Future
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Career Day
Born and raised in Northern California, Alex grew up with game design running through his veins. At a young age, he would frequently make up games for his friends to play after school, and eventually he learned that becoming a game designer as a career was something he could pursue.
Heavily inspired by the narratives and metaphorical gameplay of games like The Legend of Zelda and Shadow of the Colossus, Alex found a passion for helping players create their own stories. He received his BS in Computer Game Design from UC Santa Cruz and an MFA in Interactive Media from USC, during and after which he gained extensive experience working on a number of indie game titles. He enjoys educating others about game and narrative design, and has given talks everywhere from Los Angeles to Edinburgh, Scotland.
Alex now lives and works in Tokyo as Lead Game Designer at Shapefarm.
In this session, we will take a look at some upcoming games and discuss how storytelling in Interactive Media can build special moments due to having a player drive the story. We will also take a brief look into the game design process and some steps to becoming a game developer.
Arshad Karim is Director/Head of Legal, Japan at Abbott Japan LLC since June 2023. Prior to Abbott, he was Director & Associate General Counsel at Twitter for over four years, responsible for all legal matters in Japan and Korea, including but not limited to handling of regulatory matters, content regulation, drafting and negotiating various commercial agreements, managing multiple litigation in Japan, handling corporate governance issues, and addressing employment law issues. Before joining Twitter, he served as Senior Vice President & Legal Counsel for Nikko Asset Management Co., Ltd., one of the largest asset management companies in Japan. During his 12 years there, he was involved in multiple projects such as acquisitions of asset management companies in Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, and Malaysia, establishment of joint ventures in China and India, and the listing process with the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Prior to that, he was Legal Counsel & Chief Privacy Officer for IMS Japan, an American pharmaceutical data firm where he established its Legal Department and led the Company’s efforts to comply with the newly established Personal Information Protection Law of Japan, among other responsibilities. His previous positions also include tenure at Hayabusa Kokusai Law Offices as a Foreign Associate and Deloitte & Touche in New York. He received a B.A. with Distinction in Biological Sciences from Cornell University and a J.D. from Loyola Law School.
Balazs Bognar, AIA is an American architect and Partner at Kengo Kuma & Associates in Tokyo, Japan, with licenses in the U.S. NCARB certification. He has been working directly with Kengo Kuma to oversee the office’s North American projects since 2007.
He received his Master of Architecture degree in 2003 from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design, and his Bachelor of Arts in Architecture degree in 2000 from Washington University in St. Louis.
His selected completed work includes Alibaba.com’s “Taobao City” campus in Hangzhou, China (2013); Red Bull Music Academy in Tokyo, Japan (2014); Portland Japanese Garden’s Cultural Village in Oregon (2017); Rolex Tower in Dallas, Texas (2018), and Amanpuri’s Retail Pavilion in Phuket, Thailand (2019).
He is currently leading teams for new projects in Sydney, Tokyo, Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, San Jose, Los Angeles, and Detroit, and is working on his second book with Prof. Botond Bognar of University of Illinois.
Originally from Michigan, Dan attended ASIJ from 1989-1992 and spent a gap year at the International Christian University in Mitaka following graduation before returning and finishing a Bachelors at University of Michigan. Upon graduation, he became a Naval Officer in 1997 and spent 16 years as a helicopter pilot. He then transitioned to a defense diplomacy specialty and has served in Portugal, South Korea, and India and Japan. Dan has worked at the most senior levels of the U.S .government and in missions abroad.
This session will start with Dan’s time at ASIJ and the non-traditional path that led him to government service. Dan will touch upon the broader scope of working for a national government (more than just the U.S. government, more than just the military). He will also talk about becoming a pilot and possible pathways to that as a career field. He will also introduce what it’s like to work in an Embassy environment. Finally, he will briefly discuss the importance of diplomacy and national security.
Emma joined ASIJ in 2014 and graduated in 2021. She is currently a third-year student in the Faculty of Liberal Arts at Sophia University or Jochi Daigaku in Tokyo. With a concentration in Political Science and East Asian History, she has taken intensive courses in Philosophy, Ethics, and Religion as well. Awarded the Dean’s List for five consecutive semesters, Emma hopes to either further obtain a Master’s Degree overseas or pursue a career in the creative field that combines her skill and interests in graphic design and journalism. Beyond academics, she is also a social media manager and content creator for the only bilingual student-led magazine in Sophia.
Hasumi is a Sustainability Strategist at Fabric, providing specialised support for clients to develop strategies for implementing environmentally sustainable and socially conscious business practices across all organisational levels.
Hasumi has worked in the field of rural revitalisation, specifically in the agriculture sector in Oita prefecture. As the Food Systems Lead at FoundingBase, Hasumi was involved in everything from product development, to community coordination, and business management.She has consulted for UNITAR as part of the Green Economy and Climate Change program, developing educational materials for diplomats.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Waseda University, Japan, and a Masters of Arts (International Development), specialising in Sustainable Development, from the Graduate Institute of International and Developmental Studies, Geneva, Switzerland.
Hasumi’s mission in life is, through innovation, realise a regenerative food system that benefits all players; starting from farmers to consumers.
In this session, I will explore my indirect trajectory into the world of sustainability starting from an internship at the UN, running a vegetable stall collaborating with farmers, to advising global businesses in developing impactful strategies. I hope to share how I made those choices, and what underlying values drove those decisions.
JF, a distinguished engineer at Woven by Toyota, leads the evolution of C++ at ISO, blending innovation in software development with his passion for advancing quality in software. With roots in Montréal and an educational background from McGill and Stanford, his journey through tech giants like Nvidia, Google, and Apple has honed his expertise in programming languages, compilers, and security. Co-creator of WebAssembly, JF's work focuses on performance and security. Now in Japan, his leadership focuses on advancements in technology for vehicle software development.
This session will explore the strategic insights and decision-making processes behind impactful contributions in computer science, using JF's experiences as a backdrop. Through discussions on pivotal developments in software platforms and standards, attendees will learn how to identify opportunities, leverage their skills, and collaborate effectively to make a lasting impact on society. The session aims to inspire and equip future engineers with the mindset and tools necessary for creating technology that enriches people's lives.
Jason Durkee founded corporate training companies Idea Development based in Tokyo and Practical Training Transfer in London and is a director of the Association for Talent Development Global Network Japan. Since the 90's, he's designed and delivered cross-cultural awareness, innovation, communication and leadership development programs to more than 40,000 participants in Asia. Idea Development is recognized as a leader in learning transfer, dynamic training design and effective use of technology in Japan. Jason regularly speaks at T&D related events around the world and has contributed to industry publications.
Companies usually don’t care about majors, grades and tests. To get hired, work effectively and get promoted you need skills. In this session we'll look at fancy data from talent development experts explained in a straightforward, simple way so you know what to focus on to get ready for work and do great when you start.
Jeff Wentworth is co-founder of a blockchain software company called Curvegrid. Previously, Jeff spent six years at Goldman Sachs as a Vice President and global product owner of block and object storage. Prior to that, Jeff was a technology consultant and customer engineer at EMC. He graduated from the University of Waterloo with a degree in Computer Engineering. He has lived in Japan for 18 years, first coming here as an intern while at university, working for a year in Nagano-Ken for Seiko Epson as a computer programmer.
How do the choices that we make earlier in our lives manifest themselves as we grow? In this session, I’ll share a little bit about my story from growing up in Canada to Nagano-ken and then Tokyo, and the 18 years that I’ve spent working and living in Japan. We’ll talk about successes, failures, life skills, resilience, business, technology, entrepreneurship, and taking the road less traveled.
Jeff was born in Los Angeles CA, but spent most of his formative years in Salt Lake City, Utah. Upon graduating from Brigham Young University he moved to Japan and worked for the Benesse Corporation for 4 years in Human Resources in Osaka. In 1999 he was hired by Lehman Brothers and began a long career as a COO and HR Leader in Investment Banking, working for some of the biggest banks in the world across Asia. In 2014 he moved his family to Shanghai China where he was named the COO and Co-Country Executive for Royal Bank of Scotland. Upon moving back to Utah in 2018, held consultant roles for a number of organizations including the parent company of the Utah Jazz, and later the CEO of a small consumer goods company, In 2022, Jeff returned to Japan and joined Warner Music as the Head of People and Business Transformation, with a focus on transforming the Warner Music business to meet the demands of the rapidly changing music industry. He has 3 children who have all attended ASIJ, two of which are in university in the US and one who is currently in Middle School.
In this session Jeff will dive into his observations of the music industry and the changes to come, as well as the skills that the major labels are looking for now and what is expected in the future. He will also spend some time talking about his experiences developing young talent looking for the right career path, and his observations over 25 years working with universities and student groups as he build graduate recruiting programs across multiple institutions.
Kai graduated from ASIJ in 2021 after fifteen years as a Mustang, beginning at the ELC. He is a junior at the University of Tokyo’s Programs in English at Komaba (PEAK), studying history and international law. He has worked/interned for the U.S. State Department (two years) and Human Rights Watch’s Tokyo office (current). He will begin a new position with Major League Baseball’s Sponsorships division in April. Kai won the national “Best Counsels” Prize in the ICRC Japan International Law Competition in 2022 and was selected as a “CGI U Changemaker” by the Clinton Global Initiative in 2023.
Kei joined ASIJ in 2015 and after graduating in 2021, is currently a junior at Waseda University’s School of International Liberal Studies. Previously, he interned as an operations and marketing assistant at an ed-tech company. More recently, Kei worked as a finance intern at Takeda Pharmaceuticals after winning a Digital Accelerator business competition as a team leader. He is looking forward to being able to combine his interests and skills in creative media and technology to work in the advertising industry.
Kentaro Toyama is W. K. Kellogg Professor of Community Information at the University of Michigan School of Information and a fellow of the Dalai Lama Center for Ethics and Transformative Values at MIT. He conducts interdisciplinary research to understand how digital technology can support community development and social justice. From 2005-2009, Toyama was co-founder and assistant managing director of Microsoft Research India. Prior to 2005, he did work in artificial intelligence, computer vision, and human-computer interaction at Microsoft Research and taught mathematics at Ashesi University in Ghana. Toyama graduated from Harvard with a bachelor’s degree in physics and from Yale with a PhD in computer science. He is the author of Geek Heresy: Rescuing Social Change from the Cult of Technology. He went to high school at ASIJ and graduated in 1987.
Kristen has lived and worked in Japan since 2021, and is a marketing and business operations consultant with two decades of multi-family property management experience. She has volunteered as both PTA Communications Officer and PTA Vice President, and started serving as a Trustee and Board member in 2023. Kristen spent her childhood attending international schools, and her husband is a proud ASIJ alumnus. She is the mother of two sons who currently attend ASIJ.
Kristen spent her entire K-12 and university experience with one clear target: getting into veterinary school and becoming a veterinarian. Her degree choice (Zoology/Chemistry), her extracurriculars (working in veterinary hospitals and animal shelters), and her passion were all aligned. Until she didn’t get in. Learn strategies for shifting your mindset on your career after college, and recognizing and applying your true strengths. If you’re curious why project management + math = marketing, this session will leave you energized.
Maia, Class of 2016, attended the University of Michigan after graduating from ASIJ. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Biopsychology, Cognition and Neuroscience (BCN). Her interest in behavioral economics led to this double major, in which she explored classes such as decision making, game theory and marketing.
She ultimately decided to join Amazon Japan as an Account Manager, recruiting new sellers in the electronics category to sell on Amazon. After 1 year of experience in sales, she internally transferred to a social media marketing position and now works as a Brand Building Marketing Manager in which she tests and creates content to help customers increase their sales.
