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“The driving force that enables me to continue tackling global social challenges is my volunteer work in my local community.”
On March 10th, 2026, Shizenkan hosted Leadership Night* as part of its MBA program. This interactive lecture series invites leaders driving transformation to reflect on their life journeys and explore the essence of leadership through dialogue.
For this session, we welcomed Ms. Mihoko Kashiwakura, Head of East Asia Relations at the Gates Foundation. Moderated by Shizenkan Professor Patrick Newell, the event featured a deep dialogue on the essence of leadership, with student representatives joining the discussion in the second half.
Ms. Kashiwakura’s leadership journey began at the age of six during a trip to Mexico. Seeing a barefoot girl her own age begging on the street deeply shocked her and instilled a lifelong mission to end global poverty. Despite facing cultural struggles and bullying after returning to Japan, her resolve never wavered.
However, she soon realized that passion alone was not enough. Believing that “to truly solve social issues, one must understand the mechanics of capitalism and finance,” she launched her career at Citibank. After earning her MBA and working in ESG research, she arrived at a crucial philosophy: Just ‘doing good’ is not enough to change the world. A rigorous approach based on data and strategy is essential to allocate limited resources for maximum social return. Her current data-driven work at the Gates Foundation is a true embodiment of this philosophy.
Her journey then took her to the World Economic Forum (WEF), where she faced a new set of trials: managing and uniting global political and business leaders, often navigating massive egos.
In this highly demanding environment, she discovered the power of a “shared vision.” She explained that no matter how conflicting the positions of governments, corporations, and NGOs may be, if a leader can present a fundamental vision—a shared goal to make the world a better place—and build consensus around it, they can generate the power to make the impossible possible.
While Ms. Kashiwakura continually tackles macro-level global issues during the week, the energy that sustains her comes from her volunteer work for financially struggling households on the weekends (Choifuru and Kanshoku Project).
The powerful words—
“Whether the issue is a global challenge or the hardship faced by a single individual within our own country, the one we ultimately face is the same: a human being. Even if the nature and scale of the difficulties differ, they remain someone to whom we should respond with empathy and humanity. Spending time engaging with people, and witnessing the moment when the condition of someone we have supported improves even slightly—the accumulation of those small moments of happiness that arise in the field is what fuels my determination to keep taking on challenges. And above all, what is indispensable is continuing to ground and care for oneself.”
—struck at the very core of self-leadership, a quality essential for leaders.
During the Q&A session, an engaging dialogue unfolded regarding how to overcome career obstacles, leaving the audience deeply inspired. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Ms. Kashiwakura, and to our student moderators, Aya and Suhaas, for an unforgettable evening.
* “Leadership Night”
Leadership Night is part of Shizenkan’s formal course, Exploring the Journey of Leadership, and is held once a month in both Japanese and English.
Each session features a guest speaker at the forefront of their field, who shares their personal leadership journey. The series provides participants — including both students and external guests — with an opportunity to envision their own future paths and to reflect on their ongoing journey of leadership.
For Shizenkan students, these sessions also serve as valuable opportunities to meet potential role models, mentors, and supporters — individuals who embody the spirit of challenge and transformation that Shizenkan seeks to cultivate.
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