[Seminar in Amsterdam] Lessons in Japanese Leadership
Business Principles, Lifelong Learning & Growth
Details:
Join us in Amsterdam to find out how Japanese leadership principles can inspire new ways of thinking about sustainability, innovation, and long-term success.
Japan is home to some of the world’s oldest companies and most resilient business models. What keeps them thriving across centuries? And what lessons can professionals in the Netherlands & Europe take from this unique approach to purpose-driven growth?
Join us for an exclusive seminar, and find out how Japanese leadership principles can inspire new ways of thinking about sustainability, innovation, and long-term success.
Why you should join this event
- Discover timeless lessons from Japanese leadership and business philosophy
- Learn how purpose and community drive sustainable growth
- Gain insights to lead with clarity, empathy, and long-term vision
Who should join
- Professionals seeking to lead with authenticity and purpose
- Managers aiming to build trust and long-term engagement
- Individuals interested in Japanese approaches to sustainable leadership
The evening will conclude with a networking reception over food and drinks.
Important: Please note that this registration is a pre-booking. Due to limited venue capacity, attendance will be confirmed at a later stage. You will receive a follow-up email closer to the event date to confirm whether a seat has been secured.
Overview
| Date: | Thursday, February 19, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Time: | 19:00 - 21:00 (CET) |
| Where: | Near Amsterdam Centraal - Exact location will be shared closer to event date |
| Registration Fee: | Free of charge |
| Language: | English |
Agenda
| 18:30 (CET) | Reception Opens |
|---|---|
| 19:00 (CET) | Welcome & Greetings |
| 19:10 (CET) | Lecture on Japanese Management & Leadership |
| 19:25 (CET) | Panel Discussion with one of our MBA alumni |
| 19:55 (CET) | Q&A |
| 20:10 (CET) | Socializing & Networking |
Aiste Dewulf
President & CEO, GLOBIS Europe BV
MASA, The University of British Columbia (Canada)
BSS, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (Japan)
Aistė serves as President & CEO of GLOBIS Europe BV and is a Managing Director at GLOBIS Corporation, deeply committed to empowering leaders to create and innovate societies around the world. She has successfully led numerous learning and development initiatives to address complex management challenges across Japan, Europe, and the Middle East. In 2022, she played a pivotal role in establishing GLOBIS Europe in Belgium and has since been spearheading the expansion of GLOBIS Europe’s business throughout the EMEA region.
Before relocating to Belgium, Aistė spent 15 years in Japan, where she developed a profound understanding of Japanese business practices, culture, and values. Her time in Japan not only shaped her professional approach but also gave her a unique perspective on sustainable, long-term business approaches. Prior to joining GLOBIS in the field of learning and development, Aistė spent eight years as a solutions consultant at a Japanese automated controls manufacturer in Tokyo, where she led and supported major domestic and international projects in building and industrial automation. Originally from Lithuania, Aistė has also lived and worked in Germany and Canada, further enriching her global outlook.
At GLOBIS University, Aistė brings her deep expertise in consulting and leadership to her role as a lecturer in Critical Thinking, Effective Communications, Change Leadership and Corporate Philosophy in Leadership. She is dedicated to inspiring and equipping leaders to think deeply, challenge assumptions, and harness their strengths to drive better decision-making, communicate with impact, and lead meaningful, sustainable change.
Toru Takahashi
Global Chief Strategy Officer, GLOBIS Europe BV
SEP, Stanford University
BS in Economics, Sophia University
Toru serves as Global Chief Strategy Officer at GLOBIS Europe BV and is a Managing Director at GLOBIS Corporation, providing global leader training programs to corporate clients around the world. As a corporate training instructor, he leads seminars on a range of topics, including establishing corporate strategy/philosophy during overseas expansion, in addition to strategy formulation, problem-solving and leadership related to the localization of overseas sites.
Prior to joining GLOBIS, he was primarily involved in developing overseas businesses with machinery manufacturers at Marubeni Corporation. During his eight-year overseas assignment at Marubeni, he participated in infrastructure development projects in Iran, where he subsequently engaged in a wider range of businesses at Marubeni’s regional headquarters for Europe, the Middle East and Africa in Belgium. His duties there included launching business projects, as well as providing management and financing support for invested companies and business partners in the region.
Toru has written “People who get results overseas don’t use cultural issues as an excuse”. (Eiji press)
Kenya Irie
Graduate of GLOBIS University Graduate School of Management
Kenya is a Japan–Europe marketing and growth strategist based in The Hague, specializing in the practical application of Japanese business philosophies in European contexts. He works with Japanese companies expanding into Europe and non-Japanese companies entering the Japanese market, supporting growth by navigating cross-cultural differences in strategy, communication, and decision-making.
With over ten years of international experience across New Zealand, Denmark, and the Netherlands, Kenya translates Japanese business thinking—such as long-term orientation, stakeholder alignment, and trust-based relationships—into effective and actionable market strategies in Europe.
In parallel with his consulting work, Kenya is the Founder and Director of Sakura Japanese Workshop, an educational initiative that develops critical thinking through reading and debate for Japanese children living overseas, while also providing Japanese language programs for non-Japanese learners in major Dutch cities and online.
This dual focus on strategy and education offers a practitioner-driven perspective on how Japanese management principles can be applied and adapted in global business environments.
