Yusuke Mizui

Columbia Business School

“Global connector, family-oriented, passionate about driving impactful business transformation in Japan and beyond.”

Hometown: Tokyo, Japan

Fun Fact About Yourself:

• Crossed the U.S.-Mexico border daily for work in a previous role.
• My wife and I are both MBA students at Columbia Business School.
• Proud father of a 2-year-old daughter and a 3-year-old dog.

Undergraduate School and Major: Hitotsubashi University, Commerce and Management

Most Recent Employer and Job Title:  Sumitomo Corporation, Assistant General Manager

What makes New York City such a great place to earn an MBA? New York City is a global business hub that offers great access to industry executives, venture capitalists, and policymakers. Its proximity to top leaders ensures frequent opportunities for guest lectures, conferences, and networking events.

Aside from your classmates and location, what was the key part of Columbia Business School’s MBA curriculum programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? Columbia Business School offers a wide array of electives, accommodating diverse academic and professional interests. Since my wife and I are both pursuing MBAs, choosing a program with flexibility to tailor our studies to our individual goals was essential. CBS’s curriculum stood out for its ability to support both our career ambitions.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at Columbia Business School? I’m eager to enhance my financial expertise to spearhead new business investments. Within Finance, courses like Bruce Usher’s Impact Investing and Tano Santos’s Value Investing are particularly attractive. Simultaneously, Management Division courses like Todd Jick’s renowned Organizational Change match my long-term goal of overseeing diverse business ventures, necessitating robust management and leadership skills. Furthermore, CBS’s unique strength in and rare offering of Decision, Risk, and Operations suits my manufacturing interests, particularly courses like Daniel Guetta’s Operations Management and Medini Singh’s Service Operations Management.

Looking at your recruitment, what was the moment when you realized Columbia Business School was the right program for you? Why? The New York City location offers access to industry leaders, internships, and networking opportunities. I could see how CBS students not only learn from world-class faculty but also apply their knowledge directly to the dynamic business environment around them.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: During the global semiconductor shortage, I spearheaded the supply chain for electronics components while managing the production of 50+ automotive products. Despite a 20% sales drop in FY20 due to COVID-19, I successfully achieved $100 million in sales and increased gross profit by 50% in FY22—a record-breaking milestone for our team.

What do you hope to do after graduation? After graduation, I aspire to leverage global best practices and insights gained at Columbia Business School to drive the transformation of Sumitomo Corporation’s mobility business. My goal is to contribute to revitalizing Japan’s manufacturing industry by fostering innovation and operational excellence.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into Columbia Business School’s MBA program? Start early and plan carefully. The MBA application process is long and demanding, especially for international applicants. Balancing TOEFL/IELTS and GMAT/GRE/EA preparation alongside writing essays, securing recommendation letters, and preparing for interviews requires strong time management. In my case, both my wife and I pursued MBAs while raising a daughter, which added another layer of complexity. If you’re interested in pursuing an MBA, begin your preparations as soon as possible—it’s worth the effort!

DON’T MISS: MEET COLUMBIA BUSINESS SCHOOL’S MBA CLASS OF 2026