Our Team Member

KEISUKE HIGASHIO

Managing Director(Thailand), Director ( Singapore)

Keisuke graduated from the School of Political Science and Economics at Meiji University. He worked at a heavy industrial manufacturer procuring motorcycle parts for three years, and reduced costs by approximately 180 million yen (approximately 3%) per year due to successful negotiations with vendors . He later worked at an accounting consulting firm where he was involved in projects in covering a wide range of industries and business areas, including HR operations support, payroll system vendor selection support, HR due diligence, and evaluator training. At beyond global, Keisuke is was mainly involved in organizational and HR consulting for local companies in Southeast Asia.

WANCHALEE KIATINIYOMSAK

Senior Manager

Wanchalee graduated with a Master’s Degree in Internation Communication from the Graduate School of International Development in Nagoya University, Japan. She started her career as a Japanese interpreter at various Japanese companies in Thailand, with a focus in companies manufacturing automotive parts. She then decided to challenge herself and moved into Management fields in Manufacturing and Corporate sectors to develop her management skills. Over these 7 years as a Manager, Wanchalee achieved great results, having spearheaded initiatives such as shopfloor management and development, implementation of production systems, cost visualization and cost control systems. She always focuses on the local staff’s self-reliance (jiritsuka) and implemented process improvements when put in-charge of projects. Throughout her career, she noticed various issues in the HR systems and came to believe that a robust HR system can greatly improve workplace environment and better relationships between the managers and their team members. At beyond global, Wanchalee aims to promote good HR practices and provide Japanese and local companies alike with HR solutions catered to their companies and needs.

YURIA SAKAGUCHI

Lead Consultant, HR Development Div.

Yuria graduated from Kanazawa University with a Bachelor of Laws, majoring in Media Literacy and International Communication studies.
She joined an educational business company in Tokyo as a training event organizer. She gained experience in planning, marketing, developing brand strategies, and sales promotion work for a total of more than 40 training and workshop programs, including business psychology training, mental coaching, holistic psychotherapy, kinesiology, and NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming).
After immigrating to Singapore in 2009, Yuria worked as an advertising production coordinator and corporate events manager for a Japanese multimedia company. She led the project management of both B2B/B2C events for companies and government agencies seeking to develop overseas sales channels. As Coordination Dept. manager, her experience in media project management working with multinational stakeholders across 6 branch offices in Southeast Asia made her realize that the sustainable growth of an organization is closely linked to the individual growth of team members.
In 2019, Yuria joined beyond global, a global HR and organizational development consultancy, since she sympathized with the company’s vision “To unleash the full potential of the Organization and its People.” She currently leads corporate training projects, mainly for Japanese companies in Southeast Asia, to support the transformation of organizational culture and the penetration of management philosophy. Yuria also teaches cross-cultural understanding and communication training for young to mid-level expatriates and leadership training for GM-level senior management, drawing on more than 14 years of work experience in Singapore.
Her vision is to create a society where people feel safe to express their unique humanity and worldview to each other and cultivate joy together. To achieve this, she specializes in fostering psychological safety and learning culture through dialogue within organizations.

YUI IOKA

Senior Manager

Yui graduated from the Graduate School of Graduate School of Advanced Integration Science, Chiba University. He started his career as a sales engineer for high-performance materials at a Japanese chemical materials manufacturer. Then he joined an Austrian a refractory metal manufacturer as an engineer and project manager. Through his experience of working for these two companies, he came to believe that the most important thing for people and organisations to achieve better results is to support the development of each individual’s capabilities and also to improve collaboration within organizations. So he began to work as a trainer, coach and consultant in Japan. He joined beyond global with the intention of fulfilling a society where people and organizations collaborate better across national boundaries and create a brighter future. Currently, he is mainly engaged in supporting the globalization of Japanese companies.

MAKOTO YAGENJI

Lead Consultant

Makoto graduated from Hosei University. During his student years, he was captain of the rowing team and won the national championship.
After graduating, he worked as an Accountant at Taisei Corporation and worked as an overseas sales representative at Sumitomo Riko Company Limited. Makoto then joined RGF Professional Recruitment, an overseas subsidiary of Recruit Co., Ltd. and worked in China, and then moved to Thailand as Country Manager, where he was responsible for managing a newly established company. He provided recruitment services to over 1,000 Japanese companies. He led the company to profitability in its second year of operation and to an organization with more than 50 employees in its third year.
Makoto then remained in Thailand and established a local subsidiary of HONDA ESTILO Co., Ltd. He managed the company as Managing Director and developed several sports-related businesses.
After returning to Japan, he worked as the General Manager of the business division at an HR technology company, Brain Lab Inc. While managing the business, he gained experience in M&A and PMI. Then, as the Director of the B2B division of Bizmates, Inc. He delivered language training programs to over 400 companies. He also served as the Director of Product Development and led the development of online business English materials and an online learning system.
Currently, Makoto is back in Thailand with beyond global group, providing HR consulting services to Japanese companies in Southeast Asia. He is mainly responsible for global talent development, national staff development, and HR system development. Based on the knowledge and management experience he has gained in various business environments in Japan and abroad, Makoto focuses on providing practical advice that considers different perspectives and cultural differences.
He has lived in Thailand, China, the Philippines, and Canada, with over 5 years in Thailand, and has traveled to over 70 countries.

