Hiro Yoguchi

The University of Texas at Austin, McCombs School of Business

“Determined leader, thoughtful global connector, and lifelong learner—always pushing beyond comfort zones.”

Hometown: Tokyo, Japan

Fun fact about yourself: I love traveling the world, drinking great coffee, and playing baseball. A fun side story—after moving to Austin, I tried out for a local adult baseball league and made the team as a first-round draft pick. Now, I spend my weekends enjoying competitive games, proving that baseball truly is a lifelong passion.

Undergraduate School and Degree: I earned my Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Management from Rikkyo University (Tokyo, Japan).

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? At Hitachi’s Water and Environment Business Unit, I managed international business development across several countries, leading global teams to deliver sustainable infrastructure solutions with driving social impact while collaborating with governments, startups, and private entities.

Where did you intern during the summer of 2024? At Hitachi Ventures in Boston, I identified promising startups and analyzed biopharmaceutical market trends to provide strategic insights, gaining valuable venture capital experience while advising on commercialization strategies for by leveraging my professional expertise.

Where will you be working after graduation? Returning to Hitachi as Business Development Manager in the Water and Environment Sales & Marketing Division, focusing on launching new businesses in North America’s biopharmaceutical sector.

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:

• Co-Chair, Acting as President, Center for Leadership and Ethics Fellows
• Representative for Southeast Asia & Japan, McCombs Ambassador Committee
• Teaching Assistant, McCombs Management Department
• Member, CleanTech Group
• Member, Sports Entertainment and Media Association
• Member, International MBA Student Association
• Member, East Asia Business Association

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? One of my proudest achievements at McCombs was organizing Japan Trek 2024, a student-led trip that brought 50 classmates to Kyoto, Hiroshima, and Tokyo over winter break. Alongside my two fellow Japanese classmates, Yuzo Kamei and Kosuke Sato, I spent nearly a year planning logistics, developing the itinerary, and recruiting participants. What started as an idea became the largest student-led trek in McCombs history. Beyond logistics, the trek strengthened our MBA community in ways I hadn’t expected. By the end, we had built deep friendships that made our final semester even more meaningful. Seeing classmates enjoy and appreciate Japan, and hearing how much they valued the experience, reinforced that all the effort was worth it. The trek became so well-known across the school that even students who hadn’t attended were talking about it. Japan Trek 2024 wouldn’t have been possible without the teamwork of Yuzo and Kosuke. This trek became one of my most unforgettable memories. I’m committed to passing this tradition down so future classes can continue to share this incredible journey as a beloved McCombs tradition for years to come.

On a personal level, another life-changing milestone during my MBA was the birth of my second daughter, Mia, in January 2025 in Austin. It was an incredibly joyful moment, and I couldn’t be more grateful to my wife, Ai, for going through pregnancy and childbirth in a foreign country. Seeing our older daughter, Sara, step into her role as a big sister has been just as special. Balancing MBA life with fatherhood has been challenging, but it has also been one of the most fulfilling parts of my McCombs experience.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? One of my most significant professional achievements was spearheading global business development in sustainable infrastructure across multiple regions, including the U.S., South Africa, Saudi Arabia, and Australia. I led large-scale water and energy projects, collaborating with multi-national stakeholders to provide innovative solutions that addressed environmental and economic challenges. Beyond large-scale infrastructure, I launched a groundbreaking initiative by partnering with two startups in the UK and Australia. Together, we implemented an innovative biogas production reactor that enables food manufacturers and retailers to convert food waste into renewable energy to the market. Through these efforts, I witnessed the transformative power of technology and collaboration in solving pressing global challenges. More than just business success, these projects had a meaningful social impact—ensuring cleaner water access, reducing environmental footprints, and fostering innovation-driven sustainability.

Why did you choose this business school? For Japanese applicants, U.S. business schools aren’t always the default choice, given the excellent programs available in Europe and Asia. However, I wanted a challenging academic and language environment, which led me to focus on U.S. schools. Among them, McCombs stood out for three key reasons: it offers world-class resources in my areas of interest, has a small Japanese student population (allowing me to experience being a minority), and is in a warm climate—which I genuinely believe influences people’s mindset and energy. As I attended info sessions, coffee chats, and a campus visit, I was drawn to the students’ mindset—McCombs felt like a community of driven yet humble individuals, or as I like to say, “nice guys with ambition.” It was easy to picture myself thriving in this environment. Additionally, in my professional life, I’ve worked closely with executives at major U.S. corporations. Interestingly, several of them—despite having no official ties to UT Austin—spoke highly of the school and its reputation in ways that rankings don’t always capture. That external validation reinforced my decision.

