Meet Our Former Interns

What was your experience like at GLOPAC/during your internship?
It was a rich experience. The most significant benefit was the interaction with professionals from other regulatory agencies in different countries.

What is the most important thing you learned?
Despite working with different market realities, it is possible to learn from each other’s experiences and collectively contribute to develop knowledge and share effective practices. The interaction between developed and developing countries outside the traditional center of the US and Europe makes GLOPAC a one-of-a-kind program.

How are you applying what you learned?
The internship provided interesting and broad discussions which enabled me to learn about the best and most suitable practices being put in effect. It offered excellent sources of information which made it easier for me to complete my research tasks, especially considering the hard time we are living in, due to the pandemic.

What would you like to tell people who are considering applying?
It is a unique opportunity to rapidly gain knowledge and expand your horizons. Being able to understand how other agencies conduct their mandate and how they value their mission is very inspiring.

Is there anything else you would like to add?
GLOPAC supports interaction among regulators and supervisors of financial markets around the world. It gives us a chance to observe in real time, global phenomena within the financial system, from different perspectives. Also, the discussions held provide an opportunity to escape from our daily activities and pay attention to what is being debated abroad. I am thankful for the opportunity given and I hope GLOPAC can develop even further, to create a global community of financial regulators to be a worldwide reference.

What was your experience like at GLOPAC/during your internship?
The primary focus of the program in my year was on the insurance business and insurance regulation. The internship program consists of lectures and seminars tailored to the areas of interest of each participant and company visits. During the seminars, high-level supervisors from 12 countries shared their knowledge on the development of the industry and the governing structure of the insurance markets in their countries. The FSA staff also ran sessions covering the development of the insurance market in Japan, the regulation and supervision framework, and inspection processes. Professionals from the private sector and various business associations, such as the General Insurance Association, the Life Insurance Association, and the General Insurance Rating Organization, kindly shared their views on the current status of the insurance industry, companies’ risk management and business strategies, and the role of the private sector in promoting sustainability of the insurance market. The program also gave us an opportunity to visit the Mitsui Sumitomo Marine call center to learn how the company advises the customers and deals with their complaints.

What is the most important thing you learned?
In my opinion, the most interesting feature of the program is that it provides the viewpoints of both regulators and the private sector on their historical, current, and future perspectives of the insurance industry. The learning atmosphere also encourages discussion among multi-national regulators with industry players. This allows participants to enhance their understanding and gain insight into the discussed issues. Additionally, the program provides not only information about regulations but also other financial issues that are now a priority of financial regulators around the world, such as anti-money-laundering policies, financial literacy, and the protection of consumers of financial services.

How are you applying what you learned?
My internship experience has prepared me in many ways. I received training from both a theoretical and a practical perspective and the discussions with supervisors from various countries has formed the base for empirical case studies that I can apply to my research and future work. Besides gaining knowledge from inclusive training, I learned about Japan’s business culture and gained hands-on experience with cross-cultural communication. Furthermore, the program gives me an excellent opportunity to meet and get to know regulators in the same field from other countries, setting the groundwork for future collaboration.

What would you like to tell people who are considering applying?
Attending this program is a worthwhile experience and participants can learn the most up-to-date practices and practical knowledge from experienced practitioners in the field of financial regulation. The network built among the participants also makes future collaboration possible, which is essential in the modern, highly interconnected financial landscape.

Is there anything else you would like to add?
I would like to thank the JFSA for organizing and allowing me to participate in the GLOPAC program. I hope this valuable program will continue in the future.