The Rise of Future-Making Teams
Through Action Learning: Redefine How We Learn,
Collaborate, and Work in the AI Era
OCTOBER 2026
Celebrating 20 years of
Action Learning in Japan
Emergent Generative Team Leadership (EGTL):
A New Leadership for an Exponentially Complex World in AI Era
KEYNOTE
Co-originator, EGTL · Scholar-Practitioner
KEYNOTE
Co-originator, EGTL · Founder & CEO, Intercultural Systems
KEYNOTE SPEECH
Scholar-Practitioner & Co-originator, EGTL
Fielding Graduate University ISI Fellow
Former U.S. Foreign Service Officer (USAID / U.S. Dept. of State)
About the Speaker
Dr. Thompson is a global scholar-practitioner whose theory of Emergent Generative Team Leadership was forged not in seminar rooms, but in crisis — across more than 20 countries including Iraq, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Ukraine, Liberia, Bosnia, and El Salvador. As a commissioned U.S. Foreign Service Officer and later independent contractor for USAID, she repeatedly witnessed something that conventional leadership theory could not explain: teams that, with no single leader in charge, organized themselves, solved impossible problems, and created lasting change.
That experience became a research question — and ultimately, a framework. Her work spans the intersections of leadership, gender, the commons, and organizational systems, and she holds five advanced degrees from some of the world's most rigorous institutions.
"As a diplomat across 20 countries, I watched teams organize themselves with no one in command — and create what no leader could have ordered. That became the question EGTL answers."
KEYNOTE SPEECH
Co-originator, EGTL · Founder & CEO, Intercultural Systems
Fielding Graduate University ISI Fellow
Faculty, University of Houston-Downtown MBA Program · ILA 2026 Toronto Stream Lead
About the Speaker
If Dr. Thompson's EGTL insights came from crisis and diplomacy, Dr. Curran's came from the inside of the world's largest organizations — across Asia, over three decades. Since founding Intercultural Systems in Singapore in 1996, she has designed and facilitated executive leadership programs in Singapore, Malaysia, India, Greater China, South Korea, and Japan, bringing EGTL principles to life at the intersection of culture, strategy, and human potential.
Her client list spans some of the most demanding global organizations, and her academic work at the University of Houston-Downtown grounds her practice in rigorous scholarship. She brings to Tokyo not just theory, but hard-won knowledge of what makes teams function — and fail — across borders.
"Thirty years inside Fortune 500 organizations across Asia showed me what it takes for teams to function across borders and cultures. That experience flows directly into everything EGTL proposes."
Concept
The Rise of Future-Making Teams
In an age where AI processes information at speeds far beyond human capacity, the fundamental decisions that shape the future of organizations, society, and people still depend on human judgment, creativity, and collective action.
Future-Making Teams do not merely predict the future. They face genuine uncertainty, exercise human discernment, and actively shape a future that does not yet exist.
This conference explores how Action Learning — practiced in over 70 countries worldwide — offers a powerful methodology for exactly this challenge, through research, practice, and dialogue.
"It is not the team with the best algorithm, but the team with the deepest capacity to learn together, that will shape the era ahead."
2026 marks the 20th anniversary of Action Learning's introduction to Japan. The WIAL Global Conference in Tokyo at this milestone brings together gratitude for the past and ambition for the future in a single, extraordinary gathering.
Who Should Attend
For Everyone Who Leads, Facilitates, and Develops People
Executives, managers, and division leaders navigating complex adaptive challenges in the AI era.
HR, L&D, and talent management professionals building future-ready organizations.
Academics and practitioner-researchers deepening the science of organizational learning and team dynamics.
Action Learning coaches, executive coaches, and process facilitators.
WIAL coaches and members from around the world, exploring Action Learning through diverse cultural perspectives.
Consultants and change agents driving organizational transformation with world-class methodology.
What You Will Gain
PROGRAM ARCHITECTURE
Beyond the two main days, the week is designed as one continuous experience for international colleagues making the journey to Tokyo.
THU · OCT 22
Pre-Conference
One-Day Study Tour
A full day designed exclusively for WIAL guests — by private chartered bus.
FRI · OCT 23
Conference Day 1
The conference opens — leadership, vision, and the first sessions.
