A Summer of Leadership, Friendship, and Reflection: My Bai Xian Journey in Tokyo

Linh "Stacey" Pham, MBA Class of 2024, reflects on her experience participating in the Bai Xian Summer Program 2025, an initiative of the Asian Future Leadership Scholarship Program (AFLSP) sponsored by Bai Xian Asia Institute (BXAI). As Hitotsubashi ICS hosted the program for the first time, over sixty Bai Xian scholars from eight leading Asian universities gathered in Tokyo for fifteen days of cultural exchange, academic inquiry, and leadership development. The program not only broadened horizons and fostered lifelong friendships but also deepened participants’ sense of responsibility as Asian Future Leaders in today’s interconnected world.

This summer, I had the privilege of joining the Bai Xian Summer Program 2025 alongside my fellow Bai Xian scholars from Hitotsubashi ICS, where I am currently pursuing my MBA. The program is part of the Asian Future Leadership Scholarship Program (AFLSP), sponsored by the Bai Xian Asia Institute (BXAI). This year held special significance: Hitotsubashi ICS became a proud host of the summer program in Tokyo, Japan, welcoming scholars from across Asia into our academic and cultural home.

Over the course of fifteen unforgettable days, more than sixty Bai Xian scholars from eight leading partner universities in Asia gathered in Japan to immerse ourselves in cultural exploration, academic inquiry, and leadership development. The program broadened my intellectual and cultural horizons, while also leaving me with lifelong friendships and a deeper sense of responsibility for what it means to be an Asian Future Leader in today’s interconnected world.

Exploring Japan’s Cultural Heritage

One of the most memorable dimensions of the program was the opportunity to discover Japan’s cultural heritage beyond the classroom. Thanks to BXAI’s careful arrangements and generous sponsorship, we ventured out of Tokyo to explore Nikko, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Tochigi Prefecture. In Nikko, we visited the historic Rinnoji Temple, a landmark with over 1,200 years of history. Walking through its sacred halls, shaded by towering cedar trees, I felt a profound connection between past and present. Every detail revealed Japan’s careful preservation of spiritual and artistic traditions—from intricate carvings to the meditative stillness of the temple grounds.

Another highlight was trying our hand at traditional Japanese wood carving, an age-old craft passed down through generations. Patiently shaping our own small artworks under the guidance of master artisans gave me a sense of respect for the patience and discipline embedded in Japanese artistry.

We also explored the Ashio Copper Mine, a site symbolic of Japan’s industrial history. Standing in the dark, damp tunnels where miners once labored, I reflected on the price of industrial progress—environmental, social, and human. It was a powerful reminder that economic growth is never without consequence, and it deepened my appreciation for Japan’s unique development story.

Back in Tokyo, our cultural exploration continued with a visit to the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, which was celebrating its 30th Anniversary Exhibit. The contrast between ancient temples and cutting-edge art museums highlighted the wide spectrum of Japanese creativity. Later, as part of our video-making assignment, our group visited teamLab Tokyo, where technology and art fused into immersive installations. Observing how art could be expressed in such diverse forms challenged me to think about creativity as a continuum, constantly evolving alongside society.

Thematic Sessions on Aging in Society

Concluding our excursions, we turned to the central theme of this year’s program: Aging in Society. We attended academic sessions led by Professor Yoshinori Fujikawa from Hitotsubashi ICS and participated in the East Asia panel moderated by Professor Nakano Yoshiko, with contributions from Professor Koo Min Gyo, Professor Ito Tomonori, and Professor He Jingwei. Adding a practical perspective, Hitotsubashi ICS invited Mr. Matsushita Shoya from Exa Wizards Inc., an AI company specializing in elderly care, to share how technology is reshaping support for aging populations.

Through these exchanges, we explored the complex challenges of demographic shifts, not only in Japan but across East and Southeast Asia. While aging societies are not a new topic, what struck us most were the implications for the younger generation—particularly for us as aspiring leaders. On one hand, aging places heavy burdens on government budgets, healthcare systems and younger generation. On the other, it creates opportunities for innovation: caregiving technologies, industries supporting retirement lifestyles, and even new megatrends such as cross-border migration for retirement.

These discussions also challenged us to rethink macroeconomic policies in light of changing consumption and investment patterns. They also highlighted how extended longevity requires reimagining the structure of our own lives. Living longer should not simply mean adding years, but designing lives with purpose - balancing work, health, and fulfillment in ways that suit an evolving society. We even reflected on the tension between GDP growth and happiness as national goals: for developed economies, shifting focus from growth to well-being; for developing ones, finding a delicate balance between prosperity and an aging population.

Transformational Leadership Training

While cultural immersion and academic dialogue enriched our understanding, the program’s leadership training sessions were perhaps the most transformational.

