Kanae Urayama

Kanae Urayama serves as Director of Strategic Partnerships, Asia at Minerva University. Based in Japan, she develops strategic initiatives and cross-sector partnerships with corporations, government agencies, universities, foundations, and nonprofit organizations. She also helps build and oversee the foundation for Minerva’s work in Japan, translating strategic vision into real-world programs and partnerships that support sustainable growth.  At the core of Kanae’s work is a commitment to helping individuals discover what truly motivates them and turn their aspirations into social value. Guided by this mission, she has built her career in education across government, business, and academia, gaining a practical understanding of how learning is shaped, delivered, and sustained in different contexts.  Prior to joining Minerva, Kanae worked as a consultant at McKinsey & Company, where she supported strategy, organizational transformation, and implementation in collaboration with cross-functional stakeholders. She previously served at Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, where she led policy planning, cross-divisional initiatives, and the development of education programs.  Kanae holds an MBA from the University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business, where she explored the intersection of business, education, and social impact. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of Tokyo.