QLC’s Rising Leaders and the officials during their Tokyo trip.
DOHA: Qatar Leadership Centre’s (QLC) Rising Leaders have just returned from an informative, six-day Learning Journey, touring headquarters of leading energy and IT companies in Tokyo, Japan.
From October 14 to 19, 2018, participants explored the strategies behind the island nation’s success, how it flourished into today’s world-renowned business hub and initiatives to drive sustainable economic growth.
Notably, the program participants’ capstone presentations of their travel mandate and learning experience were attended by the Ambassador of Qatar to Japan, Hassan Bin Mohamed Rafei Al Emadi who handed out certificates to all participants.
“QLC’s Learning Journeys have become a much-anticipated feature of our National Leadership Programs,” noted Sheikh Dr Abdulla bin Ali Al Thani, Board Member and Managing Director of QLC.
“These interactions with notable business leaders significantly contribute to the participants’ understanding of the global market. Encouraging a 360-degree perspective of thriving leadership and economies is a fundamental part of Qatar’s ongoing human capital development.”
QLC’s Rising Leaders were welcomed by Hisato Okubo, Head of Energy at ITOCHU Corporation — one of the largest Japanese trading companies and the headquarters in which QLC participants spent the majority of their stay. During their time, attendees enjoyed lectures focused on how to drive innovation, strategy development, sustainability, and change; the success of Japanese companies in the global market; and the unique styles of Japanese management. A segment of the journey included a visit to the multinational NEC Corporation, a Japanese provider of information technology services and products.
Meeting with NEC leadership, the participants took part in an interactive, innovation group exercise to better understand the key factors contributing to the company’s success. Additionally, they took a trip to Hitotsubashi University, where Professor Kazuo Ichijo, Dean and Professor at Hitotsubashi International Corporate Strategy, inaugurated a lively debate on knowledge creation and innovation.
Other daily site visits included excursions to CyBuza, a Tokyo-based software company, and Ota Incineration Plant, where Rising Leaders learnt how Japan promotes a recycle-orientated waste management system. Finally, a trip to the Toyota Factory, where participants met with Ronald Haigh, Project Manager Overseas External Affairs Division.
The six-day educational trip concluded back at ITOCHU Corporation’s headquarters, where the Rising Leaders discussed business development and new ideas inspired by the Learning Journey.
