How ‘kokorozashi’ is helping people and businesses grow

I was born in Ehime Prefecture, which is known for its natural beauty. I later moved to Mito in Ibaraki Prefecture for high school and pursued my undergraduate studies at Kyoto University.

But it was during my time at Harvard Business School that my career path took an unexpected turn.

Before Harvard, I had a stable job at Sumitomo Corporation, which sponsored my MBA. Though I will forever be grateful for the opportunity Sumitomo provided me, my time at Harvard opened my eyes to the world of entrepreneurship.

Many of my classmates were passionate about starting their own companies and, for the first time, I seriously considered following that path. It seemed to me that, to truly fulfill my ambitions, I needed to venture out on my own.

In 1992, with just $8,000 in seed money, a single classroom and a group of 20 students, I founded GLOBIS. It was a small beginning, but GLOBIS flourished, expanding into bigger and bigger areas as we proved our capabilities.

By 1996, we had launched a venture capital business, which today manages more than $1.3 billion. In 2006, we opened our MBA school, which now has more than 2,600 students across 12 campuses worldwide, as well as thriving online programs in English and Japanese.

Over the years, GLOBIS has built what I like to call an “ecosystem of people, capital and knowledge.” This ecosystem connects higher education, venture capital, corporate training and social innovation in a way that enables individuals and organizations to thrive.

Our MBA program is central to this ecosystem. It is complemented by Japan’s largest corporate training service, a venture capital fund with investments in more than 200 companies and a suite of digital and print publications.

These publications, including GLOBIS Insights and GLOBIS Chikenroku, reach millions globally, sharing practical business knowledge to inspire future leaders.

We have also launched the digital platforms GLOBIS Unlimited and nano-MBA, which offer micro-learning courses and short, hands-on business programs designed to meet the needs of busy professionals in English.

As I implemented each of these elements at GLOBIS — education, venture capital, corporate training and digital platforms — the goal was for them to strengthen each other. We help businesses and individuals grow to reach their potential. The aim is not just financial success, but empowering people to lead meaningful lives that impact societies all over the world.

One of the Japanese concepts I integrated into GLOBIS’ uniqueness from the beginning is “kokorozashi.” Kokorozashi can be simply translated as “ambition” or “sense of purpose,” but at GLOBIS it is a personal mission that unifies the passions and skills of a professional to create positive change in society.

For me, kokorozashi is not just a philosophy — it is a driving force in my life and work. It is the reason I founded GLOBIS and all of its products and services over the years, and it is what continues to push me forward to exciting new projects in new industries.

My kokorozashi has manifested in three ways that I am very proud of. First, I built GLOBIS University into an ecosystem of people, capital and knowledge — and nurtured people to go out into the world and do the same.

Second, I am contributing to the betterment of Japan. Last and most dear to my heart, I am reviving my hometown of Mito with the Mito Downtown Rebirth Project. Even more excitingly, I have put together the annual summer music festival LuckyFes. We are on track to become one of the biggest music festivals in the country.

Mito is not only my hometown, it is also a city with deep historical significance. However, when I returned to visit as an adult, I found that the city had declined and I felt compelled to take action.

The Mito Downtown Rebirth Project became my way of giving back. This initiative aims to revitalize the city through various cultural, educational and entrepreneurial projects.

One of the highlights of the project is the Ibaraki Robots, a professional basketball team I own and helped advance to the B1 League, the highest-ranked professional league in Japan. The team has brought a new sense of pride and energy to the Mito community.

We also created GLOBIS Hall, a venue for conferences, performances and cultural events, providing a space where people can come together to learn and be inspired.

And, of course, there is LuckyFes, a huge music festival that draws tens of thousands of visitors to Mito every summer.

All of these projects are a vital part of the city’s cultural revival, attracting new businesses and tourists to the area.

The Mito project reflects my belief in the power of leadership and innovation to create lasting change. Just as I have done with GLOBIS, I want to help Mito become a place where people can thrive and realize their potential.

My journey from founding GLOBIS with limited capital to building Japan’s largest business school and venture capital firm has always been driven by a desire to create positive change.

Through the GLOBIS ecosystem, the Mito Downtown Rebirth Project and now LuckyFes, I have aimed to contribute to both society and the business community.

I hope my story encourages you to find and pursue your unique kokorozashi. By aligning your passions with purpose, you too can create lasting value in the world.

• Yoshito Hori is the founder and president of GLOBIS Corporation.