Influencer Marketing
Expand your reach and engage with your target audience using this trending technique that blends celebrity endorsements with social media marketing.
Leading High Performing Remote Teams
How can leaders ensure that performance remains high in remote or hybrid-work environments?
Design Thinking
Learn the 5 phases of this problem-solving methodology and switch from technology-centered to user-centered thinking.
Gantt Chart
Invented in the early 20th century, the Gantt Chart is one of the building blocks of modern project management. In this online course, you'll learn how this tool can be used effectively to monitor progress and achieve your team's goals.
Navigating Change Successfully
The working landscape is continually shifting and being disrupted, so how to employees maintain a sense of stability? Listen to CEO and president of Carl ZEISS Japan Stefan Sacre share his expertise on dealing with change in organizations and entire industries.
Halo Effect
The halo effect is often leveraged for marketing and promotion. But as a type of cognitive bias, it can also have a subconscious impact on decision-making in the workplace. Learn why and (how to overcome it) in this online course.
Anchoring and Framing
Want to increase your confidence during negotiations? Master the principles of anchoring and framing to take your negotiation skills to the next level.
ZOPA and BATNA
Understanding ZOPA and BATNA will help you become a better negotiator, create more value, and feel more confident at the table.
Content Marketing
In this course, you’ll learn how compelling blogs, videos, podcasts, and other media can reach customers and drive sales. You’ll also learn steps for creating an effective content marketing plan, and some important ways to measure its impact and success.
Content marketing is a essential digital marketing strategy for companies looking to provide relevant and useful information to support your community and attract new customers.
Get started on your content marketing journey today.
Sustainable Innovation in Times of Disruption: Choices for a Better Society
There are opportunities for progress all around us. The key is to innovate on these opportunities sustainably.
To help identify most effective path forward, you'll need to gain a global perspective to these challenges in an open discussion. How can Japan and the world take action to create a more sustainable, innovative world? Where do you fit in?
It's time to find out.
Social Media & Digital Communications: Impact on Global Public Opinion
Social and digital media have dominated the communications industry for decades. But it's no secret that social media has the power to sway public opinion, and the way in which many companies use these platforms could be seen as manipulative.
What do companies need to be aware of when utilizing social and digital media? How can these mediums be used to better communicate strategically with the world?
Discover what top media and communications experts have to say.
Blockchain
Blockchain is one of the most captivating technologies out there. Learn what it is and how to make use of its opportunities in this short online course.
Mehrabian’s Rule
The 7-38-55 Rule, developed by Albert Mehrabian, suggests that effective communication relies less on the words we choose than on our tone of our voice, appearance, and body language. Learn how to put this theory to use for better communication in business.
Pareto Principle
Your time and resources are limited. Efficiency means learning to prioritize. The Pareto principle (also called the 80-20 rule) can help you identify the best way to use your time for maximum results.
Country Analysis Framework
Overseas expansion requires careful planning. The Country Analysis Framework can help you look beyond an industry-level analysis and reframe your view based on performance, strategy, and context. Try this short course to learn how it works.
SECI Model
The SECI model illustrates how knowledge is created and shared. Learn how to put it to use for best practices, and how the Japanese concept of “ba” fits in to broaden your perspective.
Johari Window Model
The Johari Window Model is a self-awareness framework that helps you better understand . . . you. Learn how its four quadrants can help you identify gaps between how you see yourself, and how others see you.
Sunk Costs
Wondering if you should continue an investment or look for something new? Sunk costs can have a powerful psychological impact on decision-making. Learn how to recognize them to ensure rational decisions.
CAGE Distance Framework
Want to expand overseas? The CAGE distance framework can help ensure you're constructing a solid global strategy in four areas: cultural, administrative, economic, and geographic. Learn how to leverage useful differences between countries, identify potential obstacles, and achieve global business success.
Groupthink
Groupthink refers to group pressure and the perception of consensus which together lead to ill-formed decisions—or even unnecessary risks. Learn to identify the warning signs of groupthink and apply countermeasures in this online course.
Deductive and Inductive Reasoning
Solving problems with the best results means using two types of thinking: deductive and inductive reasoning. In this online course, learn to form a broad premise, make observations, and form conclusions from different perspectives.
Critical Thinking: Hypothesis-Driven Thinking
Anyone can come up with a good idea. The real challenge is putting that idea into action. In this online course, explore how to form compelling, testable hypotheses and bring ideas to life in your own organization.
