Dear Wharton Alumni,
The 58th Wharton Global Forum is coming to Tokyo, and I couldn’t be more excited to experience it with you.
Each year, the Forum presents an extraordinary opportunity to spark ideas and build connections during an unforgettable gathering of Wharton faculty, industry leaders, and alumni like you. The energy and expertise of the Wharton community create the powerful atmosphere that has defined the Wharton Global Forum since 1993.
This year, we’re heading to Tokyo, a vibrant epicenter of technology and innovation, to continue this proud tradition. I can’t wait to learn with you as we build upon Wharton’s legacy of excellence.
Mark your calendars for March 11–12. Together, we’ll examine the forces driving change and imagine paths forward. I hope to see you there.
Warmly,
Erika H. James
Dean, the Wharton School
Akinari Horii, WG’81 | Honorary Forum Chair
Akinari Horii is special advisor and a member of the Board of Directors of the Canon Institute for Global Studies, a research think tank in Tokyo. He is also a member of several nonprofit entities, including Keizai Doyukai (Japan Association of Corporate Executives), Investment Committee at Kindai University, and the Trilateral Commission.
Akinari was assistant governor of the Bank of Japan from 2006–2010, where he was responsible for the Bank’s international activities and represented the Bank at G7 Deputies, G20 Deputies, FSB/OECD/WP3, and more. Before that, he worked at the Bank for three decades and also at the BIS in Basel, Switzerland, and Japan’s Ministry of Finance.
After he left the BoJ, he worked as an advisor or a board member at Tokio Marine Holdings (2011–2023), Nomura Securities (2012–2018), Promontory (2010–2016), Japan International Cooperation Agency (2017–2022), the US-Japan Foundation (2012–2022), the Institute for International Monetary Affairs (2019–2026), and more.
Akinari received his MBA with distinction, and as a Beta Gamma Sigma, from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and his BA in Economics from the University of Tokyo.
Experience the Heart of Japan
Join us at Palace Hotel Tokyo. Situated in the heart of the city’s financial district, it sits directly opposite the Imperial Palace gardens and provides direct access to Otemachi Station. It also offers prime access to the city center, being about a 30-minute drive from Haneda Airport.
Networking
The Wharton Global Forum is built as much on its community as its content. More than 1,000 alumni have returned for multiple Forums because of the quality of connection within the Wharton network.
In Tokyo, you will engage in conversations that challenge your thinking and expand your perspective.
See What Alumni Have Said About Past Forums
“There’s a lot of topical issues that are being addressed at the Forum, which I find very insightful… To meet people outside these discussions and talk about how they’re tackling these issues is very helpful. It was transformational for me. To be a part of this vibrant, global community is an honor.”
– Mohammed Salman Niaz, W’98, ENG’98
“A big reason I came to the Forum was to really get a sense of what opportunities there are postgrad… It is truly inspirational and awesome to see how much involvement there is. People are coming from all over the world, gathering in one place, sharing thoughts, ideas, and knowledge.”
– Elijah Levine, W’24
“This is my third Forum. For each of them, I found it an invaluable opportunity to learn something about the region, the business climate, and the geopolitical developments that are taking place.”
– Matthew Asada, W’02, C’02
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