SANDY SAITO

Director / Corporate Catalyst

Master in Business Administration （MBA, Distinction grade on graduation theses） Master in Eastern Philosophy　（Currently Ph.D candidate） Including oversea studies both in Shanghai International Studies University and Beijing (Peking) University, Sandy graduated from Kansai University. After graduation, she joined the most prestige University Preparation Institute in Japan as a consultant. She was appointed to be the very first lady lecturer in 1994 to be assigned in Singapore office. Since then, her home has been in Asia.With the completion of this mission, she was invited to join Fujitsu Asia to take care of all Japanese Expatriates’ HR & Admin matters, then called upon Silicon Valley born IT venture company later. She was serving for three group companies as General Manager simultaneously then. Currently, Sandy upholds the mission of assisting Japanese companies in South East Asia to expertise their Localization as well as Globalization through Management and Leadership related trainings. Also, she has been involving several Japanese companies’ long transformational projects.

KEITARO WAKUDA

Lead Consultant

Keitaro Wakuda is a Chief Operating Officer of beyond global Japan. After graduating from university, he worked for a major foreign manufacturing company. He developed new customers and learned the marketing strategies there. He also established its brand through the creation of a new sales model. Five years later, he joined the training company, shake Inc. He discovered his own mission, and he had been doing self-coaching then he established a business management style which is best suited to customer’s needs and feelings over five years. As the head of the consulting department, he assisted in managing problems confronted by many managers and Human Resource Managers. He also worked on the design of Human Resource Development Policies impact on individuals to organizations. He worked with over 100 companies, ranging from major trading firms, long-established store manufacturers and companies in the finance sector. At the same time, he provided training as a facilitator for from junior employees to management levels.In 2016, he joined beyond global group to contribute to the customers more and share the strengths of Japan with the rest of the world. He is working on organizational development, preparation training for newly appointed oversea expatriates, development of global mind-set and more.

SHOKO DAUWELS

HR Development expert / Facilitator / Trainer

Material Science (BA Engineering), Decision Systems Science (MA Engineering), Knowledge Science (PhD) While studying Material Science, Shoko’s interest grew in relevant fields such as production process and decision making with various stakeholders, which lead her to Decision Systems Science and Technology Management. During her MA study, she moved to Switzerland to deepen her specialty in Technology Management as it was on its emerging phase in Japan. It was the beginning of her international career. Since then, she has been working on the theme of ‘management education and its practice in company’ for around two decades through education and research in Japan, Switzerland, USA and Singapore (e.g. Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan Advanced Institute of Technology (JAIST), Waseda University Business School (WBS), Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETHZ), MIT, and Nanyang Technological University (NTU)). Her current role in beyond global includes program development and delivery as a trainer on cross cultural communication and management essentials while walking along with customers both Japanese expatriates and locals in SEA through consultation. She is a regular practitioner of cross cultural communication with her Belgian husband and two children who were both born and bread in Singapore.

David Tay, Ph.D.

Senior Consultant

Dr. David Tay has spent 18 years with Development Dimension International (DDI) as its organization development, performance coach, and corporate trainer in the Talent and Leadership space, working across the Asia Pacific region with all levels of leadership. He has partnered with more than 200 MNCs covering all types of industries, with a suite of leadership, talent management solutions, and performance management initiatives. He has trained and coached more than 20,000 business leaders in the Asia Pacific region. Some of the clients include BASF, Caterpillar, Cisco Systems, Harmon, Hitachi, Jabil, Nissan, Oracle, Samsung, Schneider Electric, Titan, and Vishay.

David has extensive experience in leading mid to large-scale organizational change intervention initiatives, as well as building and sustaining high-performing cultures. The work involves balancing immediate short-term results with longer-term solutions that are more holistic and sustainable for these client organizations. The focus is on putting people first, which in essence is the heart of the matter—thereby embedding cultural change that helps focus on energizing and empowering leaders and employees which will lead to desired espoused behaviors, thereby strengthening the culture of the organization.

David’s working experience includes clients around industries in manufacturing, oil and gas, environment, technology, and financial services.

David has taught in the universities, including Nanyang Technological University, National University of Singapore, and Singapore Management University in leadership and organization development.

He is also a certified Master Trainer for Leadership Development and Performance Management Solutions. David holds a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Organization Development and Planning, and a Master Degree in International Business.

Prior to joining the consulting industry, David held senior-level positions in the financial services, education, and training industry. He was the Senior Vice President for IPAC Financial Advisory, Director of Operations for KAPLAN, and Regional Managing Director for Caliper Human Strategies.

IYO KATSU

Senior Consultant

Katsu graduated from Shanghai International Studies University and worked at a Japanese cosmetics manufacturing company for two years. She then joined beyond global due to her interest in the opportunities surrounding the future of Japanese companies in China. Iyo hopes to help beyond global achieve its mission of making Japanese companies more globalised.

