Class of 2027 – Invisible but Essential

Yuri Sugie

Achievements

Class Representative

First person in the family to study abroad

Academics

Master of Engineering in Urban Engineering
University of Tokyo
2016

“Building Something That Outlasts Me.”

When I was in elementary school, I always went to an after-school center once classes were over. It was a place for children that stayed open after school hours, with a gym and a library where we could spend our time however we liked. Since both of my parents worked and came home late every day, they sent me there so I would not have to stay home alone.

I was much more introverted back then than I am now, and I spent most of my time in the library reading manga without talking to anyone. However, being exposed to such a wide variety of works there—from Showa-era classics to the newest titles at the time, and from historical stories to science fiction—not only broadened my knowledge and interests, but also shaped the values that still guide me today. They gave me a belief that hard work should be rewarded, the courage to stand up for what is right, and a simple fondness for the culture of my own country that had produced these stories. Later, this led to a desire to pass on the things I had received from them to future generations in my own way.

The desire to do something for future generations has always remained one of the core ideas guiding my life. My decision to join a construction company was also driven by a wish to create something meaningful for people I would never meet through the act of building structures. While I do not think that choice itself was wrong, I cannot deny that, amid the busyness of everyday work, I rarely remembered the ideals I had started with and gradually became someone who was simply going through the motions. There were many times when I felt overwhelmed by work whose purpose, or whose benefit, I could no longer clearly see.

I came to Esade as I reached my tenth year of working, and I am happy to have the chance not only to study business again, but also to reflect on my own life. I grew up as someone who received the stories and culture left behind by others. Now, I want to become someone who can pass on not only what I received, but even more than that, to people I have yet to meet. I am still searching for a path through which I can leave something meaningful for someone’s future, one that I can also look back on with pride.

Tadashi Watabe

Achievements

NTT data case competition finalist

Academics

Bachelor of Education, Waseda University 2008

“Keep chasing the excitement.”

I’ve spent 17 and a half years as a magazine editor in Japan. Fifteen years at a sports & wellness magazine, two at a fashion magazine. Do you know what a Japanese magazine editor does? Everything from concepting an entire issue, designing about 80 pages of content, doing research, staffing writers, photographers, stylists, hair and makeup artists, models, running interviews and shoots, directing the visuals, building layouts, writing copy, proofreading. Working with a long list of stakeholders, it took around two months to build something from zero to one. It was definitely busy, but for me, these 17 years were really about chasing the same two things, over and over: excitement and movement.

My story starts in a small port town in the Japanese countryside. The nearest train station was a 50-minute drive away. You can probably picture how rural we’re talking. There was nothing to do but kick a ball around outside with the other kids, so naturally I fell into baseball. Just baseball, Morning, noon, and night. I was a textbook Japanese “jock”: I hated studying, but I worked hard at sports. Growing up in that environment, the values of “one for all, all for one”, of loyalty and human warmth were drilled into me from a young age. Anyone who’s talked to me would agree. People often find me a bit stiff at first but quickly change their minds.

Choosing to become a magazine editor was, in a way, inevitable for someone as obsessed with sports as I was. I could meet pro athletes face to face. I could go to events and matches for work and watch from the best seats, for free. What better job is there? But one day, a defining moment came. In 2013, I had the chance to attend L’Étape du Tour for work, an event where cyclists get to ride one of the actual stages of the Tour de France, the pinnacle event for amateurs. The day before the race, the town was packed with people. The next day, every single one of them would push themselves toward a single finish line. I still remember the feeling of fire in my veins, just from being inside that environment. I wanted to make events like this. Generate this excitement myself, not just convey it on the page. That was the moment.

A few years later, I was offered multiple management promotions at the company and I kept turning it down. I didn’t want to leave the field, and the idea of managing people sounded like the last thing I’d ever wanted. But looking back, I think the real reason was somewhere else. Deep down, I didn’t have the confidence to scale magazines as a business. To create the kind of excitement I’d seen at L’Étape du Tour with my own hands, I’d have to learn business properly, from the ground up. That’s how I ended up knocking on ESADE’s door. I’m the only student here from a background like mine, which means everyone around me feels like a teacher. Every class, every discussion, everything I see and hear feels new. There’s still so much of the world I don’t know. I’m working hard to find a job in Europe, and the days are full of doubt. But instead of being buried under them, I feel truly alive.

The “Invisible but Essential” thing for me is what I started with: excitement and movement. A life without excitement is boring. A life without movement might even be meaningless. Granted, movement comes with goodbyes, and there are painful moments. Wherever the urge to move takes me, my own kind of excitement is always waiting, bringing new encounters with it. Straight from a tiny port town to Tokyo. Through work all over Japan, and to South Africa, India, the mountains of Europe. And now, from Japan to Barcelona. I would say I’ve got a bit of a short attention span. Flip that around though, and it just means my bar for curiosity is low. I find almost anything interesting. And that curiosity accelerates excitement and movement. I’m not exactly young anymore, but I have a feeling that this restlessness to chase excitement isn’t going anywhere anytime soon; it is my way of feeling alive.

Bohao Zhang

“Passion is the only cheat code.”

Coming from a family business that focuses mainly on manufacturing, I don’t have a fancy background like my peers. I worked as a blue-collar worker on the production line, held office jobs in procurement and logistics, and finally moved to the accounting department before joining the Esade MBA. My parents, who started from the bottom and built a company from nothing, are highly competitive and self-disciplined. I still see the sense of accomplishment when my father outperforms someone, whether it is about having more revenue, reading more books, or even being in better shape than others when he is nearly 60. As much as they motivate me to compete with others, I focus more on personal growth. I constantly ask myself: Have I learned something new today? Did I finish my workout plan this month? Did I manage to help the company lower costs this year? Am I being too lazy?

I read about a theory that the sports you like reflect your personality. For me, I love powerlifting (squat, bench, and deadlift). When I squeeze myself into spandex and go on stage to compete, the adrenaline, the excitement, and the pounding in my heart make me feel alive. However, what I love most about this sport is the endorphins from each workout and seeing myself get stronger every day, even though the training itself seems repetitive and boring to most people. Life doesn’t always go according to the plan, and neither do most investments. But investing in ourselves is one of the few things that gives us positive returns. This is why I am joined the Esade MBA: to broaden my perspective, enrich my mind, and explore endless opportunities.

 What is Invisible but Essential to me is passion. I believe passion is our best and strongest gift. Am I able to do this and endure loneliness until I become successful? Am I willing to keep doing the same boring things for the next 30 or 40 years? Am I energized even after 8 hours of work? Take my father’s example: he is so passionate about being an entrepreneur that he has worked 24/7 for the past 30 years; still going to business dinners, taking calls, and checking paperwork. He did or at least supervised all work himself, which is why he is successful and remains a top player today.

Success is not just about beating others; it is about the passion to show up and do the work every day. I bring this energy to Esade and to build a career driven by my own values and growth.