GAS (Global Agenda Seminar) series, a study opportunity to cultivate global business skills, was launched in 2010 by Dr. Yoko Ishikura (Professor Emeritus, Hitotsubashi University) and Academyhills.
The founders wish for all the participants to have the chance to think globally, to participate in English, and to create strategic proposals.
           

The instructor of the course is Dr. Yoko Ishikura (Professor Emeritus, Hitotsubashi University), who currently serves as an independent consultant in the area of global strategy, competitiveness and global talent.
She is a member of the World Economic Forum’s Expert Network and also a non-executive director of Nissin Foods Holdings and Shiseido Company, Limited.
Previously, Dr. Ishikura was a manager at McKinsey & Company Inc., a professor at the School of International Politics, Economics and Business at Aoyama Gakuin University (Japan), a professor at the Graduate School of International Corporate Strategy at Hitotsubashi University (Japan) and a professor at the Graduate School of Media Design at Keio University (Japan)

The Official Website of Dr.Yoko Ishikura
 

Dr. Ishikura mentors the participants of GAS on how to think about and discuss global agendas. The participants are required to present their own ideas and also provide feedback to the other participants during each session. Also, they will be involved in discussions, debates and other group work during the series. Through this seminar series, participants aim to become global business leaders.
 

Anyone motivated to participate in world-wide markets, to improve their communication skills, discuss the world of business in English, to build up a network of ambitious peers, and maximize their value by learning how to market themselves effectively.
 

Dates: Jun. 1, Jun. 29, Jul. 27, Sep. 7, Sep. 29 
Time: 15:00-18:00
Participants: 25
Language: English
Fee: 120,000 yen (excl. tax)
Applications being accepted through May 9.
 

As the concept shows, GAS 2019 will focus on diversity and inclusion. Participants will get high quality input from the guest speaker and Dr. Ishikura, and then put what they have learned into action to have a deeper understanding.

This year's program will feature Mr. Shunsuke Karasawa, VP of People & Culture, Mercari, Inc., as a guest speaker at one of the sessions.

Mercari, which has gained wide attention as a startup unicorn, is now capturing attention as a company accelerating the process of organizational diversification.
Mercari is now comprised of about 30 nationalities while 90% of the new graduates hired in October 2018 were foreign nationals.
 
Mr. Karasawa, who spearheads an effort to diversify the organization at Mercari, will discuss what diversity truly means at the company and the challenges they are up against.

This program provides the opportunity for individual participants to think from a global perspective, hold discussions in English, and make presentations and proposals in English. They practice these over and over again during the session and it is through this process that participants begin to acquire the skills necessary for global leadership.

●Shunsuke Karasawa（VP of People & Culture, Mercari, Inc.）
After graduating, Mr. Karasawa joined McDonald’s Japan, where he worked consecutively as director of marketing and director of the CEO Office. He was a major driving force who changed the organization from within and led it to a crucial V-shaped recovery. After joining Mercari in September 2017, he was appointed as VP of People & Culture in April 2018 to promote the further growth and globalization of both the organization as a whole and the individuals within. Mr. Karasawa holds an MBA from the Globis University Graduate School of Management.

●Session 1. Diversity in the World and Japan Today
  Jun. 1 (Sat) 15:00-18:00

●Session 2. Diversity and Inclusion at Mercari, Inc.
Guest: Mr. Shunsuke Karasawa
  Jun. 29 (Sat) 15:00-18:00

●Session 3. Discussion: The Essence of Diversity
  Jul. 27 (Sat) 15:00-18:00

●Session 4. Debate: Training to Discuss from Opposing Viewpoints 
  Sep. 7 (Sat) 15:00-18:00

●Session 5. Planning a New Project (Group Work）
  Sep. 29 (Sun) 15:00-18:00