Back to Class, Back to Purpose
How a New Semester Affirms Why I Help Japanese Professionals Pursue Global MBAs
Yesterday was the first day of the fall semester at Meiji Gakuin University, where I teach intercultural communication part time. My morning class included international students from the China, France, Germany, Poland, South Korea, the UK, and the US, alongside Japanese students. It was exciting to watch real intercultural interactions unfold in the classroom. Meiji Gakuin’s motto is “Do for Others,” and it is a main reason I chose to teach there. The spirit behind that phrase captures what I hope students will practice in their careers. In many ways, it also mirrors what happens in a good MBA program. People from different backgrounds come together, test their ideas, and learn how to solve problems with others who see the world from a different lens.
The MBA has long been a launchpad for career transitions, enabling professionals to move beyond the boundaries of their original training. In my own career, I have seen this transformation repeatedly while working with more than 500 Japanese professionals seeking admission to top global MBA and other graduate programs. Many began as engineers, bankers, or IT consultants with deep technical skills but limited opportunities to pivot or develop their leadership skills. Through the MBA, they moved into consulting, strategy, international management, entrepreneurship, and social impact roles that would have been hard to reach within traditional corporate structures.
One reason I am so passionate about helping Japanese candidates enter global programs is personal. I want this country, which I love, to be a better place for my daughters. I am happiest when I see more of my clients aiming for careers that benefit the public. Public health, drug research, social impact investing, and environmental work all need leaders who can think clearly, build teams, and execute. Business training can power that kind of service. Also, as I noted in my last article, there has been an upswing in female candidates. As the father of two daughters, that makes me happy and hopeful. Seeing more Japanese women step into global leadership pipelines is one of the most encouraging trends I have witnessed.
I often tell clients that an MBA is a testing ground. You enter with general ideas about your future. The program helps you polish your plan, practice implementing it, and develop the knowledge and network needed to make it happen. You never get all the answers in business school, but you learn how to ask the right questions and how to search for the best solutions. That habit of inquiry matters more than any single course or case.
An MBA or any graduate degree pursued with purpose is not something that just hangs on the wall. It is a living and breathing testament to your accomplishments and a virtual toolkit for future challenges. Years after graduation, many of my clients still draw on lessons from the classroom and on the friendships they built when things get hard. The degree marks a beginning, not an end.
Teaching at Meiji Gakuin (and Keio University) keeps these ideas fresh for me. In class, I see how much people grow when they share space with those who think and speak differently. The first day this semester reminded me why global programs matter. They push us out of our comfort zones, challenge our assumptions, and prepare us to collaborate in ways that are practical and humane. They also embody the call to “Do for Others,” which is the kind of leadership Japan—and the world—needs now.
Ultimately, my work as a consultant and teacher comes down to this belief: education transforms lives. My goal, whether in the classroom or in admissions consulting, is to help create global citizens—individuals who can bridge cultures, ask better questions, and use their talents for the greater good. The MBA, in particular, helps people reinvent themselves and build the leadership needed to improve companies and communities. When my clients succeed, they open new doors for themselves and, I believe, help create a more open, innovative, and compassionate Japan. That is the future I want for my daughters. That is why I do this work.
If you are considering graduate study abroad and want to explore your options, visit www.roahconsulting.jp or reach out directly at info@roahconsulting.jp. I would be happy to help you take the first step.