This session will delve into working in the tech industry in Japan.
The session will also touch on experiences working in the tech industry as a woman, diversity and inclusion, and working in sales and marketing.
Miguell Malacad has a diverse work experience history. Miguell started their career at Purdue University as a Fitness Consultant, where they enforced policies and procedures, ensured customer satisfaction, and maintained safety in the fitness facility. Miguell then worked as an Undergraduate Research Assistant, where they organized and tested research surveys and programmed exergame concepts. Miguell then moved on to Lattice Semiconductor, where they served as a Product Engineer. In this role, they performed bench-level characterization and developed designs on Verilog. Additionally, they led automation projects to reduce characterization time. Currently, Miguell works as a Software Engineer at Woven by Toyota since 2019, where they are involved in software development.
Miguell Malacad completed their Bachelor's Degree in Computer Engineering from Purdue University from 2012 to 2016. In 2018 to 2019, they attended the Shinjuku Japanese Language Institute - SNG to study Japanese Language and Literature. Before that, from 2008 to 2012, they obtained their High School Diploma from The American School in Japan. Miguell also holds several additional certifications, including AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate and AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner from Amazon Web Services (AWS), which they obtained in June 2021 and February 2020, respectively. Miguell also holds JLPT N2 (日本語能力試験 2級) certification from JAPAN EDUCATIONAL EXCHANGES AND SERVICES JEES, which they obtained in January 2020.
Minako Abe, M.D. is the Vice-President of the Tokyo Cancer Clinic. She is an ASIJ alumni (‘88) and current ASIJ parent. She attended UC Berkeley undergrad and earned her M.D. at SUNY Stony Brook, and has dual U.S. board certifications in Emergency Medicine and Lifestyle Medicine. Practicing in NYC for over 15 years, she found that nearly 80% of her Emergency Room patients were suffering from conditions that could potentially be prevented with lifestyle medicine. Even 40% of cancers can be prevented. She then had the opportunity to move back to Tokyo to work in cancer immunotherapy, and now helps patients with lifestyle interventions and cutting edge immunotherapy treatments.
In this session, participants will get a glimpse of what it takes to become a physician. The mindset needed to proceed down this long and difficult path and the personal rewards that are like no other career. An M.D. degree is an investment that will enable you to do multiple things - like jumping from a career in the E.R. to researching and providing the latest immune cell therapies. I believe that a solid, well-rounded education at ASIJ was key to how my career has been shaped. I love teaching and am happy to answer any questions you may have.
Motoko was born in California and raised in New Jersey, Tokyo and northern California. She attended The American School in Japan for two years in elementary school. She received her undergraduate degree in history from Yale University and a master’s in English from Cambridge University. She has worked as a journalist for three decades, starting at the Financial Times in London, and during a stint at the Wall Street Journal in Atlanta and New York, and at the New York Times for more than 20 years, both in New York and Tokyo. She is currently the Tokyo bureau chief.
This session will explore what kind of interests and skills are suited to a journalism career; why journalism is such a fun and fulfilling profession in which every day is different and you get to follow your curiosity and there are never any stupid questions. Motoko will talk about how to prepare yourself in high school and college for a career in journalism and about the changing landscape and challenges of the industry. She can also talk about professional writing more generally and how the skills of journalism can be useful in college and beyond.
Nathan was born in Canada but grew up mostly in Hong Kong, the United Kingdom and Japan. He attended undergrad in Canada where he received a Hons. BSc. in Kinesiology. He then returned to ASIJ as the SRC tutor in 2006-07 after which he began his chiropractic education in Canada before completing it with merit, from Bournemouth University in the UK, in 2011. Following graduation, he opted to take a volunteer position in Mulago Hospital in Kampala, Uganda and ran a private practice on the side where he focused on treating mainly expats and professional athletes. He also had the opportunity to play for the Kyambogo Warriors of the Federation of Uganda Basketball Association. After a year in Uganda, Nathan decided to study medicine and moved to Poland to begin his medical education. He was also able to play two years for the Tytani Lublin of the Polish American Football League as well as represent his medical school in the Polish Medical School Basketball Championship, which his team won in 2013. He finished off his medical studies by completing his medical rotations at Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center and Wyckoff Heights Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York, in 2017. He then started working as an ER doctor in the UK and began his part-time legal studies in 2020, at the height of the covid-19 pandemic. Upon graduation with distinction from the University of Law (formerly the College of Law), in the UK in 2023, he moved to Hong Kong to begin his solicitor training contract which is where he is currently.
This session is about understanding the importance of taking your time when attempting to decide what you want to do with your life. The current model seems to put too much emphasis and too much pressure on early success at the expense of choosing what is right for you.
Born in Taiwan, Paul moved to Canada at age 15 until he completed his undergrad in Business Administration from Simon Fraser University in 1999. He then moved to Tokyo—first as an M&A analyst but switched to Investment Management after 2 years. For the next 20+ years, Paul worked at Fidelity and Capital Group—in Tokyo then in HK. In 2021, Paul retired from finance and returned to Tokyo and today he is the founder of Terakoya.AI, a startup for creating digital learning communities, and the Chairman of NPO Education Beyond. He is also currently a Masters candidate for the Data Science Graduate Program at Harvard Extension School.
In this session, Paul will share his 20+ years of experience in public equity investing for those pursuing a career in finance. He will then discuss how he stumbled into the world of Data Science and AI which started with a one-off company project in 2017. Paul will talk about how that unexpected journey completely changed his outlook on his career—and the potential implications for young students thinking about their own future careers. Paul will also be happy to answer questions on startups and NPOs for those interested.
I am a first generation Taiwanese American born and raised in the United States. I spent my childhood in Indiana. I was awarded a full scholarship and stipend to attend Indiana University’s prestigious Kelley School of Business where I majored in Accounting, Finance, and International studies and minored in Mandarin and French. Upon graduation, I began an 11 year career at consumer goods company Procter and Gamble taking on various finance roles. At P&G, I met my husband Chris. Together, we decided to broaden our careers by leaving P&G and to take on a new career challenge in private equity moving us to New York. After several years in private equity, we have the opportunity to move to Shanghai, China to work for Gap, Inc. While Chris decided to stay at Gap, I decided to take on a new adventure working for Nike.
My family and I have lived in Asia for 6+ years. We moved to Tokyo in September 2023. We are parents to Owen (grade 6), Tinsley (grade 3), a golden retriever named Max, and a hamster named Sesame.
I want this session to be interactive, conversational, and very student led. I will provide a brief career / personal life overview. I have a broad career experience spanning from fast-moving consumer good to private equity to retail.
In this “Ask Me Anything” session, I encourage participants to ask about:
Rolf is a seasoned entrepreneur and automotive industry expert. With over three decades of experience at Mercedes-Benz AG, he has garnered extensive expertise in automotive after-sales service and spare parts logistics. Currently, Rolf serves as the Head of Parts Logistics Japan, overseeing the efficient distribution of spare parts to support Mercedes-Benz customers in the region. An avid motorcyclist, Rolf finds joy and adventure on the open road, exploring new destinations in Japan and embracing the thrill of motorcycling. Committed to driving positive change, he continues to shape the future of innovation in the automotive industry.
Explore the three-decade career journey of Rolf Rosendaal, an automotive engineering expert, spanning Germany, the USA, Lebanon, Romania, the Czech Republic, and currently Japan, with roles in various departments at Mercedes-Benz AG.
Delve into the complexities of global customer services and spare parts logistics within Mercedes-Benz. Gain insights into the company's engineering innovations, logistics network, and strategies for enhancing operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.
This session offers a unique opportunity to learn from Rolf's extensive experience and expertise in industry leadership. Don't miss out on this enlightening discussion, which promises valuable insights for professionals across the automotive sector.
Ryo Okubo is Director of Partnerships & Platform at DNX Ventures, a cross-border venture capital focusing on early-stage B2B startups. He assists in exploring US/Japan cross-border opportunities to drive change to organizations of various sizes.
Previously, he was an event marketing team lead at an early stage healthcare SaaS startup. Prior roles include 5 years leading corporate venture capital and business development and 10 years of experience in corporate strategy at the CEO's office at Canon USA. He also spent 8 years at Canon’s global Headquarters as a project manager for its laser beam printer OEM operations for HP.
Ryo graduated from the American School In Japan in ‘98 and holds a Bachelor of Business from the International Christian University (ICU) in Tokyo.
Born and raised in Tokyo, Japan. Attended The American School in Japan from 7th Grade. Graduated in ‘99 and went on to pursue an undergraduate degree in Biology and Studio Arts at Scripps College in Claremont, California. Moved to New York City and volunteered at one of the busiest non-profit small animal hospital in NYC, The Animal Medical Center for a year. In 2004, accepted to University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine. Returned to The Animal Medical Center and completed a vigorous 1 year small animal internship in 2008, then ultimately decided to pursue General Practice at VCA (Veterinary Centre of America, MARS Group) US for 10+ years. Repatriated to Tokyo in 2017 and currently working in corporate office as an Education Coordinator at VCA Japan.
This session will comprise of: 1. Application process for US veterinary school 2. What to expect once you become a full fledged veterinarian 3. Life choices most veterinarians make once they start their career 4. What I learned as a veterinarian as well as an international scholar/individual. Casual conversations, happy to answer any random questions about my career!
Class of '06 alum, born in the Year of the Dragon, I ventured into entrepreneurship early, launching a project management consulting firm before graduation. After a successful sale in the mid-2010s, I founded two more enterprises, one in edtech and education management, the other in infrastructure consulting. Last year, alongside a classmate from ‘06, I initiated a healthcare, AI, and infrastructure venture. As Japan President for a Chamber of Commerce, I leverage connections for early access to global government projects. Despite deferring accolades like Times 100 Most Influential Companies and Fast Company's Innovation by Design, I have earned finance and leadership awards globally. My journey spans engineering, a break for business focus, a double degree in Electrical Engineering and Comp. Sci., an MBA, and an LLM in Intellectual Property. My career kicked off aiding Nomura's PMI of Lehman during the 2007 Financial crisis, funding my education and laying the foundation for my entrepreneurial path. I might be infamous for a sophomore year bio project at ASIJ, but I've always prioritized subjects that captivate my interest.
Option 1 - International Entrepreneurship:
Embark on an enlightening journey into the realm of International Entrepreneurship in this exclusive Future Ready presentation. From my early days, graduating in the Class of '06, to launching a project management consulting firm just before donning the cap and gown, my entrepreneurial ventures have spanned diverse sectors. Explore the evolution from project management to edtech, infrastructure, and the current foray into healthcare and AI. Gain profound insights into the dynamic challenges and triumphant moments of navigating global business landscapes. Join me for an immersive exploration of entrepreneurial ventures, offering a rich tapestry of experiences, lessons, and inspiration for those aspiring to lead in the global business arena.
Option 2 - Being a Global Citizen:
Step into the world of Being a Global Citizen in this thought-provoking Future Ready session. As the first student to enroll directly in middle school from a full Japanese public education background, an Indian, and arriving just a week before 9/11, my journey has been uniquely shaped by these transformative experiences. Trace my evolution from those early days to becoming a global entrepreneur, navigating diverse cultural landscapes. Delve into the profound impact of a globally conscious mindset, emphasizing cultural intelligence, collaboration, and adaptability as essential traits for success in our interconnected world. Uncover how being a global citizen extends beyond geographical borders, fostering positive contributions to diverse communities. Join me for an in-depth exploration of responsible and impactful global citizenship, shaping future leaders with a comprehensive global perspective.