SAT · OCT 24
Conference Day 2
A 20th-anniversary message, a full day of practice, a celebration to close.
SUN · OCT 25
Post-Conference
A half-day deep dive with the keynote facilitators.
All times, sessions, and evening events are provisional and subject to change.
INTERNATIONAL SPEAKERS
International CFP closed April 30 — the response was strong, with consistently rich content from across the WIAL global network.
5 Workshops · 9 Case Presentations · 1 Research Presentation, from across the WIAL global network.
ONLINE SPEAKER
🇺🇸USA
20th Anniversary Video Message — Co-Founder & President, WIAL · Creator of the Marquardt Model
Dr. Michael J. Marquardt is the leading authority on Action Learning in the United States and the creator of the modern Action Learning model — the Marquardt Model. After earning his doctorate in Human Resource Development from The George Washington University, he developed groundbreaking HRD programs built on his own theoretical framework utilizing Action Learning. While teaching at the graduate school, he has provided extensive consulting to government agencies and multinational corporations. In 2002, he co-founded WIAL — the global organization for Action Learning — in Washington, D.C. He brings a special video message to the conference in celebration of WIAL's 20th anniversary.
WORKSHOP
🇵🇭PHILIPPINES
Rising with Failure: How Future-Making Teams Turn Breakdowns into Breakthroughs
Leo Castillo is Founding Partner of Fearless Consulting Inc. and Director of WIAL Philippines, with over 25 years of experience in leadership development and culture transformation across six continents. A WIAL Certified Action Learning Coach for over 13 years and Faculty at GLOBIS University in Tokyo, he specializes in psychological safety and helping teams learn from failure. He believes the teams willing to lean into failure are the ones that will shape the future.
CASE
🇵🇭PHILIPPINES
From Coordination to Future-Making Teams: How Action Learning Shaped Internal Team Capability in Complex Governance Systems
Camille Cruz brings a decade of project management experience in the development sector, informed by her background in sociology and public administration. Her work focuses on strengthening organizational and leadership capacity through training, coaching, and systems-oriented approaches. She has managed multi-stakeholder initiatives and navigated complex environments, with a focus on leadership, capacity building, and social change. Camille is particularly interested in how teams make decisions, adapt to uncertainty, and translate plans into meaningful action, bridging theory and development practice.
CASE
🇵🇭PHILIPPINES
From Coordination to Future-Making Teams: How Action Learning Shaped Internal Team Capability in Complex Governance Systems
With more than two decades at the forefront of Human Resources and Organizational Development in the Philippines, Dada brings both the depth of a seasoned practitioner and the warmth of a certified coach to every room she facilitates. She has led complex Organizational and Development engagements across government, corporate, and development settings. She is a Professional Certified Coach from the International Coaching Federation since 2020, and a Senior Action Learning Coach from WIAL, bringing a thoughtful, human-centered approach to helping teams learn, align, and take action.
WORKSHOP
🏴UK · WALES
Human Wisdom and AI in Action Learning Practice for Future-Making Teams
I am a coach, facilitator and expedition leader rooted in Wales, working at the intersection of people, place and possibility. Over two decades and six continents, I have led immersive learning journeys shaped by challenge, reflection and relationship. As Operations Director and Coach at Emerging World, I design leadership development programmes with a focus on transition, diversity, equity and sustainability.
CASE
🇺🇸USA
A Balance of Art & Science: WIAL Action Learning and the Neurodiverse Learner
Craig Senecal, SHRM-SCP, has spent thirty years in Human Resources creating engaging instructional design & teambuilding workshops for iconic organizations like Macy’s Inc., Lord & Taylor, & Burberry. In his current role as Senior Director, Employee Experience at The New York Public Library, Craig has built practical systems for collaboration, accountability & increased productivity & performance. As President of the WIAL-USA Chapter of the World Institute for Action Learning and Master Action Learning Coach (MALC), Craig partners with organizations to bring the power of action learning to organizations seeking more effective leadership development.
