Japanese Innovation through Design Thinking
with Darren Menabney (Lecturer)
Design Thinking has long been recognized as one of the most powerful approaches to solving complex problems – empowering teams to empathize, ideate, and experiment their way to better solutions. Yet many organizations still struggle to make their impact stick.
Join us for this special seminar to explore the method and the mindset behind lasting innovation. Starting with the fundamentals of Design Thinking, you’ll then discover how Japanese management philosophies can strengthen and sustain it.
The interactive session will be led by Darren Menabney, GLOBIS Faculty and global design thinking expert, who has spent over a decade in Japan helping teams innovate, collaborate, and grow.
Why join?
- Explore how Design Thinking helps teams approach problems with creativity and empathy
- Learn how Japanese practices like Kaizen and Omotenashi can make innovation part of daily work
- Experience the GLOBIS learning style—interactive, reflective, and rooted in real business challenges
- Exchange ideas with professionals interested in how culture influences innovation
Who should attend?
- Professionals who want to sharpen their creative problem-solving
- Individuals seeking fresh, practical perspectives on innovation
- Anyone exploring how business education can connect global insight with personal growth
Notes about this interactive online event
This seminar will be held live online. Upon registration, you will receive an email with a URL and detailed instructions on how to join. Here are some tips for the event:
- Join on time as the event will be live (we recommend signing in at least 5 minutes early)
- Please try to have earphones, a microphone, and/or a webcam ready for a more interactive experience
- Have fun, and don’t be shy to participate in the discussions
We look forward to meeting you online.
Overview
| Date: | Tuesday, January 13, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Time: | 12:00 - 13:15 (Central European Time) (20:00 - 21:15 JST) |
| Where: | Online |
| Registration Fee: | Free of charge |
| Language: | English |
Agenda
| 12:00 (CET) | Introduction |
|---|---|
| 12:05 (CET) | Seminar |
| 12:55 (CET) | Q&A |
| 12:55 (CET) | Closing |
GLOBIS Faculty
Darren Menabney (Lecturer)
- MBA, Graduate School of Management, GLOBIS University
- BS, Astronomy and Physics, University of Tronto
Darren Menabney brings his expertise to the private and public sectors, helping individuals and organizations create value by more effectively collaborating, communicating, and creating remotely or cross-culturally. His mission is to help others get better at creating and communicating their ideas and create value for all. Before moving to Tokyo in 2011, he spent over twenty years working for the Canadian federal government. His career there encompassed diplomacy, business development, and building public-private-academic partnership in the Canadian innovation ecosystem.
At the lead of global employee engagement at Richo Co. Ltd., Darren heads initiatives to build stronger global teams, strengthen corporate culture, and boost collaboration among 85,000 employees in over sixty-five countries.
Darren is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Fast Company and has been a TEDx speaker. He teaches Storytelling and Design Thinking for IDEO U. At GLOBIS University, he teaches Business Presentation, Critical Thinking, Design Thinking, and Innovation through Virtual Teams. He also trains company leaders as part of GLOBIS Corporate Education.
