Tokyo Program Gives UTEP MBA Students Global Business Perspective
The Big Picture
Twenty-six UTEP MBA students spent spring break in Tokyo, Japan, studying how culture, strategy and leadership shape business in one of the world’s largest economies.
From March 14-20, students from the UTEP MBA program participated in a Faculty-Led Program in Japan, led by Eddie Wei, Ph.D.
The trip combined company visits, executive presentations, and cultural experiences designed to help students understand how business decisions are shaped by place, people, and values.
Why It Matters
International business is about understanding how people work, communicate, lead, and make decisions across cultures.
In Tokyo, UTEP MBA students saw how Japanese values such as discipline, precision, hospitality and respect for tradition influence organizational culture and business strategy.
The experience gave students a closer look at how companies adapt to local expectations while navigating global challenges, including innovation, artificial intelligence and changing consumer behavior.
Inside the Program
Students met with executives and industry leaders from Toyota, Globis JAV名女优馆, Okamura, Gensler and The Carter Group.
Across the visits, discussions focused on the Japanese economy, leadership, workplace culture, innovation and the growing role of artificial intelligence in business.
At Gensler, Executive Director Sarah Bader shared a message that stayed with students throughout the trip.
“People remember stories – they do not remember facts,” Bader said.
The group also toured the Kewpie mayonnaise factory, where students learned about the company’s approach to quality control, product development, and consumer health.
Beyond the Boardroom
The faculty-led program also gave students opportunities to experience Japanese culture directly.
Students participated in a cooking class, tea ceremony, kimono dressing and hands-on drumming experience. They also visited cultural landmarks that helped connect the business lessons of the trip with a deeper understanding of Japanese society.
The cultural activities helped students see how tradition, design, service, and community shape the way organizations operate.
The Bottom Line
The Tokyo Faculty-Led Program gave UTEP MBA students a global learning experience built around business, culture and perspective.
Students returned with a stronger understanding of how companies operate across borders and how cultural awareness can shape better leadership.
Last Updated on June 16, 2026 at 10:30 AM | Originally published June 16, 2026
Posted by Hunt Creative
