I’ve been fortunate to live, study, and work in many places, including Japan, Sweden, Canada, Australia, Italy, Hong Kong, and Singapore. These experiences have shaped not only my worldview but also my approach to learning and teaching.

 

Education has the power to create opportunities and transform lives. One example from my journey is my MBA, which allowed me to explore diverse industries, engage with brilliant peers and faculty, and develop a wider perspective. It gave me access to experiences and connections I might not have encountered otherwise, broadening my understanding of the world and my place in it.

 

Throughout my journey, I’ve seen the difference great education can make. One standout example is the Public Leadership Certificate at Harvard Kennedy School, an online programme I completed over twelve months. It exemplified what great education should be—balancing the delivery of knowledge with its practical application. The assignments were directly tied to the challenges I was facing in my professional life, enabling me to implement new insights immediately. This integration of learning and real-world relevance remains a benchmark for me.

 

At the same time, I’ve also experienced education that fell short of its potential. For example, I’ve attended lectures where the focus was primarily on delivering vast amounts of content without enough emphasis on how it connected to the learners’ needs or experiences. While these moments weren’t ideal, they taught me valuable lessons: the importance of engaging learners, contextualising knowledge, and ensuring every session fosters growth and inspiration. These experiences strengthened my commitment to creating education that resonates deeply with learners.

 

Since transitioning into teaching in 2017, my focus has been on executive education and working with companies across Asia on digital leadership and transformation. I’ve taught diverse groups, from C-suite executives in small workshops to 100+ participants in large programmes, both online and in person. Currently, I also teach undergraduate business school students at the National University of Singapore as an adjunct faculty member.

 

Over the years, I’ve encountered many exceptional teachers and professors. The ones who left a lasting impression weren’t just experts in their fields—they were educators who inspired and empowered, who taught with the intention of touching hearts as well as minds. Their approach continues to shape my teaching philosophy.

 

The feedback I’ve received from learners has been a constant source of encouragement, and I’m proud to have consistently earned top teaching ratings. While I don’t teach for the ratings, they remind me of the trust learners place in me and my responsibility to deliver meaningful learning experiences.

 

Every time I teach, I aim to create sessions that are not just educational but transformative. I want learners to leave with a sense of curiosity, confidence, and inspiration, ready to apply what they’ve learned to make a meaningful impact.

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Yoshi Mitsui

CEO, CLO Laboratories ("CLO Labs")