Dr. Kashiwase, who is known by friends and colleagues as Kashi, joined Daiichi Sankyo predecessor company, Sankyo Co., Ltd., in 1989, and after working in research for 12 years, he gained extensive experience within the Corporate Planning Department of the Head Office, contributing to the management integration project between Sankyo and Daiichi Pharmaceutical, serving in a position at a U.S. subsidiary, and leading the Pharmaceutical Technology and Supply Chain Units.
However, upon first arriving in the Head Office, many business terms he had never heard of were frequently used and he initially struggled to keep up. “During my time in research, I consistently operated within my own specialty, which gave me a sense of security formed by my knowledge and experience. In Corporate Planning, however, I had to remove that protection, leaving me with only my core self to compete with. I worried about what I could accomplish.”
Seeing his colleagues in Corporate Planning think up and actively propose plans and strategies to improve the company, Kashi was inspired to take action himself. “Just sitting around thinking isn’t going to help. I have to get moving,” he decided, and soon put it into practice. If he saw anyone who seemed to be having trouble, he would start a discussion with them; if someone looked busy, he would ask if there was anything he do; he would constantly look for tasks with which he could assist. This experience made him stronger.
“After that, I experienced transfers to various departments, yet I began to view challenges in new roles and settings positively. I learned that it's crucial to take small steps forward and maintain a positive mindset instead of overthinking and striving too hard to do things perfectly.”
With company Daiichi Sankyo Brazil President, Marcelo Gonçalves, and
factory manager, Gilberto Hayashi, where a stone monument
commemorating construction was unveiled at the groundbreaking
ceremony for a new Daiichi Sankyo Brazil factory.
In April 2023, Kashi was appointed Head of Technology Unit. The Unit’s role is to produce high-quality medicines based on the established manufacturing process by themselves and deliver them to patients in a stable manner via two main categories: clinical trials and commercial operations.
Previously, separate units had been responsible for a specific part of the process, from manufacturing and supplying investigational drugs to manufacturing and distributing commercial products. However, due to the accelerating speed of development—especially in oncology—conducting clinical trials and commercial production simultaneously is increasingly important.
Doing so requires sharing information across units, dividing work beyond the existing framework, and fostering closer collaboration, and this specific need led to the creation of the Technology Unit, which unifies the technical departments involved in transitioning from clinical trials to commercialization.”
The concept of the Technology Unit is “clinical and commercial integration.” By developing industrial manufacturing methods and creating a seamless process from the manufacture of investigational drugs to commercial production and market supply, we create a system that will efficiently and stably deliver high-quality medicines to patients.
Colleagues have responded positively, providing feedback such as, “It has become easier to exchange opinions that go beyond the conventional framework,” and “we have started to think about and discuss things from multiple perspectives.”
“The process of creating medicines and delivering them to patients involves various functions, such as research and development, regulatory affairs, manufacturing, quality assurance, and distribution, all of which are closely interconnected. With our new organizational structure, I hope that the collaboration among departments will become more dynamic, enabling individuals to better understand one another’s work and significantly expand their career opportunities.”
Kashi adds, “I broadened my horizons significantly by venturing into new places after completing research in my specialized field. I aim to create an environment where everyone can pursue a diverse career path that aligns with their skills and experience.”
Building a robust organization with a strong culture
Reflecting on his career, Kashi shares something he has always aimed to remember while working. “If someone is having trouble or something goes wrong, I immediately think about how I can help. Having the mindset of asking yourself, 'What should I do in this situation?' makes it easier to take action when the time actually comes.“
“I always tell colleagues, even if you aren’t directly involved in solving the problem at the moment, reflecting seriously on what you would do if you had to will surely provide you with a strength that enhances your experience and leads to personal growth.”
“For us to build an organization that embraces diversity, leaders must strive to thoroughly understand the organization’s members and foster open dialogue. At Daiichi Sankyo, I hope to cultivate a company where each of us can work confidently and take pride in being part of it.”
Personal Interests
In his free time, Kashi enjoys going to the cinema regularly with his daughter and reading. His favorite book is “The Life of Trees, the Heart of Trees: Heaven, Earth, and Mankind,” a collection of interviews with temple carpenter, Tsunekazu Nishioka, and his apprentices. Kashi says that he learned about “organizational development” from this book, internalizing its lessons and considering them essential actions for leaders aiming to build a strong organization.
“To build an organization that embraces diversity, leaders must strive to thoroughly understand their members and foster open dialogue. Let’s strive together to cultivate a company where each of us can work confidently and take pride in being part of Daiichi Sankyo.”