Many countries around the world are strengthening their protectionist tendencies in a chain reaction, and managerial decisions by corporations seem to be vulnerable to capricious decision-making of national leaders. In such a rapidly changing environment, it is important for corporate executives not only to repeatedly adapt to the environment flexibly, but also to establish unwavering values as a business leader.
　Every year, KBS's EMBA program welcomes exceptionally talented executives and managers who are making decisions on a daily basis and working hard for their companies and organizations. All of them are professionals who already possess advanced expertise and experience in their respective industries and fields. These professionals from various fields engage in mutual learning, sometimes clashing with one another, and build long-lasting relationships.
　The first course that executives encounter is the "Visionary" course, which begins at the start of the program. In this course, students deeply examine what needs to be done by themselves with a view to the future 30 years from now. In addition, in the "Field" course, executives address issues facing domestic companies and regional revitalization through on-site field work and consultation, and in the "Overseas Field" course, they tackle new business creation outside of Japan. This EMBA program offers not only case discussions and lectures across core functional areas but also a variety of learning formats.
　The fundamental principle reflected in these diverse learning formats is the belief that the perspective on management should also be multifaceted. In traditional business schools, the primary focus has been on learning how to optimally allocate management resources to maximize economic value. However, the era of such a simple approach is already over. In order to increase financial value in a sustainable manner, it is necessary to consider what role companies and organizations should play in society as a whole, not just in the economic sphere, what goals they should pursue together with various stakeholders, what activities they should engage in, and ultimately what kind of society they want to build. KBS EMBA program strengthens the abilities and experiences necessary to promote management based on such a broad perspective.
　As mentioned above, today's managers are required to have both a firm conviction to identify the direction society should take, as well as the sense and execution skills to flexibly reorganize management resources (short-term agility and effectuation). In other words, it is essential to balance two seemingly contradictory perspectives: a long-term view and short-term flexibility (broadly defined as ambidextrous management).
　In line with the founding spirit of KBS, which is to cultivate "true business leaders," the EMBA program aims to nurture "business leaders who pioneer the future" by capturing people's hearts with a broad vision of what to achieve beyond uncertainty, while simultaneously making flexible and rational decisions at the right time and executing them effectively. We invite you to knock on the door of KBS EMBA.

EMBA Program Director
OKADA, Masahiro