As CEO of Energize Inc, a company that supports Japanese companies in accelerating globalisation and organisational development, Taro has been connecting young non-Japanese talent from around the world with Japanese companies for 15 years. He has conducted cross-border business in more than 40 countries, including recruitment, training and start-up support. Through these activities, he has collaborated with many university career centres around the world providing career development lectures, and the number of partner universities exceeds 100.
This session will explore how non-native, future-ready talent can access full-time careers in Japan after graduating from universities mainly outside Japan.
Taro will chart the current market environment, company initiatives and ideas, as well as practical tips on how you can lead to a successful career, in an easy-to-understand way.
Ward Sexton was born in Fukuoka to an American father and Japanese mother. He was educated at 11 different schools in Yokohama and all over the USA from grades 1 to 12, and went to college in Oregon. After a shoulder injury ended his brief pro-baseball career, he worked as a voice actor-narrator and writer for 35+ years. Ward had a jazz program on J-Wave and an R&B program on Chiba’s BayFM, and was the signature voice on Music Station with Tamori from 1987-2020. He’s been the voice of numerous TV and radio commercials as well.
Ward Sexton has worked full-time as a voice actor/voiceover, for nearly 40 years. His voice is heard on commercials, movie trailers and promos, documentaries, industrial and corporate videos, corporate CI logos, TV and radio imaging, and video games. He’s the title voice for Capcom’s BIOHAZARD/RESIDENT EVIL franchise. Currently, he voices most of the promos for numerous LDH artists, including Exile, Atsushi, Takahiro, The Rampage, J-Soul Brothers, Fantastics, Psychic Fever, etc. In the US, he primarily recorded remotely from his home studio. Ward also writes copy and scripts for many projects.
Yuka Sadayuki is a media planner at Universal McCann (UM) Worldwide, Inc. She joined in January 2022 as a hybrid between account management and planning and specialized in the latter in June 2023. She oversees marketing strategies for clients like Tourism Australia, Skechers, and Sharpie. Prior to joining UM, Yuka was in Human Resources Consulting for IT companies. Outside of the workplace, Yuka is on the committee for the Asian University for Women (AUW) that supports women’s education. Yuka holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from The George Washington University. She also studied abroad at the University of Sydney. She was at ASIJ for 11 years and graduated Class of 2015.
This session will explore how Yuka leveraged her analytical skills, creative mind, and bicultural experience to kick-start a career in advertising. Working in a completely different industry prior, she will outline the challenging personal journey, filled with highs and lows along the way, of how she realized the importance of pursuing what she loves rather than what she thought she had to pursue. Her upbringing also played an important part in this, hence she will also dive into how her bicultural experiences have shaped her career aspirations.
Born and raised in Northern California, Alex grew up with game design running through his veins. At a young age, he would frequently make up games for his friends to play after school, and eventually he learned that becoming a game designer as a career was something he could pursue.
Heavily inspired by the narratives and metaphorical gameplay of games like The Legend of Zelda and Shadow of the Colossus, Alex found a passion for helping players create their own stories. He received his BS in Computer Game Design from UC Santa Cruz and an MFA in Interactive Media from USC, during and after which he gained extensive experience working on a number of indie game titles. He enjoys educating others about game and narrative design, and has given talks everywhere from Los Angeles to Edinburgh, Scotland.
Alex now lives and works in Tokyo as Lead Game Designer at Shapefarm.
In this session, we will take a look at some upcoming games and discuss how storytelling in Interactive Media can build special moments due to having a player drive the story. We will also take a brief look into the game design process and some steps to becoming a game developer.
Arshad Karim is Director/Head of Legal, Japan at Abbott Japan LLC since June 2023. Prior to Abbott, he was Director & Associate General Counsel at Twitter for over four years, responsible for all legal matters in Japan and Korea, including but not limited to handling of regulatory matters, content regulation, drafting and negotiating various commercial agreements, managing multiple litigation in Japan, handling corporate governance issues, and addressing employment law issues. Before joining Twitter, he served as Senior Vice President & Legal Counsel for Nikko Asset Management Co., Ltd., one of the largest asset management companies in Japan. During his 12 years there, he was involved in multiple projects such as acquisitions of asset management companies in Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, and Malaysia, establishment of joint ventures in China and India, and the listing process with the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Prior to that, he was Legal Counsel & Chief Privacy Officer for IMS Japan, an American pharmaceutical data firm where he established its Legal Department and led the Company’s efforts to comply with the newly established Personal Information Protection Law of Japan, among other responsibilities. His previous positions also include tenure at Hayabusa Kokusai Law Offices as a Foreign Associate and Deloitte & Touche in New York. He received a B.A. with Distinction in Biological Sciences from Cornell University and a J.D. from Loyola Law School.
Balazs Bognar, AIA is an American architect and Partner at Kengo Kuma & Associates in Tokyo, Japan, with licenses in the U.S. NCARB certification. He has been working directly with Kengo Kuma to oversee the office’s North American projects since 2007.
He received his Master of Architecture degree in 2003 from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design, and his Bachelor of Arts in Architecture degree in 2000 from Washington University in St. Louis.
His selected completed work includes Alibaba.com’s “Taobao City” campus in Hangzhou, China (2013); Red Bull Music Academy in Tokyo, Japan (2014); Portland Japanese Garden’s Cultural Village in Oregon (2017); Rolex Tower in Dallas, Texas (2018), and Amanpuri’s Retail Pavilion in Phuket, Thailand (2019).
He is currently leading teams for new projects in Sydney, Tokyo, Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, San Jose, Los Angeles, and Detroit, and is working on his second book with Prof. Botond Bognar of University of Illinois.
Hometown: Indianapolis, Indiana
Family:
•Married ~15 Years to Pearl Mohler
•2 Kids Owen (10) & Tinsley (8)
•Max our Dog and “Smudge” the Hamster
Interest: Travel, Hiking/Camping, Sports, & Music
•Visited ~40 Countries / 45 States in the US
•I missed my personal marathon goal by 23 seconds
•Terrible Karaoke singer………but love it so much!
Career History (24 Years)
•6 Years with Gap, Inc. in Tokyo & Shanghai as the CFO & CEO
•Nature’s Bounty CPG-Americas CFO; Led an IPO
–Brands: Nature’s Bounty, Solgar, Sundown, Pure Protein, Met-Rx
•Procter & Gamble – 15 years / 7 Assignments
–Entry Level to Global CFO
–Brands: Covergirl, Crest/Oral B, Always/Whisper, Gillette/Venus/Braun
•Market Analyst, Prague Stock Exchange (Czech Republic)
•Indiana University (Undergrad) & Loyola College (MBA)
Shoot for the Moon and even if you’re short you land among the Stars…..
How to set a direction and accomplish what you want in life.
Originally from Michigan, Dan attended ASIJ from 1989-1992 and spent a gap year at the International Christian University in Mitaka following graduation before returning and finishing a Bachelors at University of Michigan. Upon graduation, he became a Naval Officer in 1997 and spent 16 years as a helicopter pilot. He then transitioned to a defense diplomacy specialty and has served in Portugal, South Korea, and India and Japan. Dan has worked at the most senior levels of the U.S .government and in missions abroad.
This session will start with Dan’s time at ASIJ and the non-traditional path that led him to government service. Dan will touch upon the broader scope of working for a national government (more than just the U.S. government, more than just the military). He will also talk about becoming a pilot and possible pathways to that as a career field. He will also introduce what it’s like to work in an Embassy environment. Finally, he will briefly discuss the importance of diplomacy and national security.
Emma joined ASIJ in 2014 and graduated in 2021. She is currently a third-year student in the Faculty of Liberal Arts at Sophia University or Jochi Daigaku in Tokyo. With a concentration in Political Science and East Asian History, she has taken intensive courses in Philosophy, Ethics, and Religion as well. Awarded the Dean’s List for five consecutive semesters, Emma hopes to either further obtain a Master’s Degree overseas or pursue a career in the creative field that combines her skill and interests in graphic design and journalism. Beyond academics, she is also a social media manager and content creator for the only bilingual student-led magazine in Sophia.
Hasumi is a Sustainability Strategist at Fabric, providing specialised support for clients to develop strategies for implementing environmentally sustainable and socially conscious business practices across all organisational levels.
Hasumi has worked in the field of rural revitalisation, specifically in the agriculture sector in Oita prefecture. As the Food Systems Lead at FoundingBase, Hasumi was involved in everything from product development, to community coordination, and business management.She has consulted for UNITAR as part of the Green Economy and Climate Change program, developing educational materials for diplomats.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Waseda University, Japan, and a Masters of Arts (International Development), specialising in Sustainable Development, from the Graduate Institute of International and Developmental Studies, Geneva, Switzerland.
Hasumi’s mission in life is, through innovation, realise a regenerative food system that benefits all players; starting from farmers to consumers.
In this session, I will explore my indirect trajectory into the world of sustainability starting from an internship at the UN, running a vegetable stall collaborating with farmers, to advising global businesses in developing impactful strategies. I hope to share how I made those choices, and what underlying values drove those decisions.
JF, a distinguished engineer at Woven by Toyota, leads the evolution of C++ at ISO, blending innovation in software development with his passion for advancing quality in software. With roots in Montréal and an educational background from McGill and Stanford, his journey through tech giants like Nvidia, Google, and Apple has honed his expertise in programming languages, compilers, and security. Co-creator of WebAssembly, JF's work focuses on performance and security. Now in Japan, his leadership focuses on advancements in technology for vehicle software development.
This session will explore the strategic insights and decision-making processes behind impactful contributions in computer science, using JF's experiences as a backdrop. Through discussions on pivotal developments in software platforms and standards, attendees will learn how to identify opportunities, leverage their skills, and collaborate effectively to make a lasting impact on society. The session aims to inspire and equip future engineers with the mindset and tools necessary for creating technology that enriches people's lives.
Jason Durkee founded corporate training companies Idea Development based in Tokyo and Practical Training Transfer in London and is a director of the Association for Talent Development Global Network Japan. Since the 90's, he's designed and delivered cross-cultural awareness, innovation, communication and leadership development programs to more than 40,000 participants in Asia. Idea Development is recognized as a leader in learning transfer, dynamic training design and effective use of technology in Japan. Jason regularly speaks at T&D related events around the world and has contributed to industry publications.
Companies usually don’t care about majors, grades and tests. To get hired, work effectively and get promoted you need skills. In this session we'll look at fancy data from talent development experts explained in a straightforward, simple way so you know what to focus on to get ready for work and do great when you start.
Jeff Wentworth is co-founder of a blockchain software company called Curvegrid. Previously, Jeff spent six years at Goldman Sachs as a Vice President and global product owner of block and object storage. Prior to that, Jeff was a technology consultant and customer engineer at EMC. He graduated from the University of Waterloo with a degree in Computer Engineering. He has lived in Japan for 18 years, first coming here as an intern while at university, working for a year in Nagano-Ken for Seiko Epson as a computer programmer.
How do the choices that we make earlier in our lives manifest themselves as we grow? In this session, I’ll share a little bit about my story from growing up in Canada to Nagano-ken and then Tokyo, and the 18 years that I’ve spent working and living in Japan. We’ll talk about successes, failures, life skills, resilience, business, technology, entrepreneurship, and taking the road less traveled.
