Hong Kong Based Executive MBA Alumni Profile Meet Yutaro Okamoto

An EMBA gives you the chance to earn a degree while working, learn theory, and expand your network at the same time. I launched my first HR replacement business during the program, and it was extremely efficient because I could immediately apply what I was learning in class to real life. It is an ideal environment where you can truly benefit from balancing theory and practice.

What would you say to someone considering Chicago Booth’s Sokolov Executive MBA Program?

Booth’s EMBA Program allows you to earn an MBA while continuing to work, making it an ideal environment for senior executives. And it offers more than that. Even among senior leaders, you become classmates with truly top-tier executives.

For example, you may study alongside partners from MBB or the Big Four, or managing directors at major financial institutions—people you would rarely meet in your day-to-day life. You can build relationships in which you face challenges together while working toward a shared goal. These are relationships you simply cannot buy.

Japan is currently facing a serious shortage of STEM talent. At the same time, there are a huge number of STEM students in India who want to work in Japan but don’t have the right pathway or connections to make it happen. To solve this problem, we had to bring together someone with deep knowledge of the Indian market with someone who has HR experience in Japan and strong connections with Japanese companies.

I joined forces with a classmate from India and built a business model that no one can easily replicate: a true blue-ocean, disruptive scheme. We are also leveraging an extensive alumni network spread across India. While we started in South India, we expect to scale the business across all regions of the country.

What were the benefits of launching a venture with a Booth classmate?

Going through a tough, demanding program together and sharing both the highs and lows gives you a sense of security that your cofounder will stick with you through thick and thin. And when we combine our knowledge and experience, 1 + 1 becomes more than 2, creating exponential value.

I also feel genuinely grateful to be in an environment where alumni in both India and Japan tell us, “If you ever need help, let me know. I’ll support you.”

First, Booth has an executive network spread across the world—people who are already successful, or who have the potential to become successful. The more senior you become, the harder it is to create new, meaningful connections. Going to entrepreneur networking events and trying to build trust from scratch feels like an inefficient process. What gives me peace of mind is having a community of alumni you can collaborate with anytime, anywhere, and knowing that their skill level is consistently high by global standards.

What entrepreneurship-focused resources at Booth helped contribute to the success of your business?

In addition to the Global New Venture Challenge for alumni, there are many alumni who want to invest when you are fundraising. Of course, even the faculty are willing to answer your questions. Having an environment where you can always bounce ideas off someone is one of Booth’s unique entrepreneurship-focused resources.

A Booth degree changes how people see you. For example, when I visited universities in India, simply mentioning that I have an MBA from Chicago Booth meant I did not need any additional explanation. In fact, even though I was there to propose a business partnership, the university asked me to give a lecture to their students.

This would never have happened just based on the name of the university I graduated from in Japan. It has made me realize firsthand how powerful and globally recognized the Booth degree is.