GLOBIS nano-MBA Program Expands with New Design Thinking Fundamentals Course in August

June 23, 2025

CATEGORIES:GLOBIS GROUP

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Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo—GLOBIS University is excited to announce a new addition to its nano-MBA Program portfolio: the Design Thinking Fundamentals course. Developed and taught by Darren Menabney, GLOBIS lecturer with 11 years of experience in Design Thinking and User Experience, and Business Presentation, as well as speaker for TEDx, and instructor for IDEO U courses in storytelling and design thinking, this course distills his MBA-level expertise into a concise, accessible format. It’s designed to introduce students at the start of their business journey to the essentials of customer-centric thinking.

In this course, students will learn about the Design Thinking process, from understanding user needs to developing and refining solutions. They will adopt a human-centered mindset, focusing on empathy through effective observation and interviewing. With practicality in mind, students will gain skills in low-cost prototyping, enabling them to test ideas, gather feedback, and iterate solutions for maximum impact, ultimately sparking innovation within organizations or new ventures.

The first Design Thinking Fundamentals course will be offered from August 4 (Monday) to September 14 (Sunday).

Applications are open until July 21st from the nano-MBA website.

Read more about the course on the Design Thinking Fundamentals course details page.

nano-MBA Course Details

Course fee: $350 USD (no enrollment fee)
Scholarship: 50% of the first course fee (availability is limited)
Format: Online
Duration: 6 weeks, live classes on Week 1 and 6
Credit: 0.5 credits
Certification: Awarded upon completion

More information:
E-mail: nano-mba@globis.ac.jp
Website: https://www.globis.ac.jp/programs/nano-mba/

About the nano-MBA

The nano-MBA is a perfect online “MBA starter kit”. This dynamic 6-week program seamlessly melds the best of online learning with the essence of Japan’s No. 1 MBA. The program features AI-powered feedback and interactive, self-paced learning, complemented by live classes and collaborative group work. Students can earn partial MBA credits, transferable to the Full-time or Part-time MBA programs at GLOBIS University. Enrolling in the nano-MBA also includes access to selected course-related videos from GLOBIS Unlimited, an e-learning platform where students can hone skills relevant to each course.

About GLOBIS University

Founded in a small rented classroom in 1992 by renowned entrepreneur Yoshito Hori, GLOBIS University has grown to become the largest business school in Japan and aims to become the “world’s No. 1 MBA in the Technovate era.” With the principles of fostering skill development, a professional network, and a personal mission, the institution is committed to developing visionary leaders who create and innovate societies. GLOBIS University proudly supports a vast international faculty, seven locations in Japan, and international hub locations in Singapore, Bangkok, San Francisco, Brussels and Manila. English MBA program offerings include a la carte Pre-MBA courses, a one-year Full-time MBA, a two-year Part-time and Online MBA, and nano-MBA courses combining live classes, self-paced learning formats, and AI-powered feedback.
GLOBIS University continues to expand its curriculum with course offerings in digital technology and entrepreneurship, promoting business mastery in an age of global innovation.

About GLOBIS

Since its foundation in 1992, GLOBIS has fostered a vision to create and innovate societies by fostering management ecosystems of people, capital, and knowledge. Today, the company is involved in a range of activities, from higher education and corporate training to venture capital. GLOBIS also operates the G1 Institute and the KIBOW Foundation, both non-profit organizations to promote creativity and innovation in society. The GLOBIS MBA and corporate training programs are offered both online and in person across Japan, China, Singapore, Thailand, the USA, Belgium, and the Philippines. GLOBIS University is the proud home of Japan’s largest MBA and is rapidly growing to claim this title for all of Asia.