Jeff was born in Los Angeles CA, but spent most of his formative years in Salt Lake City, Utah. Upon graduating from Brigham Young University he moved to Japan and worked for the Benesse Corporation for 4 years in Human Resources in Osaka. In 1999 he was hired by Lehman Brothers and began a long career as a COO and HR Leader in Investment Banking, working for some of the biggest banks in the world across Asia. In 2014 he moved his family to Shanghai China where he was named the COO and Co-Country Executive for Royal Bank of Scotland. Upon moving back to Utah in 2018, held consultant roles for a number of organizations including the parent company of the Utah Jazz, and later the CEO of a small consumer goods company, In 2022, Jeff returned to Japan and joined Warner Music as the Head of People and Business Transformation, with a focus on transforming the Warner Music business to meet the demands of the rapidly changing music industry. He has 3 children who have all attended ASIJ, two of which are in university in the US and one who is currently in Middle School.
In this session Jeff will dive into his observations of the music industry and the changes to come, as well as the skills that the major labels are looking for now and what is expected in the future. He will also spend some time talking about his experiences developing young talent looking for the right career path, and his observations over 25 years working with universities and student groups as he build graduate recruiting programs across multiple institutions.
Kai graduated from ASIJ in 2021 after fifteen years as a Mustang, beginning at the ELC. He is a junior at the University of Tokyo’s Programs in English at Komaba (PEAK), studying history and international law. He has worked/interned for the U.S. State Department (two years) and Human Rights Watch’s Tokyo office (current). He will begin a new position with Major League Baseball’s Sponsorships division in April. Kai won the national “Best Counsels” Prize in the ICRC Japan International Law Competition in 2022 and was selected as a “CGI U Changemaker” by the Clinton Global Initiative in 2023.
As an analyst at InfluenceMap, a climate change policy think tank, Karin researches how Japanese companies influence and engage with climate change and energy policy. After graduating from ASIJ, she studied political science and global studies at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). She has previously worked in government relations and sustainable development.
Experiences working at a nonprofit think tank in the sustainability field, and encouraging businesses to make a positive impact.
Kei joined ASIJ in 2015 and after graduating in 2021, is currently a junior at Waseda University’s School of International Liberal Studies. Previously, he interned as an operations and marketing assistant at an ed-tech company. More recently, Kei worked as a finance intern at Takeda Pharmaceuticals after winning a Digital Accelerator business competition as a team leader. He is looking forward to being able to combine his interests and skills in creative media and technology to work in the advertising industry.
Kristen has lived and worked in Japan since 2021, and is a marketing and business operations consultant with two decades of multi-family property management experience. She has volunteered as both PTA Communications Officer and PTA Vice President, and started serving as a Trustee and Board member in 2023. Kristen spent her childhood attending international schools, and her husband is a proud ASIJ alumnus. She is the mother of two sons who currently attend ASIJ.
Kristen spent her entire K-12 and university experience with one clear target: getting into veterinary school and becoming a veterinarian. Her degree choice (Zoology/Chemistry), her extracurriculars (working in veterinary hospitals and animal shelters), and her passion were all aligned. Until she didn’t get in. Learn strategies for shifting your mindset on your career after college, and recognizing and applying your true strengths. If you’re curious why project management + math = marketing, this session will leave you energized.
Maia, Class of 2016, attended the University of Michigan after graduating from ASIJ. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Biopsychology, Cognition and Neuroscience (BCN). Her interest in behavioral economics led to this double major, in which she explored classes such as decision making, game theory and marketing.
She ultimately decided to join Amazon Japan as an Account Manager, recruiting new sellers in the electronics category to sell on Amazon. After 1 year of experience in sales, she internally transferred to a social media marketing position and now works as a Brand Building Marketing Manager in which she tests and creates content to help customers increase their sales.
This session will delve into working in the tech industry in Japan.
The session will also touch on experiences working in the tech industry as a woman, diversity and inclusion, and working in sales and marketing.
Miguell Malacad has a diverse work experience history. Miguell started their career at Purdue University as a Fitness Consultant, where they enforced policies and procedures, ensured customer satisfaction, and maintained safety in the fitness facility. Miguell then worked as an Undergraduate Research Assistant, where they organized and tested research surveys and programmed exergame concepts. Miguell then moved on to Lattice Semiconductor, where they served as a Product Engineer. In this role, they performed bench-level characterization and developed designs on Verilog. Additionally, they led automation projects to reduce characterization time. Currently, Miguell works as a Software Engineer at Woven by Toyota since 2019, where they are involved in software development.
Miguell Malacad completed their Bachelor's Degree in Computer Engineering from Purdue University from 2012 to 2016. In 2018 to 2019, they attended the Shinjuku Japanese Language Institute - SNG to study Japanese Language and Literature. Before that, from 2008 to 2012, they obtained their High School Diploma from The American School in Japan. Miguell also holds several additional certifications, including AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate and AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner from Amazon Web Services (AWS), which they obtained in June 2021 and February 2020, respectively. Miguell also holds JLPT N2 (日本語能力試験 2級) certification from JAPAN EDUCATIONAL EXCHANGES AND SERVICES JEES, which they obtained in January 2020.
Minako Abe, M.D. is the Vice-President of the Tokyo Cancer Clinic. She is an ASIJ alumni (‘88) and current ASIJ parent. She attended UC Berkeley undergrad and earned her M.D. at SUNY Stony Brook, and has dual U.S. board certifications in Emergency Medicine and Lifestyle Medicine. Practicing in NYC for over 15 years, she found that nearly 80% of her Emergency Room patients were suffering from conditions that could potentially be prevented with lifestyle medicine. Even 40% of cancers can be prevented. She then had the opportunity to move back to Tokyo to work in cancer immunotherapy, and now helps patients with lifestyle interventions and cutting edge immunotherapy treatments.
In this session, participants will get a glimpse of what it takes to become a physician. The mindset needed to proceed down this long and difficult path and the personal rewards that are like no other career. An M.D. degree is an investment that will enable you to do multiple things - like jumping from a career in the E.R. to researching and providing the latest immune cell therapies. I believe that a solid, well-rounded education at ASIJ was key to how my career has been shaped. I love teaching and am happy to answer any questions you may have.
Motoko was born in California and raised in New Jersey, Tokyo and northern California. She attended The American School in Japan for two years in elementary school. She received her undergraduate degree in history from Yale University and a master’s in English from Cambridge University. She has worked as a journalist for three decades, starting at the Financial Times in London, and during a stint at the Wall Street Journal in Atlanta and New York, and at the New York Times for more than 20 years, both in New York and Tokyo. She is currently the Tokyo bureau chief.
This session will explore what kind of interests and skills are suited to a journalism career; why journalism is such a fun and fulfilling profession in which every day is different and you get to follow your curiosity and there are never any stupid questions. Motoko will talk about how to prepare yourself in high school and college for a career in journalism and about the changing landscape and challenges of the industry. She can also talk about professional writing more generally and how the skills of journalism can be useful in college and beyond.
Nathan was born in Canada but grew up mostly in Hong Kong, the United Kingdom and Japan. He attended undergrad in Canada where he received a Hons. BSc. in Kinesiology. He then returned to ASIJ as the SRC tutor in 2006-07 after which he began his chiropractic education in Canada before completing it with merit, from Bournemouth University in the UK, in 2011. Following graduation, he opted to take a volunteer position in Mulago Hospital in Kampala, Uganda and ran a private practice on the side where he focused on treating mainly expats and professional athletes. He also had the opportunity to play for the Kyambogo Warriors of the Federation of Uganda Basketball Association. After a year in Uganda, Nathan decided to study medicine and moved to Poland to begin his medical education. He was also able to play two years for the Tytani Lublin of the Polish American Football League as well as represent his medical school in the Polish Medical School Basketball Championship, which his team won in 2013. He finished off his medical studies by completing his medical rotations at Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center and Wyckoff Heights Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York, in 2017. He then started working as an ER doctor in the UK and began his part-time legal studies in 2020, at the height of the covid-19 pandemic. Upon graduation with distinction from the University of Law (formerly the College of Law), in the UK in 2023, he moved to Hong Kong to begin his solicitor training contract which is where he is currently.
This session is about understanding the importance of taking your time when attempting to decide what you want to do with your life. The current model seems to put too much emphasis and too much pressure on early success at the expense of choosing what is right for you.
Born in Taiwan, Paul moved to Canada at age 15 until he completed his undergrad in Business Administration from Simon Fraser University in 1999. He then moved to Tokyo—first as an M&A analyst but switched to Investment Management after 2 years. For the next 20+ years, Paul worked at Fidelity and Capital Group—in Tokyo then in HK. In 2021, Paul retired from finance and returned to Tokyo and today he is the founder of Terakoya.AI, a startup for creating digital learning communities, and the Chairman of NPO Education Beyond. He is also currently a Masters candidate for the Data Science Graduate Program at Harvard Extension School.
In this session, Paul will share his 20+ years of experience in public equity investing for those pursuing a career in finance. He will then discuss how he stumbled into the world of Data Science and AI which started with a one-off company project in 2017. Paul will talk about how that unexpected journey completely changed his outlook on his career—and the potential implications for young students thinking about their own future careers. Paul will also be happy to answer questions on startups and NPOs for those interested.
I am a first generation Taiwanese American born and raised in the United States. I spent my childhood in Indiana. I was awarded a full scholarship and stipend to attend Indiana University’s prestigious Kelley School of Business where I majored in Accounting, Finance, and International studies and minored in Mandarin and French. Upon graduation, I began an 11 year career at consumer goods company Procter and Gamble taking on various finance roles. At P&G, I met my husband Chris. Together, we decided to broaden our careers by leaving P&G and to take on a new career challenge in private equity moving us to New York. After several years in private equity, we have the opportunity to move to Shanghai, China to work for Gap, Inc. While Chris decided to stay at Gap, I decided to take on a new adventure working for Nike.
My family and I have lived in Asia for 6+ years. We moved to Tokyo in September 2023. We are parents to Owen (grade 6), Tinsley (grade 3), a golden retriever named Max, and a hamster named Sesame.
I want this session to be interactive, conversational, and very student led. I will provide a brief career / personal life overview. I have a broad career experience spanning from fast-moving consumer good to private equity to retail.
In this “Ask Me Anything” session, I encourage participants to ask about:
Rolf is a seasoned entrepreneur and automotive industry expert. With over three decades of experience at Mercedes-Benz AG, he has garnered extensive expertise in automotive after-sales service and spare parts logistics. Currently, Rolf serves as the Head of Parts Logistics Japan, overseeing the efficient distribution of spare parts to support Mercedes-Benz customers in the region. An avid motorcyclist, Rolf finds joy and adventure on the open road, exploring new destinations in Japan and embracing the thrill of motorcycling. Committed to driving positive change, he continues to shape the future of innovation in the automotive industry.
Explore the three-decade career journey of Rolf Rosendaal, an automotive engineering expert, spanning Germany, the USA, Lebanon, Romania, the Czech Republic, and currently Japan, with roles in various departments at Mercedes-Benz AG.
Delve into the complexities of global customer services and spare parts logistics within Mercedes-Benz. Gain insights into the company's engineering innovations, logistics network, and strategies for enhancing operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.
This session offers a unique opportunity to learn from Rolf's extensive experience and expertise in industry leadership. Don't miss out on this enlightening discussion, which promises valuable insights for professionals across the automotive sector.
Ryo Okubo is Director of Partnerships & Platform at DNX Ventures, a cross-border venture capital focusing on early-stage B2B startups. He assists in exploring US/Japan cross-border opportunities to drive change to organizations of various sizes.
Previously, he was an event marketing team lead at an early stage healthcare SaaS startup. Prior roles include 5 years leading corporate venture capital and business development and 10 years of experience in corporate strategy at the CEO's office at Canon USA. He also spent 8 years at Canon’s global Headquarters as a project manager for its laser beam printer OEM operations for HP.
