002 · 4 yrs 8 mos

    Took all necessary action for system launch including problem solving, schedule control, document management, specification control and negotiation, technical correspondence and customer relationship.