Ana is focused on Horizon 2 and 3 strategic partnerships and investments in industry-changing use cases covering AI Platforms, Robotics, Mixed Reality, Silicon, Autonomous Systems, Digital Twin, Industrial Metaverse, and Web 3.0 technologies.

She is a results-driven senior executive with experience in zero-to-1, 1-to-many innovation, global strategic product and services development with consumer, enterprise, AI, and machine learning organizations at Microsoft, Apple, Meta, PlayStation, Sony, Adobe, Samsung, Theranos, and IDEO.

An entrepreneur and founder of six startups with a Fortune 100 track record in innovation, business turnaround, and growth creation. 38 international patents in hardware performance optimization, user interface systems, industrial design and materials design, content and data applications, and data science algorithms. Autodidact, working in AI, Machine Learning, Data Analytics, Natural Language Processing, and Robotics.

When not building products, crafting experiences, or consulting with clients on their inclusive futures, she shoots street photography with her Leica and cooks gourmet meals for her family and friends. She is a queer Latine, a Women's rights and LGBTQIA+ human rights spokeswoman, and a mother of four.

With over a decade of experience in graphic and interaction design, Ashley focuses on combining his crafts and leading teams to creatively convey complex problems and information in captivating ways. Before ICMG Next, he was a Design Director at IDEO Tokyo, helping bring positive change to Japan through design, innovation, and creativity. Beyond that, Ashley has experience in branding, advertising, and editorial design, creating immersive interactive experiences for numerous top international brands. When not in the office, he often cycles the streets of Tokyo or starts new typeface projects.

Born in America, raised Japanese in Africa and Southeast Asia, and nurtured her career in APAC and Silicon Valley. She specializes in designing organizations, services and experiences that are rooted in deep research, operational excellence and a culture of innovation and learning.

She served as the Head of People for OpenSea (a top web3 unicorn) and has a proven track record of expanding DoorDash (a Series C to IPO decacorn) from 800 to 15,000 employees globally. In addition, she’s supported large-scale M&As, coaching and leading C-Suite executives on strategic management, designing best-in-class cultures, and establishing operational and organizational systems that optimize for results.

Her practice is rooted in human-centered research & design and educational innovation, an area of expertise from completing her Master's at Stanford University and consulting for Fortune 100 companies, including NASDAQ. She is continuously in pursuit of solutions that address challenges at their root.

When taking a break from solving big problems, she creates children’s storybooks and enjoys searching for the best strawberry shortcake in town. She is based in Tokyo with her family.

Adalberto has launched innovation studios, driven award-winning projects, and propelled Fortune 100 companies towards transformative innovation, crafting a prolific portfolio of prototypes and strategic initiatives throughout his career. Before joining NEXT, he spearheaded the Generative AI innovation lab at Accenture North America, focusing on new product development through rapid prototyping and the application of emerging technologies.

His pioneering contributions span global industries, including biotechnology for medical innovation, telecommunications, sustainability, and smart products, steering the transformation of these sectors. he is deeply committed to leveraging the potential of technology to positively shape society. His work has resulted in patents in Artificial Intelligence and substantial publications, especially in fields such as autonomous vehicles, design thinking, and quantum computing for digital transformation.

His passion for innovation, along with his love for family, music, science fiction, gaming, and sports, coalesce as integral components of a life driven by relentless curiosity.

Jay leverages his background in innovation, higher education, law and policy, to propel organizations toward effective solutions to social challenges. A former Professor and Chair of the Department of Global Studies at Kyoto University of Foreign Studies, Jay's career includes roles with the United States House of Representatives, the Office of the Minnesota Attorney General, and as Executive Director of the University of Minnesota Coalition for Higher Education. His leadership in founding TEDxKyoto and serving as the Senior TEDx Ambassador for Japan has sparked global dialogue and community engagement, reaching millions worldwide.

