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Gaining leadership skills at ICC and choosing to work in Japan for a challenge

Interview with Haolin Chen ’13

After graduating from a university in Shanghai, Haolin Chen decided to pursue graduate studies at Waseda to develop further expertise in econometrics and improve his Japanese skills. At the Graduate School of Economics, Chen pursued research on calculating greenhouse gas emissions related to economic activities.

Although he was busy with research during his time at Waseda, Chen decided to apply for the Student Staff Leader position at the Intercultural Communication Center to gain an internship-like experience.

“When I saw an opening for this position, it had been half a year since coming to Waseda. At the time, I did not speak Japanese well enough, and things like expressing myself or organizing plans took much time. My at time at ICC became priceless through interactions with other students and administrative staff.”

At ICC, Chen founded and organized an event called the Japan-China-Korea: Speak Your Mind Camp. Many international students, including those from China and Korea, study at Waseda, but there is a tendency to avoid talking about sensitive issues. This three-day camp, which has now become a regular event at ICC, provides an opportunity for students to talk heart-to-heart about cultural differences.

“At the planning stage of the Speak Your Mind Camp, I discussed different ideas with staff members over and over. In order to create a safe environment for participants to share their thoughts, we included recreation time and high-interest topics into the program. I gained skills in negotiating and event planning as I put ideas into shape.”

Chen when he was a student

Through his experience as a ICC Student Staff Leader, Chen felt firsthand the importance of sharing your opinions, working flexibly with others, and building teamwork. His Japanese skills also improved dramatically.

When the time came to look for jobs, Chen was not initially sure about whether to work in China or Japan after graduation, but he decided to challenge himself and seek for employment in Japan.

“I felt frustration during the job hunt, but my friends from ICC who were also looking for jobs became a huge support. Without the opportunity of becoming involve with ICC, I don’t think I would have been able to work in Japan. Not only academics, but experiences outside the classroom at the University helped me build my strengths and find my career path.”

Chen mainly applied to Japanese companies that demonstrated leadership worldwide an was offered a position by a chemical manufacturer. Currently, he is responsible for overseas sales and works as a coordinator. He comes between factories, research facilities, and overseas branches to finalize creative solutions under everyone’s consensus, similar to his responsibilities as a Student Staff Leader at ICC. Using his company’s state-of-the-art technology, Chen looks forward to developing new products to meet global needs.

*The article is based on an interview conducted in 2015.