The Building the TOMODACHI Generation: Morgan Stanley Ambassadors Program took place in Washington, DC from August 4 to 20. Nine Japanese university students participated and were joined by five American counterparts. The program is focused on learning about and developing cross-sector partnerships to strengthen civil society as a tool for addressing ongoing social challenges in developed nations such as the United States and Japan. The experience in Washington, DC consisted of lectures, site visits, panel discussions, and interactive sessions with experienced professionals.
On August 8, a panel discussion titled “Understanding the Relationship Between Civil Society and the Private Sector” took place. One of the panelists, Morgan Stanley’s Executive Director of Government Relations, Ms. Ann Bailey, shared her insights on a variety of topics including her current role, career path and social issues. The participants’ questions during the following Q&A touched on homelessness, mental health and neurodiversity in American society.
During the second week, participants were divided into three teams to develop innovative solutions to address a variety of social issues. Each team presented their proposal in front of panel of judges; the winning team’s proposal was titled “Tokyo Truancy Initiative (Empowering Every Student, Every Day).”
Following their return to Japan, the Japanese participants visited Morgan Stanley’s Tokyo office on August 20, where they attended a fireside chat with Managing Director and Chief Administrative Officer at Morgan Stanley Japan, Mr. David Richards. He emphasized the fact that young people with global perspectives can become valuable assets and highlighted the rapid development of technology in today’s day and age.
“I used to isolate myself in my shell. My professor encouraged me to learn communication and teamwork through this program, but during the first few days in DC, I couldn’t contribute at all,” one of the members of the team with the winning proposal shared. “However, towards the end of the program, I learned that it is okay to rely on others and I became able to communicate with my fellow program participants. More importantly, I was able to break out of my shell and it feels good.”
Participants wrapped the experience with an opportunity to network with Morgan Stanley staff members, which afforded them the opportunity to engage in conversations with leaders from different backgrounds, generating excitement for their future careers.