Shigeto Miyamoto is a seasoned omnichannel-marketer and influential thought leader in the healthcare industry. With extensive experience in digital health and transformation, he demonstrated a remarkable ability to lead management across organizations. Shigeto’s recent accolades further underscore his impact and recognition within the field. He was named one of the Top 25 digital transformation consultants in 2024 by the Consulting Report solidifies his trailblazing reputation. Previously honored as a Top 25 exceptional digital leader in 2022 by Digital Confex and awarded the Outstanding Leadership Keynote Speaker at Health 2.0, Shigeto’s exemplary leadership and contributions continue to shape the future of healthcare.
Recently, in an exclusive interview with Digital First Magazine, Shigeto shared his professional trajectory, insights on the three major upcoming trends in the AI space in the next 12 months, personal hobbies and interests, future plans, pearls of wisdom, and much more. The following excerpts are taken from the interview.
Hi Shigeto. Please tell us about your background and areas of interest.
Hi, I embarked on my professional journey two decades ago within the dynamic realm of IT industry. I later transitioned to the client sphere of healthcare to leverage digital capability rather than selling IT products and services. My passion is rooted in making meaningful contributions to the medical community and enhancing patient experiences. Leveraging my expertise in digital innovation and change management leadership, I am dedicated to spearheading transformative initiatives for the healthcare sector.
What do you love the most about your current role?
In my current position, I have the privilege of navigating diverse markets across the Asia Pacific region, each presenting unique regulatory landscapes and technological demands. Every day brings forth fresh insights and challenges as I collaborate with clients. Technology evolves at breakneck speed, yet its effective utilization hinges upon our go-to-market strategy, capability readiness, and innovation portfolio. What I love most in my work is the opportunity to collaborate with exceptional teams within my organization and forward-thinking clients who share a passion for pioneering digital transformation and groundbreaking analytics solutions. It’s privilege to be part of endeavors that push the boundaries of what’s possible.
You are also a Business Coach at INSEAD. Can you please tell us about your role in it?
I recently completed my Global Executive MBA at INSEAD, a transformative experience that allowed me to refresh my skills and knowledge with real-world cases post-pandemic, alongside global leaders representing over 50 nations. I collaborated with esteemed professors in INSEAD’s Action Learning Program, offering coaching sessions to the program participants. These sessions typically revolve around corporate strategy and innovation challenges set by each company, where senior executives review new ideas supported by robust business cases. In my coaching, I focus on helping to identify their crux and encourage them to stay with the problems longer before seeking solutions. Embracing coaching as a new leadership paradigm, I’m eager to further develop my skills in this domain.
As a motivating leader, what do you think leaders must do to allow themselves to develop a transformative leadership mindset?
Stay with the problem longer. Understand your problem better than anybody else. Once you identify the problem, finding a solution is much simpler. You do not have to create a new solution or a new business model every time you want to solve the problem. In transformation, changing culture and people is more difficult and complicated, yet significantly rewarding. Additionally, as a motivational leader, I believe storytelling about your problem and how you shape your journey to the solution is important.
What are the major trends do you foresee in your industry in the next 12 months?
- Process change to embrace AI work: Large Language Model AI enables more people to leverage AI power and productivity.
- Go-to-market strategy change to focus on more rare diseases and orphan drugs: There’s increasing recognition of the unmet medical needs in rare diseases, driving pharmaceutical companies to invest in orphan drug development. There is a need to change the current commercialization model to adapt fewer but specific patient market with more effective targeting and approaching.
- Digital Health solution to connect diagnosis and remedy: The integration of digital health technologies like telemedicine, remote patient monitoring, and digital therapeutics is likely to continue expanding. Different industry from finance to healthcare may collaborate with tech firms or develop their own digital health solutions to enhance patient care and engagement.
- Embracing AI: Healthcare processes are evolving to integrate AI, particularly with the advent of Large Language Model AI. This integration empower people to explore higher productivity and efficiency across various tasks, from administrative work and analytical work to customer experience and programmatic marketing.
- Shift in Go-to-Market Strategy: There’s a notable change in the go-to-market strategies of pharmaceutical companies, with a focus on addressing unmet medical needs in rare diseases and orphan drugs. This shift entails adopting more targeted and specialized commercialization models that effectively reach smaller but specific patient populations, leveraging advanced data analytics and precision marketing techniques.
- Expansion of Digital Health Solutions: Digital health technologies are increasingly being integrated into healthcare delivery. These solutions facilitate seamless connectivity between diagnosis and remedy in care pathway, enabling remote consultations, real-time health monitoring, and personalized treatment interventions. Collaboration between healthcare organizations and technology firms is driving innovation in digital health, leading to improved access to care, better patient outcomes, and enhanced engagement across various industries.
If you could have a one-hour meeting with someone famous who is alive or dead, who would it be and why?
If given the opportunity, I would choose to have a one-hour meeting with Nelson Mandela. His life story and leadership journey have always deeply inspired me. Mandela’s unwavering commitment to justice, reconciliation, and forgiveness, even after enduring decades of imprisonment, is truly remarkable. I would be honored to learn from his wisdom, resilience, and compassion. Meeting him would not only be a chance to gain insights into his remarkable leadership philosophy but also an opportunity to be inspired by his extraordinary courage and humanity.
Is there a particular person you are grateful for who helped get you to where you are?
I have been fortunate to have support from many wonderful people along my journey. It’s hard to single out just one individual because so many have played a part in shaping who I am today. I am truly grateful for all the guidance and encouragement I have received from mentors, family members, friends, and colleagues. Their collective support has been invaluable in helping me reach where I am today.
What are some of your passions outside of work? What do you like to do in your time off?
In my free time, I find immense joy in catching up with friends and mentoring young leaders. These activities aren’t just hobbies—they’re passions that fuel my spirit and bring me immense fulfillment. Whether it’s sharing stories over coffee with friends or guiding aspiring leaders on their journey, I cherish every opportunity to connect with others and make a positive impact.
What is your biggest goal? Where do you see yourself in 5 years from now?
In five years, I envision myself continuing to grow as a thought leader in my field. My dream is to make meaningful contributions to my industry through insightful perspectives and innovative ideas. I aspire to inspire others and foster positive change by sharing my knowledge and experiences in a humble manner. I hope to be recognized not only for my expertise but also for my genuine desire to learn and collaborate with others. Ultimately, my goal is to leave a lasting impact on my community and the world, one humble step at a time.
What advice would you give to somebody who is considering entering your field?
As a thought leader in the healthcare market, here are some pieces of advice I would offer to someone considering entering this field:
Embrace Continuous Learning: Stay updated on the latest trends, technologies, and best practices in both digital marketing and healthcare. Continuous learning is essential to remain relevant and effective in a rapidly evolving industry.
Collaborate and Network: Build strong relationships with healthcare professionals, industry experts, and other stakeholders. Participate in industry events and forums to expand your network and stay connected with the latest developments.
Be Patient and Persistent: Success in healthcare marketing often requires patience, persistence, and resilience. Understand that achieving meaningful results may take time, and be prepared to adapt to challenges and setbacks along the way.
I think it is important prioritize continuous learning to stay informed, collaborate with others in the industry to build relationships and network, and maintain patience and persistence to navigate challenges and achieve long-term success.