CASE
🇹🇼TAIWAN
From One Team to a Learning Organization: Thriving in Uncertainty through Action Learning
Paulina Chu is the founder of InnoVision International and a WIAL MALC with 26 years of experience. Holding the ICF ACTC and ICA ToP Facilitator credentials, she specializes in building high-value creating learning teams and organizations. Paulina has supported award-winning practices at organizations like MSI and Thoughtworks and focuses on helping teams navigate uncertainty through her “Team Evolution Academy” curriculum.
CASE
🇹🇼TAIWAN
From One Team to a Learning Organization: Thriving in Uncertainty through Action Learning
Philip Hsi is an HRD professional with more than 39 years of industry experience. His career bridges corporate leadership and consultancy. He spent 15 years as L&D Director at TSMC. Previously, he held senior leadership roles at FarEastone Telecommunications and Harvard Management Consulting in Taiwan. As a certified WIAL Action Learning Coach, he combines deep industry practice with insight to drive organizational performance through the powerful art of questioning and organizational development initiatives.
CASE
🇧🇪BELGIUM
Teams Guiding Teams in the Investor World
Passionate about organisational transformation and developing leaders, Els has extensive international experience working with world-class organisations across different industries. Els is a WIAL board member, a Senior Action Learning Coach and EMCC-accredited Business Coach and Practitioner (EIA). She is also a certified Excellence Assessor. She is core faculty at Luiss Business School and she teaches at the Collège des Ingénieurs. She serves on the Merit Awards Advisory Board. Els holds a Master’s in Counselling and Coaching for Change from INSEAD. She is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Leadership at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.
CASE
🇯🇵JAPAN
Teams Guiding Teams in the Investor World
Dr. Shosuke Kiba is Managing Partner and CEO at Universal Materials Incubator (UMI), a Tokyo-based venture capital firm investing in deep tech, materials innovation, energy, and industrial sustainability. Trained as a materials engineer, he also serves as a Visiting Professor at Tokai National Higher Education and Research System (Nagoya University) and as Program Director for Japan’s Cabinet Office SIP Phase 3. His work bridges advanced science, policy, industry and venture investment, with a particular focus on how teams learn, maintain coherence under uncertainty, and build long-term value beyond technical excellence.
WORKSHOP
🇵🇭PHILIPPINES
The Culture Instinct of Future-Making Teams and the Power of Collective Capacity
Miggy is the Chief Growth and Innovation Officer of Management Strategies - Asia, a consulting firm specializing in Culture Invigoration. Over 16 years, he has partnered with hundreds of organizations and thousands of leaders to transform leadership experience & workplace culture. He co-authored the Culture Invigoration Model©, launched We Canvas©, and is a certified Culture Invigoration Consultant and WIAL Action Learning Coach. In 2023, he was recognized as one of the country’s 40 under 40 HR Leaders.
WORKSHOP
🇸🇬SINGAPORE
When the System Stretches: What AI Readiness Reveals About How Teams Actually Learn
Alf Carlesäter has spent over twenty years in senior HR leadership roles across Goldman Sachs, GE, Meta, and Braze, covering operating model design, governance architecture, and organisational advisory in more than thirty-five countries. He is the founder of GROW HR Consulting, a Singapore-based fractional HR leadership practice working with founder-led and scaling organisations across APAC and EMEA. He holds an ICF ACC coaching credential and is the author of When Systems Stretch (2025).
WORKSHOP
🇮🇳INDIA
Making Sustainability a Force: Action Learning for Future-Making in a Fast-Expanding Organization
Bharti Maru is a facilitator, learning designer, Founder of Flying Fox Leadership Optima, and Chair of IAF India. She works across sectors as a professional facilitator, designing leadership, capability-building, stakeholder alignment, sustainability, and regenerative change interventions. Her practice blends group process facilitation, accelerated learning, systems thinking, and reflective dialogue. She is also involved in outreach programs with communities, faculty groups, autism centres, caregivers, and support ecosystems, using facilitation to build voice, agency, and collective action.
WORKSHOP
🇹🇼TAIWAN
Action Learning Card Game L=P+Q
Shiowjiuan Cheng is an executive coach and WIAL Certified Action Learning Coach, and the founder of Action Learning Co., Ltd. A Taiwanese national who lived in Japan for over thirty years, she is bilingual in Japanese and Chinese and holds a Master’s degree from the University of Tokyo. She taught leadership development at Rikkyo University from 2013 to 2024, and works with clients across Taiwan, China, and Japan. She is the author and translator of several books on Action Learning and self-coaching.
