Saskia Rock Consulting LLC

A woman with shoulder-length brown hair and a slight smile, standing in front of cherry blossoms and wooden lattice, wearing a blue patterned garment and a silver necklace.

I’m thrilled to have you here!

In this space, I combine my passion for cultural exploration with my expertise in human resources to help you navigate the unique challenges and opportunities working with the Japanese.

Whether you're seeking guidance in HR practices or looking for coaching to enhance your skills, I’m here to support you on your journey. Thank you for joining me, and I look forward to connecting with you!

Who I am

Performer playing large drums on stage with colorful lighting and background visuals.

I started my life in Belgium, then made my way to Japan, and now I live and work in the USA.

My career journey has been quite the adventure, kind of like navigating a Tokyo subway map ... yes, it is me playing professional Taiko in the picture on the left!

My goal? It’s all about helping people connect and understand one another better, so they can team up and work more smoothly together.

What I offer

I provide tailored training programs along with consulting and coaching services to assist global professionals in navigating Japan’s distinct business landscape.

My primary goal is to bridge cultural gaps, improve communication skills, and cultivate leadership in organizations with Japanese DNA. I have a strong commitment to empowering women, helping them discover their strengths and build careers that are sustainable and enriching.

If you have any specific needs or questions, please feel free to reach out to me—I am here to help.

CONSULTING

Develop personally and professionally within Japanese corporate culture with the expert guidance of a CTI-trained Coach.

With my personalized strategies and dedicated support, you’ll gain deeper self-awareness and forge stronger relationships. Let's embark on this meaningful journey together!

TRAINING

My services are specifically designed to empower organizations and individuals by providing tailored training solutions in HR topics and business efficiency.

My workshops and seminars focus on enhancing workforce capabilities, optimizing HR practices, and fostering effective leadership.

COACHING

Develop personally and professionally within Japanese corporate culture with the expert guidance of a CTI-trained Coach.

With my personalized strategies and dedicated support, you’ll gain deeper self-awareness and forge stronger relationships. Let's embark on this meaningful journey together!

Featured Blogposts

Featured
Volunteering to find your tribe: Japanese American Cemetery Cleanup in Colma
Volunteering to find your tribe: Japanese American Cemetery Cleanup in Colma

A few weeks ago my husband and I signed up as volunteers for a local Japanese Cemetery Cleanup Day (Organized by the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California), so last Saturday we headed out to Colma (south of San Francisco on the peninsula) for a half day of work and connection.

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Making connections with young people: Checking out the Itsukushima Maru - a Japan Coast Guard ship visiting San Francisco.
Making connections with young people: Checking out the Itsukushima Maru - a Japan Coast Guard ship visiting San Francisco.

This weekend, I had the incredible opportunity to visit the Itsukushima Maru, a Japan Coast Guard ship visiting San Francisco, where I met some inspiring young cadets who live and study aboard for four years.

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Sometimes self-care means canceling plans you’ve been looking forward to
Sometimes self-care means canceling plans you’ve been looking forward to

Last Friday, I found myself in a situation that many outdoor enthusiasts can relate to: the dreaded decision to cancel a camping trip due to a rain forecast. This would have been our first camping trip of the season, at a spot we've visited at least once a month from April to October over the past few years.

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Featured
Easy weekend pickling: Yuzu (or lemon) Daikon!
Easy weekend pickling: Yuzu (or lemon) Daikon!

If you read my articles often, you’ll know I love making Tsukemono (Japanese style pickles). Well, I have a new easy favorite one for you to make!

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My new favorite drink: Choya Umeshu with honey
My new favorite drink: Choya Umeshu with honey

As a European, I've always had a soft spot for mead (honey wine), and recently, I stumbled upon a new honeyed drink that has completely won me over: Choya umeshu made with honey! Umeshu is a Japanese plum wine made from ume plums, and Choya is one of the most popular brands out there.

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Featured
Why did my Japanese colleague just laugh during a serious meeting?
Why did my Japanese colleague just laugh during a serious meeting?

If, like me, you have navigated the waters of international business, you’ve learned that communication styles can vary wildly between cultures. While we often associate laughter with humor and agreement, in Japan, it can mean something entirely different—like embarrassment or confusion.

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We’re all global now so how come you’re still offering seminars on Business Efficiency and cross-cultural communication?
We’re all global now so how come you’re still offering seminars on Business Efficiency and cross-cultural communication?

We do get this question fairly often, but never from companies we’ve worked with for sometimes ten or more years. Those long-time clients know the value of our our work, they also know that we’re always updating our content to reflect new trends in work and people.

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Featured
Avoiding HR complaints: dealing with (reverse) culture shock　人事部の苦情を避ける： （逆）カルチャーショックへの対処
Avoiding HR complaints: dealing with (reverse) culture shock　人事部の苦情を避ける： （逆）カルチャーショックへの対処

Moving to a new country can be an exciting yet challenging experience, especially for Japanese expats who may face culture shock. Understanding and adapting to a different culture can be overwhelming.　新しい国に移ることは、特にカルチャーショックに直面する可能性のある日本の 駐在人 にとって、刺激的でありながら挑戦的な経験です。異なる文化を理解し、適応することは圧倒されることがあります。

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Avoiding HR complaints: differing opinions on micromanagement. 人事部の苦情を避ける：マイクロマネジメントに関する意見の違い。
Avoiding HR complaints: differing opinions on micromanagement. 人事部の苦情を避ける：マイクロマネジメントに関する意見の違い。

A Japanese engineer reached out to me with the following issue: “I want to set deadlines but I’m afraid my staff is going to accuse me of micromanagement.” This question shows an understanding of how culture causes people to perceive their manager closely following up on what they do differently, but obviously what to do in practice isn’t always easy.　ある日本のエンジニアが次のような問題で私に連絡をしてきました：「締切を設定したいのですが、スタッフが私をマイクロマネジメントだと非難するのではないかと心配しています。」この質問は、文化が人々に自分の行動を細かく追うマネージャーをどう捉えるかについての理解を示していますが、実際に何をすべきかは必ずしも簡単ではありません。

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