A Conversation with Minerva Graduate Student Junya Suzuki

This is part of a series of profiles introducing students from Minerva’s Fall 2024 graduate class. If you would like to learn more about our programs, please visit our website.

Junya Suzuki’s journey from Tokyo to a leadership role at Indeed Japan weaves together business innovation, a passion for education, and a deep commitment to empowering people. With a background in HR and strategic management, Junya has spent years navigating roles that mix people skills with analytical know-how.
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Starting at Recruit, Junya learned firsthand how businesses grow and evolve. He managed recruitment, payroll, and even complex M&A (mergers and acquisitions) projects that took him across Asia, Europe, and the U.S. These experiences gave him a unique view of what makes organizations—and people—thrive. At Indeed, he ha’s taken those insights further. After stints in both the U.S. and Japan, he is now leading the business segment for Indeed Japan. Here, he is working on a model aimed at helping smaller companies access the tools they need to find talent, relying on AI and new engagement strategies to meet their needs in a fast-changing market.
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Minerva’s Master of Science in Applied Analytics and Decision Making (MDA) program came along as a chance to deepen Junya’s approach to decision-making. He is building a foundation in decision science, which he sees as essential not only for business but for personal growth, too.

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“It's a fantastic opportunity for me because I get to learn about the science behind decision-making from different angles—psychology, statistics, and technology. Gaining these perspectives broadens my understanding and strengthens my approach to making informed decisions.”

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Every class, Junya says, feels like “a professional sports match,” where rigorous collaboration and sharp thinking push him to grow.

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One of the things he values most about Minerva is the diversity of perspectives. Learning alongside peers from all around the globe, Junya has found that even familiar topics come alive with new layers when discussed from different cultural viewpoints. This exposure has added depth to his thinking, especially as he considers Japan’s unique educational challenges in an increasingly globalized world.

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At the heart of Junya’s vision is a drive to transform Japan’s education system. With an aging population and traditional teaching models, Japanese universities face big challenges. Junya envisions an education that is dynamic and student-centered, geared toward lifelong curiosity rather than just career preparation. His dream is to create an institution that prepares people not only for jobs but for a life filled with meaning and discovery.

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In his role at Indeed, Junya is reminded every day of how deeply decisions impact people’s lives. With millions of unique visitors each month, the platform helps people take steps toward their next career move.

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"I’d like to strengthen my management skills, particularly in decision-making. As the head of a department, my choices directly impact the happiness and success of my team. My goal is to make decisions that are faster and simpler, yet thoughtful enough to maximize both employee satisfaction and their professional growth."

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Through Minerva, Junya is mastering the skills to make thoughtful, data-informed choices that will serve him in business, education, and beyond.