Ryo graduated from the American School In Japan in ‘98 and holds a Bachelor of Business from the International Christian University (ICU) in Tokyo.
Born and raised in Tokyo, Japan. Attended The American School in Japan from 7th Grade. Graduated in ‘99 and went on to pursue an undergraduate degree in Biology and Studio Arts at Scripps College in Claremont, California. Moved to New York City and volunteered at one of the busiest non-profit small animal hospital in NYC, The Animal Medical Center for a year. In 2004, accepted to University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine. Returned to The Animal Medical Center and completed a vigorous 1 year small animal internship in 2008, then ultimately decided to pursue General Practice at VCA (Veterinary Centre of America, MARS Group) US for 10+ years. Repatriated to Tokyo in 2017 and currently working in corporate office as an Education Coordinator at VCA Japan.
This session will comprise of: 1. Application process for US veterinary school 2. What to expect once you become a full fledged veterinarian 3. Life choices most veterinarians make once they start their career 4. What I learned as a veterinarian as well as an international scholar/individual. Casual conversations, happy to answer any random questions about my career!
Class of '06 alum, born in the Year of the Dragon, I ventured into entrepreneurship early, launching a project management consulting firm before graduation. After a successful sale in the mid-2010s, I founded two more enterprises, one in edtech and education management, the other in infrastructure consulting. Last year, alongside a classmate from ‘06, I initiated a healthcare, AI, and infrastructure venture. As Japan President for a Chamber of Commerce, I leverage connections for early access to global government projects. Despite deferring accolades like Times 100 Most Influential Companies and Fast Company's Innovation by Design, I have earned finance and leadership awards globally. My journey spans engineering, a break for business focus, a double degree in Electrical Engineering and Comp. Sci., an MBA, and an LLM in Intellectual Property. My career kicked off aiding Nomura's PMI of Lehman during the 2007 Financial crisis, funding my education and laying the foundation for my entrepreneurial path. I might be infamous for a sophomore year bio project at ASIJ, but I've always prioritized subjects that captivate my interest.
Option 1 - International Entrepreneurship:
Embark on an enlightening journey into the realm of International Entrepreneurship in this exclusive Future Ready presentation. From my early days, graduating in the Class of '06, to launching a project management consulting firm just before donning the cap and gown, my entrepreneurial ventures have spanned diverse sectors. Explore the evolution from project management to edtech, infrastructure, and the current foray into healthcare and AI. Gain profound insights into the dynamic challenges and triumphant moments of navigating global business landscapes. Join me for an immersive exploration of entrepreneurial ventures, offering a rich tapestry of experiences, lessons, and inspiration for those aspiring to lead in the global business arena.
Option 2 - Being a Global Citizen:
Step into the world of Being a Global Citizen in this thought-provoking Future Ready session. As the first student to enroll directly in middle school from a full Japanese public education background, an Indian, and arriving just a week before 9/11, my journey has been uniquely shaped by these transformative experiences. Trace my evolution from those early days to becoming a global entrepreneur, navigating diverse cultural landscapes. Delve into the profound impact of a globally conscious mindset, emphasizing cultural intelligence, collaboration, and adaptability as essential traits for success in our interconnected world. Uncover how being a global citizen extends beyond geographical borders, fostering positive contributions to diverse communities. Join me for an in-depth exploration of responsible and impactful global citizenship, shaping future leaders with a comprehensive global perspective.
As CEO of Energize Inc, a company that supports Japanese companies in accelerating globalisation and organisational development, Taro has been connecting young non-Japanese talent from around the world with Japanese companies for 15 years. He has conducted cross-border business in more than 40 countries, including recruitment, training and start-up support. Through these activities, he has collaborated with many university career centres around the world providing career development lectures, and the number of partner universities exceeds 100.
This session will explore how non-native, future-ready talent can access full-time careers in Japan after graduating from universities mainly outside Japan.
Taro will chart the current market environment, company initiatives and ideas, as well as practical tips on how you can lead to a successful career, in an easy-to-understand way.
Ward Sexton was born in Fukuoka to an American father and Japanese mother. He was educated at 11 different schools in Yokohama and all over the USA from grades 1 to 12, and went to college in Oregon. After a shoulder injury ended his brief pro-baseball career, he worked as a voice actor-narrator and writer for 35+ years. Ward had a jazz program on J-Wave and an R&B program on Chiba’s BayFM, and was the signature voice on Music Station with Tamori from 1987-2020. He’s been the voice of numerous TV and radio commercials as well.
Ward Sexton has worked full-time as a voice actor/voiceover, for nearly 40 years. His voice is heard on commercials, movie trailers and promos, documentaries, industrial and corporate videos, corporate CI logos, TV and radio imaging, and video games. He’s the title voice for Capcom’s BIOHAZARD/RESIDENT EVIL franchise. Currently, he voices most of the promos for numerous LDH artists, including Exile, Atsushi, Takahiro, The Rampage, J-Soul Brothers, Fantastics, Psychic Fever, etc. In the US, he primarily recorded remotely from his home studio. Ward also writes copy and scripts for many projects.
Yuka Sadayuki is a media planner at Universal McCann (UM) Worldwide, Inc. She joined in January 2022 as a hybrid between account management and planning and specialized in the latter in June 2023. She oversees marketing strategies for clients like Tourism Australia, Skechers, and Sharpie. Prior to joining UM, Yuka was in Human Resources Consulting for IT companies. Outside of the workplace, Yuka is on the committee for the Asian University for Women (AUW) that supports women’s education. Yuka holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from The George Washington University. She also studied abroad at the University of Sydney. She was at ASIJ for 11 years and graduated Class of 2015.
This session will explore how Yuka leveraged her analytical skills, creative mind, and bicultural experience to kick-start a career in advertising. Working in a completely different industry prior, she will outline the challenging personal journey, filled with highs and lows along the way, of how she realized the importance of pursuing what she loves rather than what she thought she had to pursue. Her upbringing also played an important part in this, hence she will also dive into how her bicultural experiences have shaped her career aspirations.
Born and raised in Northern California, Alex grew up with game design running through his veins. At a young age, he would frequently make up games for his friends to play after school, and eventually he learned that becoming a game designer as a career was something he could pursue.
Heavily inspired by the narratives and metaphorical gameplay of games like The Legend of Zelda and Shadow of the Colossus, Alex found a passion for helping players create their own stories. He received his BS in Computer Game Design from UC Santa Cruz and an MFA in Interactive Media from USC, during and after which he gained extensive experience working on a number of indie game titles. He enjoys educating others about game and narrative design, and has given talks everywhere from Los Angeles to Edinburgh, Scotland.
Alex now lives and works in Tokyo as Lead Game Designer at Shapefarm.
In this session, we will take a look at some upcoming games and discuss how storytelling in Interactive Media can build special moments due to having a player drive the story. We will also take a brief look into the game design process and some steps to becoming a game developer.
Arshad Karim is Director/Head of Legal, Japan at Abbott Japan LLC since June 2023. Prior to Abbott, he was Director & Associate General Counsel at Twitter for over four years, responsible for all legal matters in Japan and Korea, including but not limited to handling of regulatory matters, content regulation, drafting and negotiating various commercial agreements, managing multiple litigation in Japan, handling corporate governance issues, and addressing employment law issues. Before joining Twitter, he served as Senior Vice President & Legal Counsel for Nikko Asset Management Co., Ltd., one of the largest asset management companies in Japan. During his 12 years there, he was involved in multiple projects such as acquisitions of asset management companies in Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, and Malaysia, establishment of joint ventures in China and India, and the listing process with the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Prior to that, he was Legal Counsel & Chief Privacy Officer for IMS Japan, an American pharmaceutical data firm where he established its Legal Department and led the Company’s efforts to comply with the newly established Personal Information Protection Law of Japan, among other responsibilities. His previous positions also include tenure at Hayabusa Kokusai Law Offices as a Foreign Associate and Deloitte & Touche in New York. He received a B.A. with Distinction in Biological Sciences from Cornell University and a J.D. from Loyola Law School.
Balazs Bognar, AIA is an American architect and Partner at Kengo Kuma & Associates in Tokyo, Japan, with licenses in the U.S. NCARB certification. He has been working directly with Kengo Kuma to oversee the office’s North American projects since 2007.
He received his Master of Architecture degree in 2003 from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design, and his Bachelor of Arts in Architecture degree in 2000 from Washington University in St. Louis.
His selected completed work includes Alibaba.com’s “Taobao City” campus in Hangzhou, China (2013); Red Bull Music Academy in Tokyo, Japan (2014); Portland Japanese Garden’s Cultural Village in Oregon (2017); Rolex Tower in Dallas, Texas (2018), and Amanpuri’s Retail Pavilion in Phuket, Thailand (2019).
He is currently leading teams for new projects in Sydney, Tokyo, Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, San Jose, Los Angeles, and Detroit, and is working on his second book with Prof. Botond Bognar of University of Illinois.
Originally from Michigan, Dan attended ASIJ from 1989-1992 and spent a gap year at the International Christian University in Mitaka following graduation before returning and finishing a Bachelors at University of Michigan. Upon graduation, he became a Naval Officer in 1997 and spent 16 years as a helicopter pilot. He then transitioned to a defense diplomacy specialty and has served in Portugal, South Korea, and India and Japan. Dan has worked at the most senior levels of the U.S .government and in missions abroad.
This session will start with Dan’s time at ASIJ and the non-traditional path that led him to government service. Dan will touch upon the broader scope of working for a national government (more than just the U.S. government, more than just the military). He will also talk about becoming a pilot and possible pathways to that as a career field. He will also introduce what it’s like to work in an Embassy environment. Finally, he will briefly discuss the importance of diplomacy and national security.
JF, a distinguished engineer at Woven by Toyota, leads the evolution of C++ at ISO, blending innovation in software development with his passion for advancing quality in software. With roots in Montréal and an educational background from McGill and Stanford, his journey through tech giants like Nvidia, Google, and Apple has honed his expertise in programming languages, compilers, and security. Co-creator of WebAssembly, JF's work focuses on performance and security. Now in Japan, his leadership focuses on advancements in technology for vehicle software development.
This session will explore the strategic insights and decision-making processes behind impactful contributions in computer science, using JF's experiences as a backdrop. Through discussions on pivotal developments in software platforms and standards, attendees will learn how to identify opportunities, leverage their skills, and collaborate effectively to make a lasting impact on society. The session aims to inspire and equip future engineers with the mindset and tools necessary for creating technology that enriches people's lives.
Jason Durkee founded corporate training companies Idea Development based in Tokyo and Practical Training Transfer in London and is a director of the Association for Talent Development Global Network Japan. Since the 90's, he's designed and delivered cross-cultural awareness, innovation, communication and leadership development programs to more than 40,000 participants in Asia. Idea Development is recognized as a leader in learning transfer, dynamic training design and effective use of technology in Japan. Jason regularly speaks at T&D related events around the world and has contributed to industry publications.
Companies usually don’t care about majors, grades and tests. To get hired, work effectively and get promoted you need skills. In this session we'll look at fancy data from talent development experts explained in a straightforward, simple way so you know what to focus on to get ready for work and do great when you start.