His commitment extends into volunteer work, shaping future global leaders as a member of the Kyoto International School Board of Trustees. Jay's research and passion for addressing legal and ethical issues in the use of immersive technologies in education aligns with our mission to create a better future for Japan and the world. A lifelong jazz drummer, his improvisational skills and ability to synchronize and groove with diverse groups enhance his problem-solving strategies, echoing the dynamic and collaborative ensemble spirit of jazz in his professional endeavors.

Born in Himeji, Hyogo, and raised in the Kansai region, Sota's global outlook was shaped by a formative period in Vancouver, Canada. He now excels in Japan's dynamic technology landscape, currently serving as Director of Engineering & Special Projects at ICMG Next. Sota's passion for engineering drives his work to create intuitive and accessible digital experiences, fuelled by a genuine desire to solve user pain points. With client success at the forefront, he blends technical skill and empathy to craft impactful solutions.

His career encompasses a Senior Software Engineer and Technical Lead role at Mercari, along with pivotal contributions at Paidy, World K.K., and more. Outside the office, you'll find him exploring the best coffee shops and culinary delights that Japan has to offer. As a queer parent, Sota is a dedicated advocate for mental health and human rights.

Ko was born and raised in Tokyo, Japan. After graduating from the University of California, Berkeley, he began his first career at a Silicon Valley-based B2B media startup, interviewing over a hundred global startups, VCs, and incubations to accelerate open innovation between large Japanese corporations and international startups. In 2021, he joined ICMG as one of its owners and led large Japanese corporations to create a new innovation ecosystem to revitalize the Japanese economy.

Graduated from Royal College of Art and Imperial College London, Zhaodi Feng is a multidisciplinary innovation designer whose exploration spans from traditional craftsmanship to advanced AI technology. Her works seek the convergence of imaginative concepts with rigorous analysis, envisioning and prototyping a desired future for tomorrow.

Before focusing on interaction design, Zhaodi cultivated her creative talents in architecture and spatial design. In her free time, she enjoys photography alongside her design pursuits.

Diana is an experienced design leader with over 17 years of expertise, including 8 years co-building Airlift, a San Francisco-based design consultancy company. Throughout her career, she has excelled in tackling complex challenges across physical and digital platforms, delivering thoughtful solutions and guiding projects to success. Her portfolio includes diverse projects, from autonomous aircraft experiences for Airbus to human-centered design initiatives for Zeiss.

Diana's attention to detail, strategic mindset, and creative solutions ensure deadlines and budget constraints are met, as demonstrated by her collaborations with notable companies such as Google, Mercedes-Benz, & AKQA.

Originally from Guangzhou, China and having honed her design expertise in America, Shane brings a unique cross-cultural insight to her role as a multidisciplinary product designer. With a passion for integrating design with emerging technologies, her work focuses on creating engaging, intuitive experiences that bridge the digital with the tangible, specializing in interaction design, speculative design, and human-computer interaction (HCI) research.

Shane's commitment to empathy and user-centered design shines through her innovative work in cross-species human-computer interaction, alongside her contributions to AI branding and immersive XR content creation prior to joining ICMG Next. As a queer designer, her rich cultural background and commitment to diversity fuel her exploration of cultural and social narratives, using design to foster inclusivity and empathy. Her affinity for fine arts and active lifestyle underscore her belief in balancing technological innovation with the natural world, embodying a holistic approach to design.

Jim brings extensive experience in leading multidisciplinary teams to create innovative physical and digital products that meet human needs. Prior to joining ICMG Next, Jim led innovation projects at IDEO Tokyo helping Japanese companies create and launch new products and services in industries including health and wellbeing, automotive, and consumer electronics.

With a diverse background in graphic design, journalism, 3D rendering, and programming, Jim believes in the transformative power of making. Through experimenting with tangible digital and physical artifacts, Jim has helped teams create products, services, and experiences that connect with people’s unmet needs, and he excels at telling stories that connect with both stakeholders and users. Jim enjoys finding fun, innovative, and joyful ways to experiment towards design outcomes, and he is always eager to bring new technologies and practices into his work.