Critical Thinking: Structured Reasoning
Even a few simple techniques for logical decision making and persuasion can vastly improve your skills as a leader. Explore how critical thinking can help you evaluate complex business problems, reduce bias, and devise effective solutions.
Critical Thinking: Problem-Solving
Problem-solving is a central business skill, and yet it's the one many people struggle with most. This course will show you how to apply critical thinking techniques to common business examples, avoid misunderstandings, and get at the root of any problem.
How to Dream
Join globally renowned author and Columbia Business School professor Dr. Sheena Iyengar as she explains how to approach your dreams with a new perspective. Learn to reflect on what you long to accomplish and what stands in your way.
Logical Thinking
Logical thinking is at the heart of confident, persuasive decisions. This course will equip you with a five-point approach to more becoming a more logical thinker. Learn to classify ideas and distinguish fact from opinion.
Investing & Diversity: The Changing Faces of Venture Capitalists
Is the venture capital industry embracing diversity in investors? Watch global venture capitalists from around the world discuss the state of things and what needs to be done for a more inclusive future.
Servant Leadership
There's more to leadership than driving a team to profit. In fact, there's a word for looking beyond self-interest to prioritize individual growth: servant leadership. Try this course for a quick breakdown of what that is, how it works, and how it can lead to organizational success.
Organizational Behavior and Leadership
Ever wonder what makes a great leader? Whether your role requires leadership or not, understanding organizational behavior is useful for your career. This course from GLOBIS Unlimited can set you on your way.
Leadership vs. Management
Leadership and management are different skills, but today’s leaders must have both. Try out this course from GLOBIS Unlimited to understand the difference, as well as when and why each skill is necessary for motivation, communication, and value.
Strategy: Creating Value Inside Your Company
Have you ever wondered why certain companies are more successful than others? The answer is strategy: internal processes that control costs, allocate resources, and create value. This course from GLOBIS Unlimited can give you the tools you need for that strategic edge.
Strategy: Understanding the External Environment
To plan strategy on any level, you need to understand your company's external environment. In fact, your level of understanding can impact hiring, budgeting, marketing, or nearly any other part of the business world. Want to learn how to do all that? This course from GLOBIS Unlimited is the perfect first step!
Using Japanese Values to Thrive in Global Business
Japanese companies have unique cultural, communication, and operational challenges. But they also have values that have led to remarkable longevity. Check out this seminar to hear how these values help earn trust from overseas head offices and develop employees.
Turnaround Leadership: The Differences Between Japan and the West
What's the best way for leaders to communicate a shift in corporate strategy? How do you even know when it's time for such a change? This course explains how Japan might have one answer, Western companies another.
Conflict Management
Conflicts in the workplace are inevitable. But they can lead to positive outcomes if they’re managed well. Check out this online course for a two-step process that can help you manage conflict successfully.
Evernote Founder: How Tech Startups Can Break through in Japan
Can startup models from Hollywood and Silicon Valley succeed anywhere? Phil Libin, cofounder and CEO of startup incubator All Turtles, explains how AI can solve everyday problems to bring products to market.
Women Empowerment: Lessons from Cartier
How can women overcome gender inequality and reach their leadership goals? Cartier Japan CEO June Miyachi shares her secret in this special course from GLOBIS Unlimited.
Marketing: Reaching Your Target
Every company works hard to get its products into the hands of customers. Are you doing everything you can to compete? In this course, you’ll find a winning formula to turn a product idea into real sales. Follow along through the fundamentals of the marketing mix and see how companies successfully bring products to market.
Marketing Mix
Seeing good products into the hands of customers is no easy task. The marketing mix can help. It's a collection of strategies and tactics companies utilize to get customers to purchase their products or services, and is an essential part of the overall marketing process.
The Principles of Negotiation
With the proper skills and attitude, anyone can become a successful negotiator. But first, you'll need to learn the basics to prepare for, assess, and respond to offers for the best results. GLOBIS Unlimited can help.
Negotiation: Creating Value
Want to create more shared value between yourself and your negotiation opponent? Discover how cognitive bias affects the judgment of others. Try this course from GLOBIS Unlimited to master the value of negotiation.
Finding Your Life Purpose with Ikigai
Ikigai can guide you in your quest for self-discovery. Listen to Japanese brain scientist Ken Mogi explain why and how.
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
Want to leverage Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs as a leader? Try this short course to see how the theory can be applied in practical work scenarios.