Jeff was born in Los Angeles CA, but spent most of his formative years in Salt Lake City, Utah. Upon graduating from Brigham Young University he moved to Japan and worked for the Benesse Corporation for 4 years in Human Resources in Osaka. In 1999 he was hired by Lehman Brothers and began a long career as a COO and HR Leader in Investment Banking, working for some of the biggest banks in the world across Asia. In 2014 he moved his family to Shanghai China where he was named the COO and Co-Country Executive for Royal Bank of Scotland. Upon moving back to Utah in 2018, held consultant roles for a number of organizations including the parent company of the Utah Jazz, and later the CEO of a small consumer goods company, In 2022, Jeff returned to Japan and joined Warner Music as the Head of People and Business Transformation, with a focus on transforming the Warner Music business to meet the demands of the rapidly changing music industry. He has 3 children who have all attended ASIJ, two of which are in university in the US and one who is currently in Middle School.
In this session Jeff will dive into his observations of the music industry and the changes to come, as well as the skills that the major labels are looking for now and what is expected in the future. He will also spend some time talking about his experiences developing young talent looking for the right career path, and his observations over 25 years working with universities and student groups as he build graduate recruiting programs across multiple institutions.
Mr. Kirk Neureiter is the president of Fidelity Management and Research Japan. He also works as a Portfolio Manager in the Japan Equity division at Fidelity Investments. He entered the company in 1994 and has gone through numerous job roles prior to his current position. Before beginning his journey with Fidelity, Mr. Neureiter worked at Sony after graduating from the College of Wooster.
Kristen has lived and worked in Japan since 2021, and is a marketing and business operations consultant with two decades of multi-family property management experience. She has volunteered as both PTA Communications Officer and PTA Vice President, and started serving as a Trustee and Board member in 2023. Kristen spent her childhood attending international schools, and her husband is a proud ASIJ alumnus. She is the mother of two sons who currently attend ASIJ.
Kristen spent her entire K-12 and university experience with one clear target: getting into veterinary school and becoming a veterinarian. Her degree choice (Zoology/Chemistry), her extracurriculars (working in veterinary hospitals and animal shelters), and her passion were all aligned. Until she didn’t get in. Learn strategies for shifting your mindset on your career after college, and recognizing and applying your true strengths. If you’re curious why project management + math = marketing, this session will leave you energized.
Miguell Malacad has a diverse work experience history. Miguell started their career at Purdue University as a Fitness Consultant, where they enforced policies and procedures, ensured customer satisfaction, and maintained safety in the fitness facility. Miguell then worked as an Undergraduate Research Assistant, where they organized and tested research surveys and programmed exergame concepts. Miguell then moved on to Lattice Semiconductor, where they served as a Product Engineer. In this role, they performed bench-level characterization and developed designs on Verilog. Additionally, they led automation projects to reduce characterization time. Currently, Miguell works as a Software Engineer at Woven by Toyota since 2019, where they are involved in software development.
Miguell Malacad completed their Bachelor's Degree in Computer Engineering from Purdue University from 2012 to 2016. In 2018 to 2019, they attended the Shinjuku Japanese Language Institute - SNG to study Japanese Language and Literature. Before that, from 2008 to 2012, they obtained their High School Diploma from The American School in Japan. Miguell also holds several additional certifications, including AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate and AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner from Amazon Web Services (AWS), which they obtained in June 2021 and February 2020, respectively. Miguell also holds JLPT N2 (日本語能力試験 2級) certification from JAPAN EDUCATIONAL EXCHANGES AND SERVICES JEES, which they obtained in January 2020.
Minako Abe, M.D. is the Vice-President of the Tokyo Cancer Clinic. She is an ASIJ alumni (‘88) and current ASIJ parent. She attended UC Berkeley undergrad and earned her M.D. at SUNY Stony Brook, and has dual U.S. board certifications in Emergency Medicine and Lifestyle Medicine. Practicing in NYC for over 15 years, she found that nearly 80% of her Emergency Room patients were suffering from conditions that could potentially be prevented with lifestyle medicine. Even 40% of cancers can be prevented. She then had the opportunity to move back to Tokyo to work in cancer immunotherapy, and now helps patients with lifestyle interventions and cutting edge immunotherapy treatments.
In this session, participants will get a glimpse of what it takes to become a physician. The mindset needed to proceed down this long and difficult path and the personal rewards that are like no other career. An M.D. degree is an investment that will enable you to do multiple things - like jumping from a career in the E.R. to researching and providing the latest immune cell therapies. I believe that a solid, well-rounded education at ASIJ was key to how my career has been shaped. I love teaching and am happy to answer any questions you may have.
Motoko was born in California and raised in New Jersey, Tokyo and northern California. She attended The American School in Japan for two years in elementary school. She received her undergraduate degree in history from Yale University and a master’s in English from Cambridge University. She has worked as a journalist for three decades, starting at the Financial Times in London, and during a stint at the Wall Street Journal in Atlanta and New York, and at the New York Times for more than 20 years, both in New York and Tokyo. She is currently the Tokyo bureau chief.
This session will explore what kind of interests and skills are suited to a journalism career; why journalism is such a fun and fulfilling profession in which every day is different and you get to follow your curiosity and there are never any stupid questions. Motoko will talk about how to prepare yourself in high school and college for a career in journalism and about the changing landscape and challenges of the industry. She can also talk about professional writing more generally and how the skills of journalism can be useful in college and beyond.
Nathan was born in Canada but grew up mostly in Hong Kong, the United Kingdom and Japan. He attended undergrad in Canada where he received a Hons. BSc. in Kinesiology. He then returned to ASIJ as the SRC tutor in 2006-07 after which he began his chiropractic education in Canada before completing it with merit, from Bournemouth University in the UK, in 2011. Following graduation, he opted to take a volunteer position in Mulago Hospital in Kampala, Uganda and ran a private practice on the side where he focused on treating mainly expats and professional athletes. He also had the opportunity to play for the Kyambogo Warriors of the Federation of Uganda Basketball Association. After a year in Uganda, Nathan decided to study medicine and moved to Poland to begin his medical education. He was also able to play two years for the Tytani Lublin of the Polish American Football League as well as represent his medical school in the Polish Medical School Basketball Championship, which his team won in 2013. He finished off his medical studies by completing his medical rotations at Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center and Wyckoff Heights Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York, in 2017. He then started working as an ER doctor in the UK and began his part-time legal studies in 2020, at the height of the covid-19 pandemic. Upon graduation with distinction from the University of Law (formerly the College of Law), in the UK in 2023, he moved to Hong Kong to begin his solicitor training contract which is where he is currently.
This session is about understanding the importance of taking your time when attempting to decide what you want to do with your life. The current model seems to put too much emphasis and too much pressure on early success at the expense of choosing what is right for you.
Born in Taiwan, Paul moved to Canada at age 15 until he completed his undergrad in Business Administration from Simon Fraser University in 1999. He then moved to Tokyo—first as an M&A analyst but switched to Investment Management after 2 years. For the next 20+ years, Paul worked at Fidelity and Capital Group—in Tokyo then in HK. In 2021, Paul retired from finance and returned to Tokyo and today he is the founder of Terakoya.AI, a startup for creating digital learning communities, and the Chairman of NPO Education Beyond. He is also currently a Masters candidate for the Data Science Graduate Program at Harvard Extension School.
In this session, Paul will share his 20+ years of experience in public equity investing for those pursuing a career in finance. He will then discuss how he stumbled into the world of Data Science and AI which started with a one-off company project in 2017. Paul will talk about how that unexpected journey completely changed his outlook on his career—and the potential implications for young students thinking about their own future careers. Paul will also be happy to answer questions on startups and NPOs for those interested.
I am a first generation Taiwanese American born and raised in the United States. I spent my childhood in Indiana. I was awarded a full scholarship and stipend to attend Indiana University’s prestigious Kelley School of Business where I majored in Accounting, Finance, and International studies and minored in Mandarin and French. Upon graduation, I began an 11 year career at consumer goods company Procter and Gamble taking on various finance roles. At P&G, I met my husband Chris. Together, we decided to broaden our careers by leaving P&G and to take on a new career challenge in private equity moving us to New York. After several years in private equity, we have the opportunity to move to Shanghai, China to work for Gap, Inc. While Chris decided to stay at Gap, I decided to take on a new adventure working for Nike.
My family and I have lived in Asia for 6+ years. We moved to Tokyo in September 2023. We are parents to Owen (grade 6), Tinsley (grade 3), a golden retriever named Max, and a hamster named Sesame.
I want this session to be interactive, conversational, and very student led. I will provide a brief career / personal life overview. I have a broad career experience spanning from fast-moving consumer good to private equity to retail.
In this “Ask Me Anything” session, I encourage participants to ask about:
Rolf is a seasoned entrepreneur and automotive industry expert. With over three decades of experience at Mercedes-Benz AG, he has garnered extensive expertise in automotive after-sales service and spare parts logistics. Currently, Rolf serves as the Head of Parts Logistics Japan, overseeing the efficient distribution of spare parts to support Mercedes-Benz customers in the region. An avid motorcyclist, Rolf finds joy and adventure on the open road, exploring new destinations in Japan and embracing the thrill of motorcycling. Committed to driving positive change, he continues to shape the future of innovation in the automotive industry.
Explore the three-decade career journey of Rolf Rosendaal, an automotive engineering expert, spanning Germany, the USA, Lebanon, Romania, the Czech Republic, and currently Japan, with roles in various departments at Mercedes-Benz AG.
Delve into the complexities of global customer services and spare parts logistics within Mercedes-Benz. Gain insights into the company's engineering innovations, logistics network, and strategies for enhancing operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.
This session offers a unique opportunity to learn from Rolf's extensive experience and expertise in industry leadership. Don't miss out on this enlightening discussion, which promises valuable insights for professionals across the automotive sector.
Ryo Okubo is Director of Partnerships & Platform at DNX Ventures, a cross-border venture capital focusing on early-stage B2B startups. He assists in exploring US/Japan cross-border opportunities to drive change to organizations of various sizes.
Previously, he was an event marketing team lead at an early stage healthcare SaaS startup. Prior roles include 5 years leading corporate venture capital and business development and 10 years of experience in corporate strategy at the CEO's office at Canon USA. He also spent 8 years at Canon’s global Headquarters as a project manager for its laser beam printer OEM operations for HP.
Ryo graduated from the American School In Japan in ‘98 and holds a Bachelor of Business from the International Christian University (ICU) in Tokyo.
Born and raised in Tokyo, Japan. Attended The American School in Japan from 7th Grade. Graduated in ‘99 and went on to pursue an undergraduate degree in Biology and Studio Arts at Scripps College in Claremont, California. Moved to New York City and volunteered at one of the busiest non-profit small animal hospital in NYC, The Animal Medical Center for a year. In 2004, accepted to University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine. Returned to The Animal Medical Center and completed a vigorous 1 year small animal internship in 2008, then ultimately decided to pursue General Practice at VCA (Veterinary Centre of America, MARS Group) US for 10+ years. Repatriated to Tokyo in 2017 and currently working in corporate office as an Education Coordinator at VCA Japan.
This session will comprise of: 1. Application process for US veterinary school 2. What to expect once you become a full fledged veterinarian 3. Life choices most veterinarians make once they start their career 4. What I learned as a veterinarian as well as an international scholar/individual. Casual conversations, happy to answer any random questions about my career!
Class of '06 alum, born in the Year of the Dragon, I ventured into entrepreneurship early, launching a project management consulting firm before graduation. After a successful sale in the mid-2010s, I founded two more enterprises, one in edtech and education management, the other in infrastructure consulting. Last year, alongside a classmate from ‘06, I initiated a healthcare, AI, and infrastructure venture. As Japan President for a Chamber of Commerce, I leverage connections for early access to global government projects. Despite deferring accolades like Times 100 Most Influential Companies and Fast Company's Innovation by Design, I have earned finance and leadership awards globally. My journey spans engineering, a break for business focus, a double degree in Electrical Engineering and Comp. Sci., an MBA, and an LLM in Intellectual Property. My career kicked off aiding Nomura's PMI of Lehman during the 2007 Financial crisis, funding my education and laying the foundation for my entrepreneurial path. I might be infamous for a sophomore year bio project at ASIJ, but I've always prioritized subjects that captivate my interest.
