Wrapping up the Leading Mindful Digitalization virtual summer program

By the halfway point of The Leading Mindful Digitalization virtual summer program, participants had already gained a strong understanding of the various factors that influence digital transformation and determine its effectiveness. Our seasonal programs are also designed to provide moments of cultural enrichment, which is why the third day of LMD began with a guided meditation session and a presentation on Eastern philosophical views of wellness and spiritual fulfillment, given by the renowned Reverend Takafumi Zenryu Kawakami of the Shunkoin Temple.

LMD participants were also treated to the second of the “It’s Always Sunny” series, in which program coordinators Kishore Kumar François and John Kang film a fun-filled trip to a Japanese historical site to share with students on the last day of the program. This time, the pair found themselves in Inuyama, home of the famous Inuyama Castle.

Day 3 Lecture: Digital Leadership and the New Normal

Prof. Ray Hui explored the changing nature of work and life under the New Normal and discussed how leaders in the digital age needed to find new ways to motivate remote workers.

Day 4 Presentation: Building a Digital Marketing Proposition

Having held top positions in marketing for heavyweights such as Verizon Wireless and Vodafone, Prof. Ted Katagi took charge of the morning session on the fourth day with pointed questions guiding students to consider their digital transformation projects through the eyes of their consumers and end users.

Day 4 Lecture: Understanding Consumer Behavior: the Power of Rich Data

Prof. Dan Qin gave students a look into how digitalization strategies using AI could overwhelmingly transform operations and the customer experience in a seemingly unchangeable industry.

Day 5: Production stage

Participants jumped into their groups on the last day of the program to begin solidifying their digital transformation strategies and preparing their presentations for the program’s lecturers to evaluate. Amongst the groundbreaking ideas presented were strategies to transform the tourism, real estate, and even the healthcare industries.

Comments From Participants

• "This is my third digital transformation project and the most interactive one I ever had. I am very pleased to see the ideation transformed to conceptual framework and probably disrupting the industry.”
• "It was very enjoyable, our team was constantly trying to introduce new ideas (between laughs) and try to incorporate it into our final product. Overall, I am very proud of our team!"
• "It was very well organized! Each of the presentations/courses were interesting and helped me to understand the subjects in more depth."
• "The lectures with the case studies encouraged a lot of student involvement."
• "I really like the virtual tour vlog, please do more!"

Stay tuned to this blog to learn more about the upcoming 2021 virtual winter program! We look forward to designing the program to be better than ever and announcing the details to any interested students.