Confirmation Bias
We all subconsciously collect information that reinforces our preconceptions. It's natural . . . but it does lead to a kind of flawed decision-making called confirmation bias. To become more objective and impartial, check out this course from GLOBIS Unlimited!
An Investor's Lesson to Entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurs have the power to transform societies for the better. But how do you attract investors to start or grow a business? Or to sell one? Check out this seminar for the answers to these and more, straight from a master venture capitalist!
Managerial Accounting
Managerial accounting is a powerful way to measure progress, identify problems, and meet your goals. Check out this course to learn how data-backed decisions can help you run your business.
Finance Basics: 1
For a healthy mix of quantitative planning, evaluation, and management, you need solid decision-making. And finance is the secret sauce! Get the essentials of finance in this two-part course from GLOBIS Unlimited.
Basic Accounting: Financial Analysis
Want to compare your performance vs. a competitor? Or evaluate a potential vendor? Then you'll need to conduct a financial analysis. This course will teach you how to use three financial statements and evaluate financial performance in terms of profitability, efficiency, soundness, growth, and overall strength.
Career Anchors
What drives you to be good at your job?
Career anchors are based on your values, desires, motivations, and abilities. They are the immovable parts of your professional self-image that guide you throughout your career journey.
Try this short GLOBIS Unlimited course to identify which of the eight career anchors is yours!
Digital Marketing Psychology to Transform Your Business
How does digital marketing really differ from traditional marketing? How is social media changing things really? And what's going on in Asia?
Pyramid Structure
Having the pyramid structure in your communication toolkit can not only help you approach a problem, but convince others that your solution is valid. Break away from linear thinking and test your logical thinking with this course from GLOBIS Unlimited!
Leadership with Passion through Kokorozashi
The key ingredient to success? Passion.
Finding your kokorozashi will unify your passions and skills to create positive change in society. This GLOBIS Unlimited course will help you develop the values and lifelong goals you need to become a strong, passion-driven leader.
AI First Companies – Implementation and Impact
AI is changing the way companies operate. How do you structure teams to increase efficiency?
Technovate in the Era of Industry 4.0
Is Industry 4.0 is the next step of human evolution human civilization? Dr. Jorge Calvo seems to think so. Join him to learn how the past can help you set goals for an exciting future of digital innovation.
Technovate Thinking
Business leaders of tomorrow need to harness the power of technology and innovation. That means understanding algorithms and how they drive business results. Discover opportunities to make technology work for your competitive edge.
Product Life Cycle
Every product takes a natural course through the market—there's a how, when, and why customers adopt products at different stages. Check out this course from GLOBIS Unlimited to find out how a product you use every day is part of this cycle.
Logic Tree
Logical thinking is the most valuable asset any business professional can have. That's why logic trees are such a valuable tool—they can help you identify a problem, break it down, and build it back up to a solution.
MECE Principle
Using the MECE principle can help ensure you categorize without gaps or overlaps. Check out this course from GLOBIS Unlimited for a practical demonstration of how it works!
This year’s World Economic Forum was truly fascinating.
Munich Security Conference chairman Wolfgang Ischinger aptly described the forum as “a week that reminded me of a circus, where you’re being shown surprising things ten times a day.” With an extraordinary cast of global leaders, the discussions on geopolitics and technology were exceptionally dynamic and stimulating.
Participation reached a record high of over 3,000 attendees, effectively gathering the entire core of world politics and economics in the snowy mountains of Switzerland.
On the political front, heads of state and government from more than 60 nations participated, including leaders from six of the G7 countries, led by President Trump. They were joined by the heads of nearly all major international organizations, such as the United Nations and the IMF. The business sector was equally well-represented, with more than 1,000 CEOs from around the world gathering for the event—including Elon Musk, who made his first appearance at the Forum.
Before the Forum began, there were concerns about the absence of founder Klaus Schwab. However, under the interim joint leadership of BlackRock CEO Larry Fink of BlackRock and Hoffmann-La Roche vice-chairman André Hoffmann, together with the strong stewardship of World Economic Forum CEO Børge Brende, the result was arguably the most successful Davos Forum to date.
The Davos Forum is uniquely powerful because of its ability to gather the people who move the world in one space. In that sense, the participation of President Trump created an extraordinary gravitational pull and global visibility for the event. After all, he is arguably the central figure behind today’s major geopolitical shifts involving Venezuela, Iran, Greenland, Gaza, and Ukraine.
