SIMT MBA Graduate Portrait:  Yoshinori Shimizu

In 2004 Yoshinori Shimizu graduated from SIMT. He concentrated in International Management to gain knowledge about different cultures and organizational theories in international settings. Thanks to his postgraduate studies the Japanese now is part of the Bosch management training program called Bosch IDP (International development program). He is expected to be manager in his home country. His first degree is in Economics / Commerce Marketing from the Yokohama University, Japan.

1. What was your job / career situation as you decided to pursue an MBA?

When I was applying to study at SIMT, I already had seven years of working experience in several international companies in Tokyo mainly in sales and marketing fields. 

2. Why did you choose SIMT?

Japan and Germany share many similar elements in terms of the economic recovery from the complete defeat as well as people's commitments to work. I was always curious to know how our "pal" achieved the tremendous economic success.  When I came to know about SIMT, I thought it was an ideal opportunity not only to learn about business in general but also about the country per se.

3. What are the best elements in the SIMT MBA program in your opinion?

If I have to choose just one element, I would put the diversity of the students on top of the list. The background of the students and faculty are so well mixed and balanced, that I learned a lot about the different cultures and values. 

4. Was the mix of backgrounds and cultures the other students offered beneficial and if so, how?

I had very beneficial experiences out of group-assignments given to us in many courses. What professors teach in the class is more or less "theories" in the text book, but what your "international" group members contribute is sometimes beyond the theories with different values and norms. It was really interesting to have witnessed that such a diversified group eventually had to depend on "theories" in order to achieve a consensus. MBA makes sense.

5. How did you benefit from SIMT close contacts to the industry?

In many courses, our professors invited managers from the German industry and provided us with the opportunities to share their insights.  I myself had chances to hear the presentations by managers from established companies such as Porsche, DaimlerChrysler, and Siemens etc.. The theories learned in the classes were confirmed by such lecturers who are stationed in the frontline of the real businesses.

6. How has the SIMT MBA helped in the development of your career?

After studying at SIMT, now I feel that I have more drawers in my brain than before.  If an inventory problem happens, for instance, I used to view it solely from a logistics perspective, but now I can derive my additional knowledge from financial, accounting as well as Information Technology "drawers" in my brain. This newly acquired knowledge helps me a lot in my career.

7. What did you learn that is important for your current job (e.g. specialized knowledge, soft skills)?

I believe that the ultimate driver of business is people.  Especially if you are in a global company, it is essential for you to understand the different cultures and values. My concentration (International Management) provided me with abundant knowledge about different cultures, human behaviours, and organizational theories in international settings. This is definitely useful for me, as Asian working in the headquarter of a transnational enterprise in Germany.

8. How would you sum up the experience of studying at the SIMT?

Good education, good friends, good landscape and good beer.  I couldn't ask for more.

9. Why would you recommend the SIMT to others?

It does not make sense to call SIMT a German MBA.  SIMT is truly an international-minded institute where borders do not exist.  I would recommend SIMT to those who intend to broaden his/her unlimited opportunities into the global business.

10. What is your current position?

I am working for Robert Bosch GmbH in Karlsruhe, Germany where I take care of customer logistics and planning in Aftermarket business. It is a management training program called Bosch IDP (International development program) which I participate in. The participants of the program work for his home country for one-year with a following two-year assignment in Germany. The goal of the program is that I am supposed to take over my first managerial position back in Japan. I am quite sure that without studying at SIMT, I would never have gotten this great opportunity.