2022: An MBA Odyssey

It was a very hot Sunday morning, August 28th to be precise. The harsh humidity of Tokyo’s summer was hitting, and I was wondering how I would be able to wear a full suit with the gown, the hood and the cap. I looked at the mirror, while tying my tie, reflecting on this incredible year. I saw in the mirror my wonderful classmates, friends, faculty members, and all the incredible people I encountered during this year of learning, laughing, experiencing and working. The mirror started to feel nostalgic, shading some tears already, so I decided to tie my Paul Smith lucky tie on the way. I checked out the New Othani hotel, ordered another (last) coffee and took a taxi direction: Globis Graduate School of Management (Kojimachi, Tokyo).

Oh yes, my graduation was just a couple of hours away…

Embracing a new (risky) journey

On the taxi, I opened my phone and decided to scroll down my photo album. My eyes suddenly stopped at this photo:

Exactly one year ago, around 3.am, I left my friends in the vibrant Quartier Latin in Paris to run home and take my first opening speech in front of Globis faculties and students. “Together, we will make it”, I boldly claimed.

Few months earlier, I was in Hong Kong, leading a boutique consulting firm specialized in digital transformation. The view from the peak in early morning was a routine beauty, with a nice cup of coffee from Pacific Coffee at The Peak Victoria mall. During this 45min challenging jogging to the peak, I used to reflect on my career, my progression and my aspiration. On a smoggy day at the peak, before heading to work, I decided to learn more about Ikigai – the reason for being. After long minutes of research and interesting discoveries, I bumped into Kokorozashi and the MBA at Globis. The later offered a very unique learning experience, associating conventional MBA classes (Marketing, Accounting etc.) with Technovate Strategy, Management Philosophy and Innovation by claiming to build: “創造と変革” – Visionary leaders who create and innovate societies.

After two long weeks of contemplation, questions, doubts, and reflection, I decided to apply for the full-time MBA. First, I went to the little photo-shop in front of my small street in Wan Chai, a vibrant area of Hong Kong Island. With Covid and remote work hitting since more than a year, I realized how long since I last wore a suit. I looked sharp, took the ID photo, and left the shop with a famous “M’goi!”. It was the first step in the application process. I spent two other weeks completing my application to the MBA Program, sending over essays, English test, past working experience certificates and diploma.

On May 17th, and after having taken two online interviews, I received an acceptance letter from Globis University. I boarded into a luxurious one-year long bridge in my career.

我慢 (Patience)

Packing my stuffs from Hong Kong and saying goodbye to my dearest friends was not easy. Building and managing a business from the other side of the world required a lot of works, sacrifices and efforts. Leaving Hong Kong, I realized that these six wonderful years were considerably impactful. From my first day in a consulting firm working in a surprisingly empty floor at HSBC office to my last day in the same consulting company delivering my last speech to the employees, I have experienced a wonderful journey.

In a few words, delivering digital and strategic projects to APAC offices during six years helped me to develop myself into different industries (luxury, retailers, bank, insurance…) and different roles (project management, program manager, scrum master, PO…). Being a Manager Consultant allowed me to recruit, train and manage staffs as well as to listen, deal and provide solutions to top-executives clients. Indeed, I did not sleep a lot but hell yeah, that was good to live in the fragrant harbor.

Kicking off the MBA journey from Paris due to the tough Covid restrictions in Japan and the closure of the borders was not an easy start. I was lucky enough to enjoy my Summer with my family and friends in Europe while engaging into the Pre-MBA Classes.

Once the (online) orientation was completed, we officially jumped into serious things with Module 1 and Module 2. You can call it what you want, but I was ‘happy’ to spend September to December with online class early in the morning (Paris time zone).

When Omicron stroke and we realized we won’t be in Japan by March, I started to worry about spending every night of the week in online class, from 2am to 9am. All weekday nights were the same, I quietly moved to the kitchen at 1:45am, pouring half a liter of (very) dark coffee to my huge Mickey Mouse mug, wore a nice shirt on top of my pajama pretending I was fine. I was actually pretty fine! Surprisingly, discussing strategy, marketing, finance, accounting during the night was fun and enriching.

Retrospectively, I have learned one of the most important skills to have: Patience. In Japanese, we say 我慢（がまん）which literally look like something you have to deal with yourself, internally and spiritually (我 represents myself, my, one’s own). Spending every day from September to March, scrolling at the news in Japan, dreaming that the borders will finally open and wishing I can sleep a normal night, was the best exercise in learning about patience. I thought probably a hundred time to give up, to stay in Europe and never to comeback in Asia, to find a new job in a Top-4 consulting company, to find a new apartment and to live a predictable and certain European life. Patience. Patience. Patience.

Critical Drinking!

On March 22nd, the immigration officer at Narita International Airport looked at me suspiciously with his tired and old eyes. I could hear from his mouth a forced and indecisive “welcome to Japan”. For me, it was it. I did it. And this very quiet and reluctant “welcome to Japan” meant a lot to me. Thank you, mister officer.

We started off Module 5 in a hybrid format (waiting for the others to join) but it was good-enough for me to enjoy class on campus. No more endless nights… although we had a long “nomikai”* after class in a bar down the road in Kojimachi, where the campus is located. No more online check-in before a class. No more online study sessions.

I was happily immersing myself into the Japanese culture while completing my last classes at Globis. The networking events, casual drinking parties (referring to the Critical Thinking class – a fundamental at Globis), buddy systems, One Globis Networking were all hyper important in building a strong professional network in Japan. I enjoyed sharing about my experiences and learning about others, from Part-Time Online students and Japanese MBA. With thousands of students, Globis brings together a large scope of professionals from all around the world.

During a trip in Kansai Region, I have even been invited to visit Globis offices in Osaka, where I (once again) brought staffs and students to a critical drinking session. 乾杯！(Kanpai!)  

 I finally completed the last Module with an internship at Abbeal, where I was in charge of helping the French-based company to build an office in Tokyo, Japan. My main responsibilities were to provide guidance and clear strategy on how to develop and grow in the Japanese market. It was the perfect opportunity for me to put into practice my MBA learnings and to dive into the professional market in Japan.

*飲み会, a drinking party that helps build closer relationships between colleagues, Friends, students… particular to Japanese culture).

 楽しみ！Looking forward…

So here I am, on this not-so-sunny Sunday at the Graduation ceremony of Globis MBA class of 22’. I entered the lobby and recognized familiar faces. All the online teachers who lulled my endless Parisian nights were here. The wonderful classmates with whom we experienced a unique journey. The numerous Globis staffs that brought me here, in Japan. And of course, my family and girlfriend who supported me all along.

I repeated for the last time the Graduation Speech, and occasionally started to be nervous. I gave a last glance at the mirror, and I seem to be ready – this year has been full of challenges and twist, I felt that I must conclude it now. It was time.

We finally entered the Main Room accompanied by the prominent Pomp and Circumstance March by Sir Edward Elgar (reminded me of A Clockwork Orange by Stanley Kubrick, one of my favorite movies). As the class leader, I was the one closing the ceremony. I looked behind me, my girlfriend nodded at me, while my name was called by the master. I slowly climbed the few stairs to the stage… I officially graduated from MBA at GLOBIS University - Graduate School of Management

And this is only the beginning of this new chapter in Japan, and I am now looking forward to jumping into the next challenges that life will bring me...

TOUATI Jordan