As one American participant put it, “The entire world was watching President Trump’s Davos speech”—and not just those inside the conference hall. When I had to leave the session early for a EuroNews appearance, I saw crowds glued to public screens across town, underscoring how intensely people were following the event. Regardless of whether one agrees with what he had to say, Trump unquestionably succeeded in capturing global attention.
Former California Congresswoman Jane Harman put it best: “Trump completely dominated the world’s attention.” This was confirmed the next morning, when newspapers devoted nearly half their front pages to Davos coverage with Trump at the center. I have never witnessed such an overwhelming level of global focus in my 18 years of participation.
Although the official theme was “A Spirit of Dialogue,” one Japanese megabank CEO dryly remarked, “It felt more like a monologue.” While this critique may have applied to President Trump, a genuine exchange flourished elsewhere. Personally, I found my daily conversations with global participants deeply energizing.
With those discussions in mind, here are the five key insights that emerged from the Forum.
1. Trump vs. Europe
First and foremost stands President Trump, who has become the central figure in dismantling the Western-led postwar, rules-based international order. In its place, he is establishing a power-driven “law of the jungle” reminiscent of old imperialism.
Just before the Forum, Trump shook Europe by announcing a 10% tariff on eight NATO countries—including the UK, Germany, and France—over the “Greenland issue.” His suggestion that he would not rule out military force to acquire the territory implied the effective collapse of NATO, triggering immediate declines in equities, currencies, and bonds.
This turmoil is not purely a clash of nations. Trump has announced withdrawals from numerous international institutions and continues to unilaterally broadcast decisions via social media, often bypassing his own government. As a result, many U.S. leaders have clearly opposed his methods and rhetoric.
Thus, the situation is less “the U.S. vs. Europe” and more accurately “Trump vs. Europe.”
In response, European leaders signaled a decisive break from the past. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen repeatedly called for “European independence,” urging the bloc to become economically and militarily resilient. French President Emmanuel Macron was equally blunt: “France and Europe must defend an effective multilateralism because it serves our interests and those of all who refuse to submit to the role of force.”
Even traditional allies like Canada took a hard line. Prime Minister Mark Carney noted that as the old order weakens, “middle powers must cooperate to create a new order.”
While the West fractured, rivals capitalized on the chaos. Vladimir Putin provocatively praised Trump, suggesting the Greenland acquisition would cement his place in history, while China skillfully moved to fill the vacuum created by U.S. disengagement.
Despite the turmoil (or perhaps because of it), Trump remained the center of gravity. He held high-stakes discussions with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, and even proposed a new “Peace Council” with nearly 20 heads of state. Between these heavy geopolitical maneuvers and his dinners with business elites, the week felt less like a diplomatic summit and more like a circus, with global attention firmly fixed on every unpredictable move.
2. Employment and Education in the Age of AI
Jane Harman noted that “There are two Davoses: one focused on geopolitics, and the other on privately led technology and AI.” Indeed, AI dominated discussions among private-sector participants. The giants of the industry—including DeepMind’s Demis Hassabis, Anthropic’s Dario Amodei, xAI’s Elon Musk, Microsoft’s Satya Nadella, and Apple’s Tim Cook—were all in attendance.
The macroeconomic outlook was stark. IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva warned that AI would hit labor markets like a “tsunami,” affecting 60% of jobs in advanced economies, and 40% of jobs globally. Anthropic’s Amodei went further, predicting AI could eliminate up to 50% of entry-level white-collar jobs.
Yet, the view from the ground was surprisingly different. Recruit CEO Hisayuki Idekoba offered a reality check: AI automates tasks, not necessarily whole jobs. Talent companies unanimously reported no decline in job postings; in fact, demand for AI-related roles is surging. Major professional services firms even announced plans to expand entry-level hiring by 20%, arguing that AI actually accelerates talent development.
The gap between the terrifying media narratives and the practical reality described by executives was striking.
This uncertainty about the future workforce sparked a fierce debate on how to prepare the next generation. A growing consensus suggests that introducing digital devices too early—specifically before age seven—may hinder the development of patience and resilience.
The concern is that when AI provides instant answers, children lose the critical opportunity to struggle, fail, and think deeply. For this reason, many argued that AI should be kept out of elementary and potentially middle school classrooms.
