Quentin Liew went to Hokkaido, Japan on a semester-long New Colombo Plan (NCP) Mobility Project. After returning to Australia Quentin landed a corporate strategy analyst role at Fujitsu, a Japanese company.
As part of his program, Quentin studied Japanese language and culture at Hokkaido University of Education for three months, while also undertaking management and commerce courses.
Although he had studied Japanese for two years during his Bachelor of Business and Bachelor of International Studies double degree at the University of Technology Sydney, learning the language while living in Japan improved Quentin’s skills.
"We had Japanese teachers who only spoke Japanese. So, it forced you into that mindset. It was intense, but I think it was a good experience."
Quentin acknowledges that the intensive in-country language training was crucial to his success in his current role.
"Being in that environment has taught me a lot on how to communicate. I think it would have taken me longer to adapt to my current situation if I didn't go to Japan and get immersed in those situations."
At Fujitsu, Quentin uses his understanding of Japanese culture and language regularly as he works with colleagues from and in Japan. He relies on these experiences to communicate with the company’s stakeholders, many of whom are Japanese, in order to succeed in an organisation steeped in Japan’s traditional values.
"I would not have been able to catch on as quickly if I didn't go to Japan and understand their culture because their everyday culture very much affects their working culture. It's very much entangled."
"One of the reasons why I accepted the job at Fujitsu was my exchange, because I really enjoyed the people I was around and my experience in Japan."
Quentin works on regional corporate strategy and emerging trends across multiple countries in the Asia-Pacific region. The cross-cultural communication skills honed during his NCP experience have proven invaluable.
"I collaborate with colleagues and clients from diverse cultural backgrounds, ensuring that Fujitsu's regional strategies and objectives align with our global direction."
His role also involves working on innovation-driven initiatives that align with the Australian Government’s Indo-Pacific priorities in evolving technologies, especially in digital and sustainability transformation.
Quentin remains in contact with friends he made back in Hokkaido, using his Japanese language skills to maintain these connections.
Quentin says his NCP experience helped him to gain time management skills, resilience, and the ability to communicate with a wide range of people.
"The ability to adapt quickly has definitely been very beneficial to what I've been doing now."
Quentin recognises the value of Asia literacy and embodies the benefits of cultural immersion in the region.
"Countries in the Indo-Pacific are our closest neighbours," he says. "It's important that we as a country, but also as individuals, understand the role we play in each other's lives. The skills you learn whilst engaging with the Indo-Pacific are skills you just won't learn at school or at university. I think that in-person, in-country learning is very important."