SIRIBHORN SANGUANSIN

Consultant

Siribhorn graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of California, Berkeley, and a master’s degree in international studies from Korea University.Her career started from working as a Thai copywriter for a U.S. tech company. Later, she joined a Korean company to work as an international coordinator for an oversea HRD project. She started studying Japanese language in 2012 and continues her studying journey since then. Later she passed JLPT N1. After studying and working in the U.S. and South Korea for 9 years, she decided to move back home, Bangkok, Thailand. She joined beyond global to conduct organizational development for Thai and Japanese employees utilizing her expertise in psychology and international studies. Working at beyond global, she is contributing to the improvement of working conditions of local employees by supporting the client’s company to build a fair, transparent HR system as well as to efficiently implement it.

Onjira Uttaponkarndee

Consultant

Onjira graduated from Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University with a Bachelor of Social Studies major in Culture, Society, and Media. She started her career as a website designer and developer in Japan to promote Japanese local products and their business to be known domestically and overseas. Then she joined Japanese HR company in Thailand and Provided support for Japanese employees in Japanese company, dealing with sub-contracts, recruitment, managing foreign workers, and solutions for in-house and sub-contracted workers. She currently works as HR consultant for local companies in Southeast Asia mainly Thailand and Singapore, to create a win-win working environment for employees and organizations. Primarily supports in the creation of HR Systems (Evaluation, compensation and grading system), as well as Organizational diagnosis and PR for beyond global.

YUKIKO IWAOKA

Junior Consultant

Yukiko Graduated from Hosei University, Faculty of Intercultural Communication.
After studying abroad in the UK, She became interested in global social issues and international cooperation.
After graduating, she began working for a construction consulting firm, where she experienced work including general affairs, human resources, recruitment, and training management.
Later, she changed jobs to work for an educational NPO, hoping to tackle social issues in education.
She produced teaching materials dealing with various social issues such as refugees, climate change, clothing/fashion, and gender, gaining experience as a training instructor and facilitator in schools and social education settings.
As she learned about the background and structure of social issues, she discovered the magnitude of corporate social responsibility and influence, leading her to join beyond global to tackle human resource development and organizational reform to transform companies from the inside out.
Currently, she is in charge of planning training programs related to global human resource development and supporting the globalization of Japanese companies.

Kuljira Jiraphongtrakul

HR Junior Consultant

Kuljira graduated from the George Washington University with a Bachelor of Arts majoring in International Affairs, concentration in Asia and Japanese from the George Washington University. She learned several languages such as Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, and Spanish during her time in university, and achieved fluency equivalent to JLPT N1. Her knowledge of languages constantly assists her in information gathering and compilation to serve as a basis for her work as a consultant at beyond global. Kuljira is mainly involved in organizational consulting for local companies in Thailand, and she wishes to improve the working environment in different countries by using her experiences in different cultures so that employees enjoy their time at work.

Watcharit Sinthong

Admin Officer

Watcharit graduated from the Thai-Nichi Institute of Technology, focusing on Business Management, and specializing in Finance and Investment of Japanese businesses. He started his career in accounting at a publishing company, and after leaving his first position, he joined the Shell Company as a coordinator, taking care of inside and outside communications as well as foster good relations with surrounding communities, managing stock inventory of materials and transportation throughout Thailand, managing the costs of electricity of each division within factories. Watcharit is currently working at beyond global as an Administrative Officer, responsible for business-related work and accounts, as well as coordinating with Japanese employees within beyond global.

Aksarapak Sotachinda

Junior Consultant

Graduated from Thammasat University, International Affairs major, specializing Japan international affairs, and studied Sociology and Anthropology as a secondary major. when was a sophomore at Thammasat University, got JASSO scholarship to participate in “The Japanese Safety and Management and Japanese Culture” exchange program at Kansai University of International Study University. Experienced in creative and media content industry as a freelance Graphic Designer and Photographer for 3 years. Previously worked as Content moderator and Quality and Support Analyst with Accenture Thailand, Responsible for reviewing Japanese content and ensure the team performance for a global SNS company. Presently engaged in HR consulting with Beyond Global, focusing on local enterprises across Southeast Asia, particularly in Thailand and Singapore. Mainly involved in Thai projects, helping across various aspects, such as examining and converting data for HR systems, including grade definitions. Organizational diagnosis and engagement surveys/Human resource development for local staffs such as facilitating training

Patricia Alce

Manager

Patricia graduated with a Master of Arts from the University of Hertfordshire, UK, with distinction and a Vice-Chancellor Scholarship recipient. With over 18 years in Learning Development, She excel in crafting and implementing strategic learning programs, fostering continuous improvement, and driving organizational performance through talent development initiatives. Recognized by stakeholders globally, she is certified in learning and development, passionate about designing impactful programs across the UK and SEA. Her strengths lie in learning and development management, performance management, program management, instructional design, curriculum development, and digital marketing.