Rutgers EMBA gets a different perspective of business in Japan

The highly ranked Rutgers Executive MBA Program is known for its intensity and rigor. Each semester begins with six consecutive days of classes covering a fifth of the curriculum, followed by in-person classes on alternating weekends. We asked one student to share some thoughts on the RMBA experience.

Name: Andrew Pfeil, who is scheduled to complete the program in 2026.

His work: Real estate controls and analytics

Why he chose to pursue a Rutgers Executive MBA: To increase his knowledge of finance and gain leadership skills that he could leverage for career advancement. One of his favorite classes is also one that proved to be immediately useful. His financial accounting class taught him how “to speak the language” of the finance and budget teams he works with.

One of his discoveries about the Rutgers EMBA: “It’s built on camaraderie not competition. Everyone is helping everyone else improve.”

Getting a global perspective: He capped off the first year of the EMBA program with a 10-day trip to Japan with classmates. “It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” he said. The EMBAs traveled to Tokyo and Kyoto and visited some of the country’s corporate giants – Sony, Panasonic and Isuzu. They attended lectures by Japanese leaders and listened to candid reflections about corporate culture. Pfeil was struck by the contrast between leaders who praised the discipline of Japanese business culture and others who explained that the strictness could also stifle innovation. One company invited 50 of its new hires to attend a session with the EMBAs to observe the Americans’ interactive communication style. “We do have lively conversations and we’re definitely not afraid to speak up and ask questions,” he said. The trip wasn’t all business though. The students were also immersed in Japanese history and culture. They visited Mount Fuji, traveled on the bullet train and visited Kyoto, a city he found enchanting. “Everywhere you walked you could hop off the city street into a shrine and there was nature and peace and quiet.”

As if the program isn’t challenging enough: This year, his second in the program, he’s serving as class president. He said there’s no real job description for the role. He’s taking an advocacy approach and working to enhance the experience for classmates and future students. “He’s a leader dedicated not just to his class but to the program as a whole,” said Professor Joseph Agresta who has worked closely with Pfeil. “He’s a combination of humility, accountability and drive.”