Ultimately, the consensus returned to fundamentals: the most valuable skills in an AI age are discipline, social intelligence, and critical thinking. Rather than hastily overreacting, we must design systems based on the kind of humans society will need. In this light, Japan’s traditional primary education system is already strong; preserving its focus on these core values may be the key to producing world-class talent in the AI era.
3. AI as a Catalyst for Corporate Evolution
A major theme among business leaders was the gap between the stated potential of AI and reality. Many CEOs lamented that while implementation costs are rising, profits are not. PwC Chair Mohamed Kande backed this up with data, reporting that 56% of companies have yet to realize tangible returns, largely due to misaligned strategies and organizational structures.
However, the potential remains immense. McKinsey CEO Bob Sternfels noted that 70% of AI’s value comes from productivity gains, while the remaining 30% drives growth through new business models.
The consensus on bridging this gap was clear: AI is not a tool issue—it is a leadership issue. Successful transformation requires CEOs to personally own the process, reshaping culture, business models, and talent development simultaneously.
It was in this context that I shared our own experience. Speaking up in English among such a formidable group of global leaders takes courage, but I did so because I firmly believe no business school takes AI as seriously as GLOBIS.
I explained how our competitors have shifted from elite universities to software firms, platforms like Coursera, and now AI companies themselves. To survive, we had to evolve at every stage, even securing two AI patents—a rarity for a business school.
The shared conclusion: the real risk lies not in using AI, but in failing to use it.
4. Trust and Dialogue
For 25 years, Edelman—the world’s largest independent PR firm, where I serve as a board member—has unveiled its Trust Barometer at Davos. This year’s findings were alarming: the global crisis of trust has deteriorated from polarization to anger, and now, finally, to isolation.
The data reveal a bleak landscape. While trust in broad institutions like media, government, and corporations is declining, trust in one’s immediate circle—colleagues and local teams—is actually rising.
The result is dangerous siloing. A staggering 70% of people now distrust those with different political beliefs, and an equal 70% believe the future will be worse than today. People are increasingly retreating into echo chambers, interacting only with those who think like them and destabilizing society in the process.
To counter this, Edelman proposes the role of the “Trust Broker”—leaders who create spaces for genuine dialogue without the intent to persuade or convert. The goal is simply to enable people to hear and express differing opinions.
Richard Edelman himself pledged to actively engage with those holding opposing views to embody this role. Inspired by this, I too am committed to acting as a bridge. Through social media and public forums like G1, I hope to share diverse perspectives and help rebuild the foundations of trust in Japanese society.
5. The Scaling of Startups and Venture Capital
Elon Musk’s debut at Davos was memorable not just for his presence, but for his parting philosophy: “It’s better to be wrong and optimistic than right and pessimistic—because optimism makes life better.”
That optimism is currently backed by capital on a staggering scale. I have attended the Davos VC gatherings every year since the community was founded four years ago, and the growth is undeniable. Top-tier firms like General Atlantic, NEA, and Lightspeed now manage funds ranging from $70 billion to $150 billion.
This capital fuels giants like SpaceX and Anthropic, both rumored to be targeting IPOs at valuations in the tens or even hundreds of trillions of yen. In the face of such massive numbers, Japan’s relative lack of unicorns is not a mystery of talent, but a simple consequence of economic scale. By comparison, GLOBIS’s seventh fund stands at ¥72.7 billion. While significant domestically, the global standard suggests our next goal should be at least ¥100 billion.
Walking through Davos, the energy of the U.S. startup ecosystem was palpable. It led me to a sobering realization: “Being known only in Japan has no value globally.”
To truly matter in this new era, GLOBIS must transcend domestic success and command respect on the world stage.
Closing Reflections
The tone of Davos has shifted fundamentally. Conversations about DEI and SDGs were notably absent; climate change took a back seat, and regulation debates were muted. In their place, the hard realities of resilience and sovereignty dominated the agenda.
Reflecting this shift toward “hard power,” interest in Japan was unusually high. Four ministers attended—including the Ministers of Finance and Defense for the first time.
Despite the global instability, the economy remains surprisingly resilient. The prevailing mood was that unpredictability makes Davos more exciting, if not always comfortable.
As I write this on the flight home to Haneda, navigating a route reshaped by tensions over Ukraine, the Black Sea, Iran, and China, I am reminded that geopolitics is no longer just a discussion topic—it dictates our physical reality.
With that, I conclude my reflections on Davos 2026.
Written on the flight to Haneda, January 24, 2026
Yoshito Hori
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