From Local to Global: Kyohei Ohashi on Reinventing His Career Through the NUS MBA
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Kyohei Ohashi
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If your CV lacks the international experience required for a global position, what steps can you take? Kyohei Ohashi faced this challenge while attempting to join UNIQLO’s global marketing division. “During interviews for career moves, the discussion naturally centred around my professional experience in Japan. But when it came to the international exposure I lacked, I made sure to position the NUS MBA as a complement to fill that gap.” That framing allowed him to transition first into UNIQLO’s Global Marketing Division, and eventually into his current role at Google.
However, it was not just the international aspect of the MBA journey that helped him make a meaningful impression. Unexpected connections, such as meeting fellow alumnus Kei Kei (Keisuke Okujima, MBA 2021 intake), also supported his career shift. “His grounded advice—tailored to me both as an NUS MBA student and as a Japanese professional—enabled me to make a transformative career change across industry, role and, in the long term, even location,” says Kyohei. “I believe such serendipitous connections are one of the true highlights of the MBA experience.”
For Kyohei Ohashi, the NUS MBA allowed him to transition from advertising to international marketing roles at UNIQLO and later Google. Reflecting on his experience, he credits the NUS MBA with honing both his leadership skills and English communication abilities necessary for working globally. All these achievements were made despite Kyohei’s limited background in global business.
Personalising Academic Life
So, without a global business background, what is the best way to tackle the MBA journey? Kyohei shares his approach. “In my first semester, I made a conscious effort to step out of my comfort zone by taking on subjects and activities I had little experience with,” he explains. That experimentation helped him realise the value of focusing on his strengths in sales and marketing, which he then deepened in later semesters through targeted electives, projects, and career-related activities.
He describes it as a cycle of “output and input”—testing himself in real-world contexts, such as job hunting and internships, then refining his skills through coursework. “This cycle enriched both my MBA journey and my long-term career development,” he says.
Additionally, several courses also left a lasting impression. Prof. Joel Goh’s Managerial Operations and Analytics was particularly impactful. “Through case studies, I realised how much value comes from discussions with peers from different backgrounds,” he shares. Insights from classmates in markets such as Myanmar and Vietnam gave him perspectives he could not have gained alone.
Prof. Tamaki Tanaka’s Product & Brand Management also stood out for him. “She required that all students close their laptops and focus entirely on the presenter. Experiencing an environment where every participant is fully engaged in my presentation was rare—and it taught me valuable lessons in preparation, delivery, and presence,” he reflects. These lessons continue to shape how he presents ideas at work today.
Lessons in Leadership
Beyond academics, student leadership played a vital role in shaping Kyohei’s personal growth. As Vice President of the Entrepreneurship Club and a member of the MBA Student Council, he gained direct experience in leading diverse teams. “Serving as a club leader gave me the opportunity to communicate and collaborate with people from different nationalities and backgrounds, and to build confidence in my ability to manage effectively in highly diverse environments,” he explains.
Engaging with entrepreneurs, too, left a lasting impression. “From them, I realised that while skills are essential, an even more critical factor for success is passion for one’s venture. That passion fuels relentless action, which in turn builds both experience and networks,” he says. The energy and drive he observed continue to inspire his approach to work today.
Group photo from organising an event together with members of the Entrepreneurship Club
Overseas Experiences from the MBA Journey
Apart from his extracurricular activities, one of the most memorable chapters of his MBA journey came through an exchange semester at Yale SOM in the U.S. “Campus life at Yale was truly unforgettable,” he recalls, describing the historic architecture, lively academic environment, and immersion in a different cultural setting.
On the academic side, Yale’s strength in soft skills and social impact gave him a new dimension of learning. “Much like NUS’s LYT program, Yale’s courses embodied a ‘High Challenge, High Support’ approach, pushing students outside their comfort zones,” he says. These experiences helped him reflect more deeply on his future goals while reinforcing the importance of business ethics and social responsibility in leadership.
Kyohei with his peer, Kei Kei in NYC
Finding Balance
Managing coursework, student leadership, and career planning was never easy. “Each day was really a tightrope walk,” he admits. To cope, he set clear priorities. In this order: networking, career, and then academics, and he relied on the support of his peers. But it’s not all work and no play.
Friendships made at NUS became an anchor. “Spending time with friends over meals, trips, and home parties allowed me to unwind from daily stress and recharge my energy. Moreover, some of my richest experiences were simply hanging out late at night at the Starbucks in Utown, sharing lighthearted conversations and occasionally discussing our future careers and life plans,” he recalls. “Those moments were incredibly rewarding and added a deeply human dimension to my MBA experience.”
Kyohei and his MBA friends, who surprised him with a birthday celebration
As Kyohei progresses in his career at Google, he continues to build on the skills and knowledge he acquired at NUS, as well as the friendships and experiences that have defined his journey. His experience highlights how the MBA serves as a platform for reinvention, broadening perspectives, and confidently pursuing opportunities that were once out of reach. For aspiring global leaders, turn potential into possibility like Kyohei with the NUS MBA today.
Curious about the NUS MBA? Visit our website to find out more or reach out to our admissions team — we’d love to hear from you!
