Mr. Ryo Matsumoto from IBM Japan Holdings delivered an lecture titled “Communicating Across Cultures” during the Global Studies (CSI) course (Instructor: Toyohiko Sugimoto)

On May 29th, Mr. Ryo Matsumoto from IBM Japan Holdings delivered an online lecture titled “Communicating Across Cultures” about what is necessary to succeed in countries with cultures different from Japan during the Global Studies (CSI) course (Instructor: Assistant professor at GLOMAC, Toyohiko Sugimoto). Drawing from his personal experiences across several companies throughout his career, Mr. Matsumoto shared his own views and insights.

The lecture focused on what is essential for succeeding in culturally diverse environments, especially for those preparing to study or work abroad.

Mr. Matsumoto is an IT management professional with a strong background in both consulting and engineering, particularly in the fields of information security and cybersecurity. He has worked at globally recognized companies including Fujitsu, Deloitte, and IBM. Over the course of his career, he has gained extensive international experience, having worked on cross-border IT projects and having served as an expatriate in China.

Thanks to these experiences, Mr. Matsumoto has developed strong

communication and coordination skills that have helped him build trust and navigate negotiations in international business settings. These abilities have been key to successfully driving projects in cross-cultural environments.

This lecture marked Mr. Matsumoto’s first involvement in educational outreach, and he shared that he is eager to take part in future opportunities to support and inspire the next generation whenever possible.

During the session, Mr. Matsumoto emphasized the value of studying abroad not just as an academic experience, but as a way to build essential skills for international careers. He explained how study abroad can help students develop adaptability to new environments and cultures, strengthen negotiation and problem-solving skills, improve planning abilities, and foster independence in situations where support is limited. He also noted that studying abroad not only demonstrates a strong, self-driven interest in working overseas, but also serves as a powerful way to signal to organizations that one is a suitable and capable candidate for future expatriate assignments.

A key message in his lecture was the importance of identifying and developing one’s own specialty—something unique that sets each person apart. He encouraged students to think of their careers as a combination of “specialty × global experience,” a formula that can help them create their own international opportunities or stand out as strong candidates for overseas assignments within organizations.

Mr. Matsumoto also introduced students to the concept of a logic tree—a simple but powerful thinking framework. Through this activity, students were asked to break down what they personally need in order to succeed in studying abroad. The exercise was designed to help them recognize that study abroad is not the final goal, but rather one of many steps in building a meaningful life and career. He encouraged students to approach life as a series of unique projects and to craft their own story, rather than simply following someone else’s path.

Students enrolled in the Global Studies course will be participating in a short-term study abroad program at the College of Staten Island, City University of New York, this summer. Mr. Matsumoto’s lecture provided timely and practical insights to help students make the most of their upcoming international experience.

Many students were highly engaged throughout the session and actively participated in the Q&A, asking thoughtful questions such as:

“How can I make sure studying abroad isn’t just for appearances, but actually meaningful?”

“What kind of personality or skillset is well-suited for working abroad?”

“How did you build your identity while living overseas?”

Other questions included:
“Which country have you felt most comfortable living in so far?”

“I’m good at making plans, but I have trouble taking action—what should I do?”

Overall, the lecture was a valuable opportunity for students to reflect on their goals, better prepare for studying abroad, and begin imagining their own paths toward successful international careers.

※所属する日本アイ・ビー・エム株式会社の公式見解を示すものではなく、あくまで登壇者個人の意見・経験に基づく内容です。