Masashi Yamanaka ALM, Global Development Practice ’25

Director, Social Development Consulting Division, Kijiku Consulting K.K.

What will be your next step after graduation?
Director, Social Development Consulting Division, Kijiku Consulting K.K.

Where will you be living?
Global, based on projects.

In what ways has Harvard Extension School impacted your career and long-term professional goals?
As a development consultant working on the ground, I often felt frustrated. With so many people investing their time and money to support developing countries, I kept wondering — why isn’t the world improving faster? Why does inequality sometimes seem to be getting worse?

I decided to study at Harvard because I wanted to step back from the day-to-day project work and gain a broader perspective — to better understand the whole picture. After completing the two-year master’s program, I can say that I achieved that goal to a certain extent. I learned how different stakeholders are working to make the development field more effective, and I gained some of the tools and knowledge to contribute myself.
On top of that, meeting students from all kinds of backgrounds really broadened my horizons. Even though I took most of my courses online, the final summer I spent in Cambridge for the Capstone Project was unforgettable. The classmates I met there brought so much color to my life. 

What advice do you have for HES students now that you have graduated?
If I could share two pieces of advice, the first would be: connect with as many peer learners as possible, especially those from different regions or countries. Looking back, the most memorable part of the program wasn’t the polished PowerPoint slides — it was the real conversations with people from all over the world. For those in the Global Development Practice program in particular, I encourage you to actively engage with students from outside North America.

My second piece of advice is to start thinking about your Capstone Project as early as possible — ideally, right after you start the program. It’s never too early to begin preparing.

 

Work Experience
  • Director, Social Development Consulting Division
  • Kijiku Consulting K.K.
Communities
Business & Entrepreneurship, Consulting, Business Strategy
Contact
LinkedIn
@masashi-yamanaka-17024a6b