Yuval Noah Harari
Historian, Philosopher & World's Most-Read Nonfiction Author | Professor, Hebrew University of Jerusalem | Co-Founder, Sapienship | Author of Sapiens & Nexus
Kazuo Hirai
Former President & CEO of Sony Corporation | Architect of the 'One Sony' Turnaround | Former Head of Sony's PlayStation Business | Leadership, Change & Transformation
Kazuo Hirai engineered one of the great corporate turnarounds of the modern era. As President and CEO of Sony, he inherited a company posting record losses and, through his disciplined 'One Sony' strategy, restored it to profitability, powered by PlayStation and Sony's image sensors. A 35-year Sony veteran who rose from the music division to the top job, he offers audiences a firsthand masterclass in leading large-scale change.
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Kazuo Hirai biography
Kazuo “Kaz” Hirai is the former President and CEO of Sony Corporation, widely credited with engineering one of the most remarkable corporate turnarounds in modern business history. Over a 35-year career at Sony, he rose from the company’s music division to its highest office, transforming a struggling electronics giant into a focused, profitable, and resurgent global powerhouse.
CEO keynote speaker Kazuo Hirai is best known for his “One Sony” strategy, the disciplined plan he launched as CEO in 2012 to unify a sprawling organization around a clear purpose. Inheriting a company that had posted a record loss, he made the hard decisions, streamlining underperforming businesses and refocusing Sony on its strengths in gaming, image sensors, music, and pictures. Within his first years at the helm, the company returned to profitability.
Hirai began his Sony journey in 1985 and made his name building the PlayStation business, helping launch the original console in the United States and later leading Sony Computer Entertainment. That grounding in entertainment and technology shaped his leadership philosophy of “Kando,” a Japanese concept describing the power to move people emotionally, which he placed at the heart of Sony’s brand and culture. Entertainment Weekly named him one of the most powerful executives in the entertainment industry.
Engineering the One Sony Turnaround
By the time Hirai handed the CEO role to his successor in 2018, Sony had returned to sustained profitability and renewed cultural relevance, with the PlayStation 4 and its sensor business as major pillars of the revival. He served as chairman until 2019, when he fully retired after 35 years, remaining a senior advisor to the company. His tenure is now studied as a case study in focus, cultural change, and turnaround leadership.
As a speaker, Kazuo Hirai offers senior audiences a rare, firsthand account of leading large-scale transformation under intense pressure. With calm authority and candor, he shares how he aligned a global organization, made hard strategic choices, and used purpose and emotion to drive renewal, leaving executives, boards, and entrepreneurs with practical lessons on leadership, change management, and building businesses that endure.
Kazuo Hirai Speaking Videos
Keynote : Kazuo Hirai, President and CEO, Sony Corporation
2019 USJC Annual Conference: Kazuo Hirai and John Roos
Kazuo Hirai Keynote Topics
When Kazuo Hirai became CEO in 2012, Sony was posting historic losses and had lost its way across too many businesses. In this keynote, he shares the inside story of his "One Sony" strategy: how he unified a sprawling organization, made painful but necessary decisions, and refocused the company on where it could truly win. Audiences gain a candid, practical look at what it takes to turn around a beloved but struggling enterprise and restore both its profitability and its pride.
At the heart of Hirai's leadership was a single Japanese idea: Kando, the power to move people emotionally. In this talk, he explains how he placed emotion and purpose at the center of Sony's brand and culture, and why connecting with customers on a human level is a durable source of competitive advantage. Leaders learn how a clear, emotionally resonant purpose can align teams, inspire innovation, and differentiate a company in crowded global markets.
Real transformation demands difficult choices. Drawing on his experience steering Sony through one of its most challenging periods, Hirai discusses how leaders can make tough calls, restructure with empathy, and shift entrenched cultures without losing the trust of their people. This keynote offers senior audiences a grounded perspective on resilience, decisiveness, and the human side of large-scale change.
Hirai built his reputation helping turn PlayStation into a global phenomenon before rising to lead all of Sony. In this session, he reflects on the lessons that journey taught him about innovation, consumer experience, and the convergence of technology and entertainment. Audiences discover how disciplined creativity and an obsession with the customer can power breakthrough products and lasting cultural impact.
FAQs on Booking Kazuo Hirai
Why Kazuo Hirai?
Booking Kazuo Hirai gives your audience direct access to the leader who engineered one of the most celebrated corporate turnarounds in modern history. As the former President and CEO of Sony, he guided a global icon from record losses back to sustained profitability through his disciplined "One Sony" strategy. With calm authority and rare candor, he shares hard-won lessons on transformation, decisive leadership, and building a purpose-driven culture. For events focused on leadership, change management, innovation, or corporate strategy, Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you bring his perspective to your stage.
What is Kazuo Hirai known for?
Hirai is best known as the President and CEO who led Sony's turnaround during the 2010s. Inheriting a company in financial difficulty, he launched the "One Sony" strategy that streamlined operations and refocused the business on gaming, image sensors, music, and pictures, restoring it to profitability. Earlier in his career, he was a central figure in building Sony's PlayStation business.
What was Kazuo Hirai's role at PlayStation?
Before becoming Sony's CEO, Hirai spent much of his career in the company's gaming business. After joining Sony in 1985, he moved to Sony Computer Entertainment America in 1995 to help launch the original PlayStation in the United States, and later led Sony Computer Entertainment. That gaming success became a key pillar of Sony's broader revival.
What topics does CEO speaker Kazuo Hirai cover?
His keynotes focus on turnaround and transformation leadership, change management, the "Kando" philosophy of moving people emotionally, building purpose-driven cultures, and innovation in technology and entertainment. As one of the most respected business leaders to emerge from Japan, he offers a global perspective valued by executives and boards. To check his availability and tailor a keynote to your event, contact Aurum Speakers Bureau.
How to book Kazuo Hirai as a keynote speaker?
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book Kazuo Hirai as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about Kazuo Hirai's availability for a speaking engagement. One of our booking agents will respond to your request immediately and contact the speaker to let them know you want to hire them. We will assist you with obtaining speaking fees, booking information, and confirming availability for Kazuo Hirai or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
How much is Kazuo Hirai speaking fee?
Kazuo Hirai speaking fees are determined by several factors, including the event's date, whether it's a virtual or in-person event, the duration, format, preparation required for their speech, and more. The same applies to the cost to hire any other top expert speakers and celebrities. The Speaker Fee Range listed on our website is simply a guideline and is subject to change without notice. If you would like to hire Kazuo Hirai to deliver a keynote speech for your event, please fill out the contact form or email us at info@aurumbureau.com with as much detail as possible. One of our experienced agents will get in touch with you and let you know exactly how much it will cost to book Kazuo Hirai.
How can I contact Kazuo Hirai?
We only work with Kazuo Hirai on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking Kazuo Hirai and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having Kazuo Hirai speak at your event. We will be your sole point of contact throughout the process. Get in touch with Aurum Speakers Bureau today, and we will reach out to any motivational speaker or celebrity you want to enquire about speaking at your event. If you wish to contact Kazuo Hirai for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.
Can I book Kazuo Hirai for a virtual keynote?
Yes, Kazuo Hirai is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book Kazuo Hirai for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