A fun side note: my first-ever business development project in the U.S., back in 2016, was with UTMB (UT Medical Branch at Galveston). Looking back, I wonder if my connection to Texas started much earlier than I realized.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? My favorite professor is John N. Doggett. I came to business school eager to deepen my understanding of global business, entrepreneurship, and sustainability—three areas in which he has extensive expertise and real-world experience. I also wanted to push myself in a rigorous academic environment, and his intense courses provided exactly that. Even with thorough preparation, his thought-provoking questions often leave students struggling to respond immediately. His high-energy, high-stakes discussions force us to think critically and engage deeply. We tackle pressing global issues like AI, demographic shifts, and decarbonization through the lenses of history, geopolitics, cultural dynamics, and emerging technologies. The depth of thinking I’ve gained from his courses is unparalleled. I was so inspired by his teaching that I took every class he offered and worked alongside him as a Teaching Assistant. This gave me a firsthand look at his dedication to shaping future leaders—challenging us with tough questions while always offering genuine support and belief in our potential.

Beyond his expertise, what I admire most is his commitment to lifelong learning. He updates his cases every semester, ensuring students engage with the latest business challenges. More than just a professor, he has been a role model—demonstrating what it means to push boundaries, challenge assumptions, and ultimately give back to the next generation of leaders.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? One of my favorite courses at McCombs was Corporate Turnaround, taught by Professor Stephen Courter (better known as “Coach”). His turnaround framework isn’t just for struggling companies, it applies across all stages of a business’s lifecycle, making it one of the most practical and timeless courses I’ve taken. His insights, drawn from decades of experience, provided eye-opening perspectives on corporate strategy, with lessons that felt just as relevant to today’s businesses as those from decades past.

Beyond the content, Coach’s teaching style makes this course truly special. His sharp wit, engaging storytelling, and ability to simplify complex concepts made every lecture both intellectually stimulating and incredibly fun. The class flew by each week, leaving me both entertained and challenged. Corporate Turnaround wasn’t just a course, it was an experience that reshaped how I think about business strategy and leadership.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? If I had to choose one thing, I’d say I would have attended more social events in the evenings and on weekends. Between diving deep into coursework and sometimes feeling hesitant about large gatherings, I ended up joining only a handful of purely social events—aside from those that included Cohort 5 (partners and families). Looking back, I sometimes wonder if I should have embraced a more spontaneous mindset and simply enjoyed each day as it came. That said, my MBA experience wasn’t just about being a student—I was also a husband and a father, which naturally shaped how I prioritized my time. While I might have missed a few extra nights out, I have no regrets about how I balanced my commitments. At the end of the day, the choices I made reflect the fuller, more dynamic experience I had at McCombs—not just as a student, but as a person.

What is the biggest myth about your school? I cannot think of anything specific.

What did you love most about your business school’s town? 

Austin is one of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S., and it’s easy to see why. There’s an energy here that makes it an exciting place to live and study. Here’s what I love most about it:

• A young, dynamic vibe – With talented people from the East and West Coasts moving in, the city feels fresh, innovative, and full of opportunity.
• A comfortable climate – Warm weather year-round with low humidity makes it an enjoyable place to be outdoors.
• A perfect balance of urban and nature – It’s a city, but not overwhelmingly crowded. You can enjoy the buzz of downtown while still finding peaceful green spaces.
• Easy to get around – Austin is compact compared to other major U.S. cities, making transportation simple and stress-free.
• Everything you need, without the chaos – Major retail stores and restaurants are readily available, and there’s no shortage of great Japanese and Asian food.
• Safe and welcoming – Compared to other large U.S. cities, Austin feels notably safer and more relaxed.

