247 Rose MacDonald, Country Manager Japan, Wine Australia

Previously, Rose worked for Pernod Ricard Japan as a Brand
Manager for Ki No Bi and White Spirits, Brand Manager for Jameson
Irish Whiskey, and Wine Ambassador. Her earlier roles also
included Sales Support Executive at iSeek Communications, Guest
Relations at Tokyo Daiichi Hotel, and Guest Relations at
Whitehorse Hotel.


Rose holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of
Wollongong.


Drawing from her years of experience at Pernod Ricard and now as
the representative of Wine Australia, she emphasizes the
importance of trust, consensus-building, cultural adaptation, and
clarity of purpose.


One of her key insights is that successful leadership in Japan
depends less on hierarchy and more on alignment. Building
consensus among diverse stakeholders—importers, state offices,
and trade partners—requires time, patience, and careful
listening. She advocates for deep preparation, active curiosity,
and a willingness to ask questions without judgment in order to
fully understand local expectations and dynamics. By gathering
feedback and adjusting plans collaboratively, she has been able
to lead without formal authority and still earn commitment.


Trust is foundational. Rose builds it through consistency,
transparency, and follow-through. She notes that while expat
leaders may be under pressure from headquarters to move quickly,
speed is often perceived as risky in Japan. Thus, she emphasizes
defining clear goals and then creating an environment where
people feel safe contributing and experimenting—mitigating risk
rather than avoiding it. She sees the leader’s role as owning the
risk and setting the conditions for safe innovation.


Rose also stresses that Japanese language skills are advantageous
for breaking down communication barriers and signalling
commitment. However, she acknowledges that fluency isn’t a
requirement for every role—openness and cultural sensitivity can
go a long way. She describes how even small actions, like proper
greetings and showing bilingual flexibility, help build rapport
and credibility.


Her leadership philosophy centres on mutual respect. At Pernod
Ricard, she managed small multicultural teams by identifying
individuals’ strengths and aligning them with strategic goals.
She believes in tailoring support based on each person’s
aspirations—whether they’re short-term visitors or long-term
residents.


Rose has also navigated challenges as a young, non-Japanese
female leader. She counters potential bias with competence,
clarity, and professionalism, ensuring she is always
well-prepared and direct in communication. She stresses the value
of local mentors and networks—like Austrade and Australian
embassy contacts—for problem-solving and cultural insight.


Ultimately, her definition of leadership is grounded in mutual
respect, trust, and shared accountability. She underscores that
leading in Japan is less about authority and more about
connection, consistency, and cultural fluency.