Great reflections from our '24 Fellow Aryan Khurana!
🇯🇵 Four Months in Tokyo at a Japanese Startup – Here Are My Top 2 Takeaways 🇯🇵 This summer, I had the opportunity to intern with Vivid Gardens in Tokyo, Japan, where I helped develop the strategy, marketing, and distribution to help 10,000 Japanese farmers sell their produce to consumers across six Asian countries. Vivid Gardens, a 45-person agri-tech startup, connects consumers with premium Japanese produce directly from farmers through our e-commerce marketplace, TabeChoku. Here’s what I learned: ⭐️ 1. Embracing Rejection Therapy: Getting Comfortable with the Uncomfortable. Before launching our pilot platform in Hong Kong, I wanted to understand consumer preferences for our products firsthand. Inspired by Jia Jiang’s TED talk on rejection therapy, I flew to Hong Kong to conduct street surveys. Armed with a poster board reading, “Canadian student, building startup, quick one-minute survey,” and a list of our potential products, I encouraged strangers to place stickers on their top three product choices (as seen in the picture below). Some people made eye contact and kept walking, but many stopped to chat, and a few even returned later to participate. This approach helped me gather unfiltered feedback, learn about perceptions of Japanese products in Hong Kong, and gain invaluable insights to shape our market strategy. The experience reminded me of the power of vulnerability and the value of stepping outside my comfort zone. ⭐️ 2. Reflecting on Purpose and Priorities: Being away from my familiar environment in Toronto gave me the space to ask, “Why?” Why did I choose this path, and why do I dedicate my time the way I do? This reflection allowed me to reconnect with my purpose, and since returning to Toronto, I am more intentional about focusing on pursuits that bring me happiness and align with my long-term goals. I encourage other students to try a similar retreat: take time away from your usual environment, identify 5–10 responsibilities you want to focus on, and use this list to guide your choices over the next few months. This clarity gives you the power to recognize and respond to opportunities, confidently saying 'yes' or 'no' as they present themselves. For me, this practice has drastically reduced the stress I used to feel when questioning whether I was doing enough with my time. To say the least, this experience has been life-changing. It has equipped me with enhanced international business acumen, a deeper appreciation for cultural nuances in go-to-market strategy, and allowed me to re-discover my purpose. A special thank you goes out to my manager Shota Eda who pushed me to think strategically and take initiative while always providing the necessary guidance and support. This balance enabled me to work diligently, push my boundaries, and continually learn and grow. I will always have a special place in my heart for Japan and my incredible team at Vivid Gardens ❤️