[MIP]: What were you doing before MIP?

[YU]: Before Stanford, I worked for Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) for more than seven years. In my work, I covered a wide range of economic policy areas, from bilateral industrial cooperation with Gulf and other Middle Eastern countries, to power company reform, to startup promotion policy. There was quite a good variety of policy areas over those seven years.

Why did you choose MIP?

Thinking back, I had three main reasons. The first was my interest in climate change. I wanted to build substantial expertise in climate policy, and Stanford is one of the top places in this space. The second had to do with entrepreneurship. At METI, I worked on startup promotion, and Silicon Valley is widely regarded as the benchmark. I was really curious to see how that ecosystem works here, and to explore how entrepreneurship and the startup culture affect society. The third was really the combination of those things. Stanford felt like a unique and unconventional place to study policy. When people talk about policy education, maybe Stanford isn't the first academic institution that comes to mind, but that's exactly what drew me to it. Coming from a government ministry to study policy at Stanford felt different in a good way. I thought MIP would open doors to experiences I couldn’t find elsewhere and push me to broaden my perspective.

What was your main policy focus?

I came in with a goal of identifying a clear and focused policy interest on which to build my career, and I really think I achieved that here. I started with a very broad interest in climate change policy, then narrowed that down to clean energy transition, and more specifically, nuclear energy policy. That became my main area of study.

When you reflect on your two years at MIP, what stands out?

Starting with Stanford University overall, what stands out is the entrepreneurial spirit that this place has. I think this really extends to policy study as well, because disruption of the status quo, often caused by startups, can itself be a form of policy change. That venture-like mindset is something special. Zooming into MIP, the best part was the small and tight community we have. Everyone in the program is genuinely talented, and that was a source of inspiration for me and pushed me constantly. But it's not only about networking. Because we're together for two years and go through a lot of things together, the relationships turned into real friendships that I will carry for the rest of my life. The size and feel of the program made that possible.

Tell us about your capstone project and the role it played in your studies.

My capstone project focused on the carbon credit market in the Philippines, partnering with the Asian Development Bank. We explored how we could mobilize more international climate finance for new carbon projects under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, with a focus on agriculture, forestry, and other land use. The capstone integrated what we learned over two years in three ways. Substantively, it deepened my understanding of climate finance, which is one of the reasons I came to MIP. Methodologically, it was a live application of what we learned in the first year about how to create implementable policy. And as a team experience, it taught us how to work effectively in diverse groups: navigating differences in opinion and making decisions to push the project forward, while still maintaining good and strong relationships. All of that felt like a true culmination of the program.

What was the most rewarding part of your experience?

The journey of finding my area of passion, deep diving into it, and then translating that into my next step. One thing that was very helpful was the Directed Reading I had with Professor Mark Thurber. In this independent study course, I researched the role of multilateral development banks in advancing nuclear energy in the developing world. This is quite a niche area, so I'm very grateful there's a system in place that allows students to explore niches, and that faculty support students’ interests even when they are not a perfect match with their own areas of expertise. Professor Thurber’s expertise centers on energy and environmental markets and policy with a focus on fossil fuel industries, but he generously guided me through my research. That was very helpful for me to find my path. After graduation, I'm joining a nuclear energy startup in the U.S. working on commercializing an advanced nuclear technology. It’s a direct way to contribute to the clean energy transition and that feels like a very direct reflection of what I discovered here.

Is that career path what you had in mind when you first started at MIP?

Totally not. I did not expect to be focused on the clean energy transition or nuclear energy when I first arrived. I spent time exploring and looking for an area I could be deeply interested in and build a career around. Through that process, I found this field and chose to pursue it. My new role will be based in Houston, and I've never been to Texas, so that will be exciting.

What does it mean to you to be part of the MIP community?

On the faculty side, it was incredible to have access to people who are genuinely invested in students and interested in supporting them in their research and goals. Once again, my directed reading is a great example of that. On the student side, the people in my cohort were so inspiring and insightful. They pushed me forward, but at the same time, they were really caring whenever I had issues or hardships. I'm so grateful for my friends here. Being part of MIP expanded my world in ways I didn’t expect.

What would you say to someone considering graduate studies in international affairs?

This is a place that overflows with positive entrepreneurial energy and where cutting-edge technology research is always happening. With the role that emerging technologies play in society, studying international affairs in this particular environment is only going to grow more valuable. Of course, there are a lot of policy schools, and each has unique points and strengths, but this place is really very special. People here are exploring new and unconventional approaches that can dramatically transform society, not just make incremental change. That mindset gives a special perspective for policymaking, and I think that was the value for me to study policy at MIP. I truly recommend people to come here.

Do you have any advice for the incoming class?

Having clear priorities can help you navigate your life here. For me, I am not a native English speaker and I had never studied in a U.S. academic institution, so I assumed I might not be able to do as much here as I could in Japan. So I set a first priority: find a substantive interest and build a base I could grow a career on. Because there are a lot of opportunities at Stanford and time is limited, I kept returning to my priority to guide my choices. That was so helpful to me. Your priority could be anything: academics, networking, entrepreneurial pursuits, or whatever else is important to you. But it’s also important to stay flexible. Priorities can change as you discover new things, so align how you use your time with your goals, but leave room to stretch yourself and adjust. That balance made my time at MIP really fulfilling.