Ryogo Sekine: With an eye on InsurTech and HealthTech

What led you to take the Cambridge MBA?

Firstly, the collaborative culture. As Cambridge Judge fosters a supportive atmosphere where collaboration is deeply valued, I believe that I can significantly strengthen my teamwork and leadership skills in this environment. I felt its culture first-hand through interactions with alumni, current students, admissions team, and professors, who all emphasised the importance of mutual support and collaboration. 

Secondly, the Silicon Fen environment. Cambridge is located in the heart of ‘Silicon Fen’, which is known for its thriving tech and innovative ecosystem. In this environment, Cambridge Judge offers many innovative courses to help students learn how to leverage technology to deliver new business and social impact. This is particularly relevant to my future goals, as I aspire to work in HealthTech and develop innovative products and services. 

Thirdly, the diversity. The class profile at the Business School is truly international, bringing together students from a wide range of cultural, professional, and academic backgrounds. In addition to the diversity within the MBA cohort, Cambridge’s unique college system enables students to interact with fellows from other faculties, creating rich learning opportunities. This diversity fosters a global perspective, which I believe is essential for developing innovative solutions in today’s world. 

Describe the biggest accomplishment in your career so far?

I work for a Japanese insurance company as an actuary, and when our company established a joint venture (JV) in Myanmar to drive its growth, I led the development of a new insurance product. This effort ultimately earned the industry’s first ‘Best Product of the Year’ award. 

In this project, I collaborated with a diverse team composed of members from Myanmar, India, Singapore, and Japan. My primary role was not only handling the pricing and financial aspects as the sole actuary but also facilitating discussions to create an open and inclusive working environment. This allowed us to fully leverage the unique skill sets of each team member. For instance, the Burmese team’s deep understanding of local customer needs helped us tailor the product effectively, while the Singaporean IT system developer was instrumental in designing a robust and efficient system. 

By integrating these diverse perspectives and expertise, we were able to produce a product that not only met market demands but set a new industry standard. Leading this project taught me the critical importance of collaboration and cross-cultural communication in achieving success. 

How do you feel about being awarded your scholarship?

Receiving the scholarship is an incredible honour, and it has provided me with a sense of validation and confidence regarding my career path and future goals, especially in the following ways. 

Financial support: the cost of an MBA, including tuition and living expenses, is quite substantial, and the scholarship significantly eases the financial burden. This support allows me to focus more on my studies and professional development without worrying about financial constraints. 

Secondly, validation of my competitiveness: being awarded the scholarship also reassures me that my application was to some extent competitive and aligned with the values of the Business School. It gives me confidence that my future goals are not considered overly ‘reckless’ and that my vision and aspirations are well-suited to Cambridge Judge Business School. 

What do you want to get out of the MBA most of all in the next year?

Expand my network. I’m eager to build meaningful relationships not only with fellow students but also with the broader Business School community, including alumni, admissions staff, and faculty members. Additionally, being part of the wider University of Cambridge community and Silicon Fen offers incredible opportunities to connect with experts from various fields. I’m particularly interested in building connections within the HealthTech and Insurtech ecosystems. 

Improve leadership skills. Through hands-on projects like the Cambridge Venture Project (CVP) and leadership challenges in class, I plan to take on leadership roles that will stretch my abilities. Working with a diverse and multicultural cohort will help me refine my approach to leading international teams and solving complex problems in real-world conditions. 

Where do you see your MBA journey taking you in your future career?

I envision my MBA journey leading me toward becoming a key innovator in the insurance industry, particularly through the lens of InsurTech and HealthTech. My goal on the MBA is to connect with venture capitalists and entrepreneurs who are driving technological change in these sectors. 

By leveraging these connections, I aspire to integrate cutting-edge technologies and innovations into insurance products and services in my future career. 

What does Cambridge mean to you?

Firstly, a second home. Cambridge Judge already feels like a second home to me. The Business School’s collaborative and supportive culture has made me feel welcome, and this sense is something I deeply value. At Cambridge Judge, there is a genuine spirit of community where students, alumni, faculty, and staff work together to help each other succeed. This environment is not just a place to learn but a space where I feel connected and empowered to grow both personally and professionally. 

Secondly, a place to expand my future opportunities: Cambridge represents a gateway to limitless opportunities. I see it as the perfect place to pivot my career across multiple dimensions, namely industries, roles, and countries. Cambridge Judge is the place where I can sharpen my skills, gain new perspectives, and develop the expertise needed to achieve my aspirations. 

Something that few people may know about you…

I once considered pursuing an academic career. Growing up in an environment that nurtured my curiosity – especially with my father being a professor of Physics – I was naturally into science. I spent much of my early life immersed in scientific exploration and problem-solving. 

However, over time, I realised that I wanted to apply my academic interests and knowledge in a more tangible way. Rather than focusing solely on theory, I became passionate about translating ideas into real-world applications that could make a direct impact on society, which led me to pursue a career in business, where I now focus on leveraging scientific and technical insights to create innovative products and services that solve practical problems.