An Executive MBA from Chicago Booth helped Hitoshi Terasaka develop his career and prepare to lead.
- By
- November 11, 2025
- Executive MBA Stories
From Tokyo to Singapore: Exploring the Leadership Journey of Hitoshi Terasaka ’22
In this blog, learn more about his story, why Hitoshi pursued an MBA at Chicago Booth, how he balanced the MBA with his other responsibilities, and more.
When Hitoshi Terasaka, MBA ’22, decided to pursue an Executive MBA at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, he was thriving in his role at Citi in Tokyo. But he wanted more than technical expertise—he wanted the confidence, leadership skills, and global perspective to take his career to the next level.
At Booth, he not only deepened his financial knowledge but also transformed his approach to leadership. Along the way, he had two career developments, moved from Tokyo to Singapore, and built lasting connections across Asia.
Now back in Japan and preparing for a leadership role, Terasaka reflects on the lessons and rewards of his Booth journey—and offers advice to professionals considering the same path.
What prompted you to pursue an MBA at Chicago Booth?
I was working for Citi in Tokyo and realized I needed to strengthen two areas to advance my career. First, I needed deeper financial knowledge to communicate effectively with my clients—many of whom were treasurers or CFOs interested in treasury management or M&A. My background was in corporate banking, not investment banking or corporate finance, and I wanted to fill that gap. Chicago Booth was the perfect fit because it is world renowned for finance.
The second factor was that I wanted to build the management skills to lead a team. Booth offered both the knowledge and the tools I needed to grow into a leader.
What were some of the highlights of your time at Booth?
First and foremost, I was very impressed to be surrounded by so many high-level professionals—students from Deloitte, EY, law firms, and investment banks. At first, group work was challenging because I didn’t yet have much knowledge about corporate finance or M&A. But by the end, I had full confidence discussing these topics with clients and colleagues, even those senior to me.
Were there any courses that particularly stood out?
One that really changed me was a psychology course taught by Professor Linda Ginzel. Before taking that class, I didn’t realize how biased I could be—I often assumed my own ideas were right. That class taught me to look at things more objectively, listen carefully to other opinions, and find better ideas together.
It also taught me that there are two key elements of leadership: deep knowledge of your field and strong communication skills. Communication doesn’t mean talking a lot—it means listening carefully and understanding others. I try to apply that every day.
What did you learn from your classmates?
I learned that when everybody contributes, the outcome is better. When I first joined, I just listened to the lessons and focused on submitting the assignments. But once we started working in groups, I saw that everybody’s contributions were very important. That collaboration taught me the real value of teamwork.
Were you able to build a sense of community despite the pandemic?
Yes. There were 10 or 12 of us from Japan, and we had our own community. I was lucky because I moved from Tokyo to Singapore during the program, so I built connections in both places. I still keep in touch with my classmates—it’s inspiring to see how everyone has advanced their careers after Booth. It motivates me not to fall behind and to keep pushing myself.
What did you learn from your classmates?
How did you balance a full-time job, a family, and a demanding MBA program?
It was one of the toughest periods of my life, but also one of the most rewarding. My first child was born in January 2019, and my second was born in October 2020, right after I started Booth. My professors and classmates were incredibly supportive—one professor even gave me extra time to take a test that was scheduled soon after my wife gave birth.
At one point, my family and I were quarantined for three weeks in a hotel room in Singapore—it was chaotic. But I kept reminding myself this was just a two-year period of sacrifice for long-term growth. My wife and I worked as a team, and I made sure family came first, followed by Booth, then work.
What were some of your biggest achievements during and after the program?
During the program, I had two career developments, ending up as senior vice president. I moved to Citi Singapore in 2021, and Booth gave me the confidence and credibility to pursue that opportunity. I used what I learned in class every day at work.
This year, I returned to Tokyo, where I’m preparing for a leadership role. My goal is to achieve a leadership position at a global bank, applying both the technical expertise and the leadership skills I gained through Booth.
What advice would you give to someone considering the Booth Executive MBA?
Do it. Before I applied, I wasn’t sure I could manage everything—work, study, and family. But with motivation and support from professors and classmates, it’s absolutely possible. Booth changed my confidence completely.
I’ve studied and worked internationally, but earning an MBA from Chicago Booth is truly incomparable—it’s the most valuable experience of my career and life. If you have strong motivation, don’t worry about your background or challenges. Booth will help you get there.
We hope hearing about the MBA experience from Hitoshi’s perspective gave you a better understanding of the instant ROI of a Booth MBA. To learn more about Booth, we encourage you to sign up to receive more information from us regarding the student experience, upcoming events, application insights and more.
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