Qatar Leadership Centre’s (QLC) ‘Rising Leaders’ have successfully completed a six-day tour at the headquarters of leading energy and IT companies in Tokyo recently, to get a better understanding of business development strategies.
In a press statement, QLC said from October 14 to 19, the 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.
Qatar ambassador to Japan, Hassan bin Mohamed Rafei al-Emadi handed out certificates to all the participants who presented their travel mandate and learning experience.
“QLC’s learning journeys have become a much-anticipated feature of our national leadership programmes. These interactions with notable business leaders significantly contribute to the participants’ understanding of the global market,” QLC ‘s board member and managing director Sheikh Dr Abdulla bin Ali al-Thani said.
“Encouraging a 360-degree perspective of thriving leadership and economies is a fundamental part of Qatar’s ongoing human capital development,” he added.
QLC’s ‘Rising Leaders’ were welcomed by Hisato Okubo, head of Energy at Itochu Corp – one of the largest Japanese trading companies and the headquarters in which QLC participants spent the majority of their stay.
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.
Part of the journey includes a visit to the multinational NEC Corp, 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.
In addition, the participants also took part in 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 CyBozu, 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 Japan would be incomplete without seeing the Toyota Factory, where participants met with Ronald Haigh, project manager, Overseas External Affairs Division.
The educational trip concluded back at Itochu Corporation’s headquarters, where ‘Rising Leaders’ discussed business development and new ideas inspired by the learning journey.