13: Robert Heldt Founder & President, Custom Media

Robert Heldt, founder and President of Custom Media, an
award-winning bilingual media agency, originally started his
career in the Maladives in the hospitality industry. Founded in
2008, Custom Media company had a rough start following the Lehman
shock, but picked up soon after launching the bilingual lifestyle
travel magazine WITHIM and BCCJ Acumen, the British Chamber of
Commerce magazine, which recently celebrated its 10th year
anniversary.


Additionally, they help create ACC Journal of the American
Chamber of Commerce, The Canadian of the Canadian Chamber of
Commerce, INTOUCH of Tokyo American Club and Mansion Global, a
luxury real estate magazine.


In 2013, the company won the prestigious British Business Award
for their success.


Starting as a close-knit team of just 3-5 staff, Mr. Heldt talks
about the difficulties of recruiting and retaining a
multicultural group of people in today’s Japanese workforce.


Communicating amongst different cultural nuances is another
challenge. Yet he also points out that diversity gives them their
creative edge. Mr. Heldt strives to lead with flexibility,
patience and personal positivism to build better rapport with his
staff.


He says, “you need to be a good listener…I [try] to nurture that
style of work environment where everybody, no matter, [what] age
or seniority in the organization can share their opinion, can
share their idea...that really helps to get buy-in and engagement
from the team.”


He welcomes mistakes to be openly discussed and rewards hard work
through incentives like career development opportunities. In
doing so, he believes he is able to create a transparent and
engaging team that feels a sense of purpose in working at Custom
Media.