Putting My Yale SOM Education to Work at the Y7 Summit

This summer, I served as the head of the Japanese delegation to the Y7 Summit in Rome, Italy. An official youth meeting affiliated with the Group of Seven (G7), an international political and economic forum, the summit gathers young people from G7 countries to formulate policy recommendations for senior leaders. This year’s summit featured four main topics: “Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change,” “Inclusion and Equal Opportunities,” “Innovation and Digital Transformation,” and “New Skills, Entrepreneurship and the Future of Work.” I represented Japan in the environment track, where we tackled pressing global issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. Our efforts culminated in a communiqué presented to the G7 leaders.

I have always aspired to contribute to the international community in activities outside of work. During my pre-SOM career at the Japanese conglomerate Hitachi, I realized that achieving social change through business requires collaboration with governments and policymakers worldwide. To deepen my understanding of social issues in different countries and engage in government policy, I participated as a planner in the Y20 Summit 2019, an official youth meeting affiliated with the Group of Twenty (G20). Since then, I have wanted to apply to represent Japanese youth as a delegate. I decided to apply for this year’s Japanese delegation because I felt my experience at Yale had equipped me to succeed in the role. I was fortunate enough to be chosen as the Japanese head delegate through a selection process of interviews and group discussions at the sending organization in Japan.

My experience at Yale SOM was instrumental in my preparation for the Y7 Summit. Yale SOM’s mission is to educate leaders not only for business but also for society, and this principle resonated deeply with me. In particular, SOM’s collaborative and diverse environment allowed me to hone my skills in working with people from different cultural and professional backgrounds, which was crucial when negotiating with delegations from other G7 countries. In addition, the classes on negotiation strategies in the SOM core courses gave me the tools I needed to engage in productive dialogue.

The Y7 Summit was a real test of these leadership skills. Within my working group, we needed to address the different standpoints and priorities of different countries. The team projects at SOM prepared me to tackle these challenges with empathy and strategic thinking. Thanks to my experience at SOM, I was able to achieve consensus among the represented countries, especially on difficult topics where the country-specific situations differed significantly.

Participating in the Y7 Summit was an intense and enriching personal experience. The five-day schedule was filled with negotiations and discussions; we worked tirelessly to reach a consensus on critical issues, including an extended negotiation that lasted until 4 a.m. In between such intense discussions, we found time to explore Rome, visiting iconic landmarks like the Trevi Fountain. The summit was more than a formality; it fostered true friendships among the future leaders of our countries. We discussed our issues respectfully, developed a profound esteem for each other, and have kept in touch ever since. I traveled around Italy after the summit and had the opportunity to reconnect and further strengthen relationships with new friends.

The Y7 Summit was a transformative experience that underscored the power of youth leadership in addressing important global challenges. Navigating diverse perspectives and national interests requires a high level of empathy and understanding, and the success of our negotiations depended on working collaboratively and finding common ground. In the coming year, I will continue to learn from my fellow classmates about cooperative teamwork and problem-solving skills. I will emphasize the importance of listening to and respecting different viewpoints in the decision-making process and work with future leaders at SOM to continue honing these skills. I am grateful to SOM for equipping me with skills for this important opportunity, and I look forward to bringing back the valuable lessons I learned and sharing them with the Yale community.