Yesterday, we had the session # 4 of Global Agenda Seminar 2013 at Roppongi Academy Hills.  Our guest speaker was Mr. Mamoru Taniya, Chairman & CEO of Asuka Asset Management.  He has been very active in financing a variety of  ventures and NPOs etc.  I have known him for some time and we asked him to give  a talk on funding.  (Whatever we want to do to address and resolve global issues, we need money, but it is quite difficult to think of the way to monetize our initiatives unless you are familiar with financial instruments, etc.  )  So we asked him to share his thoughts on what areas he  tends to focus on for investing and what he looks for in potential ventures and new initiatives.   He was the second guest speaker for GAS 2013 after Yo Makino, journalist in July.

For this session, the assignment  for the GAS participants was to review some relevant materials available on website and to think of a plan good enough to ask for his investment!

His talk was so  interesting and inspiring  that participants (and I) enjoyed thoroughly.    There were quite a few questions and the discussion in breakout sessions  to share ideas each participant prepared was  lively.  (As Taniya san said yesterday, I think every one of us wants an opportunity to express ourselves and develop our capability.)

After the session, we moved to the place where we had get-together.  This time, two volunteers among the participants picked the place (which was excellent venue for get-together) AND planned fun games.  Taniya san, Academy Hills staff and I joined the game, and it was a lot of fun.   (It has been a while since I did this type of game, though I used to do them often at various conferences and workshops!)

At the end of the session, they presented Taniya san and me  the cake with the note.  See how happy both of us look! (Photo on the left)