The first profiles

Hello class of 2008 and 2009! This is Zach here to report and help us get to know each other a little better. I have asked the members of the 2009 class to submit a few tidbits of information and a photograph so that we can all get to know and love each other a little better. Over the course of 2007 I hope to profile everyone in the class of 2009!

The questions are:

1. Please tell us a little bit about your background.
2. Where are you working now and what do you do?
3. Why did you join the MBA program and what are your goals?
4. Can you tell us something that not too many people know about you?
5. What is your pet peeve?
6. Would you like to make a shameless plug?
7. Anything else...?

First up we have Laura Younger! When I first met Laura I was really impressed with her presence, this past weekend I got the chance to work with her in a group and had a great time. If you haven't had the chance to speak to her yet, please chat her up when we meet again at the end of August.

1. I grew up in Grimsby, Ontario, which is near the very touristy wine region of the Niagara Peninsula. I moved to Toronto for my undergrad - University of Toronto - where I studied physical anthropology. My plan was to go to medical school or do a graduate degree in medical anthropology, but I would have had to take statistics (!), so I came to Japan instead.

2. I'm working at the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ), and I am in charge of two departments. A lot of what I do is public facing so I've gained a really great network by working at the chamber.

3. It was always a goal to go back to school at the graduate level, and since McGill is one the top schools in Canada, I was attracted to attending this program. I joined the program primarily out of general interest, and in order to build my knowledge/skill base, especially in the quantitative
subjects.

4. I spent much of my teenage years in Jamaica and am thus a huge reggae
fan. Not many people know that...

5. The Marunouchi line at rush hour

6. I am Vice President of the Association for Women in Finance (AWF) - a volunteer networking group that meets monthly for speaker events. We've been growing incredibly fast over the last year and gaining a great deal of support from the major foreign investment banks in town. The mission of the organisation is provide women in finance a forum in which they can further　their professional development, network and exchange information, and meet like-minded women of all nationalities. You don't need to be in finance - nor do you need to be a woman - to attend our events, so if you're interested, please join us!

Laura, thank you so much for taking the time to answer these questions! I know that I'm interested about your Jamaican experience, I have heard many wonderful things about the country and its people. I would also be interested in attending the AWF events so if you get a chance, Laura, please post some of the events on our Yahoo group.

Next up we have Makoto Sugita!

I was really taken with Makoto when he made his introduction to the class, I could tell he was a great public speaker. Here's how he answered the questions!

1. I was born in Osaka. I move to the US when I was 17 years old. I went to high school and college in the US. I came back to Japan for medical school. I spent a little more than 14 years as an academic physician. I decided to move forward to a career in pharmaceutical industry. Now I am an employee of one of the biggest global pharmaceutical companies. I have a wife and a son, and I love them. I also enjoy what I do now. In my heart I am still 25 years old.

2. I am a clinical research physician, and I am involved with a few very interesting clinical studies.

3. To maximize my knowledge of medicine in business, I thought that learning more about business would be essential. I also wanted to meet people from different backgrounds.

4. I am a good cook, and I am still a board certified thoracic surgeon.

5. Homework. Work-study-life balance.

6. Never sued for malpractice yet.

7. Guys, let’s have a good time and learn a lot.

Makoto, thank you also for responding to the questions! If you haven't had a chance to get to know Makoto, now you can hit him up for cooking advice. Speaking of which, do you have any advice for making Umeshu? I think I missed my chance this summer, but I would like to try it next year.

That's all for this post, I look forward to profiling everyone!