What is TOPPA!! Global Leader Course?
"TOPPA!!" is a systematic leadership program that focuses on high-quality inputs and outputs for three months based on programs from top overseas universities such as Cambridge University.
You will acquire mindset and practical skills necessary to become a global leader by making an impact through high-quality inputs and outputs for three months.
First, through interactive lectures by leaders who are active globally, including a lecturer at the University of Cambridge, you will be challenged, encouraged and inspired to become a global leader.
Meanwhile, in order to practice leadership, you will be assigned to a project to create Social Innovation. You will be challenged by the sustainablity startup mamoru to propose an "expansion plan of an app that connects students to exclusive offers from sustainable brands and shops."
By forming a group of about 5 junior and senior high school students, you will develop collaborative skills and leadership necessary to play a globally active role, in addition to individual problem-solving skills.
Workshop by Rolemodels
Practice through a Project Based Learning
Program Image
Feedback
Self-Reflection
Participants will engage in workshop-style input and output through team project activities to consolidate the knowledge and skills gained. Growth will be accelerated through self reflection and feedback.
Project: Propose an expansion plan of an app that connects students to exclusive offers from sustainable brands and shops
You will be challenged by the sustainability startup mamoru to propose a "expansion plan of an app that connects students to exclusive offers from sustainable brands and shops."
We will also guide you through the frameworks and processes necessary to think about the business, and our mentor will accompany you for 3 months.
What is mamoru?
mamoru is a Japanese sustainability startup providing an app that connects students to exclusive offers from sustainable brands and shops.
mamoru's mission is to accelerate access to sustainable living. They help consumers to become more active to live sustainably and help businesses that are taking part in sustainable initiatives to grow their revenue and impact to the world.
Their name comes from the Japanese word mamoru which means "to protect." mamoru wants to enable more consumers and businesses around the world to take action for protecting our planet.
Program Overview
Activity
Period &
Frequency
4-6 PM JST/
3-5PM SGT＆MYT＆CST/
2-4PM ICT/ 12:30-2:30PM IST/
11AM-1PM GST
Every Saturday from July 16 - October 22 (Aug 6 is off)
Note 1: Please be aware of the change in time difference with Japan for some countries due to the end of summer time
Note 2: Project must also be driven outside of class, and out-of-class activities will occur every week for several hours
Format
Completely online using Zoom / Slack, etc.
The following will be carried out alternately:
(1) Output
A learning experience that fosters leadership by working on practical projects with diverse members
(2) Input
Practical and advanced soft skill development learning experience that cannot be learned at school
Target &
Capacity
Up to 30 junior and senior high school students (7th to 12th Grade)
Language
English: Discussion level required (TOEFL iBT 70+)
Fee
Normal: $400 (USD)
= 49,500JPY
Scholarship: $200 (USD)
Note 1: In this program, some students with financial difficulty will be selected as scholarship students, and the fee will be reduced to $200
Note 2: The fee is prepaid
Note 3: If you apply with your friends, $30 discount available
InfoSession
June 11 (Sat) 5-6 PM JST
4-5PM SGT＆MYT＆CST
3-4PM ICT
1:30-2:30PM IST
Noon-1PM GST
--> Info Session Application link
Deadeline
July 14th (Thu)
--> Program Application Link
Tentative Schedule
Num | Date | Theme |
|---|---|---|
1 | Jul 16 | Kickoff!! & Introduction |
2 | Jul 23 | Project 1: Ideation/Team Building |
3 | Jul 30 | Lecture 1: Design Thinking |
4 | Aug 13 | Project 2: PEST Analysis |
5 | Aug 20 | Lecture 2: Management of a Diverse Team |
6 | Aug 27 | Project 3: Research and survey/interview |
7 | Sep 3 | Lecture 3: Marketing |
8 | Sep 10 | Project 4: Marketing 4P/4C |
9 | Sep 17 | Project 5: Customer Journey |
10 | Sep 24 | Lecture 4: Pitch Perfect |
11 | Oct 1 | Project 6: Presentation Prep 1 |
12 | Oct 8 | Lecture 5: How to Foster Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Organizations |
13 | Oct 15 | Project 7: Presentation Prep 2 |
14 | Oct 22 | Project 8: Pitch & Feedback |
Participant's Review 1
Participant's Review 2
I think that the project has given me a very valuable experience in terms of creating a business from scratch and building teamwork. I am grateful that I got to receive a lot of great advice from the guest teachers, who all taught us in innovative and creative ways with all of their heart. They used games and role-plays to make the scene more realistic and learning more interesting. Their presentations were our role models when we presented our business models.
