Chris McCabe

Chris McCabe has immersed himself in Japanese culture since his undergrad days, when he explored a northern Japanese pilgrimage route of Matsuo Basho (the father of haiku poetry) in 2002. As a member of the 2000 cohort, he packed the skills he learned in the Presidents Leadership Class and journeyed beyond the University of Colorado Boulder to establish a career overseas.

After graduation, Chris landed in Kagawa, Japan where he taught English for two years and then worked for five years in the International Affairs Division of the Kagawa Prefectural Government. In that role he established a haiku poetry gathering for locals and international visitors, promoted the Setouchi International Art Festival, and translated for the governor, including during a visit from US Ambassador, John Roos. Now Chris works at Tadano Ltd., a global leader in the mobile crane manufacturing industry. His biggest challenge there came last year when he served as the M&A Communications Leader during the company’s $215 million acquisition of the Demag Mobile Cranes Business in Germany.

Chris met his wife of twelve years in Japan and they enjoy the daily adventure of raising four children together. While hiking with his family to the temple on the nearby plateau of Yashima, he wrote the following haiku:

Road to Yashima
A solitary maple’s
Burning autumn leaves

一本の　燃ゆる紅葉や　屋島道

In reflecting on the lessons of culture, mindfulness, and curiosity that he has learned in his second home, Chris says, “Haiku is a short form of poetry, where images unfold in the unspoken spaces between the lines. When you live your life surrounded by a different language and culture, the key is this: listen, simplify your message, listen again, show a willingness to contribute, and then listen a little more.”

This correlates with Chris’ big three take-aways from PLC: teamwork, public speaking skills, and proactive leadership. For him these “PLC skills” have been like superpowers for creating value and for synergizing with team members throughout the world. On looking back at how these lessons were created for him, Chris is especially grateful for the opportunity to have been a first year CA in '02-’03. Despite many years overseas, he will never forget the brilliance of his fellow teaching staff and the inspiration he received from his amazing students.