Option 1 - International Entrepreneurship:
Embark on an enlightening journey into the realm of International Entrepreneurship in this exclusive Future Ready presentation. From my early days, graduating in the Class of '06, to launching a project management consulting firm just before donning the cap and gown, my entrepreneurial ventures have spanned diverse sectors. Explore the evolution from project management to edtech, infrastructure, and the current foray into healthcare and AI. Gain profound insights into the dynamic challenges and triumphant moments of navigating global business landscapes. Join me for an immersive exploration of entrepreneurial ventures, offering a rich tapestry of experiences, lessons, and inspiration for those aspiring to lead in the global business arena.
Option 2 - Being a Global Citizen:
Step into the world of Being a Global Citizen in this thought-provoking Future Ready session. As the first student to enroll directly in middle school from a full Japanese public education background, an Indian, and arriving just a week before 9/11, my journey has been uniquely shaped by these transformative experiences. Trace my evolution from those early days to becoming a global entrepreneur, navigating diverse cultural landscapes. Delve into the profound impact of a globally conscious mindset, emphasizing cultural intelligence, collaboration, and adaptability as essential traits for success in our interconnected world. Uncover how being a global citizen extends beyond geographical borders, fostering positive contributions to diverse communities. Join me for an in-depth exploration of responsible and impactful global citizenship, shaping future leaders with a comprehensive global perspective.
Ward Sexton was born in Fukuoka to an American father and Japanese mother. He was educated at 11 different schools in Yokohama and all over the USA from grades 1 to 12, and went to college in Oregon. After a shoulder injury ended his brief pro-baseball career, he worked as a voice actor-narrator and writer for 35+ years. Ward had a jazz program on J-Wave and an R&B program on Chiba’s BayFM, and was the signature voice on Music Station with Tamori from 1987-2020. He’s been the voice of numerous TV and radio commercials as well.
Ward Sexton has worked full-time as a voice actor/voiceover, for nearly 40 years. His voice is heard on commercials, movie trailers and promos, documentaries, industrial and corporate videos, corporate CI logos, TV and radio imaging, and video games. He’s the title voice for Capcom’s BIOHAZARD/RESIDENT EVIL franchise. Currently, he voices most of the promos for numerous LDH artists, including Exile, Atsushi, Takahiro, The Rampage, J-Soul Brothers, Fantastics, Psychic Fever, etc. In the US, he primarily recorded remotely from his home studio. Ward also writes copy and scripts for many projects.
Born and raised in Northern California, Alex grew up with game design running through his veins. At a young age, he would frequently make up games for his friends to play after school, and eventually he learned that becoming a game designer as a career was something he could pursue.
Heavily inspired by the narratives and metaphorical gameplay of games like The Legend of Zelda and Shadow of the Colossus, Alex found a passion for helping players create their own stories. He received his BS in Computer Game Design from UC Santa Cruz and an MFA in Interactive Media from USC, during and after which he gained extensive experience working on a number of indie game titles. He enjoys educating others about game and narrative design, and has given talks everywhere from Los Angeles to Edinburgh, Scotland.
Alex now lives and works in Tokyo as Lead Game Designer at Shapefarm.
In this session, we will take a look at some upcoming games and discuss how storytelling in Interactive Media can build special moments due to having a player drive the story. We will also take a brief look into the game design process and some steps to becoming a game developer.
Arshad Karim is Director/Head of Legal, Japan at Abbott Japan LLC since June 2023. Prior to Abbott, he was Director & Associate General Counsel at Twitter for over four years, responsible for all legal matters in Japan and Korea, including but not limited to handling of regulatory matters, content regulation, drafting and negotiating various commercial agreements, managing multiple litigation in Japan, handling corporate governance issues, and addressing employment law issues. Before joining Twitter, he served as Senior Vice President & Legal Counsel for Nikko Asset Management Co., Ltd., one of the largest asset management companies in Japan. During his 12 years there, he was involved in multiple projects such as acquisitions of asset management companies in Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, and Malaysia, establishment of joint ventures in China and India, and the listing process with the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Prior to that, he was Legal Counsel & Chief Privacy Officer for IMS Japan, an American pharmaceutical data firm where he established its Legal Department and led the Company’s efforts to comply with the newly established Personal Information Protection Law of Japan, among other responsibilities. His previous positions also include tenure at Hayabusa Kokusai Law Offices as a Foreign Associate and Deloitte & Touche in New York. He received a B.A. with Distinction in Biological Sciences from Cornell University and a J.D. from Loyola Law School.
Emma joined ASIJ in 2014 and graduated in 2021. She is currently a third-year student in the Faculty of Liberal Arts at Sophia University or Jochi Daigaku in Tokyo. With a concentration in Political Science and East Asian History, she has taken intensive courses in Philosophy, Ethics, and Religion as well. Awarded the Dean’s List for five consecutive semesters, Emma hopes to either further obtain a Master’s Degree overseas or pursue a career in the creative field that combines her skill and interests in graphic design and journalism. Beyond academics, she is also a social media manager and content creator for the only bilingual student-led magazine in Sophia.
Hasumi is a Sustainability Strategist at Fabric, providing specialised support for clients to develop strategies for implementing environmentally sustainable and socially conscious business practices across all organisational levels.
Hasumi has worked in the field of rural revitalisation, specifically in the agriculture sector in Oita prefecture. As the Food Systems Lead at FoundingBase, Hasumi was involved in everything from product development, to community coordination, and business management.She has consulted for UNITAR as part of the Green Economy and Climate Change program, developing educational materials for diplomats.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Waseda University, Japan, and a Masters of Arts (International Development), specialising in Sustainable Development, from the Graduate Institute of International and Developmental Studies, Geneva, Switzerland.
Hasumi’s mission in life is, through innovation, realise a regenerative food system that benefits all players; starting from farmers to consumers.
In this session, I will explore my indirect trajectory into the world of sustainability starting from an internship at the UN, running a vegetable stall collaborating with farmers, to advising global businesses in developing impactful strategies. I hope to share how I made those choices, and what underlying values drove those decisions.
JF, a distinguished engineer at Woven by Toyota, leads the evolution of C++ at ISO, blending innovation in software development with his passion for advancing quality in software. With roots in Montréal and an educational background from McGill and Stanford, his journey through tech giants like Nvidia, Google, and Apple has honed his expertise in programming languages, compilers, and security. Co-creator of WebAssembly, JF's work focuses on performance and security. Now in Japan, his leadership focuses on advancements in technology for vehicle software development.
This session will explore the strategic insights and decision-making processes behind impactful contributions in computer science, using JF's experiences as a backdrop. Through discussions on pivotal developments in software platforms and standards, attendees will learn how to identify opportunities, leverage their skills, and collaborate effectively to make a lasting impact on society. The session aims to inspire and equip future engineers with the mindset and tools necessary for creating technology that enriches people's lives.
Jason Durkee founded corporate training companies Idea Development based in Tokyo and Practical Training Transfer in London and is a director of the Association for Talent Development Global Network Japan. Since the 90's, he's designed and delivered cross-cultural awareness, innovation, communication and leadership development programs to more than 40,000 participants in Asia. Idea Development is recognized as a leader in learning transfer, dynamic training design and effective use of technology in Japan. Jason regularly speaks at T&D related events around the world and has contributed to industry publications.
Companies usually don’t care about majors, grades and tests. To get hired, work effectively and get promoted you need skills. In this session we'll look at fancy data from talent development experts explained in a straightforward, simple way so you know what to focus on to get ready for work and do great when you start.
Jeff was born in Los Angeles CA, but spent most of his formative years in Salt Lake City, Utah. Upon graduating from Brigham Young University he moved to Japan and worked for the Benesse Corporation for 4 years in Human Resources in Osaka. In 1999 he was hired by Lehman Brothers and began a long career as a COO and HR Leader in Investment Banking, working for some of the biggest banks in the world across Asia. In 2014 he moved his family to Shanghai China where he was named the COO and Co-Country Executive for Royal Bank of Scotland. Upon moving back to Utah in 2018, held consultant roles for a number of organizations including the parent company of the Utah Jazz, and later the CEO of a small consumer goods company, In 2022, Jeff returned to Japan and joined Warner Music as the Head of People and Business Transformation, with a focus on transforming the Warner Music business to meet the demands of the rapidly changing music industry. He has 3 children who have all attended ASIJ, two of which are in university in the US and one who is currently in Middle School.
In this session Jeff will dive into his observations of the music industry and the changes to come, as well as the skills that the major labels are looking for now and what is expected in the future. He will also spend some time talking about his experiences developing young talent looking for the right career path, and his observations over 25 years working with universities and student groups as he build graduate recruiting programs across multiple institutions.
Jun was born and raised in US, UK and Japan, where he attended The American School in Japan. He received his undergraduate degree in fine arts from University of California, Los Angeles. Began career as art director at an ad agency in Japan, Dentsu. Moved to Chicago as Creative Director for Leo Burnetts. Then, Chief Creative Officer at JW Thompson in Tokyo, Singapore and London. Returned to Tokyo and made a career pivot into tech, Meta. Relocated to Singapore to lead APAC and back to Tokyo as Creative Studio Director at CHANEL.
This session will explore Jun’s 30 years of experience in the creative field from advertising to tech to fashion and his most important lesson to ruthlessly prioritize and achieve more with less.
Kai graduated from ASIJ in 2021 after fifteen years as a Mustang, beginning at the ELC. He is a junior at the University of Tokyo’s Programs in English at Komaba (PEAK), studying history and international law. He has worked/interned for the U.S. State Department (two years) and Human Rights Watch’s Tokyo office (current). He will begin a new position with Major League Baseball’s Sponsorships division in April. Kai won the national “Best Counsels” Prize in the ICRC Japan International Law Competition in 2022 and was selected as a “CGI U Changemaker” by the Clinton Global Initiative in 2023.
As an analyst at InfluenceMap, a climate change policy think tank, Karin researches how Japanese companies influence and engage with climate change and energy policy. After graduating from ASIJ, she studied political science and global studies at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). She has previously worked in government relations and sustainable development.
Experiences working at a nonprofit think tank in the sustainability field, and encouraging businesses to make a positive impact.
Kei joined ASIJ in 2015 and after graduating in 2021, is currently a junior at Waseda University’s School of International Liberal Studies. Previously, he interned as an operations and marketing assistant at an ed-tech company. More recently, Kei worked as a finance intern at Takeda Pharmaceuticals after winning a Digital Accelerator business competition as a team leader. He is looking forward to being able to combine his interests and skills in creative media and technology to work in the advertising industry.
Miguell Malacad has a diverse work experience history. Miguell started their career at Purdue University as a Fitness Consultant, where they enforced policies and procedures, ensured customer satisfaction, and maintained safety in the fitness facility. Miguell then worked as an Undergraduate Research Assistant, where they organized and tested research surveys and programmed exergame concepts. Miguell then moved on to Lattice Semiconductor, where they served as a Product Engineer. In this role, they performed bench-level characterization and developed designs on Verilog. Additionally, they led automation projects to reduce characterization time. Currently, Miguell works as a Software Engineer at Woven by Toyota since 2019, where they are involved in software development.