In his spare time, Jim enjoys experimenting in the kitchen and creating generative digital art.

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Based in Kyoto since 2013, Sagar has worked as an independent contractor for over a decade doing programming, design and consultancy for companies in Japan and abroad. He specializes in real-time graphics and interactive experiences, applying his skills to video games, VR, theme parks, R&D, digital art and live performances.

Constantly experimenting with emerging technologies like volumetric video, holographic displays and various body+space sensing technologies, he creates bespoke systems to enable novel experiences.

Some of his clients include Disney Imagineering, Intel Studios and various branches of Sony such as Creative Center, R&D and AI. Projects he’s worked on have been showcased at Sundance Film Festival’s New Frontier, SXSW, Times Square, Kyoto Museum of Modern Art, to name a few.

He continues developing his own digital art projects while regularly collaborating with local and international artists across different mediums such as music, dance, photography, sculpture and performing live at Kyoto venues like the Villa Kujoyama, Goethe-Institut Villa Kamogawa, Miyako Messe, Club Metro and Honen-in temple.

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Born in Japan, raised in both America and Japan and recently returning from London, Himari is a design researcher dedicated to solving issues through the synergy of Design×Technology×Creativity to create innovative solutions that bring joy to people worldwide.

With a background in hardware engineering and a BS from Keio University in Japan, she has honed her skills through numerous internships and projects in engineering and design. She furthered her expertise by working in R&D at Apple before pursuing a double Master’s in Innovation Design Engineering, MA and MSc at the Royal College of Art and Imperial College London.

As a researcher with experience in both design and engineering, she is committed to bridging the gap between them through research and collaborative development. She has actively contributed to projects focusing on health tech and sustainability, leveraging her expertise to drive meaningful change. She focuses on achieving high-resolution outputs that positively impact the environment and society.

When away from the screens, she immerses herself in cultural experiences, such as tea ceremonies, museums, and music, enriching her understanding of the world around her.

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Eiji Shintani is an accomplished industrial designer who has served as the Chief Art Director at Sony and Sony Ericsson.

With more than 30 years of experience in industrial design, Eiji has led the creation of products for Sony’s Walkman and VAIO lines. He has also led the design of wearable devices, earpieces, phones, cameras, a mixed reality cart, and a host of other products.

Eiji brings this vast experience to his role as Director of Industrial design at Next where he aims to expand the role of industrial design. For Eiji, Industrial design for is not just about designing products. It’s also about designing the “air” around the products while considering the entire experience of ownership and use. The overall aim is to make people’s lives more modern.

During his experience in Sweden, Eiji came to appreciate many aspects of the Scandinavian culture including their lifestyle, working style, and Scandinavian design.

Outside of the office, Eiji enjoys swimming, illustration, and cooking.

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Akiko designs environments where people thrive personally and professionally, and helps organizations define, design, and drive transformation for a positive future. 

 As a consultant and Professional Certified Coach, Akiko has served as a trusted advisor for Microsoft, IDEO Tokyo, Astellas, Figma in the areas of leadership development and advisory, the EU Delegation to Japan as an industry expert, and and post M&A culture change and executive search for the world’s leading luxury and consumer goods companies. In leadership roles, she led teams for Mitsubishi Corporation, and retail experience for Maison Margiela, eventually serving as country manager. 

At ICMG Group, she takes a step beyond the traditional People and Culture role, launching transformational best practices beyond the wider ICMG Group — and into its client organizations.

Passionate about building a better future together, Akiko serves as a pro-bono coach with the Humanitarian Coach Network, a non-profit coaching platform offering support to humanitarian aid and development workers in some of the world’s most under-resourced, isolated, and complex posts.

A great lover of languages, dance, and food, Akiko was born in Japan, raised in Texas, grew into adulthood in New York, and started her career in Tokyo and Paris. She divides her time between Tokyo and a mountain in Hokkaido, where she lives with her teenage daughter.

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