TOKYO, July 14, 2026 — Minerva University welcomed the inaugural cohort of its World Wise Executive Leadership Program during a two-day kickoff session in Tokyo on July 5-6, marking the beginning of a six-month leadership experience designed to help professionals strengthen cultural fluency and lead effectively across global environments.
The inaugural cohort brings together 20 professionals from eight countries representing sectors including technology, venture capital, education and nonprofit organizations. Building on Minerva University's active learning model, the program prepares participants to strengthen cross-cultural communication, navigate complex organizational challenges and lead diverse teams with confidence.
The kickoff session introduced participants to Minerva's collaborative learning approach before the online portion of the program begins. Led by Minerva University faculty members Geneva Stein, Jonathan Powers and Dollie Davis, the sessions explored how culture shapes communication, trust, decision-making and leadership through interactive discussions and practical exercises.
The event opened with welcoming remarks from Ichiro Kabasawa, executive director of The Nippon Foundation, whose organization supports the World Wise program. “We often talk about young people and the importance of understanding cultural differences. But what about executives? In today's increasingly complex global landscape, executives who aspire to become true global leaders also need to understand different cultures and become culturally fluent. That’s why we created this program,” Kabasawa said.
"Organizations need leaders who can adapt across cultures, build trust quickly and navigate complexity with confidence," Davis said. "World Wise gives participants opportunities to enhance these skills alongside peers from around the world and apply them to complex scenarios within their organizations."
Throughout the kickoff, participants exchanged perspectives with peers from different countries and industries while exploring approaches to leading across cultures, building trust and navigating complexity.
Participants will now continue the program online over the coming months, applying what they learned in Tokyo to leadership challenges within their own organizations before reconvening for the program's World Wise Leadership Accelerator in San Francisco.
About Minerva University
Minerva University is redefining global higher education through a bold, outcomes-focused model designed to empower the next generation of leaders, thinkers and changemakers. Headquartered in San Francisco, Minerva offers an intensive undergraduate experience that combines rigorous academics, real-world engagement and a global rotation that immerses students in diverse cultural and professional contexts.
Minerva’s interdisciplinary curriculum emphasizes critical thinking, creative problem-solving, effective communication and global collaboration. Through fully active, discussion-based seminars and applied learning projects in major cities around the world, students develop the habits of mind and practical skills needed to address the most pressing challenges of our time.
The university has built a vibrant international student body representing over 100 nations, and graduates have gone on to launch high-impact startups, lead civic initiatives, earn Rhodes, Schwarzman and Knight-Hennessy scholarships, and pursue graduate study at institutions such as Oxford, Harvard and Stanford.
Minerva also offers graduate and executive education programs that equip working professionals with the tools to drive innovation and impact throughout their careers.
Ranked the No. 1 Most Innovative University for five consecutive years by the World University Rankings for Innovation (WURI), Minerva is pioneering a scalable, equitable and transformative model of higher education for the 21st century.
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Minerva University
pr@minerva.edu
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