Kinya Seto T’96, CEO of LIXIL Corp.
When Kinya Seto graduated from Tuck in 1996, he returned to Sumitomo Corporation as President of Iron Dynamics Process International in Chicago, IL. He then continued his career with Sumitomo Corporation in Japan, before establishing MonotaRo Corporation, a direct marketer of maintenance, repair and operating (MRO) supplies, which under his leadership grew into one of the largest and most profitable MRO distribution companies in Japan. He rose to Chairman of the Board at MonotaRO in 2012 and has continued to serve in this role part-time since 2016. Kinya today leads LIXIL, a manufacturer of pioneering water and housing products that make better homes a reality, as Director, Representative Executive Officer and President, and CEO.
Kinya credits Tuck with shaping his approach to business and more.
What does your current business do and what is your impact on the world?
Kinya Seto: LIXIL is a maker of pioneering water and housing products, from bathrooms that help you experience water in new ways to windows and doors that connect you to the world outside. Regardless of where we are, our people around the world are united by a single purpose: to make better homes a reality for everyone, everywhere. We believe that contributing to society through our core business is central to our long-term sustainability and the planet. Through our commitments to improve the lives of 100 million people through basic sanitation and hygiene solutions, to housing products that help conserve water and reduce our environmental impact, we strive to find solutions to pressing social issues through our work – something our people can believe in and be proud of.
Why was Tuck the right business school for you?
KS: Tuck is a top general management school with incredible access to a world-class faculty. I cannot stress enough the influence my professors had on shaping who I am and the philosophies that guide my decisions today – both in business and my personal life. From fundamental business skills and approaches to innovation through to learning to taking accountability for your decisions and how these impact real people, I believe Tuck offers a unique learning environment that sets it apart.
But Tuck also enabled me to be my true self. I did not just want to attend a school where I would be an anonymous Japanese businessman; I wanted somewhere I could be myself and be appreciated for my contribution. Tuck offers a smaller, tight-knit community of students and a safe, secluded space to focus on learning.
What about the Tuck MBA impacted your life and career the most?
KS: I am very grateful to the faculty, especially professors Sydney Finkelstein for helping me understand the significance of my decisions, and Vijay “VG” Govindarajan for his lessons in innovation.
I remember one lesson in particular that profoundly affected me. During professor Finkelstein’s Strategic Leadership course, we went through a case study involving the acquisition of a chocolate business. It made business sense to close the plant, and it seemed like everyone in the room agreed. Suddenly, the door opened a man walked in. He introduced himself as a worker and told us his sister was sick and his parents relied on his income; what would happen to them if we closed the business? Not one of us could answer. This was an eye-opening moment for me that showed me how hard decisions can be.