We also had to work entirely in English. It was tough, trying to communicate as it was a language many of us were not familiar with; we struggled to share ideas but the great mentors supported us. They gave us professional advice, was always there during coffee chats. I didn’t know how to lead the team, so our mentor gave me advice on motivating others.
Finally, because we are all serious about solving society’s problems, we had to think deeply about what was expected of us and what was required to improve the situation. As we were constantly required to look to our values during the project, I realised what was truly important to me. The experience will definitely help me in making choices in the future.
Overall, I am extremely glad that I participated in this project, Thank you so much!
Midori, 15 years old, Malaysia
Recommended for Applicants like You!
Applicants who...
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Want to learn mindset skills to become active as a leader / social innovator in the future.
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Would like to work on the social innovation business and SDGs business.
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Want to connect with the same generation outside of school who have strong aspirations to work hard
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Are considering to study abroad or go on to higher education, and would like to have the opportunity to practice English.
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Are considering to take an examination in school-recommended selection, comprehensive selection, etc., and want to gain experience in extracurricular activities
Various Mentors/Lecturers
*Lecturers are subject to change without notice due to sudden circumstances.
Program Lead:
Kei Ikegami
Kei worked for international corporation projects in the Middle East at Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and for the overseas expansion of AI robots at SoftBank.
He also started to provide leader education and career education to students whose learning opportunities were restricted due to the stay-at-home restrictions of the corona virus. In 2021, Kei established MIRAIing Inc. with the passion to nurture the next generation that will create the future.
Since MIRAIing started, we have provided learning opportunities to more than 1,000 future leaders.
Kei holds Master of Business Administration (MBA) from University of Cambridge & Master of Public Policy from Kyoto University.
Management of a Diverse Team:
Sayuri Kajiyama
Sayuri is a manager at the London based startup Infogrid.
Previously, Sayuri has worked at Citigroup, Recruit, Expedia, GeoSpock in various roles, spanning many cities over the world including Tokyo, Singapore, Hong Kong, London, and Cambridge.
She has an MBA from Judge Business School at the University of Cambridge and a BS in Computer Science from Harvey Mudd College in California.
How to foster Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in organizations:
Lionel Paolella
Lecturer at the University of Cambridge and Affiliated Faculty at the Harvard University.
Lionel's main line of research explores how market categories – a set of firms that share cognitive and cultural similarities – affect the social evaluation and performance of organisations, e.g. in the international legal services market or the Islamic banking industry.
He received the Cambridge Judge Teaching Award in 2017, the MBA Faculty of the Year Award in 2018, and he has been listed among the Best 40 under 40 Professors by Poets and Quants in 2019.
Self-Reflection/Feedback:
Varun Boughram
A banker, turned healthcare entrepreneur, he is passioned to work with Startups and entrepreneurs to innovate. As an experienced professional with strategic, analytical and financial acumen, he has an MBA from University of Cambridge, Judge Business School.
Currently, based in the UAE and heading strategy and business incubation at Fortes Education Group.
Mentor:
Prim Chuenchomlada
Prim is currently a manager in Thailand’s leading public policy consultant firm. She works closely with government agency clients with a shared goal to deliver real, tangible impact and make processes digitally seamless for the good of the public.
In her academic pursuit, Prim graduated Bachelor of Business Administration from Chulalongkorn University with second-class honour and, after a stint of working in several industries, she joined the Master of Business Administration program at Cambridge Judge Business School.
Previously, Prim has worked at Accenture, her family business in gemstone trading, and creative industries.
Pitch Perfect:
Alex Tanahashi
Alex is supporting Nippon Investment Company's private equity investments by joining portfolio company, Yukari Resort Co., Ltd., a major resort hotel operator in Japan, as CSO/CMO and executing value creation plan.
Previously, Alex worked as a consultant at McKinsey and an intrapreneur / overseas business development at Waseda Academy Co., Ltd.
He has an MBA from UC Berkeley Haas School of Business.
Design Thinking:
Tian Tan
Tian is a Senior Experience Designer at McKinsey.
7+ year experience in consulting and technology, Tian has a sharp focus on unlocking business and user value and creating ambitious and sustainable change through design thinking, digital product/ service design, and Leap (new business incubation and building).
His work spans across technology, healthcare, mobility, and consumer industries. MBA from University of Cambridge.
Mentor:
Hiroki Maehara
After working at Bank of Japan for 7 years, recently joined a technology startup 10X,Inc. MBA from University of Pennsylvania Wharton school '21, BA of International Relation from University of Tokyo '14. Loves traveling and basketball.