Aya Okabe
Japan
CAREER Enrolled in April 2011; Completed master’s degree in March 2014
At KMD, I was involved in a project called “OIKOS” where I researched the design of a service that allows people to easily enjoy their family photographs. I was in the Faculty of Economics as an undergraduate, and majored in international trade and development economics. At KMD, my previous research and experience was not an issue. I was allowed to take on completely new fields in which I had no prior experience. It was very interesting for me to interact with faculty who were themselves active in a wide variety of fields and willing to cross over the walls between laboratories and research areas to provide guidance. It was also very fun to remain on campus late into the night consulting and laughing with members of my project and other projects too as we did our research. (It was tough at the time though…) Today, I work as a consultant. I don’t know if I’m particularly suited for it or where exactly the satisfactions lie, but each day is something new and fresh, just like it was when I was at KMD. I encounter people from many different industries and endeavors, and there is always something that I don’t understand. I am still not sure where the future will take me, but I do know that I want to continue to advance and always search for the opportunity to take on new challenges.
(This article was written in March 2014.)