We began with self-awareness training through the Enneagram of Personality, a framework of nine personality types. The idea was simple but powerful: leadership grows out of who we are, so we must first understand ourselves, including the hidden dimensions we often overlook. Through group discussions and one-on-one consultations with certified trainers, many of us uncovered unconscious patterns that had long shaped our behaviors. Personally, I re-examined how childhood experiences influenced my leadership style—where I draw confidence, and where I still need healing. It was an emotional yet liberating process of “re-parenting” the child within us, building leaders grounded in self-compassion.

Public speaking training introduced me to a variety of techniques for delivering an impactful speech. I learned that an effective talk should add a personal touch that makes it authentic and unique. In other words, our personality comes before the message. From there, we practiced applying the “elevator pitch” method, which taught us how to communicate ideas concisely and directly. What I appreciated most from this session was the emphasis on using pauses—even silence—as a tool to capture the audience’s attention. Ultimately, I came to see that delivering an inspiring presentation is less about performance and more about making it conversational, as if we are simply sharing our story with friends.

The most unique session was the leadership course through the lens of an orchestra conductor. Each of us took turns conducting musicians, realizing how subtle hand gestures could influence tempo, mood, and energy. The metaphor was clear: leadership is not commanding with force, but listening deeply and enabling others to perform at their best. Like a conductor shaping harmony, leaders must adapt to their teams with presence and empathy. This exercise deepened my understanding of leadership as a dynamic, reciprocal process, and it strongly resonated with my earlier experiences in the Leadership Development Journey course taught by Professor Jody Ono.

Building a Pan-Asian Community

What impressed me most about the Bai Xian Summer Program was not only what we learned, but who we learned it with. The friendships we formed across borders were invaluable. We discovered shared experiences—speaking the same third languages, enjoying similar cuisines, or studying in one another’s countries. At the same time, our diversity was striking. Business, medicine, law, engineering, arts—every discipline was represented. For me, as an MBA student, engaging with peers from such different fields enriched my journey at Hitotsubashi ICS. Our group projects became living proof that collaboration across disciplines is where creativity flourishes.

Wisdom from Leaders: Coffee Chats and Closing Reflections

Another highlight was the rare opportunity to join coffee chat sessions with distinguished leaders: Ms. Ronna Chao, Mr. Yutaka Aso, and Mr. Danny Lee, moderated by Ms. Misato Nagakawa, a Bai Xian Scholar from the 2014 cohort. They shared candid reflections on career, family and life decisions. Their advice reminded us of the values we should carry as we step into new stages of our lives after graduation.

The closing ceremony featured an inspiring speech from Mr. Chang Sun, a seasoned private equity investor, delivered under the theme ‘Choices and Opportunities.’ His story reminded us that ‘time is the one resource we all have equal access to’ and encouraged us to embrace long-term endeavors despite short-term challenges. At the same time, a phrase from Ms. Ronald Chao continues to echo in my mind: ‘The one with more power is the one with more responsibilities.’ Together, these words captured the essence of the Bai Xian Summer Program—leadership is not a privilege, but a duty to use influence wisely for the greater good.

Our cohort’s farewell was made even more memorable by the speech of my ICS MBA peer, Danying Zhang (Dana), who reminded us that success is rarely an individual effort; rather, it is built through teamwork and community. The entire program reaffirmed for me that while talent may set the stage, it is collaboration and shared purpose that create lasting impact.

Carrying the Spirit Forward

The Bai Xian Summer Program was more than two weeks of exploration and training—it was a transformative journey of leadership, friendship, and reflection that will continue to shape me long after it ended. I carry not only the lessons I learned but also the responsibility to embody its spirit in my future endeavors. Beyond knowledge and skills, the program gave me a lasting community. Now, whether I travel to Beijing, Kyoto, Hong Kong, Shanghai, or Tokyo—and beyond to Taipei, Seoul, or other Southeast Asian cities—I know there will always be someone I can reach out to.

Linh "Stacey" Pham Pham Khanh Linh is a member of the MBA Class of 2024 from Vietnam. She is passionate about bridging Vietnam and the rest of the world by facilitating capital flows and connecting the local economy with dynamic international partners. Prior to Hitotsubashi ICS, Linh spent four years working in the investment banking industry in Vietnam, supporting local corporations with M&A advisory and capital raising. She also participated in evaluating principal investment transactions with a focus on early-stage startups. At Hitotsubashi ICS, her interest lies in understanding the economic landscape and business environment across Japan as well as other regions in Asia. Beyond her first year of full-time study at ICS, Linh joined the Global Network Week 2025 at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and also participated in an exchange program at the Guanghua School of Management, Peking University.