CASE
🇵🇱POLAND
Heads in Action: How a Combination of Action Learning and Psychological Safety Developed 20 Heads of Departments in an International Telecommunications Company
Tomasz, since 2015, has been helping major companies in Poland develop leaders and teams. Trained in Action Learning in New York and London, he has worked for great organizations including Volvo, PwC, Roche, Santander, Accenture, Avon and AstraZeneca. He has been training and certifying Action Learning Coaches and Team Psychological Safety Facilitators. He has served as a board member of the World Institute for Action Learning. He lives in central Poland with his wife and two sons.
RESEARCH
🇲🇾MALAYSIA
Inquiry-Driven Transformation: Action Learning in the Age of AI
Nyanaselvi Krishnan has spent over 18 years shaping how financial services organisations build, stretch, and retain their people. She currently leads Learning & Development at CACEIS Malaysia, and has previously held senior roles at Royal Bank of Canada, AIMIA, and HSBC. A certified executive coach and PhD researcher in Education at UNITAR International University, she created the ILEAR Model — a research-backed framework for cultivating self-aware leaders. Her work sits at the intersection of introspection, emotional intelligence, and leadership effectiveness.
CASE
🇺🇸USA
Group Learning in the Age of AI
Bill Thimmesch is a faculty member in Communications at the University of Nevada, Reno where he teaches courses in small group communication. He is retired from the federal government where he led innovations in action learning for the United States Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., and is currently a Certified Action Learning Coach and consultant.
CASE
🇫🇷FRANCE🇲🇾BASED IN MALAYSIA
Supporting Leadership Emergence in School Communities Through Action Learning
Marie Tseng is the founder of Cultural Impact, where she helps organisations build inclusive, high-performing teams through cross-cultural facilitation, psychological safety, Exchange Theatre, and Action Learning. With over 30 years of international experience across Asia, Europe, and the Americas, she helps organisations navigate diversity and strengthen collaboration. Since 2022, she has served on the Board of the World Institute for Action Learning, advancing inclusive and action-driven learning globally.
CASE
🇬🇧UK
From Problem-Solving to Transformation: Reframing Action Learning for Organizational Change
Matthew Farmer is the Founder and Managing Director of Emerging World, a global leadership and transformation consultancy. Over more than 15 years, he has applied Action Learning in organisational transformation contexts with global companies including Microsoft, Salesforce, Philips, Maersk, Johnson & Johnson, and UBS. A WIAL-certified Master Action Learning Coach, he is particularly interested in how Action Learning can serve not just as a development tool but as a core mechanism for enabling organisational transformation.
JAPANESE SPEAKERS
Anchoring 20 years of Action Learning in Japan. Domestic CFP and curated invitations are in progress; the slate below is illustrative of the topics already in motion.
SPORT · CASE
Action Learning inside a professional football club — reflection as a competitive edge.
ENTERPRISE · CASE
An enterprise transformation case study, demonstrating sustained AL practice in a Japanese organization.
STUDENT COMMUNITY · CASE
Japan's student-led Action Learning community under WIAL Japan — monthly sessions and a Kitchen Car Series across six university campuses.
ACADEMIC · RESEARCH
Research presentation on the measured effects of AL when embedded in higher education curricula.
20-YEAR REVIEW · RESEARCH
Longitudinal survey of Japan's certified Action Learning Coaches — what 20 years of practice reveals.
MORE TO COME
Further sessions are being curated with Sumiko's program team. Final Japanese slate to be confirmed by mid-summer.
Venue
Shibuya Scramble Square 15F, Tokyo
Shibuya QWS
Shibuya Scramble Square 15F, 2-24-12 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
QWS (Questions Will Start) is one of Tokyo's premier innovation spaces, located at the heart of Shibuya Scramble Square. Designed for cross-boundary collaboration and co-creation, this venue offers a panoramic view of Tokyo — a perfect stage for our conference theme: teams that create the future.
Registration
Register early for special pricing.
