ABOUT ME

I’m Will, and I wear a lot of hats! I am passionate about education and intercultural exchange and have a background in technology and product management. I studied Computer Science and Japanese at UC Davis. While I was a student, I studied abroad in Japan and interned at an orphanage in Kumamoto. When I graduated, I lived in Suzuka city in Japan and taught English to elementary school classes ranging from 1st to 6th grade. The opportunity to study abroad and learn about foreign languages and cultures changed my life for the better, so I love getting to help others have the same opportunity. I currently teach beginner conversational Japanese for travelers through the Japanese American Society of Greater Philadelphia. I'm also continuing to study myself—I just took the JLPT N3 exam and am aiming for N2 next year.

Professionally, I also have experience in the tech space and have had the opportunity to utilize my formal technical education. I have experience filling product management roles on multiple teams. I have worked in edtech, digital transformation for the dining industry, and now in STEM educational toys (check out InvenTABLE!)

I pride myself in bringing a multifaceted and empathetic approach to my work. When I engage in product management and consulting, I like to make sure that I understand the “why” behind the requirements of my stakeholders and clients. What is the fundamental need, and how can we work together to achieve the most important outcomes on time and under budget? Likewise, when I teach, I want to make sure my students understand the “why” behind the lessons we’re learning so that the knowledge sticks. I like to go above and beyond collecting and creating resources that can help people learn.

I also love board games and video games, fantasy novels, and am learning about photography. I am also fascinated by game design and like to do game jams with my friends! My favorite Pokemon is Machamp!

よろしくお願いします！