Taro Egami

Can you tell us a little more about yourself and your personal/professional journey so far?

I’m now responsible for investment analysis and shareholders’ engagement activities for public equities in Japan. Integrating ESG aspects into our value-based investment approach is another important pillar of my field.

Previously I worked in a U.S. investment bank for seven years to support Japanese blue-chip companies with their cross-border M&A and financing transactions. I also worked as an independent investor to public/private equities and played some roles as fractional CFO for startups and professionals.

Any fun facts about yourself you would be willing to share?

I would like to introduce myself as macro-biased photographer and an eco-traveler. I regularly visit jungles for insects and animals watching. I have already visited Galapagos, Madagascar, Costa Rica, Borneo, Sulawesi, Vang Vieng, and Cameron Highlands. No doubt I’m a huge advocate of protecting biodiversity.

So, what made you decide to take on the EMFin programme at INSEAD, amongst the other programmes out there?

Obtaining at least a Master’s degree from a globally accredited institution has been on my lifelong agenda, but the question was which school and when. Fortunately, I got a chance to work in Singapore and had opportunities to attend information sessions with both INSEAD’s EMFin and MBA.

The EMFin seemed to be the best fit and aligned with my objectives and past career because it offered a well-organised, comprehensive curriculum for financial professionals.

Most of my relevant knowledge and skills were acquired only through real-life businesses since I did not obtain a finance degree in the past, meaning my knowledge is not well organised and contains lots of unconscious omissions. I expect the EMFin programme will fill in those gaps after completion.

You’ve completed module 1. Please share your thoughts on your classmates, the faculty and classroom experience?

Our cohort is relatively small but internationally diverse. Everybody has a solid background in the finance field and most importantly, are all open-minded. A small class held in a face-to-face setting enables us to interact with professors and classmates, and it makes the learning experience more dynamic and energetic. 

Would you like to share any classroom experiences or anecdotes so far?

Module 1 ran in very fast pace to cover all relevant topics in a limited timeframe, and many classmates looked exhausted toward end of the first two weeks. “Lower energy level” alert was displayed on the bulletin board in front of the class! 

Any advice, application or admissions tips for someone thinking of joining the EMFin programme?

Before applying, reflect for yourself again what your objective is - attending a full-time programme? Learning more generalised managerial topics? Networking with talents from different backgrounds?

If your core objective is obtaining a solid Master in Finance and becoming a full-stack finance professional, the INSEAD EMFin is the right destination.

What are your plans post-graduation?

Although nothing is assured in this rapidly changing world, I would love to be capable of working in a truly global professional environment, not just focusing on my home country. Cultural diversity always attracts me and exchanging ideas with different talents is a huge gift.

Any parting words of wisdom?

“Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”