Hello! My name is Masahiko Shimizu—though friends call me either Masahiko or Masa, and I’m delighted with both.
I grew up in Tokyo, Japan, where I majored in bioinformatics as an undergraduate and later pursued graduate studies in biochemistry. In 2014, I joined Toray Industries, Inc., a leading Japanese chemical company, where I served as a product manager for a pharmaceutical product. This role allowed me to collaborate with partners across China, South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines, giving me hands-on experience in marketing, logistics, and business development throughout Asia. While I enjoyed a rewarding career and a fulfilling life as a company employee, I felt a strong desire to broaden my horizons by living outside Japan. Additionally, as the pharmaceutical business began to stagnate, I realized the importance of developing a broader set of management skills that would serve both my organization and myself in any global market. These motivations led me to enroll in the Fuqua MBA program in 2023.
My time at Fuqua was truly transformative. Over two years, I earned the HSM Certificate and completed the Leadership & Ethics Concentration. I actively contributed to the community as an Asia Business Club cabinet member, O-Team Section 3 Lead, MBAA International cabinet member, and Admissions Fellow. These roles gave me invaluable opportunities to grow as a leader, build strong teams, and immerse myself in Fuqua’s culture of mutual support. One of the most profound changes was how my perspective evolved; I began to recognize the business strategies behind news events and the workings of the products and services I encounter every day, fundamentally reshaping my worldview.
I’m especially proud that I accomplished all three contributions I set out to achieve in my application essay. First, I demonstrated leadership within Fuqua’s student-led organizations, drawing on my prior experience in student government. Second, I shared unique perspectives in HSM and other classes, leveraging my background in Asian pharmaceutical marketing. Third, I used my passion for amateur music to bring harmony to Team Fuqua—culminating in a memorable performance of my favorite Vivaldi recorder concerto on the Fuqua’s Got Talent stage. Playing in front of a large audience in Geneen was truly one of the highlights of my student life!
