Our Team

We're guided by the collective advice of our former participants

LAB is strengthened by a loyal group of former participants, many of whom remain active in the organization by providing advice or joining other LAB programs (sometimes repeating the same program). Many Japanese members gather in Tokyo each December for a lively alumni gathering centered on members' TEDtalks. Others actively help lead LAB as part of its Core Team.

  • Dwight Clark

    Dwight Clark

    Founder and Director

    Dwight Clark first began introducing Asia to university students when he was Dean of Freshmen Men at Stanford University. He founded Volunteers in Asia (VIA) and served as its President for 40 years; under his leadership, VIA has sent thousands of American students to volunteer in Asia and has brought thousands of Asian students to Stanford University for a wide range of short-term study programs. Upon retirement from VIA, he started Learning Across Borders, a non-profit educational organization which offers experiential programs in Southeast Asia for Japanese and Taiwanese university students. He shares his time between California and Asia.

  • Max Erdstein

    Max Erdstein

    Executive Director

    Born in New York City, Max holds an AB degree in History with distinction from Stanford University. In 1999, Max joined Google as one of its earliest staff members and helped grow Google's advertising business for five years. With a deep interest in meditation and Buddhism, Max left Google to pursue training in meditation monasteries in Japan, Thailand, Burma and the U.S., and now teaches Buddhist meditation (zazen) in the Soto-Zen and Theravada Buddhist traditions. Max has been involved with LAB since 2008 and is honored to serve as the incoming Executive Director, working closely with founder Dwight Clark to continue this tradition of facilitating experiential learning and nurturing change-makers.

  • Shugo Yanaka

    Shugo Yanaka

    Core Team

    Born in Shizuoka. Business Producer / Associate Professor at BBT University (MBA). Graduated from Keio University (B.A. in Policy Management and M.A. in Media and Governance), The University of Tokyo (M.A. in Urban Engineering) and The Matsushita Institute of Government and Management. He’s been supporting VIA & LAB since he first joined the Southeast Asia Program in 2001. After working as a strategy consultant at Booz Allen Hamilton, he founded Velvet & Company inc., a business design firm.

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    Yuji Asakuma

    Core Team

    Born in Tokyo and spent his childhood in Boston Massachusetts. Studied International Economics at Keio University and presently works as a banker.

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    Yukiko Imanaka

    Core Team

    Born in Osaka. Currently working at JICA. B.A. Policy Management, Keio University. Yukiko believes that sustainable societies and businesses are realized when people learn to tell the story of social and environmental issues first-hand.

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    Shun Ito

    Core Team

    Now a management consultant in Singapore with a special interest in Myanmar. Also worked as a freelance consultant in Akita Prefecture for a local supermarket chain. Spent his early childhood in the UK and Brazil. Studied at Keio University, Faculty of Economics, and at School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London.

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    Kenta Minami

    Core Team

    Born in Tokyo. Currently working as a management consultant in Japan. B.A. Experimental Psychology (Oxford), MPhil. Development Studies (Cambridge).

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    Shoyo Nishikawa

    Core Team

    Born in Tokyo. Studied at Kokubunji High school and Waseda University. He currently works at an electronics company as strategist and associate research fellow at the University of Tokyo, Institution of Industrial Science. He is also leading Tagu Film Japan, which is the spin out Burmese movie project of LAB. Chosen as Global Shaper by the World Economic Forum and G1 Summit U-30 member.

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    Asumi Nonomiya

    Core Team

    Born in Tokyo and spent her childhood in London, UK. Studied International Relations at Keio University and International Education Policy at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Passionate about intercultural education, she currently works at the Alliance Forum Foundation developing educational programs in Bangladesh.

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    Satoshi Sakaguchi

    Core Team

    Born in Nara. Graduated from Kyoto University, majoring in Economics. Now Deputy CFO of consulting and investment company.

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    Takafumi Yamada

    Core Team

    Born in Hokkaido. Graduated from the University of Tokyo, majoring in International Relations. As a management consultant, he worked in multiple emerging markets including Southeast Asia, Middle East and India. Currently a MBA candidate at Harvard Business School.

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    Yasumasa Yamamoto

    Core Team

    Born in Osaka. While studying at graduate school of Harvard University, he experienced an internship at United Nations-related organization in Geneva, Switzerland. Worked at Google for FinTech area.

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    Bo-jiun (Jingbo) Jing

    Core Team

    Born in Taipei, Taiwan. Analyst on ASEAN affairs and Taiwan-Southeast Asia relations. Currently a PhD student at King’s College London and the National University of Singapore; former research associate at the LKY School in Singapore and the Mainland Affairs Council in Taiwan. Voluntary Taiwan liaison officer for LAB. Graduated from Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and National Taiwan University.