INSEAD 19D Japan Trip – The Trip of a Lifetime
I couldn’t have asked for a better P4/5 break!
Together with 78 Nakama (friends in Japanese) we visited all corners of Japan including Osaka, Kyoto, Kakegawa, and Tokyo. And while the trip happened during the P4/5 break in October, it was actually planned in late March, in the middle of P2. The organising committee comprised of the 19Ds from Japan and all their families, who all brought with them their unique expertise and a diverse set of skills. We had management consultants who were excellent at project management and documentation, business development managers who were experienced in fundraising and financials, and party champions full of crazy ideas to entertain guests.
The more we talked, the more we understood each other. The more we came up with superb ideas, the more we hoped to talk.
It was just like how we had built teams through academic courses at INSEAD.
It was such a fascinating event with countless stories to tell. Here are some of the highlights:
We wanted the participants to discover Japanese culture as much as possible, and for that purpose, we took them to a variety of places ranging from the major tourist sites to Ryokan (traditional style inns with hot springs) and modern digital amusement spots.
And how could we forget that INSEADers love fun things?! We entertained ourselves every night in Japanese settings such as Karaoke (fun fact: karaoke means tunes without vocals in Japanese) and Yakatabune (traditional dinner cruising boat).
The trip was also a wonderful opportunity to interact with the INSEAD community in Japan. The INSEAD alumni association in Japan and some individual members of it were willing to financially support the trip, and others generously helped us arrange elements of the experience in other aspects. An alumnus offered a group accommodation in a great hotel chain (if you are thinking to visit anywhere in Japan, you should check this out!) which he oversees, and another hosted us in Kameoka, a city where he serves as the deputy mayor, so we could learn insiders’ perspective via cultural exchange.
All of this made the trip such a once-in-a-lifetime moment, with so much to learn!
The trip was incredibly successful and unforgettable thanks to all of those who joined, supported, and encouraged it. I would like to thank everyone for all the fun, cultural, and leadership experiences we gained throughout our experience in Japan. I’m so honoured to be a part of such an amazing team. Arigato Gozaimasu!