What movie or television show (e.g. The Big Short, The Founder, Mad Men, House of Lies) best reflects the realities of business and what did you learn from it? I would choose The Intern (2015), starring Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway. It highlights two key factors: leadership isn’t always defined by hierarchy, and not everyone enters a new environment with the same skills and experience. Business school is much like this—titles and backgrounds fade, and what truly matters is how you contribute and lead, regardless of position or age. Since day one at McCombs, I’ve constantly asked myself, “How can I add value to my classmates and the McCombs community?” Whether in the classroom, group projects, or leadership roles, I’ve made it a priority to take initiative and contribute wherever I can. As a full-time MBA student with significant global work experience, I sometimes found myself in situations where I had deeper expertise in certain areas than even faculty members. However, instead of simply sharing knowledge from a top-down perspective, I focused on making my insights accessible and beneficial to my peers—ensuring that discussions and collaborations were enriched by my experiences without overshadowing others. I don’t know how much of an impact I ultimately made, but I do know that I’ve learned an incredible amount from my classmates and this school.

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What insights did you gain from using AI? As I’ve used AI more frequently, I’ve found myself thinking deeply about a key question: No matter how advanced AI becomes, what are the things that only humans can do? AI’s ability to process information far surpasses that of humans, but decision-making remains an area where human judgment adds unique value. AI can generate rational answers in an instant, but an answer alone doesn’t equate to a decision. Our world is far too complex to rely solely on machine-driven logic, and the role of humans as the bridge between AI’s outputs and real-world inputs remains critical. As AI continues to replace many human tasks, I believe the most important skill for the future will be the ability to ask the right questions—to determine what truly requires human thought. Whether in education or the workplace, the ability to frame problems, interpret AI-driven insights, and make informed decisions will become more essential than ever.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? While I know I’m supposed to choose just one, I have to recognize Thomas Galluccio and Daniel Shea. From day one, we were assigned to the same Cohort, and I’ve had the privilege of learning alongside them throughout my MBA journey. Thomas has built an exceptional career as a business professional, while Daniel has done the same in the Army’s special forces—two entirely different worlds, yet both requiring discipline, resilience, and excellence. What truly sets them apart is not just their achievements, but their character. They approach everything with humility, integrity, and an eagerness to grow, always striving to improve while treating those around them with respect and generosity.

Every conversation with them challenges me to reflect on myself—am I pushing myself hard enough? Am I staying humble? Their presence has been a constant reminder of what true leadership looks like. To me, they are the true definition of “nice guys with ambition,” and I have no doubt that our friendship will last long after graduation.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?

1. Launch my own business and create a meaningful impact on society: I want to build something from the ground up—a business that not only thrives but also drives real social impact. Whether through innovation, sustainability, or global expansion, I aim to create something that leaves a lasting mark.
2. Return to academia to help develop the next generation of leaders: After achieving success both as an entrepreneur and within the corporate world, I hope to give back by mentoring and educating future business leaders. If that journey brings me back to McCombs one day, it would be an honor to contribute to the same community that helped shape me.

What made Hiro such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2025?

“Hiro Yoguchi creates opportunities for himself and more importantly for others around him. Whether spearheading a large student-led trek into Japan, mentoring international students, or balancing leadership roles while becoming a father for the second time, Hiro embodies resilience, vision, and a deep commitment to his community.

Hiro’s ability to seamlessly juggle responsibilities is nothing short of remarkable. As a Peer Leadership Coach Co-Chair, he set a high bar for leadership, organizing the recruitment process for incoming students while ensuring that international peers felt empowered to step into leadership roles. His integrity and analytical precision are legendary among his peers. “Hiro is one of the most honest people in our cohort. His calming presence diffuses tension in tough debates, and his insights, especially his ability to break down complex data, are always spot on,” a classmate shares.

Professor Doggett, who has taught Hiro in several courses, describes him as one of the most organized and insightful students in 36 years of teaching. “He has a unique sense of humor and can share difficult ideas in a way that delights his classmates. During the semester break, while preparing for his second daughter’s arrival, he also organized a trip to Japan for 40 classmates—an incredible feat.”

Hiro’s impact extends far beyond the classroom. As a global business leader, he has worked across multiple continents, driving sustainable infrastructure initiatives and launching groundbreaking innovations in the energy sector. His summer at Hitachi Ventures deepened his strategic expertise, and post-MBA, he will return to Hitachi, leading business expansion efforts in North America’s biopharmaceutical space.

With a relentless drive to build, connect, and elevate those around him, Hiro is a leader and innovator who represents everything the Best & Brightest stand for. Whether launching new ventures or shaping the next generation of leaders, his journey is only just beginning—but his impact at McCombs will be felt for years to come.”

Tina Mabley
Senior Assistant Dean, Full-Time MBA

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