Thriving Beyond Borders: My Journey in the Singapore Study Tour

Hello, my name is Minami Nakamura, a fourth-year student at the School of Education, Nagoya University. From March 19 to 28, 2025, I participated in a study tour in Singapore organized by Nagoya University. The theme of the program was “Learning the skills to thrive in an uncertain world.” This program gave me the opportunity to rethink my future and inspired me to dream of contributing on a global stage. I would be happy if you find my experience meaningful and inspiring in any way.

Overview of the Program

The program consisted of three main components:

1. Visits to global companies

2. Interactions with international students and students from the National University of Singapore (NUS)

3. Lectures by entrepreneurs, investors, and professionals working at the global forefront

I will reflect on each part by sharing what I learned and how I felt during the program.

[1] Company Visits

• Nippon Life (Singapore Office)

Our first visit was to Nippon Life’s Singapore branch, which functions as a hub for managing operations across Asia. We were warmly welcomed by the branch president, Mr. Fujikake, and two other employees.

What left the deepest impression on me was the idea of positioning yourself where your strengths shine. Letting your curiosity guide you, discovering what you love, and recognizing your value are essential for making career decisions. This message truly resonated with me.

• Mitsubishi Electric

Next, we visited Mitsubishi Electric, a company involved in a wide range of fields—from home appliances to space technologies—with 29 branches across Asia supporting regional infrastructure.

Mr. Seki, Mr. Kurita, and other team members greeted us with great kindness. During the Q&A session, I asked how they overcame tough challenges. They told us that such moments should be seen as personal growth opportunities. That message stayed with me. Whether you give up or choose to stay positive during hard times can greatly affect your future fulfillment.

• Google

Our third company visit was to Google. I was instantly struck by the colorful and comfortable office space.

We were welcomed by Mr. Iwasaka and Mr. Kimura, who shared insights about Google’s unique work culture.

Some memorable takeaways included:

• Building teams with psychological safety

• A “coffee chat” culture that encourages casual interactions between strangers

• A system where employees can spend 20% of their time on projects outside their main responsibilities, allowing them to expand their careers

These thoughtful strategies to enhance employee performance made a strong impression on me.

• A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research)

The last organization we visited was A*STAR, a leading research institute in Singapore.

We had the chance to hear from Mr. Toyota and Mr. Yamasaki, who both completed their PhDs and shared their honest experiences as researchers.

Two key lessons stood out to me:

• First, growth is never linear. When learning something new, it’s natural to go through ups and downs, and it’s important not to give up during tough periods.

• Second, we must learn to clearly communicate what we take for granted, especially when working in multicultural environments. Effective communication helps us understand and collaborate with others better.

[2] Interactions with NUS and International Students

What surprised me during our exchange with NUS students was how well-recognized Japan is globally. At NUS, there’s even a student club full of people deeply interested in Japan, from anime and manga to traditional culture—which made me truly happy.

In conversations with international students, I also discovered that some of them had already considered studying abroad as early as elementary or middle school. This made me realize that I could have looked beyond Japan much earlier, too. However, I’m grateful to have come to this realization now. It reminded me that our future is always in our hands—and it encouraged me to continue exploring different options for my life ahead.

[3] Three Key Skills to Thrive in an Uncertain World

Based on the lectures by globally active professionals, I would like to share three essential skills I believe are necessary to navigate an unpredictable future.

1. The ability to connect people—being a “hub”

We don’t live or work in isolation. Success depends on how well we collaborate with others. I learned that being someone who connects people—like a crossroad—can be a source of great value. Kindness also plays a big role. If you help others in need, they will likely support you when you’re struggling. Understanding others’ needs and responding to them is, I believe, a fundamental principle of business. Interestingly, many of the connections we made during this tour were thanks to alumni networks built by Professor Imaizumi. This inspired me to strengthen my own ability to network through shared interests and backgrounds.

2. The courage to take risks and not fear failure

We often lean toward safe and certain choices. But I learned that meaningful results only come when we take calculated risks. I also started to change how I view failure. Failing means you tried something new. And with every failure comes valuable learning. In other words, the more you fail, the more you grow. I want to embrace failure more positively from now on.

3. The passion to pursue what you love

When you dive deeply into something you love, it can become your area of expertise and your greatest strength. One speaker said that even if people don’t understand your language, if what you say holds value, others will try hard to understand. That struck a chord with me—pursuing your passion and mastering it can elevate your worth beyond language or cultural barriers.

These are my reflections on the Singapore Study Tour. Thank you very much for reading to the end. I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to Professor Imaizumi, Ms. Araki, Mr. Okumura, and everyone who made this wonderful opportunity possible. I will do my best to make use of this experience to grow personally and contribute to society.