Our Secret Sauce: Strategic Empathy

A video thumbnail showing a graphic of a brain metaphorically linked to a volcano erupting, a cherry blossom tree, a zen garden, symbolizing cognitive functions

At Eisai, empathy is the key to unlocking innovation in our pursuit of human health care. For us, that means spending time with, learning from, and working to understand the people we aim to serve, so we can identify real unmet needs and seek to address them. This concept comes to life in the form of the SECI model, an innovation process we use to transmute empathy into innovative solutions.

We set out to help the world better understand Eisai’s approach to oncology—at the intersection of science, innovation and humanity—and what makes it uniquely Eisai: strategic empathy. We worked with experts to translate brain wave activity to associated states that, taken together, reflect the complex process that is empathy. Then, we used EEG (electroencephalogram) technology to visualize this empathy-related activity in the brains of Eisai employees as they watched people with cancer share their experiences. These neurologically-informed visualizations give us a unique glimpse into the beauty and intricacy of empathy at work in the brain.

Our intent was to honor and celebrate what makes Eisai special: our deep sense of commitment to, and empathy for, patients and their families.

Inspired By Our Japanese Roots

We embraced elements of Japan's rich culture-from cherry blossoms to the tradition of stone stacking-to depict, in a new and unique way, five states in the brain that, together, are a reflection of empathy: Engagement, Focus, Interest, Relaxation, and Stress.

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Engagement

is a measure of attention and immersion. The
higher the engagement, the more vibrant the
blossoms of the cherry tree become.

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Focus

is a measure of fixed concentration. As focus
increases, the rocks become more aligned.

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Interest

is a measure of curiosity and captivation. The
higher the interest in the content, the more the
clouds come together.

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Relaxation

is a measure of balance and calm. More ripples
represent an increased state of unrest.

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Stress

is a measure of the level of worry experienced. The
volcano emits more particles when the individual
shows higher stress levels.

  • “Our mission is to improve the lives of people beyond just providing medicines. It’s a good motivation—figuring out how to solve, provide the solution and help the patient. This is human health care for me.”

    Headshot of Katsuya Haruna

    Katsuya Haruna

    Executive Vice President, U.S. Business Operations

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