Yuko Eguchi, MBA-IB Graduate, Class of 2024
JETRO held the first of its entrepreneurship development and overseas dispatch programs for students. The program is part of the J-StarX initiative sponsored by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), which aims to send 1,000 entrepreneurial talents overseas over five years to strengthen the global startup ecosystem in Japan.
From September 18th to 23rd, 2023, lectures by entrepreneurs, engineers, and graduates from GAFA living in Silicon Valley, as well as workshops on design thinking, were conducted. Thirty selected students from high schools, technical colleges, universities, and graduate schools from across Japan participated in the program. The students, who differed in age and expertise, enthusiastically exchanged knowledge, fostered connections, and cultivated the innovative mindset essential for future entrepreneurial pursuits.
The three-day design thinking training at IDEO, a global design & innovation company, was especially beneficial. Experiencing a series of steps, beginning with user interviews, progressing through idea divergence and convergence with team members, creating prototypes, and refining them based on feedback, proved extremely valuable. My business plan, which was in the conceptual stage before I participated in the program, was subsequently transformed into a detailed prototype utilizing the skills acquired during the training.
In my discussions with local entrepreneurs, I gleaned insights into the significance of prioritizing one's health, perpetual learning, and cultivating reciprocal networks for conducting business. I will hold dear the lessons acquired from this program and the relationships fostered, aspiring to contribute to society in the future.