Early Bird
$540
Standard Rate
$620
Online Only
$100
Live streaming access
Speaker discount available. Co-presenters of accepted sessions receive the Early Bird rate regardless of registration date. One complimentary registration per accepted session. Travel and accommodation costs are the responsibility of the participant; the Japan Team will assist with accommodation arrangements.
FAQ
What are the dates and times of the conference?
The conference takes place on Friday, October 23 and Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM JST (Japan Standard Time). Please note that the schedule is tentative and may be updated.
Where is the venue?
Shibuya QWS, located on the 15th floor of Shibuya Scramble Square, Tokyo. The venue is directly connected to Shibuya Station, one of Tokyo's major transportation hubs. Shibuya is known as "Bit Valley" and is an area where many famous IT companies and venture companies are located. Many foreign companies, including Google, also have their Japanese headquarters in Shibuya.
What is the conference theme?
"The Rise of Future-Making Teams — Through Action Learning: Redefine How We Learn, Collaborate, and Work in the AI Era."
Who is organizing the event?
The conference is co-organized by the World Institute for Action Learning (WIAL) and WIAL Japan.
How can I contact the organizers?
For inquiries, please email conference2026@ldcjp.com.
What language will the conference be conducted in?
(To be confirmed — please contact the organizers for details on session languages and interpretation services.)
How do I register, and what is the participation fee?
Register here: https://lnkd.in/gScsBVqU
Price is Early Bird $540, Standard Rate $620, Online Only $100.
Do I need a visa to enter Japan?
It depends on your nationality. Many countries have visa-exemption agreements with Japan for short stays. Please check with your nearest Japanese embassy or consulate, or visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan website well in advance.
What is the best airport to fly into?
Haneda Airport (HND) is closer to central Tokyo (approximately 30 minutes to Shibuya).
Is travel insurance recommended?
Yes. Japan has excellent medical facilities, but treatment costs for foreign visitors can be high. We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance that covers medical expenses.
How do I get to Shibuya QWS from the airport?
From Haneda, take the Keikyu Line or Tokyo Monorail and transfer to a line bound for Shibuya (about 30–45 minutes total). From Narita, take the Narita Express (N'EX) to Shibuya Station (approximately 90 minutes). Shibuya Scramble Square is directly connected to Shibuya Station.
Do I need to buy a special transit card?
We recommend getting a Suica or PASMO IC card (available at airport stations and convenience stores), which works on virtually all trains, subways, and buses in Tokyo. You can also use contactless payment via Apple Pay or Google Pay with a mobile Suica.
Is the venue easy to find?
Yes. Shibuya Scramble Square is a landmark building directly above Shibuya Station. Look for the building entrance and take the elevator to the 15th floor (QWS). Signage will be available on the day of the event.
Are there recommended hotels near the venue?
There are many hotels within walking distance of Shibuya Station across various price ranges. Nearby areas such as Ebisu, Daikanyama, and Omotesando are also convenient. We recommend booking early, as October is a popular travel season in Tokyo. We have summarized the hotels near the venue here.
How far in advance should I book my hotel?
We suggest booking at least 2–3 months ahead, especially for hotels near Shibuya.
What currency is used in Japan?
Japanese Yen (JPY). Credit cards are widely accepted in Tokyo, but it is a good idea to carry some cash, as smaller shops and restaurants may be cash-only.
Is there Wi-Fi available at the venue and around Tokyo?
Shibuya QWS has Wi-Fi access. For general connectivity around Tokyo, consider renting a portable Wi-Fi device or purchasing a prepaid SIM card at the airport.
Do I need to speak Japanese?
While English signage is common in central Tokyo, Japanese is the primary language. Translation apps are very helpful. Train stations and major landmarks typically have English signs.
What is the weather like in Tokyo in late October?
Late October is autumn in Tokyo, with comfortable temperatures around 15–20°C (59–68°F). Light layers and a jacket are recommended. Rain is possible, so bringing an umbrella is a good idea.
Are there any cultural etiquette tips I should know?
A few helpful customs: remove your shoes when entering certain traditional spaces, avoid talking on the phone on trains, and tipping is not practiced in Japan. A small bow is a common and appreciated greeting.
Register
Register now to receive priority access to Early Bird pricing, speaker announcements, and program updates before anyone else.
Inquiries: conference2026@ldcjp.com