Miguell Malacad completed their Bachelor's Degree in Computer Engineering from Purdue University from 2012 to 2016. In 2018 to 2019, they attended the Shinjuku Japanese Language Institute - SNG to study Japanese Language and Literature. Before that, from 2008 to 2012, they obtained their High School Diploma from The American School in Japan. Miguell also holds several additional certifications, including AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate and AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner from Amazon Web Services (AWS), which they obtained in June 2021 and February 2020, respectively. Miguell also holds JLPT N2 (日本語能力試験 2級) certification from JAPAN EDUCATIONAL EXCHANGES AND SERVICES JEES, which they obtained in January 2020.
Minako Abe, M.D. is the Vice-President of the Tokyo Cancer Clinic. She is an ASIJ alumni (‘88) and current ASIJ parent. She attended UC Berkeley undergrad and earned her M.D. at SUNY Stony Brook, and has dual U.S. board certifications in Emergency Medicine and Lifestyle Medicine. Practicing in NYC for over 15 years, she found that nearly 80% of her Emergency Room patients were suffering from conditions that could potentially be prevented with lifestyle medicine. Even 40% of cancers can be prevented. She then had the opportunity to move back to Tokyo to work in cancer immunotherapy, and now helps patients with lifestyle interventions and cutting edge immunotherapy treatments.
In this session, participants will get a glimpse of what it takes to become a physician. The mindset needed to proceed down this long and difficult path and the personal rewards that are like no other career. An M.D. degree is an investment that will enable you to do multiple things - like jumping from a career in the E.R. to researching and providing the latest immune cell therapies. I believe that a solid, well-rounded education at ASIJ was key to how my career has been shaped. I love teaching and am happy to answer any questions you may have.
Nathan was born in Canada but grew up mostly in Hong Kong, the United Kingdom and Japan. He attended undergrad in Canada where he received a Hons. BSc. in Kinesiology. He then returned to ASIJ as the SRC tutor in 2006-07 after which he began his chiropractic education in Canada before completing it with merit, from Bournemouth University in the UK, in 2011. Following graduation, he opted to take a volunteer position in Mulago Hospital in Kampala, Uganda and ran a private practice on the side where he focused on treating mainly expats and professional athletes. He also had the opportunity to play for the Kyambogo Warriors of the Federation of Uganda Basketball Association. After a year in Uganda, Nathan decided to study medicine and moved to Poland to begin his medical education. He was also able to play two years for the Tytani Lublin of the Polish American Football League as well as represent his medical school in the Polish Medical School Basketball Championship, which his team won in 2013. He finished off his medical studies by completing his medical rotations at Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center and Wyckoff Heights Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York, in 2017. He then started working as an ER doctor in the UK and began his part-time legal studies in 2020, at the height of the covid-19 pandemic. Upon graduation with distinction from the University of Law (formerly the College of Law), in the UK in 2023, he moved to Hong Kong to begin his solicitor training contract which is where he is currently.
This session is about understanding the importance of taking your time when attempting to decide what you want to do with your life. The current model seems to put too much emphasis and too much pressure on early success at the expense of choosing what is right for you.
Born in Taiwan, Paul moved to Canada at age 15 until he completed his undergrad in Business Administration from Simon Fraser University in 1999. He then moved to Tokyo—first as an M&A analyst but switched to Investment Management after 2 years. For the next 20+ years, Paul worked at Fidelity and Capital Group—in Tokyo then in HK. In 2021, Paul retired from finance and returned to Tokyo and today he is the founder of Terakoya.AI, a startup for creating digital learning communities, and the Chairman of NPO Education Beyond. He is also currently a Masters candidate for the Data Science Graduate Program at Harvard Extension School.
In this session, Paul will share his 20+ years of experience in public equity investing for those pursuing a career in finance. He will then discuss how he stumbled into the world of Data Science and AI which started with a one-off company project in 2017. Paul will talk about how that unexpected journey completely changed his outlook on his career—and the potential implications for young students thinking about their own future careers. Paul will also be happy to answer questions on startups and NPOs for those interested.
I am a first generation Taiwanese American born and raised in the United States. I spent my childhood in Indiana. I was awarded a full scholarship and stipend to attend Indiana University’s prestigious Kelley School of Business where I majored in Accounting, Finance, and International studies and minored in Mandarin and French. Upon graduation, I began an 11 year career at consumer goods company Procter and Gamble taking on various finance roles. At P&G, I met my husband Chris. Together, we decided to broaden our careers by leaving P&G and to take on a new career challenge in private equity moving us to New York. After several years in private equity, we have the opportunity to move to Shanghai, China to work for Gap, Inc. While Chris decided to stay at Gap, I decided to take on a new adventure working for Nike.
My family and I have lived in Asia for 6+ years. We moved to Tokyo in September 2023. We are parents to Owen (grade 6), Tinsley (grade 3), a golden retriever named Max, and a hamster named Sesame.
I want this session to be interactive, conversational, and very student led. I will provide a brief career / personal life overview. I have a broad career experience spanning from fast-moving consumer good to private equity to retail.
In this “Ask Me Anything” session, I encourage participants to ask about:
Rico, Class of 2016, attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison after graduating from ASIJ. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Biology with a minor in Mathematics.
During her undergraduate career, she explored different fields in the healthcare industry, including labs, volunteering at hospitals and elderly homes, phlebotomy, etc.
She ultimately decided to join the Clinical Research industry at Fortrea Inc.(formerly known as Labcorp Drug Development) as a Clinical Research Associate.
This session will delve into the clinical trial industry and how clinical research plays a major role in drug development.
Little bit about Clinical Research Associates:
CRAs ensure the integrity and compliance of clinical trials, through traveling to study sites, checking protocol adherence, regulatory compliance (GCP), etc.
Ryo Okubo is Director of Partnerships & Platform at DNX Ventures, a cross-border venture capital focusing on early-stage B2B startups. He assists in exploring US/Japan cross-border opportunities to drive change to organizations of various sizes.
Previously, he was an event marketing team lead at an early stage healthcare SaaS startup. Prior roles include 5 years leading corporate venture capital and business development and 10 years of experience in corporate strategy at the CEO's office at Canon USA. He also spent 8 years at Canon’s global Headquarters as a project manager for its laser beam printer OEM operations for HP.
Ryo graduated from the American School In Japan in ‘98 and holds a Bachelor of Business from the International Christian University (ICU) in Tokyo.
Born and raised in Tokyo, Japan. Attended The American School in Japan from 7th Grade. Graduated in ‘99 and went on to pursue an undergraduate degree in Biology and Studio Arts at Scripps College in Claremont, California. Moved to New York City and volunteered at one of the busiest non-profit small animal hospital in NYC, The Animal Medical Center for a year. In 2004, accepted to University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine. Returned to The Animal Medical Center and completed a vigorous 1 year small animal internship in 2008, then ultimately decided to pursue General Practice at VCA (Veterinary Centre of America, MARS Group) US for 10+ years. Repatriated to Tokyo in 2017 and currently working in corporate office as an Education Coordinator at VCA Japan.
This session will comprise of: 1. Application process for US veterinary school 2. What to expect once you become a full fledged veterinarian 3. Life choices most veterinarians make once they start their career 4. What I learned as a veterinarian as well as an international scholar/individual. Casual conversations, happy to answer any random questions about my career!
Class of '06 alum, born in the Year of the Dragon, I ventured into entrepreneurship early, launching a project management consulting firm before graduation. After a successful sale in the mid-2010s, I founded two more enterprises, one in edtech and education management, the other in infrastructure consulting. Last year, alongside a classmate from ‘06, I initiated a healthcare, AI, and infrastructure venture. As Japan President for a Chamber of Commerce, I leverage connections for early access to global government projects. Despite deferring accolades like Times 100 Most Influential Companies and Fast Company's Innovation by Design, I have earned finance and leadership awards globally. My journey spans engineering, a break for business focus, a double degree in Electrical Engineering and Comp. Sci., an MBA, and an LLM in Intellectual Property. My career kicked off aiding Nomura's PMI of Lehman during the 2007 Financial crisis, funding my education and laying the foundation for my entrepreneurial path. I might be infamous for a sophomore year bio project at ASIJ, but I've always prioritized subjects that captivate my interest.
Option 1 - International Entrepreneurship:
Embark on an enlightening journey into the realm of International Entrepreneurship in this exclusive Future Ready presentation. From my early days, graduating in the Class of '06, to launching a project management consulting firm just before donning the cap and gown, my entrepreneurial ventures have spanned diverse sectors. Explore the evolution from project management to edtech, infrastructure, and the current foray into healthcare and AI. Gain profound insights into the dynamic challenges and triumphant moments of navigating global business landscapes. Join me for an immersive exploration of entrepreneurial ventures, offering a rich tapestry of experiences, lessons, and inspiration for those aspiring to lead in the global business arena.
Option 2 - Being a Global Citizen:
Step into the world of Being a Global Citizen in this thought-provoking Future Ready session. As the first student to enroll directly in middle school from a full Japanese public education background, an Indian, and arriving just a week before 9/11, my journey has been uniquely shaped by these transformative experiences. Trace my evolution from those early days to becoming a global entrepreneur, navigating diverse cultural landscapes. Delve into the profound impact of a globally conscious mindset, emphasizing cultural intelligence, collaboration, and adaptability as essential traits for success in our interconnected world. Uncover how being a global citizen extends beyond geographical borders, fostering positive contributions to diverse communities. Join me for an in-depth exploration of responsible and impactful global citizenship, shaping future leaders with a comprehensive global perspective.
As CEO of Energize Inc, a company that supports Japanese companies in accelerating globalisation and organisational development, Taro has been connecting young non-Japanese talent from around the world with Japanese companies for 15 years. He has conducted cross-border business in more than 40 countries, including recruitment, training and start-up support. Through these activities, he has collaborated with many university career centres around the world providing career development lectures, and the number of partner universities exceeds 100.
This session will explore how non-native, future-ready talent can access full-time careers in Japan after graduating from universities mainly outside Japan.
Taro will chart the current market environment, company initiatives and ideas, as well as practical tips on how you can lead to a successful career, in an easy-to-understand way.
Trista Bridges is a highly regarded author and entrepreneur with extensive experience in international business development and organizational training and development to corporate strategy.
She has co-founded a company called “Read the Air”, helping companies transition their business model to a more sustainable strategy. She has also written a book in 2020 called “Leading Sustainably”, talking about sustainable business and the SDGs.
She works with large and small companies all over the world with her knowledge from living in Europe, Japan, and the US. Ms. Bridges holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, and BSE from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.
Ward Sexton was born in Fukuoka to an American father and Japanese mother. He was educated at 11 different schools in Yokohama and all over the USA from grades 1 to 12, and went to college in Oregon. After a shoulder injury ended his brief pro-baseball career, he worked as a voice actor-narrator and writer for 35+ years. Ward had a jazz program on J-Wave and an R&B program on Chiba’s BayFM, and was the signature voice on Music Station with Tamori from 1987-2020. He’s been the voice of numerous TV and radio commercials as well.
Ward Sexton has worked full-time as a voice actor/voiceover, for nearly 40 years. His voice is heard on commercials, movie trailers and promos, documentaries, industrial and corporate videos, corporate CI logos, TV and radio imaging, and video games. He’s the title voice for Capcom’s BIOHAZARD/RESIDENT EVIL franchise. Currently, he voices most of the promos for numerous LDH artists, including Exile, Atsushi, Takahiro, The Rampage, J-Soul Brothers, Fantastics, Psychic Fever, etc. In the US, he primarily recorded remotely from his home studio. Ward also writes copy and scripts for many projects.
