Founder/CEO & C-level Advisor
Danville, CA
Michael K. Takagawa is Founder and CEO of Corporate Edge, Inc., a distinguished leadership advisory firm specializing in working with C-level executives and newly promoted CEOs.
Michael founded Corporate Edge in 1998 after 20 years of experience in senior executive roles, developing a unique organizational model combining executive mentoring with team-based leadership consulting.
For over 25 years, Corporate Edge has partnered with organizations such as Kaiser Permanente, Adobe, Genentech, AAA Insurance, Blue Shield, and Salesforce, in addition to numerous successful startups. Michael has also been a long-time mentor for organizations dedicated to the development of women executives.
Recently, Michael co-launched the Asian Leadership Center with former Stanford GSB alum Dave Lu, a new division of Corporate Edge dedicated to empowering AAPI leaders to achieve their full potential while honoring their cultural values.
Prior to starting his own company, Michael held executive roles including Company President, Chief Operating Officer, and Vice President for high-profile consumer goods companies. His career began in brand marketing including Procter & Gamble, Colgate Palmolive, and Kikkoman International.
Since being selected as a Fellow for Stanford’s Distinguished Careers Institute, Michael has contributed to the Stanford community in various capacities. He has teamed with Matt Abrahams, GSB lecturer, in co-delivering communications/executive presence initiatives and has partnered with Robert Joss, former GSB Dean, in co-teaching “Leadership Demystified,” a popular GSB class.
Michael earned his MBA from Stanford University and his BS from the University of California, Berkeley. A Bay Area native, he enjoys attending professional sporting events and traveling to London to visit his two young grandkids.
